Computing for Scientists Dr. Jie Zhang |
||
---|---|---|
Home (Last Modified: Aug. 28, 2011) |
||
Syllabus (print version in PDF)
Prerequisites: Math 104 (Trigonometry and Transcendental Functions), or Math 105 (Precalculus Mathematics), or specified score on Math Placement Test Credits: 3 Date:
Tuesday
and Thursday Instructors:
Prof. Jie
Zhang Teaching
Assistant: Mr. Puviharan Harendra Description: This course fulfills the
GMU General Education Requirement
for
Information Technology with Ethics. Students will learn how
to use computers to
solve practical scientific problems. Topics will include the computer
fundamentals of data representation and manipulation, basic scientific
models
and simulations, concept of scientific method, basic concepts and tools
of
scientific visualization, methods of data analysis, and computational
ethics.
The MATLAB is introduced and used as the computational platform. This
course
will equip students with the knowledge and confidence they need to make
productive use of future hardware and software both as students and
throughout
their career
Software
Tools: MATLAB.
During class, each
student will be seated at a computer workstation with MATLAB installed.
Outside
of class, MATLAB is available on workstations on campus (Johnson
Center,
Innovation Hall, and some residence halls). It can also be accessed via
online
remote connection through the Virtual
Computing Laboratory (VCL) at
"https://www.vcl.gmu.edu/index.php?mode=selectauth". A
$109-dollar student version of MATLAB may be purchased at Patriot
Computers. Homework: There will be a weekly homework. Homework will usually consist of multiple choice questions, short answer questions and short projects. Unless otherwise specified, homework will be assigned on each Thursday and due in the beginning of the class in the following Thursday. Only paper copies are acceptable. Project: There will be one comprehensive project
toward
the end of the semester, which synthesizes the knowledge and program
skills
students have learned throughout the semester. Grading:
Homework (30%), Project (15%), Midterm
(20%), Final Exam (30%), Class Participation (5%) Class URL: http://blackboard.gmu.edu/ Text Book: None - no suitable
textbook exists for this course. Course material consists of class
presentations
(PowerPoint Slides, whiteboard lectures, handouts and in-class
exercises). They
are supplemented by web-based content. PowerPoint Slides will be posted
online. |