CIS 130: Operating Systems

Course Syllabus

 

Instructor Contact Information

Instructor: Mr. Alan Collard
Office: AJT 110c
Phone: 810.989.5620
E-mail: acollard@sc4.edu

I will be available to students outside of class by appointment or during my posted Office Hours.

Catalog Description

CIS 130. Operating Systems. This course provides an introduction to current operating systems and user environments. Through lecture and hands-on exercises, students will explore concepts and usage of several different systems: MS-DOS command line, a Graphical User Interface (GUI) such as Microsoft Windows, Unix, Local Area Networking, the Internet and other related topics.

Course Overview

All computer systems (whether microcomputers, workstations or mainframes) are controlled by some type of operating system. Understanding the purpose and function of operating systems is vital for computer professionals or anyone who is required to work with a computer on a regular basis. This course will provide an introduction and comparison of the most common operating systems. Through lecture and hands-on exercises students will have opportunity to learn and explore the workings of various computers and operating systems.

Prerequisites

CIS 115 or permission of instructor; CIS 110 is recommended.

Textbooks

  1. Survey of Operating Systems, Holcombe, Holcombe, McGraw-Hill/Osborne, 2003 Required

Students will also benefit from reference guides of their own choosing for the various systems examined (MS-DOS, Unix/Linux, Windows XP, Mac OS, etc.)

Course Materials

Additional materials (SCANTRON forms, USB storage devices, ZIP disks, floppy diskettes, etc) may be required by the instructor

Requirements

Final Grades for this course will be calculated as follows:

Examinations 45%
In-Class Exercises 10%
Projects & Exercises 45%

  1. Written tests will be given during the semester. These closed book tests will consist of some combination of Matching, True/False, Multiple Choice, Fill-In, Short Answer and Essay type questions.

  2. There are three scheduled written tests and a comprehensive, written final exam.. The lowest test score will be dropped. Make up tests will only be given with prior permission of the instructor, otherwise, missed tests will receive a grade of zero. Make up tests must be taken within one week of the original scheduled test date. (NOTE: The final exam is scheduled at a different time than the regular class time.)

  3. Participation in class discussions and group exercises is an important part of this course, therefore all students are expected to attend class prepared to contribute to the discussion of course material.

  4. Projects and exercises may include both written and laboratory work. Some assignments may be graded as simply completed or not completed.

  5. Completed assignments must be submitted by the due date for full credit. The responsibility to complete make-up work rests with the student. Late assignments will be marked down 25% for every week (or part of a week) they are late. For example: an assignment turned in eight days late would be marked down 50%.

  6. All work must be submitted by the last regular class to be considered for final grade evaluation.

Grading Scale

Grades will be determined according to a standard grading scale.

A 92 - 100 % B- 80 - 81 % D+ 68 - 69 %
A- 90 - 91 % C+ 78 - 79 % D 62 - 67 %
B+ 88 - 89 % C 72 - 77 % D- 60 - 61 %
B 82 - 87 % C- 70 - 71 % E 59 %

Policies

  1. This course contains a number of hands-on assignments and projects which require use of the computer. Though some class time will be given for these assignments, students should plan to attend the computer lab during open hours, as there will not be sufficient time to complete the assignments in class.
  2. Students are expected to keep current with all course work. Students who, for whatever reason, fall behind and are unable to complete the course requirements before the end of the semester are encouraged to withdraw and re-take the course at a later date. Incomplete grades are extremely rare, and will only be given if 80% of the course material prior to the final exam has been completed satisfactorily.
  3. St. Clair County Community College considers academic honesty to be an integral necessity of all academic performance. Instances of academic dishonesty will be treated as serious offenses. Students involved in activities such as cheating and/or plagiarism will be subject to disciplinary action. 

Course Objectives

A number of topics will be addressed in this course. Students achieving satisfactory performance should complete the following:

  1. Describe the functions of an operating system
  2. Compare strengths and weaknesses of various operating systems and environments.
  3. Execute and compare commands in various operating systems and environments
  4. Demonstrate the use of operating system commands from the command line, menus and Graphical User Interface (GUI)
  5. Demonstrate the ability to create, manipulate and organize program and data files and directories in various operating systems and environments
  6. Describe and use operating system print facilities
  7. Develop operating system batch or script files
  8. Explain procedures and rationale relating to backup of user and system information
  9. Demonstrate the use of a GUI to launch and manage software applications
  10. Describe network hardware, software, and topologies, both physical and logical
  11. Explain issues relating to network setup and management
  12. Discuss the role and responsibilities of the System Administrator
  13. Describe the network components that make up the Internet.

 

Go to Top of Syllabus