MANSFIELD UNIVERSITY
CIS 310 COURSE SYLLABUS

revised 8/23/2001

GENERAL INFORMATION

Course number: CIS 310
Credit/Contact hours: 3
Term: Fall, August 27 - December 14, 2001
Course title: Systems Analysis
College website: www.mansfield.edu

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Instructor name: John Phillips
Instructor office location: Elliott 209 B
Instructor office hours: 9:00 - 11:00 MWF
Instructor telephone: 570-662-4704
Instructor e-mail address: jphillip@mnsfld.edu
Instructor website: www.programbetter.com

COURSE INFORMATION

Course Description

An introduction to the concepts of systems analysis and design including problem definition, methodologies, modeling using UML, presentation techniques, implementation planning, teamwork, and documentation.

Prerequisites: BUS 130 or 230, and CIS 203 or 206.

Textbooks

The Mythical Man-Month, Frederick Brooks, Jr., 1995, Addison-Wesley, ISBN: 0-201-83595-9.

Extreme Programming Explained, Kent Beck, 2000, Addison-Wesley, ISBN: 0-201-61641-6.

Sams Teach Yourself UML in 24 Hours, Joseph Schmuller, 1999, Sams, ISBN: 0-672-31636-6.

Course Websites

www.programbetter.com for the syllabus and course information

www.coursenotebook.com for the class discussion board

Course Outline

  1. Assuming the role of the Systems Analyst
  2. Understanding organizational style and its impact on information systems
  3. Determining feasibility and managing analysis and design activities
  4. Design methodologies
  5. UML
  6. Prototyping
  7. Preparing the systems proposal
  8. Writing and presenting the systems proposal

Class schedule

MWF 11:00 - 11:50 AM

Equipment and supplies

Access to the Internet is required either using your own computer or by using a computer in the school's computer lab. Presentation materials and other supplies may need to be purchased for your team project. You should keep a backup copy of all work you do on one or more diskettes.

Grading scale and policy

Work that meets the stated requirements will in general earn a C grade. Work that goes beyond the basic requirements will in general earn anywhere from a C+ to a B- grade. Work that is very good and exceeds the instructor's expectations will in general earn a B grade. Only the most outstanding work will earn an A grade.

(Refer to the Mansfield University Catalog for grades that can be awarded.)

A >= 90%
B >= 80%
C >= 70%
D >= 60%
F < 60%

In addition, the instructor may choose to further differentiate grades with plus and minus subdivisions as outlined in the catalog.

Course Grade % of Grade
Quizzes 25
Essays 25
Group Project 25
Final Exam 25

Many of the quizzes will be given on-line at www.coursenotebook.com. The on-line quizzes will be open book, open notes unless otherwise specified. The in-class quizzes will usually be closed book and closed notes.

Essays will be assigned to allow you to research and explore course ideas and web-based information sources in depth and to further develop your written communication skills. Essays must be spell checked and grammatically correct. Essays must be carefully constructed and edited. Please visit the MU writing center to get help on writing your essays. You may get constructive criticism from others on the essays, however, the ideas and writing must be your own. In addition, you must carefully cite all references and quotations.

The group project will give you a chance to explore some of the course topics while working on a nontrivial team-based project. Grading will be based on the level of difficulty, written documentation, oral presentation, level of teamwork and organization, group rating of individual contributions, log of individual work, and overall level of quality.

The final exam will be closed book and closed notes. However, you will be allowed a one-page (8.5 x 11 inch) handwritten and non-photocopied original note sheet that you yourself have created, i.e. it may not be copied from another student in any way. The exam will be comprehensive.

Late assignment policy

Work that is late will lose one letter grade for each day late. No excuses. Computer, server, ftp, and Internet problems will happen, therefore, make it a point to complete all assignments at least one day before the deadline.

Instructor's expectations

This course places an emphasis on working as a team member. You will be evaluated on written and verbal communication skills along with technical skills. On the team project you will be expected to do your fair share of the work assigned. You are expected to try and get along with your teammates and to learn to work with the diverse personalities that may be present to achieve your goals.

Methods of instruction

Material will be presented in lecture format. You are expected to read each assigned chapter prior to the lecture. Feel free to ask questions on any material you need clarified during the lecture.

Unique requirements of the course

This course is a designated writing course. Writing is a key component of systems analysis and you will have many written assignments. Student participation is also essential to this course. You will be expected to participate to the best of your ability and to work in a professional manner with your fellow students.

Attendance

Students are expected to attend all courses and course activities for which they are registered. Any class meeting missed, regardless of cause, reduces the opportunity of learning and may adversely affect a student's achievement in the course.

Academic Integrity

As stated in the MU catalog, "students are expected to do their own academic work. Dishonesty in academic work, including cheating, academic misconduct, fabrication, or plagiarism is unacceptable. Faculty are expected to instruct students in ways of avoiding these forms of academic dishonesty. Faculty are also responsible for assessing and reporting all charges of academic dishonesty to the Office of the Provost. The student handbook, The Password, outlines the procedures faculty will use to initiate disciplinary action in cases of academic dishonesty."

It may be tempting to cheat in this class. Do not do it! You will be posting some of your work for all to view. Feel free to browse other students' posted work, on-line web sites, and other books for ideas. However, if you copy that work and you do not give credit for it, that is plagiarism. Likewise, if you discuss a quiz you have taken with another student before they take it, that is cheating. You may not do anything that gives you or another student an unfair advantage. If you are in doubt then discuss the situation with your instructor.

All violations of academic integrity will be referred directly to the Office of the Provost no matter how small the incident.

Withdrawal Policy for Individual Courses

The last day to withdraw from a College course with a "W" grade is October 26th. It is the responsibility of the student to complete and submit the necessary forms to the Registrar's Office. An official withdrawal would entitle the student to a grade of "W" in the course.

Syllabus Change Policy

The instructor reserves the right to make changes to this syllabus as the course progresses.

COURSE TIMELINE

Week Date Topics
1 08/27
  • Introduction to the course
  • MMM chapter 1 and 2
  • UML chapters 1, 2, and 3
  • XP chapters 1 and 2
2 09/03
  • Quiz #1
  • Essay assignment #1 - Online cover letter and resume
  • MMM chapters 3 and 4
  • UML chapters 4, 5, and 6
  • XP chapters 3 and 4
3 09/10
  • Quiz #2
  • Choose team members
  • MMM chapters 5 and 6
  • UML chapters 7, 8, and 9
  • XP chapters 5 and 6
4 09/17
  • Quiz #3
  • Essay assignment #2
  • Team project - problem selection / definition / feasibility
  • MMM chapters 7 and 8
  • UML chapters 10, 11, and 12
  • XP chapters 7 and 8
5 09/24
  • Quiz #4
  • Team project - requirements gathering (UML 193)
  • MMM chapters 9 and 10
  • UML chapters 13, 14, and 15
  • XP chapters 9 and 10
6 10/01
  • Quiz #5
  • Essay assignment #3
  • Team project - JAD session to define system requirements (UML 195)
  • MMM chapters 11 and 12
  • UML chapters 16, 17, and 18
  • XP chapters 11 and 12
7 10/08
  • Quiz #6
  • Team project - post / present requirements report
  • MMM chapters 13, 14, and 15
  • UML chapters 19, 20, and 21
  • XP chapters 13 and 14
8 10/15
  • Quiz #7
  • Essay assignment #4
  • Team project - analysis segment: JAD session, use case diagrams, class diagram, state diagram, sequence diagrams, collaborations diagrams, deployment diagrams, and data models
  • MMM chapter 16
  • UML chapter 22
  • XP chapters 15 and 16
9 10/22
  • Quiz #8
  • Team project - analysis segment: use case diagrams, class diagram, state diagram, sequence diagrams, collaborations diagrams, deployment diagrams, and data models
  • MMM chapter 17
  • UML chapter 23
  • XP chapters 17 and 18
10 10/29
  • Quiz #9
  • Essay assignment #5
  • Team project - design segment: JAD UI prototype session, object diagrams, activity diagrams, component diagrams, deployment diagram, screen shots, test scripts, and documentation
  • MMM chapter 19
  • UML chapter 24
  • XP chapters 19 and 20
11 11/05
  • Quiz #10
  • Team project - draft of project report due on Friday
  • XP chapters 21 and 22
12 11/12
  • Quiz #11
  • Team project - plan and prepare PowerPoint presentation
  • XP chapters 23 and 24
13 11/19
  • Quiz #12
  • XP chapters 25, 26, and 27
  • Thanksgiving Holiday
14 11/26
  • Project presentations
  • All project reports due on Friday
15 12/03
  • Course wrapup and review
16 12/10
  • Final Exam is Wednesday, December 12, 10:15 AM