CSC 121: Computers and Scientific Thinking
Spring 2025

Section C
Tue 2:00-3:00 & Thu 2:00-4:00
135 Creighton Hall
Dr. David Reed
Hitchcock 209A      x2583
DaveReed@creighton.edu

Text: Computer Science: Concepts & Explorations, 2nd ed., David Reed, 2021.   (Custom text available for purchase at the bookstore.)

Course Description

This course introduces students to science and scientific reasoning from a perspective that integrates computer science and the natural sciences. Students will gain a basic understanding of computer technology (its organization, history, societal impact, etc.) and how computers are used in various scientific disciplines. In particular, the use of the scientific method and the importance of computer modeling in scientific inquiry will be studied. Students will learn to develop simple Web-based programs for analyzing data and modeling systems, and use those programs in conducting hands-on experiments. Applications in biology, physics, and data science will provide insights into how these disciplines approach problems and utilize computers and computer modeling as tools.

The specific goals of this course are:

Course Structure

Students are expected to attend classes in person. Given the size of the class, it is essential that students adhere to all Creighton community standards, including behaving in respectful manner and contributing to a positive learning environment. Disruptive or disrespectful behavior may result in removal from class. Laptops are allowed and many students have found the ability to work along with the instructor very helpful.

If you must miss a class because of an emergency, you are expected to notify the instructor as soon as possible. If you are sick, contact the Student Health Education and Compliance Office (402-280-2735) immediately and follow their recommendations. Be aware that all class materials posted on Blueline, including assignments, quizzes, and discussions, are considered to be copyrighted and are intended to be used only by students enrolled in the class, for the purposes of fulfilling the course objectives. Recording lectures without permission or sharing any of these materials with others outside of the course will be considered "misuse of academic resources," as defined in the Creighton University Student Handbook.

Instructor office hours:
Mon&Wed 2:00-3:00
Tue&Thu 9:45-10:45  
or by appointment
Dr. Reed Hitchcock 209A
TA office hours:
Mon 5:00-6:00 Nick Bloor Teams
Mon 7:00-8:00 Sara Avila Teams
Mon 8:00-9:00 Cameron Abanes Teams
Tue 5:00-6:00 Mason Anderson Hitchcock 204
Tue 8:00-9:00 Wistrom Herfordt Teams
Wed 5:00-6:00 Jordan White Hitchcock 204
Thu 5:00-6:00 Cameron Kelly Hitchcock 204
Thu 6:00-7:00 Bobby DeBarros Teams
Thu 7:00-8:00 Ella Brastad Teams
Thu 8:00-9:00 Chinelo Spencer-Obiano Teams
Fri 5:00-6:00 Caleb Cannon Hitchcock 204

Required Work

Class periods will consist of three types of activity, roughly organized along the following schedule.

There will be two 60-minute tests and a cumulative 100-minute final exam. The final course grade will be based on the following weightings with minimum cutoffs of 93% for A, 90% for A-, 87% for B+, 83% for B, 80% for B-, and so on. Some shifting of grades, in an upward direction only, may occur as final letter grades are assigned.

ten chapter quizzes 5 %
eight chapter projects 20 %
five lab assignments 20 %
two 60-minute tests 30 %
100-minute final exam 25 %

Policy on Collaboration

In addition to the College of Arts & Science's policy on academic honesty, the following guidelines hold for this course.

Violations of these guidelines will be dealt with severely, with possible outcomes including a negative score or failure in the course.

Daily Schedule

Date Topic Readings Hand-in
Jan 14
16
 
Course Overview
Computer Basics (pptx)
Lab 1
 
Chapter C1
 
 
C1 quiz
 
21
23
 
World Wide Web (pptx)
HTML & Web Pages (pptx)
Project 1.A (p. 212)
Chapter C2
Chapter X1
 
C2 quiz
Lab 1
 
28
30
 
The Internet (pptx)
Hypertext & Multimedia (pptx)
Project 2.A (p. 231) [Web server setup]
Chapter C3
Chapter X2
 
C3 quiz
Project 1.A
 
Feb 4
6
 
History of Computers (pptx)
Dynamic Web Pages (pptx)
Project 3.B (p. 249)
Chapter C4
Chapter X3
 
C4 quiz
Project 2.A
 
11
13
 
AI Week (pptx)
AI Week (pptx)
Test Prep (pptx)
 
 
 
 
Project 3.B
 
18
20
 
TEST 1
Test Review & Reset
Lab 2
 
 
 
 
 
 
25
27
 
Scientific & Computational Thinking (pptx)
Thursday Theatre
 
Chapter C5
 
 
C5 quiz
Lab 2
 
Mar 4
6
 
Algorithms & Programming (pptx)
Interaction & Design (pptx)
Project 4.B (p. 269)
Chapter C6
Chapter X4
 
C6 quiz
 
 
11
13
 
SPRING BREAK -- NO CLASSES
18
20
 
CS as a Discipline (pptx)
Numbers & Computation (pptx)
Projects 5.A (p. 290) & 5.C (p. 292)
Chapter C7
Chapter X5
 
C7 quiz
Project 4.B
 
25
27
 
Inside the Data (pptx)
Functions & Libraries (pptx)
Projects 6.B (p. 313) & 6.C (p. 314)
Chapter C8
Chapter X6
 
C8 quiz
Projects 5.A & 5.C
 
Apr 1
3
 
Applications in Biology (pptx)
Lab 3
Test Prep (pptx)
 
 
 
 
Projects 6.B & 6.C
 
8
10
 
TEST 2
Test Review & Reset
Lab 4
 
 
 
 
Lab 3
 
15
17
 
Inside Multimedia (pptx) -- goJays
Conditional Execution (pptx)
Project 7.C (p. 337)
Chapter C9
Chapter X7
 
C9 quiz
Lab 4
 
22
24
 
Conditional Repetition (pptx)
Software Modeling (pptx)
Lab 5
Chapter X8
Chapter X9
 
 
Project 7.C
 
29
May 1
 
Inside the Computer (pptx)
Impact of Computing (pptx)
Bridging the Divide (pptx)
Chapter C10
Chapter C11
Chapter C12
C10 quiz
C11 quiz
C12 quiz
6 Course Review (pptx)   Lab 5
12 FINAL EXAM     Monday (1:00-2:40)

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