Syllabus
Note: Enrollment in CS170 is restricted to prebusiness majors (curriculum code 006) and Environmental and Business Economics majors (curriculum code 373). Students other than 006 and 373 majors should register for CS110 - Introduction to Computers and Applications (01:198:110). Computer science majors cannot register for this course; if you are a computer science major (curriculum code 198), you will not receive credit for the course and your name will be deleted from the class list.
Course Materials
Required Text:
Fluency with Information Technology,Skills, Concepts, and Capabilities: Second Edition
Lawrence Synder
Pearson Education, Inc. 2006
ISBN 0-321-35782-5
Recommended Text:
Microsoft Office XP for Windows, Visual Quickstart Guide
Steve Sagman
PeachPit Press, 2002
ISBN 0-201-74147-4
File Storage: USB Thumb Drive, 128 MB minimum
Email: Establish a Rutgers University RUNet account by Friday, September 7 Information on how to establish a RUNet account is available at New Brunswick
Computing Services website:
http://rucs-nbp.rutgers.edu/index.php
All texts are available at the Rutgers University Bookstore (Ferren Mall), Livingston Campus Bookstore (Joyce Kilmer Avenue), and New Jersey Books (108 Somerset Street). The texts may also be on reserve at Kreeger Learning Resource Center (LRC) on College Avenue. Check with the LRC for availability. If you prefer to purchase your books through the internet, look at sites such as Amazon.Com (www.amazon.com) or Barnes and Noble (www.bn.com)
Computer Labs
Computers are located in the computing centers on Busch Campus (ARC), College Avenue Campus (CACC), Livingston Campus (Tillett Hall), Douglass Campus (Loree Hall), and the Satellite Building (Senior Street near the parking deck) on the College Avenue Campus. Printing and file storage restrictions are posted in each computer lab.
Hours of operation at the computer labs will change throughout the semester. To verify the hours at each lab, check the RUCS User Services Computing Facilities Access Hours notice posted in each lab, or visit the New Brunswick Computing Services (NBCS) website at www.nbcs.rutgers.edu/. If you experience difficulty using the equipment in the computer labs or you have questions about network connections, ask the lab consultant on duty for assistance.
The role of the Rutgers University Computing Services (RUCS) lab assistants and consultants is to help you with hardware and software related problems, not to answer questions specific to your assignments. If you have questions or need assistance in completing assignments, check first with your teaching assistant during office hours or recitation. You will also find CS170 Teaching Assistants available in the New Brunswick computer labs throughout the week to answer assignment-related questions during Lab Support Hours; the schedule is available at the Lab Support Hours link on the CS170 homepage (http://eden.rutgers.edu/~gganu/cs170/). You can meet with any of the CS170 TAs during lab support hours.
There are approximately 1500 students enrolled in computer science courses using the computer labs throughout New Brunswick. Keep this in mind as you plan your computer time. Very often you will have to wait for the use of a computer, and at all locations the longest lines tend to be during weekday evenings and immediately before and after class. To avoid problems, do your assignments well before the due date. You will also find it helpful to select a time when the computers are not as heavily used and to be as prepared as possible when you use the computer. Read your assignment and text-related pages completely before sitting down at the computer so your time is used efficiently and productively. Before you begin each assignment, practice with a sample file to become familiar with the software features required by the assignment, and check the Announcements link on the CS170 homepage or Sakai portal for changes or corrections to the assignments.
Software
You do not need to purchase software for this course; the software applications you need throughout the semester are available on RUNet. If you plan to use your own computer to complete CS170 assignments, speak with your instructor to be certain you have the correct software. Assignments submitted to Sakai must be readable in software available on RUNet. Assignments submitted to Sakai which cannot be opened will received no credit. Exam topics may include questions on features and operations of the hardware and software used in this course.
Academic Integrity
The Department of Computer Science strictly adheres to the Rutgers University Policy on Academic Integrity, as described in the New Brunswick Undergraduate Catalog (http://ruweb.rutgers.edu/catalogs/nb-ug.shtml). Students enrolled in Department of Computer Science courses are advised that all allegations of academic dishonesty will be fully investigated and any evidence of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean's Office for appropriate action. With regard to software applications assignments and programming assignments, it is a violation of academic integrity to copy someone else's work or to permit another person to copy your work. While you may discuss programming and software assignments with other students at a general level, all coding, debugging, preparation, refinement, and testing of assignments should be entirely your own work. Just as copying or collaborating on an examination is dishonest, turning in a program or software applications assignment which is a clone of someone else's work is also dishonest.
Students enrolled in computer science courses are required to accept the department guidelines and responsibilities statement presented at the first Sakai login session. Failure to accept these guidelines will result in denial of access to Sakai.
Grading
Your final grade for this course is based on the total number of points accumulated throughout the semester. The maximum number of points is 500, divided as follows:
Hourly Exam 1 100 points
Hourly Exam 2 100 points
Spreadsheet Exam 30 points
Final Exam 120 points
Assignments 150 points
Software Applications Extra Credit 10 points*
TA Extra Credit 10 points**
Grades are earned using the following scale:
451 - 500 points A
436 - 450 points B+
401 - 435 points B
381 - 400 points C+
351 - 380 points C
301 - 350 points D
0 - 300 points F
*Software Applications Extra Credit: Ten extra-credit points will be added to your total points for completion of an assignment using a software package available on RUNet but not otherwise taught in this course. Information on this assignment, including due date, will be available later in the semester
**TA Extra Credit: Up to ten points will be added to your total points based on evaluation by your teaching assistant. These points may be earned through written assignments; attendance in recitation; quizzes given in recitation; or supplementary assignments in email, internet technology, or homepage design. The TA will provide information on earning these ten points in recitation.
NOTE: Software applications and TA extra-credit points will be added to your total points at the end of the semester, but will not increase total points beyond 500.
Topics and Reading Assignments
Listed below is a general outline of topics and related reading assignments for the semester. Generally, each topic is covered in one or two lectures.
| Topic | Snyder | Sagman |
| Course Overview, Information Technology | Chapter 1,2 | |
| Network Technology, Internet | Chapter 3, 5, 6 | |
| HTML | Chapter 4 | |
| Programming Concepts | Chapter 10, 18 | |
| JavaScript Syntax | Chapter 18, 19 | |
| Conditional Statements in JavaScript | Chapter 21 | |
| Loops in JavaScript | Chapter 21 | |
| Arrays in JavaScript | Chapter 21 | |
| Spreadsheet Software | Chapter 12, 13 | Part 3, Chapter10-17 |
| Formulas and Functions in Spreadsheets | Chapter 13 | Part 3, chapter 10-17 |
| Advanced Features in Spreadsheets | Part 3, chapter 10-17 | |
| Database Techniques in Spreadsheets | Chapter 14, 15 | Part 3, chapter 15 |
| Computer Security and Privacy | Chapter 17 | |
| Presentation Software | Part 4, chapter 18-28 |
Assignments
Computer Applications for Business includes assignments in webpage development using HTML, programming, software applications, privacy and security, and the internet. Assignment descriptions, due dates, and evaluation criteria are on the CS170 website (http://eden.rutgers.edu/~gganu/cs170/). Completed assignments are submitted to Sakai and graded by your teaching assistant (TA).
Sakai is an online, web-based database system maintained by the University. Your TA will demonstrate the use of Sakai in your first computer lab recitation. Throughout the semester, when you submit the final version of your assignment to Sakai, print the receipt which appears on the screen and submit this to your TA at the next recitation. The TA will return the receipt to you after grading your work; keep the receipt as a record until final grades are published.
In completing your assignments, remember:
• All assignments must be submitted on time to be evaluated at full credit.
NOTE: "due date" is based on when your recitation section meets.
• Assignments turned in after the due date are evaluated at half credit; assignments turned in more than one week late receive no credit.
• Except where specifically noted, homework assignments sent by electronic mail will not be graded.
• Discrepancies regarding assignment grades must be clarified within two weeks after assignments are returned; no consideration will be given after this two-week time limit. Students are advised to keep copies of work submitted and all Sakai receipts until the semester has ended and final grades are published. Students should verify their grades each week on Sakai and notify their TA if there is a discrepancy. If your TA does not respond within two days, report this to your instructor.
• Violations of the academic integrity policies of the University will be reported to the Dean's Office.
• Wednesday, December 12, is the last day of the FALL 2007 semester. All assignment grade-related conflicts must be resolved with your instructor by this date. No work is accepted after the semester ends.
Examinations
Bring Rutgers University student identification card to all exams. Electronic devices of any type are not permitted in the room during an exam.
Hourly Exam 1: Thursday, October 25 (Common Hour) 9:40 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Hourly Exam 2: Thursday, November 15 (Common Hour) 9:40 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Spreadsheet Exam: December 3 - 5
(During Recitation)
Final Exam: Friday, December 14 (Group M) 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Exam Details: http://eden.rutgers.edu/~gganu/cs170/exams.html
Computer Applications for Business includes two hourly exams, spreadsheet exam, and final exam. The final exam is not cumulative. Room assignments for the exams are announced in lecture and recitation and posted to the CS170 website (http://eden.rutgers.edu/~gganu/cs170/). Make note of the room where your exam is scheduled when it is announced in lecture and posted to the class website.
• You may not take exams at a location other than the one assigned without your instructor's permission.
• You may not take a makeup exam without your instructor's permission.
• It is your responsibility to be in the correct exam room at the correct time on the correct day.
•Taking an exam in the wrong location will result in the lowering of your final course grade by one letter grade.
• Students arriving late to the exam site will be admitted only at the discretion of the instructor, and will not be admitted if other students have already left the room.
Exams may include material from lecture, recitation, assignments, web assigned readings, or recommended readings. Information on the topics and content of the exams is announced in lecture and recitation and posted to the CS170 website. Calculators cannot be used during examinations; using a calculator during an exam will result in a zero grade. Cellular products are not permitted in the room during exams; if you bring cellular devices to the exam, you risk getting zero as a grade.
• Discrepancies regarding exam grades must be clarified within two weeks after the exams are returned; no consideration will be given after this two-week time limit.
• Students who require alternate testing considerations must present appropriate documentation to their instructor at the beginning of the semester. Student athletes must present their practice and competitive schedule to their instructor at the beginning of the semester.
• Not knowing where your exam is being given, having the incorrect date or time noted for the exam, not feeling prepared for the exam, court appearances, broken alarm clock, speeding ticket, or other mishaps are not legitimate reasons for requesting a makeup exam.
• If an emergency occurs which prevents you from being at a scheduled exam, contact your Dean’s office immediately. The Dean’s Office will notify all of your instructors you are unable to attend classes and advise you what documentation to bring to verify the emergency.
• It is the instructor’s decision whether to provide any accommodation for a missed exam.
• Work is not an excuse for a makeup exam. Advise your employer of your exam schedule now and make arrangements to be excused from work in sufficient time to arrive for the exam.
Makeup Exams
Common Hour Exams: It is University policy that a makeup exam for common hour exams is given only to students who have another common hour exam or regularly scheduled Rutgers University class at the same time as the CS170 hourly exam or a documented explanation acceptable to the instructor and presented within a reasonable time before the exam. Check your class schedule now and speak with your instructor if there is a class conflict and provide appropriate documentation. Class conflicts must be documented at least two weeks before the scheduled exam in order to take the make exam; all other conflicts must be documented at the beginning of the semester. Note It is the decision of the instructor to acccept requests for makeup exams for reasons other than scheduled Rutgers classes and/or exams.
Final Exam: Students with three or more scheduled final exams on one calendar day or three or more exams scheduled in consecutive time periods including the CS170 final exam should speak with their instructor and provide appropriate documentation before the last meeting of the lecture. If you have not met with your instructor and provided documentation of a conflict before the last lecture, you will not be eligible for the makeup exam.
Miscellaneous
1. If you are not officially enrolled in CS170, check for available sections through the Rutgers Touchtone Telephone Registration System (TTRS) or the University registration website (www.rutgers.edu). Special permission numbers are not available for CS170. If you are already enrolled in CS170 and want to change to a different lecture, use the TTRS or web registration site during the Drop/Add period. Special permission numbers are not given to change lectures.
2. You must attend the recitation section for which you are registered or an alternate recitation section taught by your teaching assistant if you have your TA's approval. Speak with your TA or instructor before attending a different recitation section. If you need to change recitation sections because of scheduling conflicts, use the TTRS or web registration page to find an alternate section. Special permission numbers are not given to change recitation sections.
3. Computer Science majors (curriculum code 198) cannot register for CS170. If you are a declared computer science major, you will not receive credit for the course and you will be dropped from the class list.
4. Prebusiness majors (curriculum code 006) are required to register for Computer Applications for Business (01:198:170). Admission to the School of Business requires successful completion of Computer Applications for Business (01:198:170). CS110 is not accepted by the School of Business as a substitute for CS170, and you cannot receive credit for both CS110 and CS170.
5. If a problem arises which causes you to miss an exam, if you miss class for an extended period, or you experience difficulties of a personal nature, notify your Dean's Office immediately and then contact your instructor to determine what options may be available. It is the instructor’s decision whether to extend consideration for missed assignments and exams; therefore, the sooner you make us aware of a problem, the more likely an equitable solution may be arranged. No consideration will be given for missed work if you wait until your return to class to notify the dean’s office or your instructor.
6. Throughout the semester changes in computer facilities and resources will occur on the New Brunswick campus. Stay informed -- visit the New Brunswick Computing Services (NBCS) website at /www.nbcs.rutgers.edu/, CS170 class website at http://eden.rutgers.edu/~gganu/cs170/, and your email regularly.
