Course Objectives

MIS 324 focuses on server-side web development using Microsoft's ASP.NET development framework. ASP.NET is fully object oriented and offers significant advantages over older web technologies such as "Classic ASP" and PHP in the areas of scalability, reliability, and features. It also offers excellent support for working with XML (eXtensible Markup Language), AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript And XML) and web services. The .NET framework currently provides native support for three programming languages: VB.NET, C# and J#. The primary programming language used in this course will be C# (pronounced C-sharp) but some on-line and class examples may use VB.NET.

The .NET class library is a central feature of the .NET framework. In this course we will utilize several dozen of its over 5,000 classes. Specific classes within the class library provide interface support for web development, Windows application development, Windows services and web services.

You will also learn to use Microsoft's Visual Studio (VS). This is an integrated development environment (IDE) that significantly increases programmer productivity by providing features such as drag-and-drop, automated code completion (which Microsoft calls IntelliSense), underlining of syntax errors, a built-in web server, debugging tools, and other useful programming features. Visual Studio is available in the Parks 210 and 047 computer labs. On your personal computer you may prefer to install the smaller Visual Web Developer Express Edition with SQL Server Express (1.3 GB vs. 3 GB for VS) This is a free light-weight version of VS that includes the only the tools needed for web development.

You will practice your ASP.NET skills by building an on-line music store (XML Music) that uses Amazon web services to display product information. By the end of the course you will have a strong foundation in server-side programming, object oriented languages, C#, program architecture, debugging, and Visual Studio.

Be prepared to spend several hours per week on assignments and the project. The NET framework is a large and complex product designed to solve enterprise scale solutions. Previous programming experience with PHP, VB.NET, C# or other programming language is very helpful for learning ASP.NET.

MIS 324 is the fourth required course in WWU's Internet Studies Center certificate curriculum.

Textbooks

Required: Beginning ASP.NET 4.5 in C# by Matthew MacDonald, ISBN: 1430242515.

Required: Sams Teach Yourself SQL in 10 Minutes, Third Edition by Ben Forta, ISBN 0-67232-567-5

Both of the required books are available at the Viking Union bookstore.

WWU's library subscribes to Safari Books Online which includes full-text of several programming books. Books that may be useful on-line references include Beginning CSS Web Development: from Novice to Professional.

Course Prerequisites

This course requires that you be proficient at programming using a language such as PHP, VB.NET, C# or C++ and are comfortable working with SQL and databases. All students should have taken the required prerequisites: MIS 314 or MIS 322. Students with appropriate programming experience may waive the prerequisites with instructor permission.

Course Web Site

Current information about the course schedule and assignments, as well as answers to questions, will be posted on the course website: mis324.csandvig.com (also yorktown.cbe.wwu.edu/sandvig/mis324/).

Yorktown Accounts

You will be provided with an account on the Yorktown server for publishing your assignments and project. Your access to the server will be via network drive mapping (instructions).

The code for your assignments and project must be located on Yorktown for grading. You will probably want to use Visual Studio of Visual Web Developer to write and debug your code them upload it to Yorktown using network drive mapping.

Your accounts are accessible to Professor Sandvig and the course teaching assistant for the purposes of grading and trouble shooting. Do not put any private information into your accounts. You may use your accounts for non-class purposes as long as your usage complies with the University's Policy for Responsible Computing. Abuse of your server privileges or cheating will result in the removal of your account from the server.

Your Yorktown accounts will typically remain active until graduation but this is not guaranteed. Please keep backups of your files.

Course Grading and Policies

Grading: Course grades will based on the following criteria:

Assignments: Homework will be assigned each week and is due 15 minutes before class on the assignment due date unless specified otherwise in the class schedule. Mail two copies of the email containing the URLs for your assignments: one to Professor Sandvig and the TA at and cc one to yourself (so that you have a time-stamped copy of your submission). The subject line of your email should read "MIS324 AX YourName", where X is the assignment number.

Do not change assignment files after you have submitted them for grading. Doing so will result in an F for the entire assignment. Professor Sandvig will send an email each week when the grading is finished and you can make changes to your files after you receive the email. If you want to continue to work on the problems after the due date you can make copies of the files and work on the copies, but they will not be graded.

Late Assignments: Late work and submissions with incorrect URLs will be penalized one letter grade per 24-hours, starting at the time due (one minute is late). You can expect to have technical problems with your computer, ATT broadband, etc. and should plan accordingly.

Extensions: Should you be ill for an extended period or have other circumstances that may justify an due date extension, you may request an extension by sending an email to Professor Sandvig. Please explain your circumstances and specify how much extra time you need.

Exams: A midterm and a final will be given during the quarter. The final exam is cumulative.

Final Project: The final project will be to add enhancements to your on-line music store.

E-mail: I usually reply to emails within a few hours on weekdays. I do not reply to email messages that are poorly written, unclear or rude (if it is not worth your time to send a thoughtful message it is not worth my time to reply to it). I strongly suggest that you include a salutation (Dear Dr. Sandvig or Dear Professor Sandvig) so that it is apparent that the message is intended specifically for me and does not get deleted as junk mail.

Plagiarism: You are encouraged to work with other students in the class, but all work that you turn in for grading must be your own. Taking credit for another students work is plagiarism and is a violation of WWU academic policy. An unfortunate plague of cheating occurred in the Spring of 2002 that resulted in six students failing the course and being reported for academic dishonesty. Don't let this happen to you! Remember, all work that you turn in for grading must be your original work. Professor Sandvig has copies of every assignment ever turned in for this course and cheating is easy to detect.

If you have any questions regarding cheating, plagiarism or WWU's Academic Policies see the Office of Student Life's Academic Dishonesty web page, Appendix D of the University Bulletin or talk with Professor Sandvig.

Microsoft DreamSpark Software

Students enrolled in MIS courses may download free copies of Microsoft's developer software. The complete developer software list available is quite extensive and includes Windows OS, Office, Visual Studio, Expression Studio and SQL Server. None of these products are required for MIS 314.

You will receive an email via your WWU email from eAcadamy during the first week or two of the quarter containing instructions on how to download the software.

Some of these tools are very large. Before downloading the software it would wise to compare your computer's free disk space to the recommend system requirements for the software (Amazon.com lists the system requirements for the products).

You must be currently enrolled in a MIS course to be eligible for the free software. You will not be eligible after the quarter ends unless you are enrolled in another MIS course. This offer is available through Microsoft's DreamSpark program.

Assessment of Student Performance

The following table summarizes how student performance is assessed relative to the course objectives. The learning outcomes in the left-hand column are assessed by the assessment method marked with an "X" in the right-hand columns.