Course syllabus

CSC 340 – Scientific Computing

Section 001, TR, 11:00 AM-12:15 PM, In-Person

Congdon Hall 2055

Course Syllabus - Fall 2023

"This syllabus is subject to change, but only with sufficient notification"

 

 

Welcome to Dr. Saeidi’s Scientific Computing class! This course is focused on the introduction to the design, application, and performance of numerical algorithms fundamental to scientific computation. Topics include mathematical modeling concepts (such as matrix applications, linear algebra, differentiation, integration, eigenvalues, state space representation, linearization, dynamic system modeling, open and closed loop control, model fitting, and optimization) as well as implementation via open-source numerical tools implemented via Python. 

The students who successfully complete this course will:

• Demonstrate skills in describing, understanding, and analyzing dynamic systems. 
• Demonstrate a thorough understanding of the inputs/processes/outputs of mathematical models and implement them via modern programming languages and tools.
• Demonstrate an understanding of how to utilize open-source numerical solver software to develop and test customized applications.
• Develop and use algorithms for open and closed-loop control systems.
• Demonstrate a solid understanding of the fundamental mathematical theories and the ability to relate to and implement them in real-world systems.
• Demonstrate the ability to write scientific reports on the results and also present the work professionally.

 

What else do I need to know about this course? Prerequisites: MAT 162 and CSC 231 with a grade of C or higher; Strong programming and mathematical skills based on the course’s prerequisites are expected. This is a difficult and time-consuming course. Plan carefully to complete assignments and projects in a timely manner. I will cover the basics of the required tools as needed but eventually, you are responsible for filling any gaps in knowledge you may have while taking this course.  Make sure you have pens/pencils/notebooks during the class. You will need to take notes regularly and for some in-class activities and quizzes, we will have paper-based submissions.

 

What do I do when I need help? If you need help, talk to me or send me an email. I will do all I can to help you understand the materials. How to contact Dr. Saeidi? E-mail: saeidih@uncw.edu Office hours: Mondays between 2 pm- 3 pm (only by appointment) Office: 2038 Congdon Hall Phone: (910) 962-2094 You can email me at any time but I only respond to emails from 8 am to 5 pm. All the emails regarding CSC340 must be in the following format otherwise I might not open them in time:   CSC340 – proper title   For example "CSC340 – Project/Lab 2"

 

Textbooks (Optional)

• Scientific Computing with Python: High-performance scientific computing with NumPy, SciPy, and pandas, 2nd Edition, by Claus Führer, Jan Erik Solem, Olivier Verdier, Packt Publishing.

• Numerical Methods in Engineering with Python 3 by Jaan Kiusalaas, Cambridge Press.

• Control System Design, An Introduction to State-Space Methods, by B. Friedland, Dover Publications.

 

Other Resources (More resources will be posted in different modules as well)

• https://docs.python.org/3/tutorial/index.html 
• https://numpy.org/doc/stable/user/absolute_beginners.html
• https://ctms.engin.umich.edu/CTMS/index.php?aux=Home
• The search engine of your choice
• ...

 

Grading

A modified 10-point scale will be used to compute your course grade. Pluses and minuses will be assigned based on the following chart.

Exams: 

There will be one midterm exam for this course (on Thursday 9/28/2023). This exam will be in-person and paper-based and focused on fundamental theories. No exemptions from the exam will be given.

Assignments:

There will be 6-7 paper-based and computer-based assignments. These assignments need to be completed and submitted individually (no collaborations allowed).

Projects:

After the midterm exam, the course content will include more elaborate techniques. Therefore, 2 projects are embedded in the course which require group work. 

The projects are focused on two main topics:

- Project 1: System Modeling

- Project 2: Applications of Optimization in Closed-Loop Control

Reports and presentations/demos: A report and a presentation are expected for each project (a technical report + an in-class presentation). You will form teams to complete the projects, write the reports, and present your work to the class. Each team will consist of 2 students (for a total of 12 teams). For the presentations, each team will have 8 minutes to present the results followed by a 4-minute Q&A session.  Your work must be submitted before the first day of presentations for each project.

The team member list is due on 9/26/2023. Once the teams form, they will remain unchanged throughout the semester. Be careful when selecting teammates so that effective collaboration is achieved.

Late submission policy for the assignments, reports, and presentations:

• Prompt notification  (for good reason, documented illness, etc.) is required in advance.
• Otherwise: 5% penalty per day.
• After 5 days,  it will result in a 0 grade for the specific assignment/lab/report/presentation. 

 

Attendance: 

Regular attendance is expected. This course proceeds at such a pace that class absence can have an impact on student performance and final grades. Each student is responsible for all the work, including tests and written work, in all class sessions.

 There will be extensive in-class activities and some questions and problems in the exams will be from the lecture notes. Unavoidable schedule changes may be announced in class and class participation and in-class activities may impact final grade determination in some cases. 

Students must wait 15 minutes if the professor is late for class.

Anticipated Absences. Anticipated absences should be reported to the instructor at least seven days before the absence is scheduled to occur. Situations in which an instructor is encouraged to approve a documented anticipated absence include:

• Attendance at university-sponsored activities in which the student is representing UNCW, e.g., a professional meeting in which the student presents his or her research, required varsity athletic events for team members, or required events for SGA officers. Instructors may require certification of the student’s participation from the administrator in charge of the activity. Absences for university-affiliated, but not directly sponsored, activities (such as a club or Greek life events) do not qualify under this policy.
• Required court attendance as certified by the Clerk of Court.
• Required military duty as certified by the student’s commanding officer.

Unanticipated Absences. Students are encouraged to communicate with instructors in a timely fashion after unanticipated absences from class. Each faculty member determines how to treat such absences but typically will excuse absences due to health emergencies, death in the family, or a comparable emergency when supported by verifying documentation from the student. 

Three missed submissions or three unexcused absences will result in an F grade in the class.

 

Academic Integrity

University Policy on academic integrity will be followed for this course. Cheating will be taken very seriously, resulting in harsh penalties. Since the skills required in this class are also required in the next class, cheating in this class will seriously hamper your ability to pass the next class. Please refer to this page for more information about the University policies. 

Any dissemination of class notes, lecture slides, recordings, handouts, copies of exams, or any other course materials without permission of the instructor is prohibited by UNCW policy.  UNCW Copyright Use and Ownership Policy (http://www.uncw.edu/policies/documents/01210.copyrightpolicy.pdf) specifies that class notes and related materials are considered derivative of the original intellectual property of the course instructor. Therefore, the instructor (not the student) owns the copyright and must provide specific permission to distribute and/or reuse those materials for anything other than personal use and scholarship by the student. Commercial use, display, or dissemination of such notes, copies, or recordings—as well as posting to websites--will generally constitute an infringement of copyright and the Honor Code.  Materials that qualify as student-owned are listed in the policy.

Health and Safety Protocols:

Please do not come to class when you are not feeling well or are experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms. Inform the instructor so that proper measures can be taken for you to keep up with the class pace. If you have been exposed to COVID-19 or are concerned about exposure, please contact the Student Health Center at (910) 962-3280 for specific information about testing, contact tracing and quarantine/isolation requirements, which differ for vaccinated and non-vaccinated individuals, according to CDC guidance. Remember, keeping healthy is essential to keeping campus open! Thank you for your help and compliance.