Cloud Computing Decal
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Syllabus

Course Information

Apply at: https://tinyurl.com/cloudcomputingdecal

Logistics

  • Instructors: Ari Rigan, Shane Fan
  • Course Staff: Cyrus Bugwadia, Jie Luo, Sumer Kohli, Rachel Wang, Ryan Searcy, Smit Rajyaguru, Vanshaj Singhania
  • Staff Sponsor: Professor Armando Fox
  • Unit Count: 3
  • Meeting Times: Tuesday and Thursdays, 7-8 PM (PT)
  • Communications: course Piazza and email, debugging done through Piazza
  • Email: TBD
  • Scheduler Page: https://classes.berkeley.edu/content/2020-fall-compsci-198-073-grp-073

Overview

The popularity of Cloud Computing and Saas has gained significant traction over the past few years and the demand for experienced engineers in the field is ever-increasing. The Cloud Computing and SaaS Decal aims to bridge the gap between traditional computer science coursework and hands-on experience in the software industry.

This course takes a very practical and hands-on approach to learning, with the mini-projects being the primary tools for reinforcing lecture content. It is designed to serve as a complement to popular software application oriented courses such as CS162, CS186, and CS169.

Content Rundown

The course will begin by covering the general definitions of cloud computing and software as a service. There will be workshops for essential tools such as Git, the command line, Docker, Kubernetes, etc. We will also be inviting many guest speakers/lecturers that currently work in industry to speak about their knowledge and provide a practical demonstration. The mini-projects cumulate into one final project that encompasses a full-stack web application that runs in the cloud.

By the end of the course, students will learn of prominent cloud computing service providers such as AWS, Azure, and GCP, and develop fluency in their fundamental service offerings. They will also be familiarized with common tools and concepts used heavily in industry and will be better prepared for industry interviews, internships, and full-time jobs.

Prerequisites

No official hard prerequisites. It’s perfectly fine to have no experience at all coming in. However, being able to program is highly recommended.

Textbooks and Course Materials

  • Required Texts: TBD
  • Recommended Texts and Other Readings: TBD

Course Requirements

  • Internet connection
  • Access to bCourses and Gradescope
  • Laptop or desktop

Online Course Structure

This is a fully-online course. All course activities and resources can be found through our course website TBD. Lectures will be held two times a week. All of the learning activities will be completed in your own time so long as they are completed by the dates and times shown in the course schedule.

Important Note: This syllabus, along with course assignments and due dates, are subject to change. It is the student’s responsibility to check our course Canvas site for corrections or updates to the syllabus. Any changes will be clearly noted in course announcements.

Grading

Graded Course Activities

Visit the course home page for details about assignments. Homeworks will be submitted on Gradescope.

Your overall course grade is determined by the following distribution:

  • Attendance: 10%
  • Homework: 30%
  • Project: 50%
  • Final reflection: 10%

Late Work Policy

Pay close attention to deadlines; there will be limited opportunities to make up homeworks or other assignments without instructor approval.

Grading and PNP

This course will only be offered PNP this semester.

  • Passing (P): 70%-100%
  • Not Passing (NP): 0%-70%

Course Policies

Attendance

Students have three excused absences.

Participation

Students are expected to participate in all online activities as listed on the course calendar. To accommodate students in different time zones, lectures will be webcasted.

Complete Assignments

All assignments for this course will be submitted electronically through Gradescopes unless otherwise instructed. Assignments must be submitted by the given deadline or special permission must be requested from course staff before the due date. Extensions will not be given beyond the next assignment except under extreme circumstances.

All discussion assignments must be completed by the assignment due date and time. Late or missing discussion assignments will lower your grade.

Collaboration

Although you are encouraged to work with other students about the concepts, algorithms, approaches, etc. needed to complete the course's assignments, all code you turn in must be your own. You may not directly modify, touch, or even look at another student's code. Directly copying from any source, including online sources, is forbidden. If you receive help from any source, please cite those sources in your code and/or assignment.

Inform Course Staff of Any Accommodations Needed

The purpose of academic accommodations is to ensure that all students have a fair chance at academic success. If you have Letters of Accommodations from the Disabled Students’ Program or another authorized office, please share them with me as soon as possible, and we will work out the necessary arrangements. While individual circumstances can vary, requests for accommodations often fall into the categories listed on the Academic Calendar and Accommodations website. The campus has well-developed processes in place for students to request accommodations, and you are encouraged to contact the relevant campus offices listed on the Academic Accommodations Hub(link is external). These offices, some of which are confidential, can offer support, answer questions about your eligibility and rights, and request accommodations on your behalf, while maintaining your privacy.

Statement on Classroom Climate

We are all responsible for creating a learning environment that is welcoming, inclusive, equitable, and respectful. The expectation in this class is that we all live up to this responsibility, even during vigorous debate or disagreement, and that we will intervene if exclusionary or harassing behavior occurs. If you feel that these expectations are not being met, you can consult your instructors or seek assistance from campus resources.


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