CS 173 goes virtual

Confused by the transition to online instruction? See our information page for the latest news on the new course organization. Video lectures can be accessed from the CS 173 channel on mediaspace.

Welcome to the Spring 2020 web page for CS173

Most information will be in the subpages for the two lectures. Links will appear below as we get those pages ready (probably the weekend before classes start).

• A lecture
• B lecture

Meanwhile, please read the registration and start-up information below. You can also look at web pages for previous recent terms to get a sense of what the course covers and how it normally runs.

Textbooks etc

The textbook will be available online.

You will need to buy a copy of the discussion manual. The Union Bookstore sells these at cost, about $5. The manual is the same for the A and B lectures.

Instructors

Margaret Fleck will be teaching the A lecture. The instructor for the B lecture is Yael Gertner.

Registration

The course is now full. The CS academic office is still holding back a few seats for majors with problems. They're expecting to release these on Friday the 24th.

• CS majors: we're still holding back some seats for late-registering majors. Contact the CS academic office.
• CE students who need this course now to graduate on time: speak to an ECE advisor who will, if appropriate, contact the CS academic office.
• Others: keep an eye on the registration system. People do drop, and we'll release any held-back seats around the start of classes.

Seats in this course can appear quite late, even during the first couple weeks of classes. For example, students who pass the CS 173 proficiency exam (and can therefore drop the course) won't find this out until about a week into classes. Don't give up until we're past the 10th day of classes. (We do not let students join the class or switch lecture after the 10th day.)

If you aren't yet registered when clases start, COME TO CLASS and stay caught up with the work. Otherwise, it will be difficult to get caught up when you are able to add the course officially.

Prerequisite checking

This course assumes that you have significant practice with recursion, have worked with basic data structures (e.g. linked lists, trees or graphs), and have seen simple examples of big-O algorithm analysis. Students without this background sometimes think they are ok towards the start of the term, but get into trouble midway through the course.

To take this course, you must have completed Calculus I (Math 220 or 221) and CS 125 or ECE 220. Banner is now enforcing these prerequisites automatically, so you will not be able to add CS 173 if you don't have them.

If you have credit for a prerequisite course but it is not visible on your transcript, you must speak to the CS academic office for an override. This would include students with incoming transfer credit, exchange students, and students who pass the CS 125 proficiency exam at the start of the term. Be aware that the academic office is swamped during registration and also at the start of the term, so be patient especially if you are a non-major.

What can be used to satisfy the prerequisites?

• Since registration happens in the middle of the previous term, you'll be allowed to register for CS 173 based on the fact that you're currently taking the prerequisite course(s). If you fail a prerequisite class, you'll have to drop CS 173.
• You can take CS 173 if you have credit for Calculus II or III, but mysteriously no credit for Calculus I. However, you should see your advisor to sort out your situation if your major (e.g. CS) explicitly requires Calculus I for graduation.
• You cannot satisfy the programming requirement using AP CS, CS 101/105, and/or ECE 120. These courses do not cover some of the critical background material.
• You may not take a prerequisite course (e.g. CS 125 or ECE 220) concurrently with CS 173. CS 173 uses certain critical material before these courses cover it.
• Having taken much of a prerequisite course (e.g. Calc I) in high school does not change this rule. If you cannot place out of the course at U. Illinois, that means you don't have the background to take CS 173.
• You may satisfy the intro programming requirement by passing the CS 125 proficiency exam (in C++ or Java), at the start of term. Have a backup plan in case you don't pass it.
• It is also sufficient if you pass the ECE 220 proficiency exam at the start of term. (The ECE department gives this only by special arrangement, primarily to transfer students.)

If you have taken previous proof-based math courses, you may wish to attempt the proficiency exam. The next exam date is Tuesday January 21st, 2020, 7-10pm, in 1404 Siebel Center. Advance registration is not required. For more information, see the CS Proficiency Exams page.

For staffing reasons, we will not be running the honors add-on (CS 196, section 73) this term.