Syllabus
  


Welcome to Computer Applications for Business. The purpose of this course is to introduce you to the fundamentals of information technology, with an emphasis on web-based programming and business applications. In the first part of the course, you will be introduced to networking technology concepts and learn to create and publish a web page.  Then you will develop more sophisticated, interactive web pages using programming techniques in JavaScript.  In the final part of the course, you will develop proficiency in the design and implementation of computerized spreadsheets.   No prior experience in using a computer is needed--this course is intended for beginners.

Computer Applications for Business (01:198:170), is a three-credit course that meets for three periods per week, two one-hour lectures and one one-hour recitation session. The lectures are presented by your instructor. New material is presented in lecture. A teaching assistant (TA) will meet with you during recitation. Recitation sessions are used to review class material; return and review assignments and exams; and answer questions related to lecture, software assignments, programming, etc.  Questions are always welcome in lecture, but many students find it more comfortable to ask questions in a small group setting like recitation. Attendance in both lecture and recitation are expected.

Note: Recitations will not meet in the classroom listed on your official schedule.  Instead, recitations will always meet in a computer lab designated by the CS 170 staff.  Click here to find your assigned lab.

Introduction to Computers and Applications requires a considerable amount of computer work, which you must complete on your own time. All assignments are hands-on, using PC-compatible microcomputers connected to the Rutgers University Network (RUNet). As a general rule, you should expect to complete one assignment each week throughout the semester and schedule four to six hours per week in the computer lab. If you have your own computer and prefer to complete your assignments using your computer, speak with your instructor about which applications textbook to purchase and any differences specific to your software.

Note:  Enrollment in CS170 is restricted to Pre-business 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 this course and you may be deleted from the class list.  
 
©Copyright Notice
     Handouts and notes for all CS170 lectures and recitations and all course materials on the Department of Computer Science (DCS) network and worldwide web site(s) are the academic property of the CS170 instructors and teaching assistants. These materials may not be reproduced and/or distributed in any form except by the instructors and teaching assistants associated with this course and may not be distributed to sources within or outside the University without the express written consent of the Department of Computer Science.

Required Materials

TEXT:          Fluency with Information Technology, 2d Edition
                         Lawrence Snyder
                        Addison Wesley, 2005
                      
(RECOMMENDED TEXT)
 
                        MS Office for Windows XP
                        Steve Sagman
                        Peachpit Press
                      
       
STORAGE:   Portable data storage such as one Zipdisk or USB storage device.

EMAIL:         Establish a Rutgers University Computing account by Monday, September 11.  Information on how to establish a Rutgers University computer account will be available from your teaching assistant (TA) at the first recitation meetings.

Assignments

Click here for assignments, which will be posted as the semester progresses.

Reminders:
Examinations

Bring your Rutgers University student identification card with you to all exams.

Computer Applications for Business includes two hourly exams, a hands-on spreadsheets test, and a final exam.  The final exam is cumulative. Room assignments for exams are announced in lecture and recitation, posted on the door of Hill 490 (Busch Campus), and posted to the CS170 website.  In summer session, all exams take place in the regular classroom.  Make note of the room where your exam is scheduled when it is announced in lecture. You may not take the exam at another location without your instructor's permission, and you may not take the makeup exam without your instructor's permission.

It is your responsibility to be in the correct room at the correct time on the correct day. If you take the exam in the wrong location, your final course grade will be lowered by one letter grade. Students arriving late to the exam will be admitted only at the discretion of the instructor, and will not be admitted if other students have already left the room. Arriving late to the exam does not mean you receive extra time to finish the exam.

Exams may include material from lecture, recitation, assignments, world wide web assigned readings, or recommended readings. Information on exam topics and content 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 for the examination. Cellular products are not permitted in the room during exams. If you bring cellular devices to the exam, you risk getting a zero grade. Do not bring calculators or cellular devices to the exam!

Requests for review of hourly exams will only be considered for a two-week period after the exams have been returned; no consideration will be given after this two-week time limit.  In summer session, this time limit is reduced to one-week.

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 a regularly scheduled 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.

If you have a conflict with a CS170 hourly exam, you must provide your instructor with appropriate documentation at least two weeks before the exam in order to take the makeup exam. To avoid problems, check your class schedule now and speak with your instructor if there is a class conflict.

Final Exam: Students with three or more scheduled exams on one calendar day or three or more scheduled exams in consecutive time periods, including the CS170 final exam, should provide appropriate documentation to their instructor 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.

Note:  Not knowing where your exam is being given, having the incorrect date or time noted for the exam, not feeling prepared for the exam, a broken alarm clock, work-related travel, or family social events are not legitimate reasons for requesting a makeup 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.

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.  Waiting until you return to campus to notify your instructor does not guarantee any consideration for the missed exam.

Exam Schedule
Hourly Exam One         Tuesday, October 24
Hourly Exam Two         Tuesday, November 14
Spreadsheets Test        Week of December 4 (in recitation)
Final Exam                    Thursday, December 21

Grading

Your final grade in the course will be based on the total number of points accumulated from tests and assignments.  The maximum number of points is 500, accorded as follows:

    Assignments                        150 points
    Hourly Exam One               100 points
    Hourly Exam Two               100 points
    Spreadsheets Test                30 points
    Final Exam                          120 points
    Software Extra Credit*        10 points
    TA Extra Credit**               10 points
 
Grades are assigned using the following scale.  No exceptions are made.

           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 Extra Credit: Up to ten points will be added to your total points based on completion of an extra credit assignment which will be posted late in the semester.

**TA Extra Credit: Up to ten points will be added to your total points based on an evaluation by your teaching assistant. These points may be earned through written assignments, supplementary programming assignments, attendance in recitation, quizzes given in recitation, etc. The TA will announce the basis of extra credit at the beginning of the semester.

Academic Integrity

The Department of Computer Science strictly adheres to the Rutgers University Policy on Academic Integrity, as described in the current New Brunswick Undergraduate Catalog. 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 that is a clone of someone else's work is also dishonest.

Miscellaneous

If you are not officially enrolled in CS170, check for available sections through the Rutgers Touchtone Telephone Registration System (TTRS) or on-line registration system.  Special permission numbers are not available for CS170.  If you are already enrolled in CS170 and want to switch to a different section, you must go through Drop/Add; special permission numbers are not given to change lectures.

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.  Special permission numbers are not given to change recitation sections.

Computer Science majors cannot register for CS170.  If you are a computer science major (curriculum code 198) and you are enrolled in CS170, you will not receive credit for the course and you may be dropped from the class list.

Admission to the School of Business requires successful completion of Computer Applications for Business (01:198:170).  CS110 (Introduction to Computers and Applications) is not accepted by the School of Business as a substitute for CS170, and you cannot receive credit for both CS110 and CS170.

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 you return to class to notify your dean's office or instructor.

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 http://www-nbcs.rutgers.edu/, CS170 class website at www.cs.rutgers.edu/~cjs, and check your email regularly.

Peer group tutoring, individualized learning assistance, learning strategies group sessions, and successful learning tip sheets are available at the Rutgers University Learning Resource Centers (LRC), located on the College Avenue, Douglass, and Livingston campus. For additional information, stop by one of the centers, call 932-1443, or visit their website at http://lrc.rutgers.edu/. Do not wait until the week before an exam to visit the Learning Resource Center; stop by early in the semester and take advantage of their excellent support services.