Kennesaw State University
College of Computing and Software Engineering


CSE 2300: Discrete Structures

Course Syllabus

 Instructor:

 J. Rutherfoord

 

jruther3@kennesaw.edu

 

course site: D2L

Office:

 J-303

Office hours:

by appointment.

Please include "CSE 2300" and your section in the subject of all emails.

Prerequisite: CS 1301 or CSE 1301 or CSE 1311 and MATH 1113 

Required materials:    

There is no textbook for the course. We will use open textbooks, including

The module will indicate clearly which pages you should read from which book, but you are encouraged to also look at how similar material is covered in the other books.

 

TECHNOLOGY SKILLS

In order to succeed in this course, you will need the following skills:

·       Access to a reliable computer and high speed Internet
·       Working understanding of navigating websites
·       Familiarity with Microsoft Office Products (esp. Word and PowerPoint)
·       Knowledge and experience using emails and attachments
·       Ability to find files on your machine and upload them into D2L
·       Knowledge and experience with setting the properties of your browser (e.g., enable/disable pop-up boxes)
·       Familiarity with using online resources such as instructional materials; online talks, presentations, and discussion boards

TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS

·       Regular access to a computer that is connected to the Internet (preferably high speed connection)
·       Microsoft Office (or other program that can save in  .doc or .docx format)

 

 

Course Description:

Credit hours: 3

A working knowledge of Math structures, such as propositional and predicate logic, proofs, set theory, relations and functions, algorithms and complexity theory, matrices, graphs and trees, and combinatorics, is crucial to any program in computing. They are directly related to the way in which data and information is stored and manipulated in computers and to the design of IT infrastructures, such as networks. Coverage of this material is therefore crucial to any program in computing.

There are roughly two ways in which this material can be covered. One can cover it from a mathematical point of view, or one can cover it from a computational point of view. This course will take the second option.

 

 

Course outcomes: On completion of this course, students will be able to

  1. Explain the importance of discrete structures in computing
  2. Interpret a statement and determine its truth value using propositional logic
  3. Translate an english statement into symbols using first-order predicate logic, and explain the relevance to computing
  4. Solve for the complexity of an algorithm and explain its strengths and limitations in practical applications
  5. Correctly identify the results of operations on sets, relations, and functions.
  6. Use graphs to represent relationships and explain the relevance of graphs to computing
  7. Solve problems in counting using the algorithms introduced in combinatorics.
  8. Construct proofs and explain how they relate to computing

.

 

Academic Honesty Policy:  

Every KSU student is responsible for upholding the provisions of the Student Code of Conduct, as published in the Undergraduate and Graduate Catalogs. Section II of the Student Code of Conduct addresses the University’s policy on academic honesty, including provisions regarding plagiarism and cheating, unauthorized access to University materials, misrepresentation/ falsification of University records or academic work, malicious removal, retention, or destruction of library materials, malicious/intentional misuse of computer facilities and/or services, and misuse of student identification cards. Incidents of alleged academic misconduct will be handled through the established procedures of the University Judiciary Program, which includes either an “informal” resolution by a faculty member, resulting in a grade adjustment, or a formal hearing procedure, which may subject a student to the Code of Conduct’s minimum one semester suspension requirement.

Plagiarism Policy

No student shall receive, attempt to receive, knowingly give or attempt to give unauthorized assistance in the preparation of any work required to be submitted for credit as part of a course (including examinations, laboratory reports, essays, themes, term papers, etc.). When direct quotations are used, they should be indicated, and when the ideas, theories, data, figures, graphs, programs, electronic based information or illustrations of someone other than the student are incorporated into a paper or used in a project, they should be duly acknowledged

  Makeup examinations will not be given unless you make prior arrangements with the instructor. All assignments will  be submitted to the course site (D2L)  depending on the assignment requirements.    All submissions must be received prior to the stated deadline.  Assignments must be typed or computer printed. Handwritten material is not acceptable, except for project diagrams.

Assignments and Projects:  Assignments will be posted on the class Web page about a week before they are due.  Assignments are due ON or BEFORE the due date. Project and programming assignments will be due throughout the term. Each of these assignments is weighted individually. You may turn assignments in early. Assignments will be submitted to the course site (D2L).  Late assignments are due BEFORE the end date in D2L. Late assignments will lose 10%.

 Unless otherwise specified, all assignments are individual assignments. 

Exams:    Test content will come from the text and other material presented in lecture sessions as well as assignments. Note that material presented in class will supplement the assigned reading. Therefore, class attendance and good note-taking are essential tactics for success.

 

All examinations will have multiple choice, short-answer and true-false questions.  Tests will cover material from lectures as well as from both the textbook and projects/assignments. Tests 1 and 2 are non-cumulative, test 3 is cumulative, and will be given outside of class time (take-home test).  

 

A grade of zero will be assigned for all exams missed for which a student does not have an excused absence.   It is the student’s responsibility to arrange for an excused absence before the exam.  If an exam must be missed due to unforeseeable circumstances that would result in an excused absence, then a make-up examination may be allowed at the discretion of the instructor.

 

Grading plan:

            Project                                                             25%

            Exams                                                             60%

            Quizzes                                                           15%

                                                                Total          100%

 

                                  

 

Grading scale:

A:        90 and above

B:         80-89.4

C:         70-79.4

D:        60-69.4

F:         Below 60

Class attendance policy: The Instructor expects your attendance at each and every class; however, actual attendance is up to the student. Grade performance is a demonstrated function of attendance, preparation and participation. You can get behind very easily by skipping classes, resulting in a poor understanding of the material, which will show up as a poor grade for the class. Any class sessions missed by the student are the student's responsibility to make up and obtain notes for, not the instructor's.   Students are responsible for all announcements and assignments made in the class lecture.   If you miss part or the entire class lecture, call or email another student.  Do not call/email me to repeat the lecture. Further, if you know that you will be absent for an extended period of time during the semester, you MUST notify me for discussion of consequences.  Late arrival that causes disruption, early departure that causes disruption, excessive conversation among students (a disruption in its own right), use of electronic devices that cause disruptions and other actions that disrupt the classroom are unacceptable. ALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES MUST BE SILENCED OR TURNED OFF.  NO EXCEPTIONS.

Withdrawal Policy: The last day to withdraw with a W will be announced. Ceasing to attend class or oral notice thereof DOES NOT constitute official withdrawal from the course. Students who simply stop attending classes without officially withdrawing usually are assigned failing grades.  Students who wish to withdraw after the scheduled change period (add/drop) must obtain and complete a withdrawal form from the Academic Services Department in the Registrar’s Office.

Enrollment Policy: Only those students who are enrolled in the class may attend lectures, receive assignments, take quizzes and exams, and receive a grade in the class.  If a student is administratively withdrawn from this course, they will not be permitted to attend class nor will they receive any grade for the class.

Email Messages: If you have a question or concern, you are welcome to email me.  Remember to put “CS 5070” and your section in the subject field of every e-mail message that you send to me.  Using the correct instructor’s email address is your responsibility.

Modifications to this syllabus:  This document is an initial syllabus.  The syllabus is a living document, and may change (in whole or in part) based on the needs of this class, at the discretion of the instructor. It is the student’s responsibility to keep up with all posted class materials. Please check the class website for updates often.

Contacts to get Help

Student Help Desk studenthelpdesk@kennesaw.edu  or call 470.578.3555

D2L FAQ’s click here

D2L Student User’s Guide click here

UITS Student Training Workshop Schedule click here

Additional Resources

Remote access to Library Resources: http://library.kennesaw.edu/
Student Support:

http://learnonline.kennesaw.edu/resources/student_support_resources.php
Tutoring and Academic Support: http://learnonline.kennesaw.edu/resources/tutoring_academic_support.php

Advising: http://learnonline.kennesaw.edu/resources/advising.php

Bookstore: http://bookstore.kennesaw.edu/home.aspx

 

Disability Statement

Kennesaw State University provides program accessibility and reasonable accommodations for persons defined as disabled under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Kennesaw State University does not deny admission or subject to discrimination in admission any qualified disabled student.

A number of services are available to help students with disabilities with their academic work. In order to make arrangements for special services, students must visit the Office for Student Disability Services and make an appointment to arrange an individual assistance plan. In most cases, certification of disability is required.

Special services are based on

ADA Position Statement

Kennesaw State University, a member of the University System of Georgia, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin or disability in employment or provision of services. Kennesaw State University does not discriminate on the basis of disability in the admission or access to, or treatment or employment in, its programs or activities.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Public Law 101-336, gives civil rights protections to individuals with disabilities. This statute guarantees equal opportunity for this protected group in the areas of public accommodations, employment, transportation, state and local government services and telecommunications.

The following individuals have been designated by the President of the University to provide assistance and ensure compliance with the ADA. Should you require assistance or have further questions about the ADA, please contact:

For more information, go to: http://www.kennesaw.edu/stu_dev/dsss

Covid 19 Regulations

Face Masks in the classroom 

 

As mandated by the University System of Georgia, the university requires the use of face masks in the classroom and in KSU buildings to protect you, your classmates, and instructors.  Per the University System of Georgia, anyone not using a face covering when required will be asked to wear one or must leave the area. Repeated refusal to comply with the requirement may result in discipline through the applicable conduct code.

 

Reasonable accommodations may be made for those who are unable to wear a face covering for documented health reasons. Please contact Student Disability Services at sds@kennesaw.edu for student accommodation requests.   

 

Shifting Modalities 

 

Please note that the university reserves the right to shift teaching modalities at any time during the semester, if health and safety guidelines require it to do so.  Some teaching modalities that may be used are F2F, Hyflex, Hybrid, or online, both synchronous and asynchronous instruction. 

 

Staying Home When Sick 

 

If you are ill, please stay home and contact your health professional.  In that case, please email the instructor to say you are missing class due to illness. Signs of illness include, but are not limited to, the following:   

 

 

 

 

Seating Plans 

Students will sit in the same seat for every F2F class so that the instructor can use a seating plan for contact tracing if a student contracts Covid-19. 

 

Web Cameras 

Instructors may require web cameras in their respective courses.