INFS 590 Course Syllabus

Final version, 9/2/1999

For those enrolled in INFS 590: During the first class meeting, we will discuss abstraction in general and abstract data types in particular. We will also cover most of the Java programming language. Please read Chapters 1 and 2 in Weiss for Java. You can also download transparencies from the handouts page. IF YOU DON'T KNOW JAVA, THE FIRST CLASS MEETING IS CRUCIAL!

Syllabus

Schedule

Handouts

My home page

Program Design and Data Structures
INFS 590 Course Syllabus
Fall 1999

Professor:	Jeff Offutt
Office:	S&T II 355, 993-1654, fax: 993-1638
Email:	offutt@gmu.edu
URL:	http://www.ise.gmu.edu/~offutt
Class Hours:	Thur 4:30 -- 07:10, East Building 201
Office Hours:	Anytime electronically, Tue 2:00 -- 4:00, or by appointment
Prerequisites:	Undergraduate courses or equivalent knowledge in structured programming in a high-level language.
TA:	Sohyoung Kim, skime@osf1.gmu.edu
Office Hours:	Anytime electronically, Wed 5:00 -- 7:00, and Thur 7:30 -- 8:30 PM
TA Office:	S&T II 268, 993-1626

TEXTS:

Data Structures: Weiss, Data Structures and Problem Solving Using Java, Addison Wesley.
Java Reference: Naughton and Schildt, Java: The Complete Reference (2nd edition), Osborne McGraw-Hill.

OBJECTIVES:

To give the students a solid understanding of the use of data abstraction in software development. This course is undergraduate material, part of the foundation requirements for the INFS and SWE programs, and may not be applied towards graduate degrees in IT&E.

CONTENT:

A study of the fundamentals of data structures and algorithms applied in programming solutions to application problems. The course stresses structured programming in a modern high-level language.

PREREQS:

You should already know how to program, and be prepared to learn a new language fairly quickly.

READING:

We will cover Chapters 1 through 7, and 14 through 18, 20 in Weiss. I expect you to read the assigned material before lecture. Be warned that if you do not read the material before class, you may find the lecture confusing.

EXAMS:

There will be a midterm and a final. Both will be in class.

HOMEWORKS AND QUIZZES:

There will be occasional homeworks and in-class quizzes. Most quizzes will be at the beginning of class, and will not be announced.

PROGRAMS:

Programs must be turned in to the TA or to me and are due before class on the day of their due dates. Please do not skip class to finish your program! Programs will be turned in electronically by email to the TA, skime@osf1.gmu.edu. They must correspond exactly to the format given, and do not use attachments unless you are sure she can read them. Programs will graded on style and formatting as well as correctness. Programs will be graded on a scale of 100 and unexcused late programs will lose 10 points per class period.

HONESTY:

Each program and homework assignment must be worked on individually. A submission carries with it an implicit statement that the submission is your own work. You may discuss the requirements and syntactical issues, but not solutions or designs. Violations will result in failure of the course.

MAKEUPS:

Unless arrangements are worked out in advance, missed quizzes and tests cannot be made up. I understand that your job may occasionally take you out of town; so does mine. If you are going to be forced to miss class on the day something is due, let me know ahead of time, in writing, preferably by email (this is for your protection, as I am somewhat forgetful).

HONOR CODE STATEMENT:

As with all GMU courses, INFS 590 is governed by the GMU Honor Code. In this course, all assignments, exams, and project submissions carry with them an implicit statement that it is the sole work of the author, unless joint work is explicitly authorized. Help may be obtained from the instructor or other students to understand the description of the problem and any technology, but the solution, particularly the design portion, must be the student's own work. If joint work is authorized, all contributing students must be listed on the submission. Any deviation from this is considered an Honor Code violation, and as a minimum, will result in failure of the submission and as a maximum, failure of the class.

GRADING:

Grades will be (approximately) 10% quizzes and homeworks, 35% programs, 25% the midterm, and 30% the final.

Syllabus

Schedule

Handouts

My home page

© Jeff Offutt, 1999, all rights reserved. This document is made available for use by GMU graduate students of INFS 590. Copying, distribution or other use of this document without express permission of the author is forbidden.