CS312 (Fall 2021) - Informational Page
Instructor: Chand John
Semester: Fall 2021
CS312 Course Syllabus (Official): Click Here
Teaching Assistant: Omeed Tehrani
Email: omeed@cs.utexas.edu
Office Hours: Monday and Wednesday (5:00 pm to 6:00 pm) and Tuesday (10:00 am to 11:00 am).
Discussion Section: Mondays (recurring) from 1:00 pm to 2:00 PM (JGB 2.202 or online) and 2:00 to 3:00 pm (JES A216A or online).
Getting Started
Alright folks! The semester is here! Welcome to CS312 ("Introduction" to Programming). I can't tell you how excited I am to have you as my students this semester! Below I have outlined some basic information, some of which can be found on the main syllabus webpage as well.
Have you completed the startup checklist?
Startup Checklist - Information provided by Chand John - More information on how to Get Started can be found on the official CS312 course homepage.
- Check that you are in the correct course & section.
- Set up Canvas account.
- Set up Piazza account and join CS312 Thread.
- Obtain a copy of the textbook: Building Java Programs: A Back to Basics Approach (4th Edition). Please note that this is an optional purchase. As a previous student in CS312, I would personally recommend using the book. Please feel free to ask questions, as I can provide tips and insight on how to properly use the book to be successful.
- Request an account from the UTCS Department.
- Set up your IDE (Interactive Development Environment). More information about which IDE to use can be found here.
- CREATE A PRACTICE-IT ACCOUNT. Take it from a past student, this is absolutely essential to your success in the class. I highly recommend signing up for Practice-It and beginning to work through problems.
How can you contact me?
The best way to reach out to me is via my email. Please make sure that the subject line in this email contacts "CS312" so I can make sure to prioritize my response time. It is of utmost importance to me for my students to be successful, and I will make sure to get back to you as soon as I am available.
PLEASE NOTE: FERPA regulations prohibit instructors and TA's from discussing grades over email. If you need to discuss about your grade, please visit me in office hours, create a private note on Piazza, or email me to set up an appointment for a Zoom meeting. You are free to email me about course content.
Absence Reporting / Policy
If something happens and you are unable to make it to a quiz or attend one of my discussion sections, it is okay. Life happens! Please email the instructor and then email me as well (piazza post would work too) to inform me of the situation. Whatever steps the instructor chooses to take, will allow me to able to further assist you.
Mental Health & COVID-19
As teaching staff, we understand that students can experience a great deal of stress and strain on their mental health, especially when taking difficult course load during COVID-19. The instructional staff and I want you to know that we are here for you. Your mental health is of utmost importance.
If at any point in the semester you feel as if this class is affecting your mental health, please do not hesitate to let me know. I am here to help you and promise that I can help you get everything sorted out.
I have also listed a range of resources listed below to assist you or someone who you think may be struggling.
Academic Integrity
At UTCS, academic dishonesty is not taken lightly. Many who are in the UT Computer Science department, go on to work at big technology companies, study at top ranked graduate schools, write famous research papers, start their own companies, and the list goes on. The reason these things are possible is because of the outstanding talent/success of students and faculty, and the reputation that a degree from UTCS holds. In order to maintain this reputation, students in UTCS are held to a high standard of academic integrity. This class can get quite challenging, especially for students who are newer to Java. If at ANY point in the semester, you feel the temptation to cheat, the best thing to do is speak to an instructor about your struggles and find ways to fill gaps in your knowledge and be successful on exams or assignments without having to face the consequences of academic dishonesty. Remember, it is better to get a zero on an assignment than to cheat. A single instance of cheating will lead to a reduction of your final course grade to F (failing), and several other consequences.
If you have not already, I would encourage you to study up on these informational pages on academic integrity.
Transferring into UTCS
Please note that this section is more relevant to Spring students.
Image Credit: This image is from the UT CNS Internal Transfer website. The internal transfer into the Department of Computer Science is handled by the College of Natural Sciences.
DISCLAIMER: The entire transfer process is between you and the College of Natural Sciences - we have absolutely nothing to do with the transfer process. A lot of your more personal or in-depth question answers can be found on CNS pages, FAQ's, and from CNS admissions staff. Google will be your best friend in this process. :)
Although this course isn't just for prospect transfers, for the majority of students, the end goal of this course is to successfully transfer into UT's Computer Science program.
Being that this department is top 10 ranked in the nation, the process is quite rigorous, challenging and competitive.
I want you to know that I completely understand how overwhelming the process can be. Trying to balance school work with extracurriculars, projects, and internships can be hard.
If you have any additional questions, please do not hestitate to email me or privately post on Piazza. I will try my best to point you to the right resource if I do not have an answer of my own. Best of luck in the process!
Cheers to the beginning of a wonderful semester and an even better 2021!
