Welcome
to CSCI 4501, Programming Language Structure. This course delves into the
structures underlying the definition and implementation of modern programming
languages. The listed prerequisites for
this course imply a prior knowledge of programming using an advanced structured
language (like Java or C), familiarity with data structures and their use, and
that much-sought but hard-to-define commodity needed for an advanced course
like this -- mathematical maturity.
A study of the concepts of programming languages as realized in a
variety of commonly used languages, with emphasis on language definition and
structure.
CSCI 2125, Data
Structures, with grade of C or better.
At the conclusion of
this course, the successful student should be able to:
Programming Language Pragmatics, 3rd ed.,
Michael L. Scott, Morgan Kaufmann Publishers, 2009 (ISBN-13 978-0-123-74514-9).
We shall try to cover as much of the book as we can. We will certainly
discuss Ch. 1-11. The text should be available at the bookstore.
The following links are intended to assist those who may not be able to avail
of the bookstore's services: |
|
The course will be
primarily in lecture format -- questions and discussions are most welcome,
however. Student participation is
strongly encouraged. Problem sets will
be assigned and will occasionally be discussed in class with students being
asked to talk about their own work.
Students are expected to read ahead. This enhances their chance to
participate meaningfully in any class discussion. Programming exercises may be assigned as
necessary. In such an event, programs
must reflect the principles you acquired in your programming courses (i.e., good documentation, clear logic
design, and originality). Graduate students will be assigned additional work
(such as extra readings of technical papers) to justify the course's graduate
credit. Also, grading of tests, programs and papers will be much stricter than
for undergraduate students.
The exam schedule is
tentative. We will have two tests plus the final exam. Tentative dates
for the tests are Sept. 25th and Nov. 4th. The final
exam is scheduled firmly for Wednesday, Dec. 11th, from 8:00-10:00 p.m.
Homework assignments are
a crucial part of the learning process in this course. It is by "getting one's
hands dirty" that one absorbs the subtle points of theoretical issues.
Only by being able to translate theory into practice can one truly say that the
material has been learned. Policies that apply to homework are as follows:
The final grade will be
computed as follows: Homework will comprise 40%; student
"participation" another 10%; and, finally, tests make up the
remaining 50%. The test component will be computed as follows: Two
"chapter" tests and the final exam counted twice give four grades.
The highest three will be used to compute the test component of your final
grade. For instance if your in-class test grades are 70 and 80, and your final
exam grade is 75, then the grades 80, 75, 75 (i.e., highest three of 70,
80, 75, 75) will be used.
Letter grades will be
assigned as [90 - 100] = A, [80 - 90) = B, [70 - 80) = C, [50 - 70) = D, [0 -
50) = F. Final grades may be curved up at the discretion of the instructor, but
don't count on it.
My UNO office is in MTH
308. You are welcome to drop by and visit. My office hours are:
Mon
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon;
8:45 - 9:00 p.m.
Wed 8:45 - 9:00 p.m.
Fri 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon
other times by
appointment only
If you need to see me, you may make an appointment by contacting
me at (504)280-7370 or by e-mail to ndepano@uno.edu)
or, if all else fails, via cell phone (504)722-0352.
Finally, we must call your attention to the University's policies
regarding academic dishonesty (http://www.studentaffairs.uno.edu/pdfs/AcademicDishonestyPolicy.pdf).
Academic dishonesty includes cheating, plagiarism, and collusion. In particular,
it includes "the unauthorized collaboration with another person in
preparing an academic exercise" and "submitting as one's own any
academic exercise prepared totally or in part for/by another."
In
the event of academic dishonesty, the student will be assigned a grade of 0
on the exam or exercise, the student will be informed in writing of the action
taken, and a copy of this letter will be sent to the Assistant Dean for Special
Student Services.
Finally, we provide here
a link to the webpage that contains the University's policy with regards to
students with special needs (http://www.ods.uno.edu/index.cfm).
As expressed therein, the University pursues two primary objectives: (1)
to ensure compliance with Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act and the
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in regard to equal access for qualified
students to academic programs; and (2) to uphold the academic integrity of UNO.
Part of this policy regulates the accommodative testing services. These
accommodations are made available in the ODS Accommodative Testing and
Adaptive Technology Center (ATATC), located in the Science Bldg. (SC 1046)