Introduction to Programming

Introductory programming course focused on programming in Java.

The course covers:

• Primitive datatypes: value domains, operators, expression, declarations and assignments.

• Control structures: conditional selection, repetition.

• Composition of data: arrays, Strings, ArrayLists, Sets.

• Classes: specification, implementation, equality en hashcodes.

• Inheritance: modeling inheritance, type casts, polymorphism, static and dynamic binding.

• Use of libraries (APIs).

• Code quality: best practices, unit testing (with JUnit), debugging strategies.

• Exception handling.

• Generics.

• Basic IO operations (user input / reading / writing).

• Design en implementation of small programs.

• Functional programming in Java (streams, map, filter).

This course contains two summative exams:

1. Theoretical exam in Weblab (Multiple-Choice, Open en (Small) Programming questions; no auxiliary materials may be used).

2. Programming exam (Open book, IDE en additional resources/documentation allowed).

This course contains two formative tests. These allow you to practice programming in a real exam environment:

1. A Midterm Theoretical Exam (in week 5).

2. A Mock Programming Exam (in week 8).

Between the two formative tests you can score a bonus on your final grade.

Bonus = MIN(10, Midterm Bonus + Mock Exam Bonus).

Your final grade is composed of:

1) The Theoretical Exam (weight 0.5, minimal required grade 5/10)

2) The Programming Exam (weight 0.5, minimal required grade 5/10)

3) The bonus score you can obtain by participating (and scoring points) in the midterm exam and mock exam.

Your final grade is calculated as follows:

Exam = (Theoretical Exam Grade + Programming Exam Grade) /2

Final = Exam + (Bonus x (10 - Exam) / 100)

(This formula linearly scales down the amount of bonus you get as your exam score increases, and follows the directions of the Board of Examiners for bonus points).

If your score for the Theoretical Exam and Programming Exam are (1) both minimally a 5/10 and (2) the "Final" result of the grading formula is at least 5.8, you pass this course.

Within the academic year you can resit the Theoretical Exam and the Programming Exam in quarter 2. Out of the two attempts for the Theoretical Exam and the Programming Exam respectively, the highest score will count towards your final grade.

Partial grades for the Theoretical Exam or Programming Exam cannot be carried over to a next academic year.

Disclaimer: information may change depending on unforeseen circumstances or measures (see: TER Art 29, sub 4)