The course instructor is Dean Brock. The course lectures will be delivered on Tuesday and Thursday from 1:45 PM to 3:00 PM in Karpen 034.
All class handouts, including homework assignments, can be found through the following URL:
The textbook for the course will be Operating Systems Concepts written by Abraham Silberschatz, Greg Gagne, and Peter Baer Galvin and published by Wiley. There may also be some readings from on-line journals of UNCA's Ramsey Library.
By the way, all exams will be closed book.
Grades will be based on points earned from frequent 30-minute quizes, one presentation, and programming projects.
| Seven quizes | 72% |
| Programming Assignments | 15% |
| Project | 13% |
The following numerical scale will be used in assigning grades based on Score, the weighted score computed using the preceding table.
| Score ≥ 93 | A |
| Score ≥ 90 & Score < 93 | A- |
| Score ≥ 87 & Score < 90 | B+ |
| Score ≥ 83 & Score < 87 | B |
| Score ≥ 80 & Score < 83 | B- |
| Score ≥ 77 & Score < 80 | C+ |
| Score ≥ 73 & Score < 77 | C |
| Score ≥ 70 & Score < 73 | C- |
| Score ≥ 67 & Score < 70 | D+ |
| Score ≥ 60 & Score < 67 | D |
| Score < 60 | F |
There will be seven 30-minute in-class exams. No make-up quizes will be given. The lowest quiz grade will be dropped. That gives you one "free" quiz absence.
The programs that you write are your way of telling the instructor about your mastery of this course. Because this is a course about writing programs you are expected to take these assignments very seriously. All of your programs must be clearly different than those turned in by others in the class and represent a unique and special effort on your part.
Cooperation and exchange of ideas with other students are encouraged. However, you are responsible for your own work. Examples of cooperation that are OK: talking with someone about approaches to the assignment; showing someone what your error is, discussing a particular programming problem that you are having. Examples of cooperation that are not OK: taking someone else's program and modifying it, examining someone else's solution in detail, having someone type at your computer. Any cases involving suspected academic dishonesty result in a grade of zero for the assignment. See Student Responsibilities - Academic Honesty at http://www.unca.edu/catalog/academicregs.html#grading.
Students will complete a project and make a brief (20 minute) presentation on a topic of their choice. Students who are graduating seniors will make their presentations during the last week of class. Other students will make their presentations during the scheduled final exam period.
Students are expected to attend all class lectures. Failure to do so will be considered a lack of interest in success on the part of the student. It is very important that you do the assigned reading and come to class prepared to participate.
There will be about thirteen labs during the semester. In computing your average lab grade, your lowest lab grade will be dropped. That is your one allowed miss. Labs must be completed during the lab period. If you feel you already know the material covered in a particular lab, then show up to help out your fellow students. Helpfulness has its own rewards.
Your instructor will periodically communicate with you through e-mail to your bulldog account (yourlogin@bulldog.unca.edu). These communications will typically be regarding assignments. You must periodically check this e-mail account for messages and to insure that new messages can be received. Be sure that your mailbox is not full.
The best way to get in touch with me is to send email to brock@cs.unca.edu. If you need to see me, send me email to arrange an appointment.