Course Content *

#	Topic	Textbook Reading	Lecture 1	Lecture 2	Python Lecture	Lab	Assignment
0	Introduction	CP: Ch.1 EDM: Ch.1	LE.0.		PL.0.	LA.0.	PA.0.
1	Morse code and Braille	CP: Ch.1 - 3 EDM: 2.1 - 2.11	LE.1.1	LE.1.2	PL.1.	LA.1.	PA.1.
2	Number Systems	CP: Ch. 9 - 10	LE.2.1.	LE.2.2.	PL.2.	LA.2.	WA.2.
	Exam 1: Monday, February 6
3	Bytes and Hexadecimal	CP: Ch. 11 - 12	LE.3.1.	LE.3.2.	PL.3.	LA.3.	PA.3.
	From ASCII to Unicode	CP: Ch. 13			PL.4.	LA.4.
4	Logic with Switches	CP: Ch. 4	LE.4.1.	LE.4.2.	PL.5.	LA.5.	PA.4.
	Exam 2: Friday, March 17
5	Relays and Gates	CP: Ch. 6 - 8	LE.5.1.	LE.5.2.	PL.6.	LA.6. LA.7.	PA.5.
6	Integrated Circuits	CP: Ch 8	LE.6.1.	LE.6.2.	PL.7.	LA.8.	PA.6.
	Exam 3: Wednesday, April 5
7	Arithmetic with Logic Gates	CP: Ch. 14, 16	LE.7.1. Circuit	LE.7.2.	PL.8.	LA.9. / PA.7. LA.10.	Bonus
	Review
	Exam 4: Friday, April 28 (8:30 AM)

* Subject to change

Textbooks

1. [CP] Computer Science: Code: The Hidden Language of Computer Hardware and Software (2nd Edition) by Charles Petzold
2. [EDM] Python: How to Think Like a Computer Scientist (Swarthmore Edition) by Jeffrey Elkner, Allen B. Downey, and Chris Meyers (free, open textbook)
3. [MG] Neuroscience: Computational Neuroscience by Michelle Greene (free, open textbook)

Other Resources

• Jupyter Notebook User Guide
• The Python Tutorial
• W3Schools Python Tutorial

Class Meeting Times

Lecture: Riley Hall 106
Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays
8:30 AM - 9:20 AM

Lab: Riley Hall 201
Wednesdays
2:30 PM - 4:30 PM

Instructor Information

Dr. Fahad Sultan
Office: Riley Hall 200-D
Phone: 864-294-3755
Email: fahad.sultan@furman.edu
Web: https://fahadsultan.github.io

Office Hours (or by appointment):

Monday: 1:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Tuesday: email to schedule time
Wednesday: email to schedule time
Thursday: 8:30 AM - 11:30 PM
Friday: email to schedule time

Course Description

Man vs. Machine
Today, if you google “Neural Networks”, you will see that the search engine deems results on Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) more relevant than results on biological neural networks, which inspired ANNs in the first place. The pioneering researcher on ANNs, sometimes also referred to as the “Godfather of AI”, not too long ago, posed the following question:

Suppose you have cancer and you have to choose between a black box AI surgeon that cannot explain how it works but has a 90% cure rate and a human surgeon with a 80% cure rate. Do you want the AI surgeon to be illegal?

This Introduction to Computer Science course aims to better prepare you to contend with such quandaries of our times. The course not only demystifies such said black boxes but also covers the consequences of technology being opaque and lacking transparency. The course will introduce you to some of most foundational ideas of computer science and demonstrate how they extend to problems of pattern recognition that underlie all intelligence, artificial and biological.

The relationship between intelligence and computers runs deep, lest we forget, not too long ago, the word computer itself needed to be prefaced with digital or human.

Course Goals

On successful completion of the course, students should:

• Have a broad understanding of how computers work and encode information.
• Have a broad understanding of computational decoding models.
• Be able to compare and contrast modern encoding models for the brain with those of computers.
• A deep understanding of boolean logic and binary number system.
• A deep understanding of alternative number systems, with bases other than 10.
• Read and write code, in Python.

Development Environment(s)

• Google Colab
• Anaconda
• Jupyter Notebook

Grading Scale

(Subject to change,
letter grade +/- at instructor's discretion)

A	grade >= 90%
B	80% <= grade < 90%
C	70% <= grade < 80%
D	60% <= grade < 70%
F	grade < 60%

Grading Specifications

Exam 1	15%
Exam 2	15%
Exam 3	15%
Exam 4 (Final)	15%
Assignments	15%
Labs	15%
Class Participation	10%

Minimum Requirements:

In order to pass this class, you must (1) earn a passing grade, (2) submit at least 50% of all in-class submissions, labs, and (3) take all exams. Simply, you cannot blow off an entire aspect of the course and pass this class! Note that this basic requirement is necessary but not sufficient to pass the class.

Required Computer:

All students are expected to bring a laptop to every class and follow along the instructor on their computers during the lecture. Students will be required to submit in-class work on Moodle for it count towards class participation. Please see me if you do not have access to a laptop.

Some General Advice:

• Programming is like chess. There is a difference between knowing the rules and being good at it. In this course, you’ll be graded on how good you are at programming and the only way to get good is through practice!
• Come to class and actively participate. There is no textbook for this course. We are going to collaboratively solve problems and write code in the class.
• The weekly assignments are there for you to help practice. Take these seriously. They are the backbone of this course. Diligent work on the assignments is going to pay off in the labs and exams.
• Start assignments early! This will allow you time to (a) get stuck and recover (b) seek my help, if needed.
• The labs are there for you to receive weekly feedback on your learning progress and for me to assess your level of mastery of the concepts covered in class and assignments.
• Seek me out with any questions, comments or concerns. I have an open-door policy.
• Do not cheat on the assignments! Do not overuse your friends or the internet. Come to my office hours or send me an email instead. I know all the answers and am willing to help.
• Reach out: It is to your advantage to communicate with me whether in class, in my office, or via email. I plan to maintain an open-door policy between 9:00 AM -5:00 PM, Monday to Friday, unless I am in a meeting or teaching a class. You are strongly encouraged to visit me in my office or request a meeting via email with any questions, comments or observations about the class.

Academic Integrity:

Academic Integrity standards are important to our Furman community and will be upheld in this class. Students should review the Academic Integrity Pledge posted in the classroom and resources available on www.furman.edu/integrity. In this class, the grade penalty for an academic integrity violation is an F for the course. Academic Discipline procedures will be followed through the Office of the Academic Dean.

For programming assignments/homeworks and labs, follow the 50 foot policy in its spirit.

Additional Resources in the Center for Academic Success (CAS; LIB 002):

Peer Tutors are available free of charge for many classes and may be requested by dropping by CAS (LIB 002) or on the Center for Academic Success website. Tutors are typically recommended by faculty and have performed well in the class.

The Writing & Media Lab (WML) is staffed by student Consultants who are trained to help you improve your writing and multimodal communication skills. The consultation process is non-directive and intended to allow students to maintain ownership of their work. In addition to helping with the nuts and bolts, WML Consultants also support you in developing your own ideas thoughtfully and critically, whether you’re writing an essay or planning a video or other multimedia project. You may drop into the WML during its regular hours (LIB 002; 9 AM to 10 PM) or visit the Writing and Media Lab website to make an appointment online.

Professional Academic Assistance Staff in CAS can provide students assistance with time management, study skills, and organizational skills.

The Writing and ESL Specialist provides professional writing support as well as support for students whose primary language is not English.

Accomodations

Furman University recognizes a student with a disability as anyone whose impairment substantially limits one or more major life activity. Students may receive a variety of services including classroom accommodations such as extended time on tests, test proctoring, note-taking assistance and access to assistive technology. However, receipt of reasonable accommodations cannot guarantee success–all students are responsible for meeting academic standards. Students with a diagnosed disability may be entitled to accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Please visit Student Office for Accessibility Resources for more info.

Nondiscrimination Policy and Sexual Misconduct:

Furman University and its faculty are committed to supporting our students and seeking an environment that is free of bias, discrimination, and harassment. Furman does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, disability, age, religion, veteran status, or any other characteristic or status protected by applicable local, state, or federal law in admission, treatment, or access to, or employment in, its programs and activities.

If you have encountered any form of discrimination or harassment, including sexual misconduct (e.g. sexual assault, sexual harassment or gender-based harassment, sexual exploitation or intimidation, stalking, intimate partner violence), we encourage you to report this to the institution. If you wish to report such an incident of misconduct, you may contact Furman's Title IX Coordinator, Melissa Nichols (Trone Center, Suite 215; Melissa.nichols@furman.edu; 864.294.2221).

If you would like to speak with someone who can advise you but maintain complete confidentiality, you can talk with a counselor, a professional in the Student Health Center or someone in the Office of Spiritual Life. If you speak with a faculty member, understand that as a "Responsible Employee" of the University, the faculty member MUST report to the University’s Title IX Coordinator what you share to help ensure that your safety and welfare are being addressed, consistent with the requirements of the law.

Additional information about Furman's Sexual Misconduct Policy, how to report sexual misconduct and your rights can be found at the Furman Title IX Webpage. You do not have to go through the experience alone.