Course Catalogue

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This course introduces the knowledge and skills necessary to write programs in the C programming language. This foundation is extended to allow students to construct larger programs consisting of functions/sub-programs and to effectively test and debug their code.

This course will be timetabled in blocks, typically one week in four. 

Mandatory Entry Requirements

None

Recommended Entry Requirements

None

None

None

Assessment

Examination 60%

Assessed programming exercises 30%

Assessed tutorials 10%

Students must submit work for assessment for the course laboratory or a grade of credit withheld will be given.

Reassessment

In accordance with the University's Code of Assessment reassessments are normally set for all courses which do not contribute to the honours classifications. For non honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students, and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions are listed below in this box.

Due to the nature of the coursework and sequencing of courses, it is not possible to reassess the coursework laboratory.

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. For non Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below. 

Due to the nature of the coursework and sequencing of courses, it is not possible to reassess the coursework laboratory.

The initial grade on coursework laboratories will be used when calculating the resit grade.

To equip the candidate with the skills and knowledge necessary to write programs in the C programming language; to introduce the concepts necessary for the construction of larger programs; to foster the ability to adhere to specification when writing modules of larger programs; to develop skills in testing and debugging code; and to gain a technical English vocabulary.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ write practical functioning C programming code which makes full use of the following constructs;

■ simple (int, float, char, string) and complex (arrays, structs, pointers) data types;

■ operators (algebraic, assignment, relational, Boolean), and functions;

■ flow control statements (do-while, while, for, if-else);

■ standard input and output library functions;

■ find and correct logical errors in student written code and example code;

■ design, write, compile and run simple programs using an integrated development environment and a numerical computational software package;

■ recognise correct syntax in C programs, and correct C programs with erroneous syntax;

■ environment, and recognise when such programs are running to a simple written specification; and

■ demonstrate their knowledge of technical English vocabulary.

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment. In addition students must submit work for assessment for the course laboratory or a grade of credit withheld will be given.