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Course Syllabus

CS 2420 Data Structures and Algorithms

  • Division: Natural Science and Math
  • Department: Computer Science & Engineering
  • Credit/Time Requirement: Credit: 3; Lecture: 3; Lab: 0
  • Prerequisites: CS 1410 or CS 1420 or ENGR 1410
  • Semesters Offered: Fall
  • Semester Approved: Fall 2021
  • Five-Year Review Semester: Summer 2026
  • End Semester: Summer 2027
  • Optimum Class Size: 20
  • Maximum Class Size: 24

Course Description

This course covers data structures and algorithms in some depth. Topics include data structures, recursion, problem solving strategies, and complexity analysis. Sorting and searching algorithms are covered in detail.

Justification

This course is part of the recommended curriculum for software engineering and computer science majors at Snow College. This course is similar across USHE as CS 2420.

Student Learning Outcomes

  1. Students will know many basic data structures, recursion, complexity analysis, and common sorting and searching algorithms.
  2. Students will be able to use appropriate data structures and data abstraction.
  3. Students will be able to use recursion as a problem solving strategy.
  4. Students will be able to analyze complexity of algorithms and use appropriate sorting and searching algorithms.

Course Content

The following topics will be covered in this course: Data abstraction; Linked lists; Stacks and queues; Trees; Tables; Graphs; Recursion; Complexity analysis; Sorting and searching.

The course will present and encourage development of software that will interact effectively with software developed by others. Students taking this course will likely come from a variety of programming language backgrounds. Rather than minimizing these differences, the course will highlight how comparing and contrasting various programming experiences can help the class to better value and understand different language features.