COURSE TITLE: CSC 103 - Introduction to Data Structures

SEMESTER: Spring 2009

PROFESSOR: John Alampi

OFFICE: Room 8-606

PHONE: 292-3232 (If I'm not in, please leave your name, phone number and best time to call)

EMAIL: jalampi@monroecc.edu

OFFICE HOURS: Monday, Tuesday and Friday 10:00 AM – 10:50 AM, Monday & Wednesday 2:00PM – 2:50PM, and other times by Appointment.

REQUIRED TEXT: Data Structures and Other Objects Using Java Second Edition– by Michael Main, Addison Wesley Publishing

ISBN# 0-201-74093-1

OTHER ITEMS: A Jump/Flash Drive with Labels. A folder should be created labeled HOMEWORK, a second labeled LABS, and a third labeled PROJECTS. You should keep a backup of this jump/flash drive

The student should maintain a three ring notebook of all lecture notes and Lab handouts. This notebook should be divided into 15 Tabs; one for each week of the semester and the notes/labs should be placed under the appropriate tab setting.

This notebook should be at least a 2 inch notebook

COURSE DESCRIPTION: An introduction to data structures and a continuation of CSC 101. Topics include sequential lists, linked lists, stacks, queues, recursion, trees, binary trees, searching, sorting, algorithm analysis and design, inheritance, and polymorphism.  An object-oriented language such as Java will be used to implement algorithms and further develop general programming skills. Several major programming projects will be assigned to be completed outside of class and laboratory time. Three class hours, two laboratory hours.  

Students will meet in a PC classroom for lab. Extensive lab exercises will reinforce the lectured material. Students will be required to complete projects outside of class and laboratory time.

This is a FOUR CREDIT HOUR course .

1. Create the following Abstract Data Types using a computer programming language: Sequential List, Linked List, Stack, Queue, Tree, and Binary Tree.

2. Design and develop a computer programming language solution to a problem using the appropriate Abstract Data Type.

3. Evaluate the computing time analysis (complexity) of an algorithm written in a computer programming language using Big-O Notation.

4. Develop and Evaluate using Big-O Notation, Searching and Sorting Algorithms.

COURSE PREREQUISITE: CSC 101 with a grade of C or better. 

QUIZZES Quizzes (Including Pop Quizzes) will be given in any of the Lecture or Lab classes. These quizzes will usually be given during the first 10 minutes of any class. Students arriving late will receive a ZERO. (see Make up Policy for additional information on this)

EXAMS: Two orThree Hourly Exams and possibly one 2 hours programming exam, and there will be a Comprehensive Final exam. The hourly exams will be a mainly multiple/choice questions as well as questions that will have you demonstrate your ability to write Java code. The comprehensive final will cover material from all aspects of the class sessions (lectures, homework assignments, projects, lab assignments, demonstrations, discussions, extra handouts and so forth).

MAKE-UP POLICY: Make-up Exams/Quizzes will be given only under special circumstances at the discretion of the instructor. The instructor must be contacted before the exam/quiz is given (or in some cases 24 hours after the exam if not before) in order to approve the excuse and make arrangements for a make-up. (A written excuse may be necessary. A regular doctor or dentist appointment is not an acceptable excuse.) Any make-up exam/quiz must be taken within a 24 hr period of the missed exam/quiz. Students who are unable to contact the instructor personally are to leave a message. Students are strongly encouraged to make every effort to attend class on the day of an exam because if the student's excuse is not acceptable, that student will receive a grade of ZERO for the exam.

Assignments: Students will apply the concepts covered in the lectures and in the readings in individual assignments. Typical homework includes: Internet research, web-site evaluation, case discussions and write-ups, and presentations. Late Assignments will receive a grade of Zero.

GRADING: Quizzes/Exams                  35%

Labs & Homework Assignments              20%

Projects                                 20%

Comprehensive Final                      25%

                                        ======

                                   Total 100%

The Final Average determines the final Grade as follows:

New Overall Grade Average Final Course_Grade

>=67<=72 C-

>=60<=66 D+

>=53<=59 D

>=45<=52 D-

<=45 F

Using the New Overall Grade Average ranges above and Sally’s New Overall Average of 68.4 her Final Course Grade is a C-.

Using the New Overall Grade Average ranges above and Sam’s New Overall Average of 46.8 his Final Course Grade is a D-.

ATTENDANCE Prompt and regular attendance is expected/required for all lectures and labs. Any student that is consistently LATE, ABSENT or UNPREPARED for class will be DROPPED from the course.

Any combination of 3 of the following will result in the student being DROPPED from the course:

Unprepared for Lecture/Lab, Missing Assignments/Labs/Projects, Absent, Late.

Cell Phones Turn them off. A student that continuously has their cell phone go off during class will be asked to leave Lecture for that day and will be counted as an absence from class.  There is also no text messaging during class!!!

RESPONSIBILITIES: Even if a class is missed the student is responsible for the material covered, the assignments given, and any announcements made regarding changes in policies. Absence from class cannot be used as an excuse for missing assignments or not being prepared for quizzes/projects. The textbook(s) should be brought to each class based on the Tentative Schedule.

For the official wording on Academic Honesty, please consult the MCC Student Handbook. Homework Assignments in this class are not intended to be group projects. They should be a reflection of YOUR problem-solving ability and style. Assignments which are identical, or nearly so, will received a grade of 0.

Monroe Community College has a number of Learning Centers at Brighton (for example, Accounting, Math, Psychology, Writing, the Electronic Learning Center, etc.) and at Damon (for example, the Integrated Learning Center, Electronic Learning Center, etc.). Learning centers are staffed with instructional personnel and may be equipped with computers and software to assist students.

It is recommended that students use the Learning Centers to get additional help with concepts learned in the classroom and with their homework. Please complete Part A of the Learning Center Referral form attached to this Course Information Sheet and return the form to your instructor.

The OCP department now has a learning center. It is located at 9-251 and does have tutors for most of our courses. There will be equipment available for the CSC206, and CSC202 classes as well as many of the CPT courses. It is open most days from 9AM-10PM. Exact times will be forthcoming after the semester begins.

Tom Gilbert is our contact person for items relating to the OCP learning center.

If the College is closed to inclement weather or some other emergency, all Rochester area radio and television stations will be notified no later than 5:30 a.m. In addition, the homepage on the MCC website (www.monroecc.edu) will display a message indicating the College is closed. Please do not call the College to avoid overloading the telephone lines.

Class cancellation information is available daily on the web or through the telephone. Simply go to the MCC website (www.monroecc.edu) and under the "Quick Links" window on the homepage, click on "Class Cancellations". Additionally, class cancellation information is available by dialing 292-2066, press "1" for the Brighton Campus and "2" for the Damon Campus. If possible, please use the web as there could be delays in the voice recordings based on the number of cancellations.