CSIS_4819_Lazar: Parallel and Distributed Computing
  Syllabus

Course Information

Course Title:

Parallel and Distributed Computing

Course Number:

CSIS 4819

Course Discipline:

Software and Programming

Course Dates:

August 25, 2003 through December 14, 2003 Fall2003

Credit Hours: 

3 hours lecture

Prerequisite(s):

CSIS 3749 (CSIS 740) with a grade of C or better.

Section Number:

0649

Classroom Location:

107A Meshel Hall

Meeting day(s) 

and Hours:

12:00-13:15 Tuesday and Thursday, 107A Meshel Hall

Department Location: 

339B, Meshel Hall

Web Page: 

WebCT http://webcourses.ysu.edu/

Instructor Information

Name:

Dr Alina Lazar

Office Location:

322 Meshel Hall

Office Phone Number:

941-2981

Office Hours:

Tuesday and Thursday 17:00-20:00 and by appointment.

E-mail Address:

alazar@cis.ysu.edu

Department Phone Number:

941-3134

Textbooks & Course Materials

Required Reading:

Parallel Programming – Techniques and Applications - , by B. Wilkinson and M. Allen, Prentice Hall, Inc., 2002, 0-13-671710-1

Recommended Reading:

1.

Required Software:

· The Bootable Cluster CD

· A browser supported by WebCT: Netscape Communicator (version 3.0 or higher) or Microsoft Internet Explorer (version 4.0 or higher).

Recommended Software:

Any MPI for C tutorial.

Course Description/Objectives

Catalog Description:

A survey of current development of parallel processing with emphasis on parallel programming. Topics include parallel architectures, inter-connection networks for inter-processor communication, parallel sorting/searching algorithms, parallel constructs for parallel programming paradigms, and implementation of the algorithms in a parallel language.

Course Calendar/Schedule

Readings:

Reading assignments in the Wilkinson text will cover chapters 1-12 but not necessarily in that order. The reading assignment in preparation for the August 28th lecture is Chapter 1. Other specific readings and their timing will be assigned as the course progresses.

Assignments:

You will be given 5 homework assignments and a final project. These assignments will be mostly programming problems. These assignments are to be submitted on WebCT, along with a hard-copy printout of the source code, and are due Thursdays at the beginning of the lecture indicated in the syllabus.

Exam Dates:

Midterm – 10/14

There is no final exam; a final project will be assigned.

Course Policies

Attendance:

Attendance and participation in class is very important. In addition to the normal lecture material, information will be given regarding assignments, due dates, explanation and clarification of assignments, and material that is not covered in the assigned text. If you miss a class for any reason, it is your responsibility to become familiar with the material covered. It is also your responsibility to check the course website on a regular basis. Expect to spend about 10 hours per week outside of the classroom lecture period on reading assignments, homework problems, and programming projects. All students should keep the instructor informed about their difficulties with the course.

Missed Exam:

There is no make-up for midterm exam. Missing an exam will greatly affect your grade since they carry a lot of weight. In case of illness or abnormal circumstances, please consult with the instructor in advance if possible to make alternate arrangements. You must formally inform the instructor in writing and present proper supporting documents within a week from the midterm. All students are required to write and pass the final exam in order to pass the course.

Missed Assignments:

An assignment is late if it is not submitted at the beginning of class on the due date. Late assignments ARE NOT ACCEPTED. You must allocate enough time to complete the assignment on time. 

Lab Rules:

You are not allowed to eat or drink in the lab.

Academic Honesty:

You are required to do your own work on all homework. There are no group assignments, and since these assignments count toward your grade, the work must be yours. If you need help with an assignment, your primary source of help should be the instructor. You are, however, permitted to discuss an assignment with others, but are not allowed to share source code, pseudo-code, or design charts in any way, shape or form. Identical assignments will get zero grades and will result in failure of the course.

The final project may be done in groups of two or three.

Grading:

Grading will be based on the weighted average scores as follows:

          Programming assignments (5): 30%  

          Mid-Term Examination (1):                    30%

          Final Project:     40%

The exam is closed books and notes.

Letter grades will be based on the weighted average score according to the following:

Weighted Average	Letter Grade
90% -100%	A
80% - 89%	B
70% - 79%	C
60% - 69%	D
< 59%	F

Others

Changes in the Syllabus:

Instructor reserves the right to change syllabus, dates, test dates and procedures, class procedures, etc., as necessary.

Disability Services:

In accordance with University procedure, if you have a documented
disability and require accommodations to obtain equal access in this
course, please contact the Office of Equal Opportunity and Disability Services at the beginning of the semester or when given an assignment for which an accommodation is required. Students with disabilities must verify their eligibility through the Office of Disability Services (330 941-3370) intake procedure.

Center for Student Progress

The Center for Student Progress is a resource on Campus established to help students successfully complete their university experience. Please phone (313)941-3538 or visit the Center for help “working the system for tutoring, or for individualized assistance with academic and social concerns. It is located in Kilcawley West under the bookstore.

Week	Week  Beginning	Topics	Readings	Comments
1	08/25	Parallel Computers	Chapter 1
2	09/01	MPI Computing	Chapter 2	University Closed  Labor Day 09/01
3	09/08	Embarrassingly Parallel Computations	Chapter 3
4	09/15	Divide and Conquer Strategies	Chapter 4
5	09/22	Pipeline Computations	Chapter 5
6	09/29	Synchronous Computations	Chapter 6
7	10/06	More MPI
8	10/13	More MPI	Chapter 7	Midterm 10/14
9	10/20	Sorting Algorithms	Chapter 8
10	10/27	Sorting Algorithms	Chapter 9
11	11/03	Numerical Algorithms	Chapter 10
12	11/10	Numerical Algorithms	Chapter 11	University Closed Veteran's Day 11/11
13	11/17	Searching and Optimization	Chapter 12
14	11/24	Searching and Optimozation	Chapter 13	University Closed Thanksgiving Day  11/28,29
15	12/01	Final Project demonstration
16	12/08	Final Exam