Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE CIS1033

 
TITLE Introduction to Programming

 
UM LEVEL 01 - Year 1 in Modular Undergraduate Course

 
MQF LEVEL 5

 
ECTS CREDITS 4

 
DEPARTMENT Computer Information Systems

 
DESCRIPTION This unit is an intensive introductory course in programming using the procedural (imperative) paradigm. The accent is given to learning programming techniques, understanding key algorithms and writing well-designed, structured programs while stressing that learning programming techniques is more important than learning a particular programming language. The study-unit aims to cater also for students with little programming skills raising them to the desirable standard. Two programming languages will be used: ANSI C-language (C99 standard; for the benefit of shell access to Operating Systems) and Java (for the benefit of free compiler and support classes as well as pre-requisite for later Object Oriented programming). However Java language will be taught with a minimum focus on objects, concentrating mainly on class methods and basic language constructs.

High importance is given to practical problem solving. Students are expected to work intensively both during tutorials and home.

Topics in brief:
Basic programming algorithms (e.g. accumulated sum/product, random number generation), basic data types and I/O, language constructs (assignment, if, case/switch, loops), higher data structures (including records/structures, arrays and strings), principles of modular programming (functions, call by value, call by reference, Java packages), simple text stream handling (only in Java), type wrapper and utility class methods (only in Java), text files, introduction to pointers and function calls by reference (only in C).

More advanced algorithms: Sorting( Insertion, Bubble, Quicksort and Mergesort), Searching(linear, binary, hash search).

Textbooks:
• CIS1033 Lecture Handouts.
• H Deitel & P Deitel C How To Program Prentice Hall ISBN-10: 0132404168 ISBN-13: 978-0132404167.
• RL Wood C Programming For Scientists and Engineers (Manufacturing Engineering Series) Butterworth-Heinemann ISBN-10: 1857180305 ISBN-13: 978-1857180305.
• B Strousoup Programming: Principles and Practice Using C++ Addison-Wesley ISBN-10: 0321543726 ISBN-13: 978-0321543721.
• K Litwak Pure Java 2 SAMS, ISBN 0-672-31654-4.
• K Sierra & B Bates Head First Java O-Reilly Media Inc ISBN-10:0596009208 ISBN-13: 978-0596009205.

 
ADDITIONAL NOTES Pre-requisite: ‘A’ Level Grade C (Computing or I.T.) or following a computing course

Knowledge required: Basic skills with Windows Explorer, ZIP files manipulation

This study-unit is offered only for the degree in CIS as primary/secondary area. Students who would like to take programming as optional may take CIS1003.

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture and Practical

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Examination (2 Hours) Yes 80%
Practical Yes 20%

 
LECTURER/S Vitezslav Nezval

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit