MIS 140 - Technical Aspects of MIS

MIS 140 -- Technical Aspects of Information Systems
Fall Semester, 2009
Syllabus

Revised: 2009.09.18

Catalog Description: An introduction to the technology upon which information systems are built. Topics include fundamental computer and network architecture, system and network software, communications protocols, decision support system structure and configuration, and methods for developing IS software and for constructing IS infrastructure. Prerequisites: A basic understanding of how computers can be used, and experience using a computer.

Course Goals: To provide an understanding of:

fundamental computer system architecture and its operation
fundamental aspects of computer system structure and operation
networking hardware components
networking software and protocols
introductiory programming
introductory SQL

Text: Foundations of Computer Science, 2nd Edition, by Behrouz A. Forouzan and Firouz Mosharraf. Copyright 2008. Published by CENGAGE Learning Business Press. ISBN 10: 1-84480-700-2; ISBN 13: 978-1-84480-700-0. (Publisher's info page).

Other resources: Links to other readings that supplement the text.

Instructor: Dr. Jim Howatt; Office: Olin 304; Phone: 563-387-1570; Email: jhowatt(at)luther(dot)edu
Office hours: see my schedule, or stop in most any time that I'm in my office.

Computing Your Grade:

Three tests: 23.33% each
Homework: 30%

Your final grades will be computed as follows: (grades will not be "curved")

Percentage Points	100-96	95-90	89-87	86-83	82-80	79-77	76-73	72-70	69-67	66-63	62-60	59-0
Letter Grade:	A	A-	B+	B	B-	C+	C	C-	D+	D	D-	F

Schedule: (it may change to adapt to the needs of the class)

Dates	Topics to be Covered	Readings
Sep 2 & 4	Course intro and brief computing history	Chapter 1
Sep 7 thru 11	Number systems and data representation	Chapters 2 & 3
Sep 14 thru 18	Logical and mathematical operations	Chapter 4 & Appendix E
Sep 21 thru Sep 30	Computer organization	Chapter 5 & handouts
Oct 2	Review
Oct 5	Test 1
Oct 7 thru 16	Networking hardware and protocols	Chapter 6
Oct 19 & 21	Fall break
Oct 23	Data compression	Chapter 15
Oct 26 thru 30	Operating systems	Chapter 7
Nov 2 & 4	File structures	Chapter 13
Nov 6	Review
Nov 09	Test 2
Nov 11 thru 18	Database & SQL	Chapter 14
Nov 20 & 23	Security	Chapter 16
Nov 25 & 27	Thanksgiving break
Nov 30 thru Dec 9	Intro to programming	Chapters 8, 9 & 10
Dec 11	Review
Dec 16th	Test 3: 10:15 - 12:15

Class Policies :

Attendance: Attendance does not directly impact your grade. "Attending class" means giving 100% attention to the class. This does not include sleeping, carrying on side conversations, surfing the net, checking e-mail, doing homework for this or other classes, etc.
Assignments: All assignments will be posted on Katie. Deadlines will be posted with the assignments. Reduced or no credit will be awarded for late submissions. Reduced or no credit will be awarded for improperly named files and file formats (see next item).
Uploading Assignments to Katie: Each file that you upload must be named following this convention: "YourLastName-YourFirstName-AssignmentNumber.extension", where the AssignmentNumber is the one shown on Katie (e.g. HW01, HW02 etc), and extension is the one appropriate for the type of file that you're uploading (e.g. "doc" or "rtf" for Word documents, "xls" for Excel documents, etc.).
Collaborative work: I encourage you to discuss class readings and assignments, as well as general approaches to completing those assignments, with your classmates; however, the work that you turn in must be your own (or your team's own).
Standards of Conduct: Follow the Student Handbook.
E-mail: When you send me an e-mail message, include your name, especially if you're turning in an assignment or asking me to take some action on your behalf. If I don't know who you are, I'll not be able to act on your message.

MIS 140 -- Technical Aspects of Information Systems Fall Semester, 2009 Syllabus

MIS 140 -- Technical Aspects of Information Systems
Fall Semester, 2009
Syllabus