MANSFIELD UNIVERSITY
CIS 420-190 COURSE SYLLABUS

revised 8/25/2001

GENERAL INFORMATION

Course number: CIS-420-190
Credit/Contact hours: 3
Term: Fall, August 27 - December 14, 2001
Course title: Special Problems: Advanced Web Programming
College website: www.mansfield.edu

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

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

COURSE INFORMATION

Course Description

Introduction to advanced web programming using the popular PHP programming language and MySQL database. The student will learn to develop dynamic interactive web sites using this technology.

Prerequisite: basic HTML skills and beginner-level programming experience with any other programming language.

Textbook

Beginning PHP4, Lea, Chris, et. al., 2000, Wrox Press, ISBN: 1861003730.

Course Websites

www.programbetter.com for the syllabus and course information

www.coursenotebook.com for the class discussion board (you will be e-mailed account information)

www.muserver.com for the web site development area

Course Outline

  1. Introduction to Advanced Web Programming with PHP
  2. Writing PHP Programs
  3. Getting data from the client
  4. Decision making
  5. Loops and Arrays
  6. Organizing your code
  7. Error Handling
  8. Working With The Client
  9. File and Directory Handling
  10. PHP Database Connectivity
  11. Retrieving data from MySQL
  12. Manipulating data in MySQL
  13. XML
  14. E-mail

Class schedule

This is an on-line Internet based course. You can log in and complete assignments at any time. You will need to log in at least once a week to take the weekly quiz.

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. A PHP development website account will be provided.

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 40
First Project 5
Second Project 10
Final Project 15
Peer Review of Project 1 5
Peer Review of Project 2 5
Peer Review of Project 3 5
Homework and participation 15

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 and quizzes at least one day before the deadline.

Methods of instruction

This is an on-line Internet-based course. You will read on-line lecture notes, read textbook material, develop PHP programs and web sites, take quizzes, and participate in the on-line discussions.

Unique requirements of the course

Weekly quizzes and programming projects are a major part of your grade. It is essential that you keep up with the material. As this is an Internet course, you must discipline yourself to do the work. To get the most out of the course you need to log in frequently to read and participate in the on-line discussions.

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 your code for all to view. Feel free to browse other students' code, on-line web sites, and books for ideas. However, if you copy that code 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
  • Class begins
  • Introduction to the course
  • Writing PHP programs
2 09/03
  • Quiz #1
  • HTML Forms
  • Getting data from the client
3 09/10
  • Quiz #2
  • Decision making
4 09/17
  • Quiz #3
  • Loops and arrays
5 09/24
  • Quiz #4
  • Organizing your code
6 10/01
  • Quiz #5
  • Handling and avoiding errors - regular expressions
  • Project 1 due - a PHP based web site
7 10/08
  • Quiz #6
  • Working with the client - sessions and cookies
  • Peer review of project 1 due
8 10/15
  • Quiz #7
  • File and directory handling
9 10/22
  • Quiz #8
  • PHP database connectivity
10 10/29
  • Quiz #9
  • Retrieving data from MySQL using PHP
  • Project 2 due - a PHP file-based program
11 11/05
  • Quiz #10
  • Manipulating data in MySQL using PHP
  • Peer review of project 2 due
12 11/12
  • Quiz #11
  • XML
13 11/19
  • Quiz #12
  • E-mail handling
14 11/26
  • Quiz #13
  • Final project due
15 12/03
  • Peer review of final project due
16 12/10
  • Finals Week - log in to cnb and verify your final grade