Teaching

Below is a list of current and past courses facilitated by Dr. Hughes at St. Francis Xavier University (2018 — Present):

Computer Science 161 — Introduction to Programming
Content Available at: csci161.com
Imagine you just finished up your cutting edge research; you’ve collected unbelievable amounts of high quality data with your new technique and all your colleagues are impressed. Now what? How can you find the interesting trends in your data? What tools are you going to use, pen and paper?

Maybe you really do have the next best app idea. What’s even possible? How are you going to get it made? Where do you even start?

This course is an introduction to computers, algorithms and programming. Topics include problem analysis, algorithm development, data representation, control structures, arrays, and file manipulation.

Computer Science 215 — Social Issues in the Information Age
Content Available at: moodle.stfx.ca/
This course exposes students to the various impacts of technology on modern society with the goal of further developing their critical thinking and their ability to make informed decisions in this rapidly changing information age. Topics covered include privacy and security, biotechnology, cybercrime, genetic engineering, artificial intelligence, digitization, intellectual property, and other ethical issues in computing. Other topics and/or their emphasis may vary by semester as the course is designed to remain topical. Students from every background will benefit from this course.

Computer Science 340/547 — Evolutionary Computation
Content Available at: moodle.stfx.ca/
Evolutionary computation is a family of powerful optimization algorithms often used to find solutions to computationally intractable problems. The study of these algorithms and their application to problems is a large research area within computer science. Course topics include combinatorial optimization,genetic algorithms, particle swarm optimization, search space analysis, multi-objective optimization, and neuroevolution. Research practices and technical writing will be emphasized for course assignments/projects.

Computer Science 493 — Senior Thesis
Opportunities Available

Computer Science Directed Studies
Opportunities Available

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Courses facilitated by Dr. Hughes at the University of Western Ontario (2014 — 2018):

Computer Science 1026 — Computer Science Fundamentals I
Content Available at: http://owl.uwo.ca
The nature of Computer Science as a discipline; the design and analysis of algorithms and their implementation as modular, reliable, well-documented programs written in a modern programming language. Intended for students with little or no background in programming.

Computer Science 1027 — Computer Science Fundamentals II
Content Available at: http://owl.uwo.ca
Data organization and manipulation; abstract data types and their implementations in a modern programming language; lists, stacks, queues, trees; pointers; recursion; file handling and storage.

Computer Science 2120/9642/Digital Humanities 2220 — Computing & Informatics: Coding Essentials
Content Available at: csd.uwo.ca/Courses/CS2120a/outline.html
Essential information processing and coding skills for students. Includes core concepts of algorithms and data structures; creating programs and scripts to address problems that arise in applied research; examples of data sets and analyses drawn from a variety of disciplines. No previous programming background assumed.

Computer Science 2121/9643/Digital Humanities 2221 — Data Structures & Algorithms: Problem Solving Through Programming
Content Available at: http://owl.uwo.ca
An overview of core data structures and algorithms in computing, with a focus on applications to informatics and analytics in a variety of disciplines. Includes lists, stacks, queues, trees, graphs, and their associated algorithms; sorting, searching, and hashing techniques. Suitable for non-Computer Science students.

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Courses facilitated by Dr. Hughes at Brock University (2014):

Computer Science 3P32 — Introduction to Database Systems
Content Available at: cosc.brocku.ca/archive/offerings/cosc3p32
Fundamental database concepts: specification, design and applications; various models including the relational model; normal forms, efficiency considerations, queries using SQL, database administration and security. Practical experience (normally ORACLE) in a group project.

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