CSCI 129 - SCIENCE, COMPUTING AND SOCIETY
FALL 2008
Instructor:  Kathleen Devlin
Office:	JB 336   x77231	Go to Lecture Schedule
Office Hours:	Mon 3:15pm - 3:45pm
	Before and after classes
	and by appointment
E-Mail:	kdevlin@csusb.edu
Supplies Needed:
Text:	The Bit and the Pendulum		RECOMMENDED
	Tom Siegfried  -  ISBN 0-471-39974-4
Course Pack:	Copy Plus,  1689 Kendall Drive, #C		***REQUIRED***
Course Description
This course examines natural sciences and the use of computers and computer technology in the natural
sciences.  The course also introduces ethical and social issues related to technology, including issues of
access, equity, privacy, the protection of children, and ownership of intellectual property.
A major goal of this course is the aid in understanding the tools and methods of  the natural sciences, learning
some of the important results of scientific inquiry, and discussing some major consequences of  science and
technology.  To meet this goal, we will discuss the scientific method as applied within the natural sciences,
and explore the underlying philosophy of science, as well as the social and historical context of scientific
development.
Obviously, all of natural science is too broad a topic for any serious exploration in just one course; thus, we
will specialize on one area as a case-study that uses computer science and computer-based technology and
that illustrates important principles in the natural sciences.  This one area is the underlying  physics of the
concept of information, as well as the applications of information to fields such as biology. This field includes
basic concepts of fundamental computer science and the use of computer technology; most importantly, we
will be examining emerging computer technology that is now being developed in research laboratories.
The physics and biology of information and the relation of information to computer science, technology, and
human society is an evolving area of active research.  The past outcomes of this work include all of modern
data communications networks; the future areas include all new modes of computation and understanding
of the natural world (which is the primary topic area of all of natural science).  The  level  of  this course
will not require any advanced mathematics, but will rely on descriptive concepts.
GRADING POLICY			GRADING SCALE
TOTAL OF 250 POINTS AVAILABLE AS FOLLOWS:			A    233 - 250        C   183 - 192
5 In-class Projects -10 points each	50       20%		A-   225 - 232        C-  175 - 182
Midterm Examination	100       40%		B+  218 - 224        D+ 168 - 174
Final Examination	100       40%		B    208 - 217        D   158 - 167
Totals	250     100%		B-   200 - 207        D-  150 - 157
			C+  193 - 199        F      <150
Students are responsible for ALL announcements made in class.
Cheating is cause for dissmissal from University and an "F" in the course.
If you are in need of an accommodation for a disability in order to participate in this class,
please let me know ASAP and also contact Services to Students with Disabilities at UH-183,
(909)537-5238