Computer Science Department
Comsc 210: Program Design & Data Structures, Fall 2006, Section 8284
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Techniques relevant to program design and selection of data structures for larger programs.
Topics covered include design techniques, effective use of recursion, algorithmic efficiency
and O-notation, linked lists, binary trees, B-trees, graphs, sorting, and searching
techniques. Extensive programming of a variety of data structures is required. CAN CSCI 24, CSU, UC
Prerequisite: Comsc 255 or 265 or equivalent.
INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Robert D. Burns, rburns@dvc.edu Office: FO-F227 (925)685-1230 x2610
Hours: MW 1-2pm, TTh 9:30-11am
TOPICS COVERED: List structures
Table structures
Tree structures
Finding records
Sorting records
Maintaining structures
Abstract data types (ADTs)
Classic algorithms
Efficiency considerations
MEETING DATES AND TIMES: M Aug 21th through W Dec 6th
MW 7-8:30pm, ATC-109 Lecture
MW 8:30-9:50pm, ATC-109 Lab
Last Day To Add: W Aug 30th
Last Day To Drop with refund: W Aug 30th
Last Day To Drop without "W": F Sep 15th
Last Day To Drop with "W": F Nov 17th
Holiday: M Sep 4th
Midterm Exam: M Oct 16th
Final Exam: M Dec 11th, 7-9pm
Expect to spend about 12 hours per
week on this course -- 3 in lecture,
3 in lab,
and 6 outside of class.
Lab assignments are posted on the class website.
Lab assignments are due at midnight of the evening
of the due date indicated on the course
outline. Completed lab work must be posted to the class website for credit.
For questions on lab assignments, anytime and anywhere, use the
online discussion group (accessible via links on the class website:
http://comsc.dvc.edu/rburns/).
Students may post and reply to questions in order to help eachother.
The instructor monitors the discussions and answers questions
when appropriate. Use this method so that all students benefit
from questions, answers, and clarifications.
One point per day will be deducted for each late assignment.
Late work will be accepted until noon on Th Dec 14th. No credit will be awarded
for any late work after that time.
Contact the instructor in person in lab, lecture, or office hour,
or by email. You can use the phone during office hours -- if you
leave a voice message, calls will most likely not be returned.
The final exam and the midterm exam are both open book
and open note.
Arrangements for missed exams must be made
with the instructor in advance. Make-up exams can only be scheduled for
a time period in which the instructor is conducting another exam.
Online quizzes are conducted during the 72-hour period preceding
lecture as indicated in the course outline. No make-ups for missed quizzes.
Quizzes cover the material for the indicated week's reading assignment in the course
outline, and the lecture notes for the week. Quizzes are accessible on the class website via
the internet, and require that Javascript be enabled in order to
to run in your browser. Quizzes are timed, each allowing a few minutes for 5 or fewer multiple-choice questions.
No credit will be given for work that is not original. Points
awarded for lab work that is later found to be not original will be withdrawn.
Points awarded for work that is deleted from the Student File Area before grades
are assigned at the end of the semester will be withdrawn.
Lecture classes start at 7:00pm sharp. Do not trust
classroom clocks -- check the time on the class website home page
(http://comsc.dvc.edu/rburns/)
which is synchronized to the atomic clock.
