Business, Computer Science & Math Division –
214-860-8848, fax 214-860-8874
Section 6501, 4 credit hours, MW Lecture
Instructor: Chris Oneal
e-mail: [email protected] Place “COSC 1401” in subject
phone: 214-957-7860 (Please call between
5:00pm and 10:00pm)
Office: n/a, hours: by appointment
Course Description
COSC 1401 - This is a
Prerequisites
Developmental Reading 0093 or English as a
Second Language (
Course Competencies
The following competencies will be
measured through tests, and lab assignments. Each student will be required to:
a. Explain the basic concepts and vocabulary of computer information
systems.
b. Identify the devices that comprise computer systems and describe
their functions.
c. Describe and discuss the evolution of computers in meeting the
needs of society and its organizations for computational and data processing
capabilities.
d. Describe and discuss the role and functions of software.
e. Describe and discuss the value of data as a business asset; the
organization of data into (1) files, (2) spreadsheets, (3) databases, and (4)
the effective presentation of data.
f. Discuss various logical and physical views of data/file
organization and processing.
g. Be able to use the Internet as a research tool, use Office productivity
software to create web pages and communicate effectively using email.
h. Identify the steps of the software development process and the
information development process
i. Discuss the impact of computer technology on society.
j. For each of the major categories of application and operating
system software:
1. Explain its purpose.
2. Clearly distinguish it from the other
types of general-purpose software.
3. Describe how companies and individuals use
this type of software.
4. Describe and contrast several programs
being used that are representative of this software.
5. List and describe the essential functions
associated with using this software.
6. Demonstrate a basic functional knowledge
of this software by using it to solve a specific problem.
Exemplary Educational Objectives
DCCCD has included courses in its core curriculum that
address important issues that affect the quality of students' lives and work.
The objective of a computer literacy component in a core curriculum is to
enable the student to explain basic concepts and vocabulary of computer
information systems; describe the role and functions of software and systems in
meeting the needs of organizations; discuss the impact of computer technology
on society and demonstrate a basic functional knowledge of network resources,
operating systems/environments, word processing, spreadsheets, and databases,
while using a microcomputer to solve specific problems. The Exemplary
Educational Objectives are:
To discuss computer and
communications terminology
To evaluate the effects and
implications of computers and communication technology on society
To demonstrate knowledge of
the impact of technology on the individual's privacy, security, lifestyle, work environment, standard of
living and health
To gather information for
decision making
To participate in global
communities making full use of available technology
To create qualitative and
quantitative presentations
Course Materials
Textbook: Microsoft Office 2007: Introductory
Concepts and Techniques Windows XP Edition by Gary B. Shelly, Thomas J.
Cashman, and Misty E. Vermaat; published by Course Technology. ISBN
978-1-4188-4327-4 or 1-4188-4327-X.
Evaluation Methodology
Computation of Final Grades:
Quizzes and Lecture assignments 35%
Labs 40%
Midterm Exam 10%
Final Exam 10%
Attendance 5%
90% and above earns an A
80% - 89% earns a B
70% - 79% earns a C
60% - 69% earns a D
0% - 59% earns an F
Quizzes
There will be quizzes given covering the material in
the text (lab and lecture book) and lectures. Missed quizzes may not be
made up without documented excused absences. If you know that you must
miss class on the day of the quiz, see me or contact me by email to arrange to
take the exam prior to your absence.
Labs
I encourage you to attend each lab session. This will
be the best time to get individual attention from me. The lab assignments
are worth 40% of the final grade for this class. You will not be able to
pass this course without doing your lab assignments and, thus, being prepared
to do the practical exercise on each exam. You may use the lab in W60 as a
“drop-in” at times outside our scheduled lab time or you may work at home if
you have the appropriate software (MS Office 2007 including Word 2007, Excel
2007, Access 2007, and PowerPoint 2007) and data files on your computer. You
must have Office 2007 installed on your home or work computer to do the
assignments. Any other version will not work! The lab hours are posted
outside of the W60 entrance. All material to be graded for a lab exercise must
be submitted by the beginning of the next lecture. Lab exercises submitted
after this time will be reduced in value 15%. Lab exercises not submitted
within 5 calendar days of the due date will receive a zero. All Lab
assignments will be submitted on eCampus unless specifically indicated
otherwise on the syllabus.
Attendance
Attendance is mandatory! If you
do not attend class you will not pass the exams or retain the material. If you
must miss for any reason, please notify me by email or at the number listed
above prior to your absence. If you do not attend class, it will be reflected
in your inability to perform as well on exams, quizzes, and lab assignments. It
is nearly impossible to receive an A in this class if you are chronically late
to class or consistently miss class altogether. If for some reason you must
leave class early, you should inform the instructor prior to the start of class
of your reason for leaving early. If a special situation occurs during the
semester (death of immediate family member, auto accident, military duty, etc.)
complete a “Special Situation” form found in the Course Documents section on
eCampus and email it or print it, complete it and hand it to me.
If you are receiving Financial Aid grants or loans,
you must begin attendance in all classes. Do not drop or stop attending any
class without consulting the Financial Aid Office. Students who are receiving any
form of financial aid should check with the Financial Aid Office prior to
withdrawing from classes. Withdrawals may affect your eligibility to receive
further aid and could cause you to be in a position of repayment for the
current semester. Students who fail to attend or participate after the drop
date are also subject to this policy. If you enroll in this class more than two
times, you will be charged approximately $200.00 extra to partially offset the
state reimbursement MVC will not receive because you did not complete the
course in two attempts.
Repeating This Course:
Effective for Fall Semester 2005, the Dallas County
Community Colleges will charge additional tuition to students registering the
third or subsequent time for a course. Third attempts include courses taken at
any of the Dallas County Community Colleges since the Fall 2002 semester. More
information is available at: https://www1.dcccd.edu/cat0506/ss/oep/third_attempt.cfm.
Academic Dishonesty
CHEATING WILL NOT BE TOLERATED! You will receive a grade of 0 on any test, or lab
assignment in which you cheat. It is not cheating to assist a classmate on a
lab by answering a question or explaining a concept. This is acceptable. It is
cheating, though, when you do someone else’s work, copy your work onto someone
else’s disk, or turn in someone else’s work as your own. See the academic
dishonesty policy statement in the student guide and catalog. Academic honesty
is expected, and integrity is valued in the Dallas County Community Colleges.
Scholastic dishonesty is a violation of the Code of Student Conduct. Scholastic
dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating on a test, plagiarism, and
collusion. As a college student, you are considered a responsible adult. Your
enrollment indicates acceptance of the DCCCD Code of Student Conduct published
in the DCCCD Catalog. More information is available at
https://www1.dcccd.edu/cat0406/ss/code.cfm .
Cell phones, electronic devices and pagers:
Students are expected to turn off all cell phones,
electronic devices and pagers during class time.
The
The Texas Success Initiative (TSI) is a statewide
program designed to ensure that students enrolled in
Drop Policy
Withdrawal from a course is a formal process that YOU
must initiate. I cannot do it for you. You may drop in the Admissions or
the Counseling Office. If you stop attending this class and do not withdraw,
you will receive a performance grade, which usually is an F. Studies
have shown that a large percentage of Community College students that drop
courses have never contacted their instructor or other resources on campus.
Help is available that would enable many to continue. Do not be a statistic! Do
not fall behind in your assignments or your studying. If you have problems or
questions, come see me or an academic advisor immediately – before you get in
over your head. If you feel a need to withdraw for any reason, please see me
before initiating the process. The last day to withdraw from this course is: November
13, 2008.
Six Drop Limit
STOP BEFORE YOU DROP
For students who enrolled in college level courses for
the first time in the Fall of 2007, Texas Education Code 51.907 limits the
number of courses a student may drop. You may drop no more than 6 courses
during your entire undergraduate career, unless the drop qualifies as an
exception. Your campus counseling/advising center will give you more
information on the allowable exceptions. Remember that once you have
accumulated 6 non-exempt drops, you cannot drop any other courses with a W.
Therefore, please exercise caution when dropping courses in any Texas Public
Institution of higher learning, including all seven of the Dallas County
Community Colleges. For more information, you may access: https://www1.dcccd.edu/6drop
Americans with Disabilities Act
If you are a student with a disability and/or special
needs who requires accommodations, please contact the college Disability
Services Office at 214-860-8691, room W-145.
Religious Holidays:
Absences for observance of a religious holy day are
excused. A student whose absence is excused to observe a religious holy day is
allowed to take a make-up examination or complete an assignment within a
reasonable time after the absence. Religious holidays are determined by the
president of
Disclaimer Reserving Right to Change Syllabus:
The instructor reserves the right to amend this
syllabus as necessary.
Inclement Weather:
In the event of severe weather conditions, please
listen to local radio or television stations for information concerning
official closing of