COSC 335 - Operating Systems
Spring 2005
St. Mary's College of Maryland

Instructor Bob Tracy
SH 232
301-373-3698 (Home)
240-725-7021 (Anteon Office)
240-895-2098 (SMCM Office)
rttracy@smcm.edu
Course Web Site www.smcm.edu/users/rttracy
Course Prerequisites COSC 230
Required Text Meyers, Mike and Jernigan, Scott
MIKE MEYERS' A+ GUIDE TO OPERATING SYSTEMS
McGraw-Hill, 2004
ISBN: 0072231246



Course Description
This course will begin with an introduction to operating systems and then focus on processes, memory and file management, and I/O structures. Unix will be the subject of a case study. Finally, an overview of distributed systems will be given, and the major issues discussed.


Course Objectives
This course will expose students to architectural and practical concepts of operating systems. Upon completion of this course, students should understand the following:


Course Schedule/Important Dates
This course outline is a tentative plan of class activities and lecture content. It may be modified due to unforeseen circumstances. The order in which lectures and activities appear on the schedule will be followed.

Week Date Topic/Assignment
1 January 18 Introductions, discussion of syllabus, discussion of course schedule, course overview
January 20 Chapter 1
2 January 25 Chapter 1 (cont.)
January 27 Chapter 2
3 February 1 Chapter 2 (cont.)
February 3 No class
4 February 8 Chapter 3
February 10 Chapter 3 (cont.)
5 February 15 Test #1
February 17 Class cancelled
6 February 22 Chapter 4
February 24 Class cancelled
7 March 1 Chapter 4 (cont.)
March 3 Chapter 5
8 March 8 Chapter 5 (cont.)
March 10 Midterm Exam
9 March 15 No class
March 17 No class
10 March 22 Chapter 6
March 24 Chapter 9
11 March 29 No class
March 31 Chapter 9 (cont.)
12 April 5 Chapter 10
April 7 Test #2
13 April 12  
April 14  
14 April 19  
April 21  
15 April 26  
April 28 Review for Final Exam
16 May 9 Final Exam

Grading
The final grade for this course will be based on the following criteria:

Homework/In-Class Participation   25%
Tests (2) 20% (10% each)
Midterm Exam 25%
Final Exam 30%

All tests and assignments will have a possible score of 100 points, and the above percentages will be multiplied by each score and summed to determine the overall course grade. The following grading scale will be used to determine letter grades:

93-100  A
90-92 A-
87-89 B+
83-86 B
80-82 B-
77-79 C+
 
73-76   C
70-72 C-
67-69 D+
63-66 D
60-62 D-
0-59 F

Test and exams will be based upon the course text book, lecture materials, and handouts. Prior to each test or exam, class time will be allocated for question/answer sessions. Make-up tests will be administered only with prior approval by the instructor. All tests, exams, and assignments will be discussed and announced in class as well as the requirements and due dates. Unless prior arrangements have been made with the instructor, assignments will not be accepted after the due dates.


Academic Honesty
Each student is expected to perform his or her own academic work. Plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty are considered an extremely serious offense. Each student is personally responsible for understanding the various forms of academic dishonesty as they are explained in the Student Code section of the College's Student Handbook. Ignorance of any requirement for academic honesty will not constitute an excuse from disciplinary proceedings.


Absences
Students are expected to attend class and be on time. Students are responsible for all material covered during each class session. The majority of students will find that class attendance is imperative in order to complete the course work satisfactorily.

Absence from any class session will likely be detrimental to a student's progress and grade due to the technical nature of the course. In legitimate emergency situations, the student should contact the instructor so that the opportunity to make up work that was missed can be granted. Otherwise, the absence will be considered unexcused.