CS2013-final-report

CSC 312 – Implementation of Programming Languages (2 credits, new course)
http://www.cs.grinnell.edu/courses/csc312
Because Grinnell’s introductory sequence follows a multi-paradigm approach, students are
exposed to many of the core concepts of a typical programming languages course early in their
careers. Hence, in the past, faculty members chose their own approach to the programming
languages course. Comparison with CS 2013 recommendations motivated a focus on a smaller
core of topics, particularly on parsing and semantics, grounded in implementation. The course
will likely draw upon the first half of Friedman and Wand’s Essentials of Programming
Languages.
CSC 321 – Tools and Principles of Software Development (2 credits, new course) and
CSC 322 – Community-Based Software Development (2 credits, new course)
http://www.cs.grinnell.edu/courses/csc321
http://www.cs.grinnell.edu/courses/csc322
Over the past few years, the department has been considering revisions to its software
development curriculum. At the core of this revision is the idea of having students work on a
large, multi-semester project that will serve a community organization. Following the Purdue
model, students will have the opportunity to work on the project in multiple semesters, thereby
having the chance to work on different stages of a project and to explore different roles in the
project. To achieve this approach, earlier 4-credit, project-based courses will be split into two
courses. CSC 322 is the “hands on” portion of the course which students will be able to repeat
for credit. CSC 321 provides the foundations – training in methodologies of software
development, some underlying theory, and a bit of practice in core issues. Exploration of CS
2013 gave further encouragement to try this approach and guided selection of topics essential for
CSC 321.
CSC 341 – Automata, Formal Languages, and computational Complexity
http://www.cs.grinnell.edu/courses/csc341
CSC 341 explores the logical and mathematical foundations of computer science. Topics
covered in some depth include models of computation, the Chomsky language hierarchy,
solvable and unsolvable problems, and P and NP complexity classes. The course follows a
formal and rigorous style, and students write many formal proofs to explain logical arguments.
Although many of the core topics in CSC 341 are designated as Tier 3 in CS 2013, we consider
them essential knowledge for our liberal arts students.
CSC 364 – Computer Networks (2 credits, new version of earlier 4-credit course)
http://www.cs.grinnell.edu/courses/csc364
The previous, 4-credit course focused on the communications protocols used in computer
networks — their functionality, specification, verification, implementation, and performance.
The course also considered the use of network architectures and protocol hierarchies to provide
more complex services. Existing protocols and architectures provided the basis of discussion and
study. The revised, 2-credit course is envisioned to discuss network layers and congestion
management, but various topics in the 4-credit version will either be reduced or omitted in this
smaller version. In addition to collaborative exercises and laboratory assignments, the new
course is likely to include a final project.
- 491 -