Instructor Information

Other Instructor Information regarding e-mail contact

• Note my FSU e-mail above: rmyers@fsu.edu .
• Please use this e-mail for communicating with me.
• Please avoid using Canvas messages
• Make sure to send any e-mails from an official FSU e-mail account

Class Schedule

Main class

Recitation

Course Requirements:

Prerequisites

• COP 3330: Object-Oriented Programming
• MAD 2104: Discrete Mathematics

Course Website:

• http://www.cs.fsu.edu/~myers/cop4530

Textbook:

• Data Structures and Algorithm Analysis in C++, 4th ed., Mark Allen Weiss, Prentice Hall, 2013
  ISBN: 9780132847377

Course Description

• Data structures: Abstract data types (ADTs), vector, deque, list, queue, stack, graph, digraph, table, map (associative array), priority queue, set, and tree, etc.
• Algorithms: Algorithms are formalizations of processes that result in predictable and desirable outcomes. They are used in a variety of contexts. Particularly, data structures are made usable by implementing algorithms for searching, sorting, and indexing the structures. Algorithm design, complexity analysis and correctness proof form important components in study of algorithms.
• Generic programming: Generic programming is the science of component re-use. We will explore coding for re-use of both data structures and algorithms in C++. Coding for re-use and re-use of code are important aspects of software engineering.

Course Objectives:

The objective of the course is to teach students how to design, write, and analyze the performance of programs that handle structured data and perform more complex tasks, typical of larger software projects. Students should acquire skills in using generic principles for data representation and manipulation with a view for efficiency, maintainability, and code-reuse.

Upon completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• Define and use various common abstract data types (ADTs) as generic containers, including (but not limited to):
  • Positional ADTs: vector, linked list, deque, stack, queue, graph
  • Associative ADTs: hash table, map (associative array), priority queue, set
• Demonstrate analytical comprehension of steps performed by algorithms that use the given data structures (sorting algorithms, tree navigation, etc), and of their simple variants.
• Perform efficiency analysis on given data structures (which data structures allow efficient interfaces to particular forms of data access, such as random vs. sequential data access or insertion, etc).
• Perform complexity analysis of algorithms that use the studied data structures
• Effectively implement a given data structures as a generic container, using class templates with typename template parameters
• Implement given algorithms using generic programming techniques (function templates, iterator template parameters)
• Effectively implement these techniques in the C/C++ language

Grading Policy:

In addition to the scale listed above, in order to earn a C- or better in the course, course performance must satisfy the following requirement.

• You must earn at least 60% in each of the following components: (1) Programming assignment average and (2) Exam average.
  • Exam average can be computed as:
    

    ((Test1 * 17.5) + (Test2 * 17.5) + (Final * 25) ) / 60

Letter Grade Scale:

Tests:

Test Dates: (Test 1 and 2 tentative)

For your reference

Link to Spring 2026 Final Exam Schedule

Incompletes

• The final exam is missed with an accepted excuse for the absence. In this case, the final exam must be made up within two weeks of the beginning of the next semester
• Due to an extended illness or other extraordinary circumstance, and with appropriate documentation, the student is unable to participate in class for a period affecting graded work, such that it is not possible to complete/grade the missing work before end of course.
• The missing work cannot constitute the majority of the work in the course, and the student must already be passing the course in their other coursework, for an incomplete to be considered
• In such a case, arrangements must be made to make up the missed portion of the course prior to the end of the next semester.

Recitation / Quizzes

Programming Assignments

• Programming assignments will be more substantial and challenging than those in prior programming courses, and will require more time and effort to complete. Make sure to immediately start working on programming assignments when they are annnounced. Waiting until the due date to start is a bad strategy!
• Please note also that programming is a skill, and PRACTICE is the only way to learn a skill effectively. Please make sure to start assignments early enough to leave yourself time for appropriate practice, as well as testing and debugging!
• ALL ASSIGNMENTS IN THIS COURSE ARE TO BE DONE INDIVIDUALLY. Students are not permitted to share assignment solutions together, or with others who are within or outside of our course. Please see the Academmic Honor Code policies below.
• Assignment specifications will be posted on the course web page.
• Turn in all assignments on time! Late assignments will be accepted one day after the due date, with the deduction of a letter grade (10%). Assignments more than a day late will not be accepted.
• Compiling -- Programs that do not compile are very tedious to grade, and they show a lack of testing, which is a large part of programming. There will be an automatic 5% point penalty for each compile error in a student's code that has to be fixed in the grading process -- up to a maximum of 10 compile errors. After 10 errors fixed, if it still fails compilation, the submission will be marked as a 0. (Bottom line: Make sure your code compiles before you submit it!!!)
• Assignments need to be submitted through the appropriate submission portal. Instructions will be provided before the first assignment is due. E-mailed files will NOT be counted as valid submissions.
• Each student is responsible for ensuring that their program files were submitted correctly, and the correct version. Double-check it!
• Any concerns or issues regarding the accuracy of grades must be addressed first to the grader of the assignment in question, and also must be brought up within 7 days of the grade being posted

Excused Absence Policy

• Excused absences include documented illness, deaths in the family, and other documented crises, call to active military duty or jury duty, religious holy days, and official University activities. These absences will be accommodated in a way that does not arbitrarily penalize students who have a valid written excuse. Consideration will also be given to students whose dependent children experience serious illness.
• It is the student's responsibility to notify me as soon as possible regarding any excused absences that affect graded work.
• A student will be allowed to make up a missed test if he or she has a notice of illness from the Student Heath Center or family physician. Any other excuses that are not medical or emergency related will be at the discretion of the instructor, and must be approved in advance. If you miss a test for any reason (without advance approval), you must notify me of the issue within 48 hours of the missed exam. Missed tests must be made up within 2 weeks of the test date, unless there is an extended long-term excused absence (e.g. hospital stay, etc)

Miscellaneous Policies:

1. The course web page is your friend -- check and refresh it frequently! It will be continually updated with essential course materials, such as assignments, examples, and notes outlines. It will also include other helpful supplements, such as instructions for using the compilers, suggested exercises, and other useful help materials. It is your responsibility to check the web page often for posted materials.
2. Students in the class should have a computer account from the Computer Science Department (sign up for one if you don't already have one), and this can and should be used to store project files and access one of the compilers used in the course.
3. Knowing the contents of this syllabus is each student's responsibiltiy. "I didn't know" in regards to a clearly stated course policy will NOT be considered a valid excuse for anything during the course
4. Please turn off cell phones, computer audio, Nintendo Switches, and any other things that beep and/or make noise in the classroom.

Academic Honor Policy:

ALL WORK IN THIS COURSE IS INTENDED TO BE DONE INDIVIDUALLY

In addition to this information, please be aware of the following:

• It is NOT APPROPRIATE to utilize websites such as: CHEGG.com, COURSEHERO.com, etc. DO NOT post our assignments to these websites to solicit answers, and DO NOT use/view/utilize the 'solutions' found on these websites. Doing so is in direct violation of the FSU honor policy.
• It is NOT APPROPRIATE to utilize AI Tools, like ChatGPT, to write assignment code for you.
• It is NOT APPROPRIATE to work on assignments with other students or to give or receive solutions to or from anyone before an assignment is due and handed in (by all parties).
• It is NOT APPROPRIATE to share any amount of code with your classmates. When you turn in code with your name on it, you are representing that work as your own. If your submission matches that of another student, this is considered a violation of the Academic Honor Code.
• It is NOT APPROPRIATE to copy/paste, or use any amount of code written by other people from any web sources, forums, etc. as your own solutions.
• It is NOT APPROPRIATE to post your code online. If I find your code online (unapproved online compilers, text sites, blogs, help sites, etc...), no matter what the intent was in posting your code, this is automatically in violation of the Academic Honor Policy and the appropriate actions will be taken. If you are keeping code on sites like GitHub, make sure your code is not searchable and viewable by the public
• Plagiarism detection tools, such as MOSS, will be used in the grading process.
• It IS APPROPRIATE to utilize examples found in the course textbook or in the course notes and examples, as long as the source is cited. This is appropriate, as some hand-in assignments will have structural elements that are based on examples we've done in class, or contain other code that is provided to you in the assignment specification.
• It IS APPROPRIATE to discuss solutions and techniques on assignments with other students AFTER the assignment has been graded and handed back.
• It IS APPROPRIATE to study general topics, ideas, and solve non-assigned-for-homework questions for practice with other classmates.
• If it is found that a student has violated the academic honor policy the student is not permitted to drop or withdraw from the course and must complete the course with the sanctions assessed via the policy. This is a UNIVERSITY policy.
• A first violation of the honor code will result, at minimum (but not limited to), a penalty of a 0 grade on the assignment or test involved, along with a reduced course letter grade for that term (-10 points off of the final course grade).
• If the violation is that of soliciting solutions on external web sites (Chegg, Course Hero, etc) -- which is also a violation of copyright -- the penalty will be an automatic F in the course, regardless of whether it is a first violation or not
• Any second violation of the honor code will result in an automatic F in the course, and possible proceedings before the FSU Honor Code Committee.

Americans With Disabilities Act

FSU is committed to providing reasonable accommodation for all persons with disabilities in a manner that is consistent with the academic standards of the course while empowering the student to meet the integral requirements of the course. Students with disabilities needing academic accommodation should: (1) register with and provide documentation to the Office of Accessibility Services; and (2) request a letter from the Office of Accessibility Services to be sent to the instructor indicating the need for accommodation and what type; and (3) meet (in person, via phone, email, zoom, etc...) with each instructor to whom a letter of accommodation was sent to review approved accommodations. Please note that instructors are not allowed to provide classroom accommodations to a student until appropriate verification from the Office of Accessibility Services has been provided. This syllabus and other class materials are available in an alternative format upon request. For the latest version of this statement and more information about services available to FSU students with disabilities, contact the:

Office of Accessibility Services
874 Traditions Way
108 Student Services Building
Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL 32306-4167
(850) 644-9566 (voice)
(850) 644-8504 (TDD)
oas@fsu.edu
https://dsst.fsu.edu/oas

Students approved to take exams at the OAS office are expected to take exams at the regularly scheduled time.  Any exception to this will only be granted with a valid documented reason and must be approved by the instructor a week before the exam.
 

Academic Success

Your academic success is a top priority for Florida State University. University resources to help you succeed include tutoring centers, computer labs, counseling and health services, and services for designated groups, such as veterans and students with disabilities. The following information is not exhaustive, so please check with your advisor or the Department of Student Support and Transitions to learn more.

Confidential campus resources:

Various centers and programs are available to assist students with navigating stressors that might impact academic success. These include the following:

Victim Advocate Program

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)

Florida State University\xE2s Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) primary mission is to address psychological needs and personal concerns, which may interfere with students\xE2 academic progress, social development, and emotional well-being. The following in-person and virtual (tele-mental health) services are available to all enrolled students residing in the state of Florida:

1. Individual therapy
2. Group therapy
3. Crisis Intervention
4. Psychoeducational and outreach programming
5. After hours crisis-hotline
6. Access to community providers for specialized treatment

Counseling and Psychological Services
250 Askew Student Life Center
942 Learning Way
(850) 644-TALK (8255)
Walk-in and Appointment Hours:
M-F 8 am - 4 pm
https://counseling.fsu.edu/

Services at UHS are available to all enrolled students residing in Florida:

The mission of University Health Services (UHS) is to promote and improve the overall health and well-being of FSU students. UHS provides a coordinated continuum of care through prevention, intervention, and treatment. Services include general medical care, priority care, gynecological services, physicals, allergy injection clinic, immunizations, diagnostic imaging, physical therapy, and a medical response unit. The Center for Health Advocacy and Wellness (CHAW) assists students in their academic success through individual, group, and population-based health and wellness initiatives. Topics include wellness, alcohol and other drugs, hazing prevention, nutrition and body image, sexual health, and power based personal violence prevention. For more information, go to uhs.fsu.edu.

Syllabus Changes

Except for changes that substantially affect implementation of the evaluation (grading) statement, this syllabus is a guide for the course and is subject to change with advance notice.