Course Syllabus

IMPORTANT NOTE:  Due to COVID-19, all dates and policies contained in the CS 2100 syllabus and Canvas course are subject to change.  Students can expect to be informed immediately and clearly of any changes.

Critical Information

Instructor

Prof. Parker, 3144 MEB, parker@cs.utah.edu 

Class meetings

Tuesdays and Thursdays 10:45a-12:05p in L104 WEB, led by Prof. Parker.  Students should come to class prepared and expect to practice solving problems individually and in small groups.  See the advice on how to prepare for class meetings.

Discussion sections

Fridays at various times and locations (see your class schedule), led by Teaching Assistants (TAs).  Students should come to discussion prepared with questions about the recently-covered material and expect more problem-solving practice.  

Recordings

Due to the interactive nature of class meetings and discussion sections, they are not recorded.  Students who miss class are encouraged to thoroughly study the materials provided for pre-class prep (reading and videos), solve the practice problems (posted after each meeting/session) on their own or with classmates, and ask questions during instructor office hours or TA help hours.

Required textbook

Discrete Mathematics: Mathematical Reasoning and Proof with Puzzles, Patterns, and Games by Ensley and Crawley (2006, ISBN: 0471476021)

Important dates

All tests* and exams are paper-based and administered in person.

  • Test 1 (Logic) is Tuesday, September 7 during the class meeting.
  • Test 2 (Proofs) is Thursday, September 23 during the class meeting.
  • Test 3 (Set theory) is Thursday, October 7 during the class meeting.
  • Test 4 (Functions and relations) is Tuesday, November 2 during the class meeting.
  • Test 5 (Combinatorics and probability) is Tuesday, November 23 during the class meeting.
  • Final Exam (Graph theory and cumulative) is Friday, December 17 10:30a-12:30p.

*The lowest test score (i.e., Tests 1-5) is dropped for each student.  This accommodation should be used for students who must miss a test date due to quarantine, illness, travel, or other reason.

Final course grade

A student's final CS 2100 grade is the better of two possible calculations:

  • Default option:  tests 60%, final exam 20%, pre-class Canvas quizzes 10%, homework 10%
  • Growth-mindset option:  tests 40%, final exam 40%, pre-class Canvas quizzes 10%, homework 10%

See below for benefits and conditions of exercising the growth-mindset option.

Communication

All class announcements and student questions (public or private) take place on Piazza — sign up right away and set notifications appropriately.

Course Information

CS 2100 provides an introduction to the discrete mathematics and structures that are at the foundation of computer science, as well as teaches logical thinking about discrete objects and abstract things.

Fair warning

The pacing in this class is brisk.  Students should be aware that not all of the topics they need to know are be covered during class meetings.  Students should spend a considerable amount of time reading, watching videos, studying, and solving problems outside of class.

Prerequisites

The prerequisites for CS 2100 are grades of C- or better in CS 1410 (or CS 1420) and MATH 1210 (or higher math).  Students who do not meet these prerequisites are to be removed from CS 2100 in the first week of class.

Topics 

Six modules are planned for study in CS 2100: logic, proofs, set theory, functions and relations, combinatorics and probability, graph theory.  The coverage of topics by class meetings and other activities is given via the schedule in the Canvas Modules.

Learning objectives 

Upon completion of CS 2100, students are able to:

  1. use symbolic logic to model real-world situations by converting informal language statements to propositional and predicate logic expressions, as well as apply formal methods to propositions and predicates (such as computing normal forms and calculating validity)
  2. analyze problems to determine underlying recurrence relations, as well as solve such relations by rephrasing as closed formulas
  3. assign practical examples to the appropriate set, function, or relation model, while employing the associated terminology and operations
  4. map real-world applications to appropriate counting formalisms, including permutations and combinations of sets, as well as exercise the rules of combinatorics (such as sums, products, and inclusion-exclusion)
  5. calculate probabilities of independent and dependent events, in addition to expectations of random variables
  6. illustrate by example the basic terminology of graph theory, as wells as properties and special cases (such as Eulerian graphs, spanning trees, isomorphism, and planarity)
  7. employ formal proof techniques (such as direct proof, proof by contradiction, induction, and the pigeonhole principle) to construct sound arguments about properties of numbers, sets, functions, relations, and graphs

Students can expect to achieve these outcomes only if they attend class meetings and discussion sections; complete Canvas quizzes, homeworks, and tests/exams in good faith and on time; and read the textbook (or watch the designated videos).  Furthermore, students may vary in their competency level on these outcomes.

Course Materials

Website

The CS 2100 Canvas course is always under development, with updates to the class schedule, course notes, homework instructions, and more, occurring regularly.  It is critical that students become familiar with the Canvas course right away and plan to visit it several times a week, at a minimum.

Textbook

Regular reading and homework problems are assigned from Discrete Mathematics: Mathematical Reasoning and Proof with Puzzles, Patterns, and Games by Ensley and Crawley (2006, ISBN: 0471476021).  Students are encouraged to purchase used copies or rent the textbook.

Course notes

The instructor often makes use of slides, sample problems, and other materials during class.  These items are posted to Canvas following the class meeting.

Personal computers

Students may use their own computers for completing homework assignments (typing problem solutions and taking Canvas quizzes); however, broken tools or computers, or network connectivity issues are not sufficient basis for a deadline extension.  Plan ahead and use a lab computer if your own is not working.

Student Evaluation

Tests and final exam

Five tests are to be given during the class meetings on 9/7, 9/23, 10/7, 11/2, and 11/23.  The four highest test scores for each student are used to compute their final course grade; therefore, students who cannot be in attendance for one of the test dates above should plan to use their "drop" score accordingly.  Students who cannot be in attendance for more than one of the test dates above should plan to take CS 2100 in a future semester.

The final exam is cumulative and scheduled for Friday, December 17 10:30a-12:30p.  This date and time is set by the University and is not negotiable.

Each student must bring their UCard to every test and final exam, and they may be asked to show their UCard when turning in the test/exam.  No other type of identification may be used for this purpose.

Pre-class Canvas quizzes

To ensure students prepare adequately before each class meeting by watching videos and/or reading the textbook, Canvas quizzes are assigned regularly.  See the advice on how to prepare for class meetings.

The two lowest Canvas quiz scores are dropped for each student.  This accommodation should be used for students who do not submit a quiz on time due to forgetfulness, illness, or other reason.

Homework

The instructions and deadline for each homework are posted to Canvas.  Students are advised to give themselves plenty of time to think about the material, planning to work on the assigned problems a little each day and ask questions when they get stuck.  

Homework is to be completed independently.  It is acceptable for students to discuss how to solve problems with classmates, but copying solutions is considered academic misconduct.

It is the student's responsibility to ensure the successful and timely submission of each assignment via Gradescope — start early and follow the instructions carefully.  Neither forgetfulness nor corrupted or missing files are grounds for deadline extensions; therefore, students are advised to submit at least one hour before the deadline (even if the submission is incomplete), as well as double-check their submissions.  You may resubmit any number of times until the deadline as measured by Gradescope, which may not be the same as your clock.

The lowest homework score is dropped for each student.  This accommodation should be used for students who do not submit a homework on time due to forgetfulness, illness, or other reason.

Final course grade

By default, the final course grade is based on tests (60%), final exam (20%), pre-class Canvas quizzes (10%), and homework (10%).

Occasionally, CS 2100 students perform poorly on some of the early tests and withdraw from the course (officially or unofficially), assuming they have no chance of earning a passing grade (C- or better) for the semester.  The CS 2100 material is naturally cumulative — Module 2 reinforces the Module 1 concepts, Module 3 reinforces concepts from the previous two modules, and so on.  Furthermore, many students who struggle to write proofs at the conclusion of Module 2 improve significantly for the final exam, given the additional practice writing proofs about concepts in later modules.  To encourage a growth mindset among students, a second option for calculating the final course grade is available: tests (40%), final exam (40%), pre-class Canvas quizzes (10%), and homework (10%).

Each student's final course grade is the better of these two calculations.

Note the following:

  • Canvas is configured to use the default grade calculation.  For any student with a higher course grade using the growth-mindset calculation, the grade is entered manually at the end of the semester.
  • If the University transitions to requiring final exams be administered remotely (i.e., not in person), the default calculation is to be used for all students.

For more information on adopting a growth mindset, see the resources provided by the University Student Success Advocates (expand the Mindset section).

Regrades

Students desiring to appeal a score on a homework, test, or final exam must do so via Gradescope and no later than one week after the score is published.

Letter grades

The following table is used to associate numerical scores with the corresponding letter grade.  Note the lack of rounding.

93 ≤ X ≤ 100 A
90 ≤ X < 93 A-
87 ≤ X < 90 B+
83 ≤ X < 87 B
80 ≤ X < 83 B-
77 ≤ X < 80 C+
73 ≤ X < 77 C
70 ≤ X < 73 C-
67 ≤ X < 70 D+
63 ≤ X < 67 D
60 ≤ X < 63 D-
X < 60 E

Getting Help

To get help understanding course material, students may see the Teaching Assistant(s) during TA Help Hours, see the instructor during Office Hours, or post a question to Piazza.  To contact the course staff directly, use Piazza — use of the Canvas Inbox or email is discouraged for CS 2100 questions.  See the instructions on how to get help for details.

Policies and Guidelines

Laptop and mobile device policy

Students are expected to engage with the instructor and classmates during class meetings.  Laptops and mobile devices are permitted for note taking; however, research has shown that handwritten note taking is more beneficial to students than typed note taking1.  Similarly, all CS 2100 tests and the final exam require students to handwrite solutions on paper, making handwritten note taking good practice.  Furthermore, laptops and mobile devices tempt students to multitask during class meetings, the success of which is wishful thinking for students who must focus in order to learn new and complex material.  For these reasons, students are discouraged from using laptops and mobile devices during class.

ADA statement

The University of Utah seeks to provide equal access to its programs, services and activities for people with disabilities. If you will need accommodations in the class, reasonable prior notice needs to be given to the Center for Disability & Access, 162 Olpin Union Building, 801-581-5020. CDA will work with you and the instructor to make arrangements for accommodations. 

All written information in this course can be made available in alternative format with prior notification to the Center for Disability & Access.

Other polices and guidelines 

Students are bound by the following policies and guidelines:

Students should read and understand each of these documents, asking questions as needed.

COVID-19

University leadership has urged all faculty, students, and staff to model the vaccination, testing, and masking behaviors we want to see in our campus community.  These include:

  • Vaccination
  • Masking indoors
  • If unvaccinated, getting weekly asymptomatic coronavirus testing

Vaccination

Get a COVID-19 vaccination if you have not already done so.  Vaccination is proving highly effective in preventing severe COVID-19 symptoms, hospitalization, and death from coronavirus.  Vaccination is the single best way to stop this COVID resurgence in its tracks.

Many in the campus community already have gotten vaccinated:

  • More than 80% of University employees
  • Over 70% of University students

Visit http://mychart.med.utah.edu, http://alert.utah.edu/covid/vaccine, or http://vaccines.gov to schedule your vaccination.

Masking

While masks are no longer required outside of Health Sciences facilities, UTA buses and campus shuttles, CDC guidelines now call for everyone to wear face masks indoors.  Check the CDC website periodically for masking updates.  Treat masks like seasonal clothing (i.e., during community surges in COVID transmission, masks are strongly encouraged indoors and in close groups outside).

Testing

If you are not yet vaccinated, get weekly asymptomatic coronavirus tests. This is a helpful way to protect yourself and those around you because asymptomatic individuals can unknowingly spread the coronavirus to others.  Asymptomatic testing centers are open and convenient:

  • Online scheduling
  • Saliva test (no nasal swabs)
  • Free to all students returning to campus (required for students in University housing)
  • Results often within 24 hours
  • Visit https://alert.utah.edu/covid/testing 

Remember: Students must self-report if they test positive for COVID-19 via https://coronavirus.utah.edu.

Student mental health resources

Rates of burnout, anxiety, depression, isolation, and loneliness have noticeably increased during the pandemic.  If you need help, reach out for campus mental health resources, including counseling, trainings and other support.

Consider participating in a Mental Health First Aid or other wellness-themed training provided by our Center for Student Wellness and sharing these opportunities with your peers.

1Mueller, P. A. & Oppenheimer, D. M. (2014). The pen is mightier than the keyboard: Advantages of longhand over laptop note taking.  Psychological Science, 25(6), 1159-1168. doi:10.1177/0956797614524581.