Welcome to Computer Science 2820, Data Structures.

DUE SOON and LINKS TO USE

Due on Thursday, May 2nd:

• Project #8, Hash Tables
• Download the Starter Files

For Lab on Friday, May 3rd:

• Download the Starter File

For the Review Session on Monday, May 6th:

• Final Exam Review Sheet

Check out the Archives page for code examples and links from class.

OVERVIEW OF THE COURSE

At the start of your studies in Computer Science, you focused on the basic building blocks of the modern programming language: what they are, how to use them, and how they can be combined. In this semester, we take that one step further; we explore our ability as writers of programs to create more and more complex data types from those basic pieces. This will aid us in the creation of ever more complex and interesting ways of storing and manipulating information. Along the way, we will encounter the questions that arise from more complicated programs, including concepts of object inheritance, recursive approaches to programming, and the analysis of the algorithms we use.

The learning objectives of this course are:

• Understand the allocation and use of dynamic memory using pointers.
• Understand and implement as C++ classes the following classical data structures: lists, stacks, queues, trees, and graphs.
• Understand the use of recursion in functions and classic data structures.
• Understand and measure the efficiencies of different searching, sorting, and hashing algorithms.

COURSE SCHEDULE

Lecture (Mendel 159)	Mon / Wed / Fri	9:00am - 9:50am
Lab (Mendel 159)	Fridays	10:00am - 10:50am
Office Hours (Mendel 252)	Tuesday	10:00am - 11:30am
	Wednesday	10:00am - 11:00am
	Thursday	2:00pm - 3:30pm
	(Other)	by appointment

This course meets three times a week for lecture, and one additional hour a week for a lab. Labs will typically cover exercises which illustrate recent lecture topics. Attendance in lecture is strongly suggested; you are responsible for obtaining class notes and learning material that you miss before the next class convenes. Attendance in lab is mandatory; no credit is given for a lab that is missed.

Attendance will be taken on random days on the hour when class or lab starts. Consistently coming late to lecture or lab will result in a penalty applied to the term grade.

EMAIL POLICY

Information and announcements will be frequently communicated via email. It is the student's responsibility to check for email at least once a day throughout the week. If you have a mobile device, please enable it to receive your Merrimack emails. Instructions on how to do so can be found through the MackApps FAQs.

REQUIRED TEXTBOOK AND COMPILER

The required text for this course is C++ Plus Data Structures (5th edition) by Nell Dale (ISBN-10: 1449646751, ISBN-13: 978-1449646752). You are expected to keep up with the reading associated with each chapter either before or immediately after it is covered in class.

The required compiler for this course depends on your OS. If you run Windows, the required compiler is Microsoft Visual Studio; Visual Studio Express can be downloaded free of charge. If you run Linux or MacOSX, the required compiler is C++ for Eclipse, which is also free.

You are required to do all project development in the required environment, and this is the environment in which your work will be graded; if you choose to use a different development platform, you will need to compile and test your work under the required environment before submission or you will not receive credit.

ACCOMMODATIONS

If you are a non-native speaker of English, translation devices are encouraged during class and tests.  During these tests and exams, however, no mobile devices capable of accessing the Internet (particularly smartphones) are allowed, so you will need to use a translator that cannot access the Internet.

If you believe that you need accommodations for a disability, please contact Elaine DiVincenzo, ADA Academic Coordinator, via email at Elaine.DiVincenzo@merrimack.edu or by telephone at 978-837-5140. The ADA Office is located on the 3rd floor of the McQuade Library in the Center for Academic Enrichment. The ADA Office is responsible for coordinating disability related accommodations and will issue Accommodation Letters & Plans to students with documented disabilities. In this course, it is better to be pro-active than to wait until difficulties have already interfered with assignments or exams. Please note that it takes time to arrange accommodations for exams.

COURSE WEBSITE

If you are viewing this text on paper, you may want to also check it out online at:

http://www.merrimack.edu/lmichaud/courses/csc2820/

This web page is linked from the Blackboard portal for this course. The online version of the syllabus will be kept up-to-date with assignments and announcements.