UCSD CSE 12 Summer 2024

Basic Data Structures and Object-Oriented Design

Ruanqianqian (Lisa) Huang

Table of Contents

Welcome!

Have you used a software that freezes the screen with every button click you made? Why are some programs slower than the others? Why are some softwares easy to use but others not? What does it mean to design programs that manipulate and store data properly? Data structures are at the heart of the answers to these questions.

This course focuses on two main topics: The basics of organizing data for efficient computation, and the design of programs that use collections, classes, and interfaces.

What to Expect

Each week, we will explore topics in these areas interactively during lectures. You will engage in discussions and collaborative hands-on work in lectures, complete programming assignments to hone your coding and program design skills, and take quizzes that evaluate your understanding of what you have learned. By the end of the course, with sufficient effort, you will be better at designing and understanding programs and the structure of data they work over, which are stepping stones to the understanding of the technical and societal impact of software as well as more advanced topics in computer science.

On an average week in CSE12, you can expect to spend 6-8 hours on lectures, in-class group work, and discussions; and 9-12 hours working on your programming assignments and reviewing materials. If you find yourself spending dramatically more time than this, it is a good idea to contact the course staff and discuss more efficient strategies in office hours.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, with sufficient effort, you will be able to:

Course Format

In-Person Lecture

Expect class to be interactive; you’ll work through problems in groups, compare multiple approaches to solutions, and answer multiple-choice questions using Gradescope quizzes (see Engagement below).

Lecture Time Location
A00 MW 8am-10:50am FAH 1450

Podcasts will be available after lectures. However, attendance is strongly encouraged – in every lecture we will work on questions together that resemble exam questions. In some lectures, we will spend time designing sample exam questions. The questions you create and see might end up being the real exam questions.

Discussion

Discussions will reinforce concepts from class and introduce concepts that are especially helpful for completing programming assignments and exams. There will be podcasts/recordings for discussions.

Time Location
TuTh 9am - 9:50am Tu: Zoom; Th: FAH 1450

In general, there will be two kinds of discussions:

Course Logistics

Instructional Staff

Instructor: Lisa Huang (r6huang+cse12@ucsd.edu)

Teaching Assistant: Rachel Lim (ral077@ucsd.edu)

Tutors: Kristhian Ortiz (klortiz@ucsd.edu) and Wenhua Tang (w7tang@ucsd.edu)

More details about staff and help hours: use the “Help Hours” link on the left navigation bar.

Textbook

There is no required textbook for the course. There is a Stepik online textbook available, and it is free and interactive! It serves as a useful reference, and there will be links to relevant stepik sections in with the course schedule. While we will not grade the exercises in Stepik, you are expected to complete them before relevant lectures so that you will be prepared to participate in problem solving session and so that you know the expected pace of the course.

  1. Sign in or create an account at stepik.org
  2. Join the course here

We may use other on-line resources during the quarter that may be required reading or activities. These will all be free and linked from the schedule.

Online Discussion and Q&A

Online discussion and Q&A for the class will be available on Piazza: sign up to join the class here and view the discussion forum here. Important announcements from the course team will be pinned at the top of your feed. When you set up your account, you can select the frequency for email notifications of messages and discussions on Piazza. Piazza is one way you can ask for and get help in this course.

Programming Environment

While you are welcome to use your preferred programming environment for assignments, such as Eclipse and IntelliJ, the officially supported environment for CSE 12 is VSCode. The course staff is most familiar with VSCode and may not be able to help you with environment issue if you choose to use a different environment. If you do not already have a programming environment for Java installed and would like to use VSCode, please complete PA0: Computer Set up.

Java Documentation

The documentation for the Java language, while not required reading, will be linked to from some assignments and is always a useful reference while programming. You can install any version higher than 8. The latest version is Java 22. If you would like to set everything up on your own computer and do not already have Java installed please complete PA0: Computer Set up.

Working on and Submitting Assignments

You’ll be submitting your classwork and seeing grading feedback through a tool called Gradescope. This is the Gradescope page for this course.

You’ll be receiving starter code through a service called Github. You are not required to have an account to complete coursework, but it can be useful for you to make one.

Assignments, Exams, and Grading

Grades

Your grade will be computed from:

Letter grades will be assigned based on the following grading scale:

Grades

We may adjust the above scale to be more lenient (depending on a number of factors that we will not publicize), but we guarantee that we will not adjust the scale to make it harder to get a better grade. We will not adjust the scale for individual students.

Engagement

We highly recommend actively participating in class, attending discussion, and completing the weekly review quizzes. Regularly engaging with the class in these ways counts towards the Engagement component of your overall score.

This score is calculated on a weekly basis (starting in Week 1). You need 6 points per week to earn full credit. The maximum number of points you can earn in one week is 12, which might give you extra credit.

Earn engagement points by:

We encourage you to find your preferred method for staying engaged with the course. There are lots of ways to earn full credit for a week’s engagement. For example: (1) attending all lectures and discussion sections; (2) answering all questions on the review quiz correctly; or (3) attending two lectures and getting two points on the review quiz; etc. If you decide to complete review quizzes on top of attending all lectures and discussions, you will get extra credit for your course grade.

Programming Assignments (PAs)

Most weeks there will be a programming assignment. Direct practice with programming will make up the majority of your work in the course.

There are several opportunities to get feedback on your work and improve:

There is no penalty for resubmissions, you can still earn up to full credit. We will take the highest score between your original submission and your late/resubmission.

The Late/Resubmit process also applies if your submission is late. You should strive to complete each PA before it’s posted deadline as the PAs are practice for the exams. You will also receive earlier feedback and an extra grading attempt if you submit before the original deadline.

For those assignments near the end of the quarter, the deadline for all late/resubmissions will be Friday of Week 5 (8/2) at 11pm. We will not accept any submissions after that time, for any reason.

It’s the student’s responsibilty to check that the autograder worked and that all files have been properly uploaded (by checking the Code tab). We only accept PAs through Gradescope. We will not accept any files through email, Canvas, or Piazza.

Collaboration

This is not the same collaboration policy you have seen in your other programming courses. Read it carefully.

In your professional programming life, some of your work will be highly collaborative with lots of expert advice available from senior developers and from sites like StackOverflow. This is a common case in companies, in academia, and on open-source projects. It’s a great way to get exposed to new techniques, share knowledge, and generally enjoy teamwork. In contrast, some of your work will involve figuring out programming problems on your own, where you are the first person to encounter an issue, or the first person to try using a new library in the context of your application. You should get experience in both types of situations; we might call the former kind of problem open to collaboration and the latter closed to collaboration.

In terms of courses, this split also makes sense. Programming assignments serve (at least) two roles. First and foremost, they are a mechanism for you to learn! By directly applying the techniques and skills we discuss in class, you get practice and become a better programmer. Second, they are an assessment mechanism – as instructional staff we use them to evaluate your understanding of concepts as demonstrated by your programs. Open collaboration can reduce frustration while learning and give you chances to enjoy collaboration and lots of help, but may not let us accurately evaluate your understanding. Closed assignments are an opportunity for you to demonstrate what you know by way of programming.

There are two types of assignments in this course, open and closed:

Programming assignments will explicitly list whether they are open or closed collaboration.

You should be familiar with the UCSD guidelines on academic integrity as well.

Do not post your PA solutions publicly on any site, including Github. If you fork the Github starter code repos and upload your code to the repo, you are required to make the repo private. It is an academic integrity violation to publicly post your code. This remains true even after the course is over. If you with to share the code wish an employer in the future, upload the code to Google Drive or Dropbox and share the link to the folder.

Exams

There will be three quizzes during the quarter, in FAH 1450 (same as lecture room):

The final exam will be:

Seats will be assigned for all exam sessions and announced beforehand, and you must bring your school ID to the exam. All work on exams is to be done on your own, and you are not allowed to use any electronics or study aids during the exam (aside from those needed for University-approved academic accommodations). You may not speak to any other student in the exam room while the exam is in progress (including after you hand in your own exam). You may not share any information about the exam with any student who has not yet taken it (including students in future quarters of CSE 12).

Quizzes: Each quiz will each be worth 15% of your final grade.

Final Exam: The final exam will be worth 15% of your final grade and broken into four parts, three parts of which correspond to the material from one of the quizzes. The fourth part will be materials not covered in prior quizzes. Your grade for each quiz will be the maximum of the quiz score and the score on the corresponding part of the final exam. Your grade for the final exam, however, will be the total score of all parts. In other words, all parts of the final exam is required. Skipping or scoring lower on parts of the final exam will not affect your quiz grades, but will affect your final exam grade.

For example:

Make-up Exams: This policy also covers what happens if you miss a quiz for any reason. If you are absent for a quiz, you get a 0, and then whatever score you get on the final exam for that section will be applied to your quiz grade. There are no make-up quiz, and the final exam policy is governed by the university’s policies.

Policies

Academic Integrity

Individual assignments will describe their academic integrity requirements. You should pay attention to the descriptions of what collaboration is allowed and expected on each assignment.

One challenge we face as an instructional team is verifying that students are submitting their own work given the number of remote and asynchronous options we provide. In the past, we relied on in-person, ID-checked exams to mitigate this particular challenge to academic integrity. Assignments and exams will come with specific policies for what types of collaboration is allowed, but we have one course-wide policy – we may reach out to students to schedule a check-in on their understanding of work they’ve submitted if we’re suspicious about an academic integrity violation. This would involve a video conference with a TA or instructor to check that the student has the understanding demonstrated by their work. This is in addition to any video screencasts that are submitted as a part of the exam.

We don’t expect to use this option much (certainly you are a student that acts with integrity!), but we state it clearly in the syllabus in case it becomes necessary so it isn’t a surprise to anyone.

You should be familiar with the UCSD guidelines on academic integrity as well.

Use of Generative AI

These following policies regarding generative artificial intelligence use apply only in CSE 12 Summer 2024, and may not necessarily apply in other classes at UCSD or reflect the university’s stance on AI use in education.

TL;DR: You may use AI, but you should use it with caution. In CSE 12, you cannot use AI for closed PAs, review quizzes, or exams.

Can I use generative AI for assignments?

Yes, you can use Generative AI for open PAs only. Generative AI (e.g., tools like ChatGPT, Github Copilot) can be a powerful tool to support your own learning. In CSE 12, we encourage you to use AI responsibly, or else you may risk failing exams and cthe closed PAs. If you use AI to help you on a PA, we would like you to briefly cite how you used AI in a comment. This citation allows us to understand the role of AI in the learning process, and will not impact your grade.

Does that mean I can use generative AI to do all my assignments for me?

No. You may use AI for open PAs only. We require that you can understand the material on your own. If you do use AI to help you learn or complete assignments, be sure that you’re able to understand everything on your own. However, you can’t use AI for closed PAs, review quizzes, or during exams! We could tell if AI is used in closed PAs (just like how we could tell cheating). Since review quizzes resemble real exam questions, using AI for review quizzes is not going to help you with exams. Cases caught will result in violations of academic integrity.

For assignments where AI is allowed, how can I use generative AI to help me learn?

Some of the most well-known generative AI tools available are designed to be chatbots (ChatGPT, Bing Chat, Bard, Claude, etc.), so one way to approach using AI is to treat them like a friend in this class. For example:

What should I be aware of when using generative AI?

While generative AI tools may seem intelligent, it is important to recognize that there are significant limitations, including but not limited to:

I have other questions about using generative AI in CSE 12.

We encourage you to ask any questions about our policies publicly on Piazza, or directly to the instructor or the TAs via email or during office hours. Figuring out how to work with generative AI is a new challenge for both students and educators, so we encourage you to have an open discussion about it! UCSD provides additional resources for students about how to use generative AI in a way that upholds academic integrity.

Late or Missed Assignments/Exams

The Assignments, Exams, and Grading section details which assignments can be submitted late or missed without penalty. In summary:

Regrades

Mistakes sometimes occur in grading. Once grades are posted for an assignment, we will allow two days for you to request a fix (announced along with grade release). If you don’t make a request in the given period, the grade you were initially given is final.

Resources for Students

Getting Help with this Course

If you need help at any time this quarter, please contact the instructor, the TA, or the tutors. We are happy to work with you. You may also post general questions on Piazza.

The IDEA Engineering Student Center, located just off the lobby of Jacobs Hall, is a hub for student engagement, academic enrichment, personal/professional development, leadership, community involvement, and a respectful learning environment for all. The Center offers a variety of programs, listed in the IDEA Center Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/ucsdidea/ and the Center web site at http://idea.ucsd.edu/. The IDEA Center programs support both undergraduate students and graduate students.

Diversity and Inclusion

We are committed to fostering a learning environment for this course that supports a diversity of thoughts, perspectives and experiences, and respects your identities (including race, ethnicity, heritage, gender, sex, class, sexuality, religion, ability, age, educational background, etc.). Our goal is to create a diverse and inclusive learning environment where all students feel comfortable and can thrive.

Our instructional staff will make a concerted effort to be welcoming and inclusive to the wide diversity of students in this course. If there is a way we can make you feel more included please let one of the course staff know, either in person, via email/discussion board, or even in a note under the door. Our learning about diverse perspectives and identities is an ongoing process, and we welcome your perspectives and input.

We also expect that you, as a student in this course, will honor and respect your classmates, abiding by the UCSD Principles of Community (https://ucsd.edu/about/principles.html). Please understand that others’ backgrounds, perspectives and experiences may be different from your own, and help us to build an environment where everyone is respected and feels comfortable.

If you experience any sort of harassment or discrimination, please contact the instructor as soon as possible. If you prefer to speak with someone outside of the course, please contact the Office of Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination: https://ophd.ucsd.edu/.

Students with Disabilities

We aim to create an environment in which all students can succeed in this course. If you have a disability, please contact the Office for Students with Disability (OSD), which is located in University Center 202 behind Center Hall, to discuss appropriate accommodations right away. We will work to provide you with the accommodations you need, but you must first provide a current Authorization for Accommodation (AFA) letter issued by the OSD. You are required to present their AFA letters to Faculty (please make arrangements to contact the instructor privately) and to the OSD Liaison in the department in advance so that accommodations may be arranged.

Basic Needs/Food Insecurities

If you are experiencing any basic needs insecurities (food, housing, financial resources), there are resources available on campus to help, including The Hub and the Triton Food Pantry. Please visit http://thehub.ucsd.edu/ for more information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to participate if I’m on the waitlist?

Yes, you’re responsible for everything as if you’re a normally-enrolled student while you’re on the waitlist, including any submission deadlines, and your work will be graded as usual.

I have a question about enrollments and the waitlist. E.g., How likely is it for me to get into this class?

Please contact CSE student affairs, who can give the best advice and information about the enrollment process. They are friendly and helpful and know much more about timing and any updates you will see through the registration system.

There is some useful advice at Enrolling in CSE Courses that likely summarizes a lot of what they would tell you to get you started.

Will the course be in-person or remote? Is attendance required?

The content of the course is delivered in-person, except for Tuesday discussions, which will be on Zoom. You can revisit lectures and discussions remotely on UCSD Podcast (accessed via Canvas) after they are delivered in person. Attendance is not required, but is highly recommended (check Engagement). Studies (by UCSD faculty) have shown that attendance and participation in lecture leads to better student performance and higher grades.

Can I take an exam remotely? No. All exams, including quizzes and the final exam, will be in person.

Can I take an exam early/late?

What’s the course material like?

You can see a previous version of the course, which will give you a sense. This offering will cover the similar topics covered in prior iterations. However, because of the uniqueness of summer sessions, there will be differences in pace and focus.

There is no required textbook for you to purchase for the course. The course uses a combination of online resources and notes from the instructor.

Can I audit the course?

You can use all the public resources on this website, and if you’re a UCSD community member, you can view all the podcasts for the problem sessions at https://podcast.ucsd.edu/. Beyond that we don’t have any formalized support for auditing the course.

Do we need a clicker for this class?

No. We use Gradescope to collect Engagement credit.

Where are the icons from?

Icons made by Freepik from www.flaticon.com.

Acknowledgements

“This public acknowledgment serves to honor and respect Indigenous peoples and their land on which our campus resides. UC San Diego was built upon the territory of the Kumeyaay Nation. From time immemorial, the Kumeyaay people have been a part of this land. Today, the Kumeyaay people continue to maintain their political sovereignty and cultural traditions as vital members of the San Diego community.”

The course syllabus was partially adapted from Greg Miranda’s CSE 12 (Fall 2023), Gerald Soosairaj’s CSE 29 (Spring 2024), and Lisa Huang’s CSE 193 (Fall 2023).