CIS Department > Dr. Anthony Serapiglia > CS 350

CS 350 Syllabus

Database Concepts and Information Structures

Fall 2011

CIS Department

Saint Vincent College

General Information

3 credits
Prerequisite: CS 111
Instructor: Dr. Anthony Serapiglia
Office: Physics 101
Office hours:
Phone: 724-805-2421
Email: anthony.serapiglia@email.stvincent.edu
The CIS lab on the ground floor of the Physics building will be available according to a schedule that will be posted outside of the lab and under the CIS Department Web Page.

Description

This is a first course in modeling complex organizations of data. It includes a review of logical file structures and access methods. Information structures and databases are studied, with detailed work using Access and SQL.

Core Goals

This course contributes especially toward the following core curriculum goals, listed in order of emphasis:

To form habits of ordered inquiry, logical thinking, and critical analysis
To develop mathematical skills and quantitative literacy
To develop skills in information literacy
To develop effective communication skills

CIS Department Goals

This course contributes to the following departmental goals, listed in order of emphasis.

The CIS graduate should demonstrate the ability to manage the complexity of a technical problem through the use of good problem solving and software engineering skills, as well as sound, ethical decision-making skills.
The CIS graduate should have a broad knowledge of the field of computing.
The CIS graduate should be competent in at least two programming languages.

Course Goals and Means of Assessment

These objectives will be assessed mainly through the use of homework assignments, in-class work, projects, quizzes, and exams. Informal discussions with students provide additional feedback.

Methods Used to Reach These Goals

Lectures, demonstrations, projects, class activities, and class discusson are used to assist students in mastering the course material. Homework assignments are designed to allow students to grow in their understanding of the topic. Exams and quizzes provide an opportunity for students to demonstrate what they have learned.

Grading and Course Policies

Letter grades will be given using the scale found in the College Bulletin. Exams will be announced in advance and will be closed-book, pencil and paper exams in nature. Quizzes will be pencil and paper as well, except perhaps for a few online quizzes. On exams and quizzes, only the test paper, calculators, pens, pencils, and erasers may be used. However, on exams you may use one two-sided 8.5 in. x 11 in. page of handwritten notes. Cell phones, PDAs, computers, and pagers should be turned off and put away. Calculators may be used on exams but are not to be shared among students.

Both the instructor and students are expected to do their best to produce a good class and to treat each other with respect. This includes many factors, such as listening when someone else is speaking, trying to understand what others are saying, being of assistance to others, etc. It definitely does NOT include making fun of others. On a practical level, do your best to improve your grade: read the course materials, attend class, do the work, ask questions, and try to answer questions in class! Computing requires active participation and repeated practice. If you begin to feel lost, consult one of the tutors, see the instructor, or work through the difficulties with the help of another student in the course. Do not let yourself get behind. In fact, one key to academic success is to start early on homework and other tasks. Last-minute miracles seldom work! Note in particular that attendance is expected. Student performance is bound to deteriorate when classes are missed. In order to emphasize the importance of attendance, the policies outlined after this paragraph will be used.

If the student does not attain an overall passing test average, a failing grade will be received for the course.
Each unexcused class absence after the first 4 results in 1 percentage point being deducted from the final course grade.
Arriving late for class or leaving early (without a proper excuse) is counted as 1/2 of an absence.
An unexcused absence from an exam results in the failure of the course.
Unexcused absence from more than one-third of the semester's classes results in the failure of the course.
Attendance is used to decide borderline grades at the end of the semester.
Unexcused absence from class results in a grade of zero for any quiz or other activity done in that class.
Late work is not accepted unless resulting from an excused absence, but partial credit is given for incomplete homework that is submitted on time.
Written documentation (such as a note from a doctor's office or coach of one's sports team) is normally required for an absence to be excused. Always bring a copy of such a note to give to your instructor when class must be missed. In special circumstances, check with your instructor.
The lowest 2 grades in the quiz/homework category will be dropped at the end of the semester. This is intended to cover absences due to minor illnesses, sports, and the like.

Make-up quizzes will not normally be given. For an excused absence, the student will simply be excused from the quiz. Missed labs should be made up as they are designed to teach important aspects of the course. For an excused absence, the makeup lab will be graded normally. For an unexcused absence, the lab (whether made up or not) will receive a grade of zero. Make-up exams are strongly discouraged. If possible, take the regularly scheduled exam. For an excused absence for a significant reason, the instructor may agree to give a make-up exam. Whenever possible, see your instructor ahead of time if you know you must miss an exam (e.g. due to sports). Normally some type of written documentation is required (such as a note from the coach, doctor, etc.). If the documentation or reason for missing an exam is poor, the student can count on receiving a significantly more difficult exam, if one is given at all! Do ask about a makeup exam if you have a good reason to miss an exam, as it is understood that illnesses and other complications do happen.

Tests and quizzes will ask critical thinking questions that require careful analysis, explanation, and conclusions.

Assignments are due anytime on the date given. Exceptions to these deadlines are only granted for serious reasons and normally require written documentation of the reasons.

Intellectual honesty is important at Saint Vincent College. Attempts to pass off the work of another as one's own, or group work as one's individual work, etc. will result in action appropriate to the seriousness of the situation. All cases of apparent intellectual dishonesty will be referred to the administration. In this course, students are expected to do entirely their own work on tests, quizzes, individual homeworks, and individual labs. Homework or labs assigned to a group should not include any signficant amount of work from a different group. Assignments that are unduly similar (which means that a prudent individual would reasonably conclude that the assignments were done by the same person or collection of persons) will be reported to the administration as likely cases of plagiarism.

Be sure to read and follow the CIS Department Policies, available under the main CIS Department Web Page. This statement covers especially the proper use of departmental computing facilities, policies concerning web pages, etc.) In addition, read the Regulations section of the College Bulletin (which covers such things as grading, academic honesty, etc.) and the Student Handbook (which covers academic honesty, classroom etiquette, etc.).

Students with disabilities who may be eligible for academic accommodations and support services should please contact the Associate Dean of Studies, Mrs. Sandy Quinlivan, by phone (724-805-2371), email (sandy.quinlivan@email.stvincent.edu) or by appointment (Academic Affairs-Headmaster Hall). Reasonable accommodations do not alter the essential elements of any course, program or activity.

If the instructor needs to cancel class, every effort will be made to send an email message to students' Saint Vincent email accounts and to post the class cancellation on the college website's cancellation page.


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