2019-2020 / INFO2009-2

Introduction to computer science

Duration

24h Th, 14h Pr

Number of credits

 Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Engineering4 crédits 
 Bachelor in mathematics4 crédits 
 Master in mathematics (120 ECTS)4 crédits 
 Master in mathematics (60 ECTS)4 crédits 

Lecturer

Bernard Boigelot

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the first semester, review in January

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

This course covers the following material: Concepts of computer, algorithm, program. Basic notions of algorithmics. Introduction to C language programming. Time and space complexity, "big-O" notation. Correctness and termination anaysis of programs. Functions and procedures, recursion. Manipulation of arrays and character strings. Structures, pointers, dynamic memory allocation. Elementary data structures: stacks and queues.
 

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

At the end of this course, students will be able to develop algorithms for solving simple problems, as well as to analyze their correctness, termination, and performance. They will master the basics of the C language, and will be able to program their solutions in this language.
 

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

There is no prerequisite.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

  • Theoretical lectures.
  • Exercise sessions aimed at making students understand the theory, and become able to apply it to concrete problems. The tools that make it possible for students to program their solutions on their own computer will be explained in the course of these exercise sessions.

Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning)

  • Theoretical lectures are given by the professor.
  • Exercise sessions are supervised by an assistant, helped by student teaching aids. These sessions are held in groups of about forty students.

Recommended or required readings

The slides used for the theoretical lectures are the main support material. A copy of those slides can be downloaded from the course webpage. Students looking for a reference document on the C language can read The C Programming Language (2nd edition), Brian W. Kernighan, Dennis M. Ritchie, or its french translation. (It is not mandatory to buy this book in order to follow the course.)
 

Assessment methods and criteria

A written exam in January, June (for first-block students), and September.

Work placement(s)

Organizational remarks

  • Theoretical lectures are given in the first quadrimester, Tuesday afternoon from 13:30 to 15:30.
  • Students are dispatched to several rooms for the exercise sessions, from 15:45 to 17:45. These rooms might change during the year.

Contacts

Professor: Bernard Boigelot, bernard.boigelot@uliege.be
 

Adaptation of teaching commitments following the COVID-19 pandemic for the May-June 2020 session

Teaching methods implemented : distance-learning

The course has been taught in the first quadrimester.

Assessment subjects

The topics of the exam correspond to the material covered by the theoretical lessons and the exercise sessions. More precisely, this material corresponds to slides 1 to 251 of the theoretical part of the course, amounting to Chapters 1 to 7, and to the corresponding exercises.

Assessment methods

Open-book exam, with a questionnaire sent by email.

Contacts

bernard.boigelot@uliege.be

Adaptation of teaching commitments following the COVID-19 pandemic for the Aug-Sept 2020 session

Assessment subjects

The topics of the exam correspond to the material covered by the theoretical lessons and the exercise sessions. More precisely, this material corresponds to slides 1 to 251 of the theoretical part of the course, amounting to Chapters 1 to 7, and to the corresponding exercises.

Assessment methods

Open-book exam, with a questionnaire sent by email.

Contacts

bernard.boigelot@uliege.be