This page contains some quick information to get going with CS 173. More detailed information is available on the home pages for the two lectures and the honors add-on.
Everyone taking the class must fill out the Prerequisite and Information form. This will allow us to verify that everyone has the prerequisites, including cases where you may have credits in progress or equivalent informal background. It will also give us information that will help us teach more effectively.
Be aware that the department plans to remove anyone who does not have the prerequisites. This will happen a couple weeks into classes, when it's difficult to repair your schedule. So if you are uncertain about your preparation, please consult with us now.
As you return to campus, you may wish to purchase textbooks before the big rush. You should find three items at the Union Bookstore:
This term, you will need to submit work during discussion sections. This work will not be returned to you, so you will need a way to quickly make a second copy for your later studying. We believe this is most easily done using a carbonless duplicate lab notebook and we've selected one convenient model to put on the shelves at the Union Bookstore. However, it's ok to use a different type of duplicate lab notebook, loose carbonless duplicate sheets, carbon paper (if you can still find any), or any other technology with similar functionality.
The course opened to non-majors on Nov 25 and filled up almost immediately. We do have a few more seats which we're filling by hand using a priority system. If you wish to take the course and have not been able to register, please do the following:
Folks on the wait list should keep trying to register on-line, because seats will open up as other folks adjust their schedules. If you are still waiting when classes start, come to lecture and sign up on the sheet that will be provided. We expect to be able to add a few more people by hand after the start of classes, when we've let in the last of the priority cases (e.g. CS majors).
This course assumes that you have taken an introductory programming class similar to CS 101, CS 125, or ECE 190. ECE 198KL is also fine, but ECE 198JL is not sufficient. We plan to enforce this prerequisite. So if you have taken courses elsewhere or have informal programming experience, you must sort out transfer credit or pass the CS 101 or CS 125 proficiency exam or provide other convincing evidence that you have equivalent background. The university should automatically give you credit for CS 101 if you have a score of 4 or 5 on the CS AP exam. It is possible to use CS 103 to satisfy the programming prerequisite. However, we recommend this route only if you got an A in CS 103.
If you are unsure of your programming background or need help with administrative details, please consult
If you have taken previous proof-based math courses, you may wish to attempt the proficiency exam. For more information, see the CS Proficiency Exams page.
If your background is strong and your schedule is not very full, you may wish to do the Honors Add-on.