Course Syllabus

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Course Description

Note: This course code has changed from CIT 112 to ITM 112. You may occasionally see references to the old course code or title.

This course describes the Linux operating system and exposes the student to the most common distributions of Linux. This course teaches the student how to login and explore before explaining the file system, manipulating files, and how to use the Linux Command Line Interface (CLI) or shell. The course also teaches the student how to work with archiving, compression, text processing, regular expressions, and shell scripting.

Course Outcomes

  • Understand how an operating system works.
  • Understand how to login and navigate in an operating system through the Graphical User Interface (GUI) and Command Line Interface (CLI).
  • Understand how a file system works and how to manipulate, archive, and compress files.
  • Understand how a Command Line Interface (CLI) works and why it is called a shell.
  • Understand how to use command shells to accomplish routine tasks and write basic shell scripts.
  • Understand how process management and job control let you manage a computer.

Course Details

Overview

How does this course relate to other courses?

This course is designed as an introductory course to basic operating system functionality. It focuses on the Command Line Interface (CLI) or shell because the shell supports all Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs). Educating the student on the functionality of shells, file systems, computer processes, and job control will enable them to more effectively use their own personal computers. It also provides a basic non-programming entry point to Computer Information Technology, Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, and Business Analytics.

Prerequisites

  • None

Required Materials 

What will I be prepared to do after this course?

The student will be prepared to use their personal computer more effectively because they will understand what's happening below the Graphical User Interface (GUI). The student also will become better prepared to think about technical degree possibilities.

Grading

  • Reading Quizzes 35% 
  • Hands on Application Activities 35% 
  • BASH Shell Project 15%
  • Final Exam 15%

Reading Quizzes: Each week you will be required to read two to three chapters from the textbook and answer questions that will gauge your understanding of the reading. You can take this quiz as many times as you need to. These quizzes pull from banks and will vary each time you take it.

Hands-on Application Activities: Each week you will have an opportunity to put into practice what you have learned from your reading and study. These activities should be done within a terminal. You will see that they vary in points each week. This is because the course has been designed to give you more practice on the things that are the  trickiest. With each assignment, you will be expected to submit proof of your work in the terminal by means of a script log file and script timing file.  

BASH Shell Project: You will have a final project that is assigned in Week 10 and due at the end of Week 13. 

Final Exam: A final exam will be given in Week 14. This exam will be proctored using Proctorio. The exam will be cumulative of all the information from the course. The exam pulls from the same banks used for the quizzes, so, it will be helpful to go back and do the quizzes as a means of review. This is the only proctored exam in the course. 

Proctored Exam Information

This course will use an online proctoring software called Proctorio. This makes it possible for students to take assessments and exams without a human proctor present. Proctored exams can be accessed like any other exam, once the software has been installed. Exams will be recorded by Proctorio and reviewed by the BYUI Testing Center. Any questionable exams will be forwarded to the instructor for further review.

For step-by-step instructions on Proctorio installation, please refer to the Student Help Guide for Proctorio in Canvas.

Technology and Textbooks

Required

  • The Linux Command Line (A free textbook)

Weekly Schedule 

All deadlines for this class are due on Saturday at 11:59 p.m. (mountain time). The only exception to the Saturday deadlines is in Week 14 as the course ends during the week. Each week you will have a reading assignment and corresponding quiz. You will also have a Hands-On Application activity that will allow you to put what you have learned from your reading into practice. These are your only two assignments each week.

Each week will have an optional Microsoft Teams Forum that you can use to seek and offer help. This is provided as a place for you to work with others as needed, but no grades nor points will be attached to your participation. This Forum is simply a resource to use if desired. 

Grading Scale

Letter Grade Percent
A 100%–93%
A- 92%–90%
B+ 89%–87%
B 86%–83%
B- 82%–80%
C+ 79%–77%
C 76%–73%
C- 72%–70%
D+ 69%–67%
D 66%–63%
D- 62%–60%
F 59% and lower

University Policies

Students with Disabilities

BYU-Idaho is committed to providing a working and learning atmosphere that reasonably accommodates qualified persons with disabilities. Reasonable academic accommodations are reviewed for all students who have qualified documented disabilities. Services are coordinated with the student and instructor by BYU-Idaho Disability Services. If you need assistance or feel you have been unlawfully discriminated against on the basis of disability, you may seek resolution through established policy and procedures.

If you have any disability that may impair your ability to complete this course successfully, please contact Disability Services as soon as possible, preferably before the beginning of the semester, in order to ensure that you receive appropriate accommodations.

Disability Services Contact Information:

Other University Policies

Go to the Student Resources Module to review the university policies regarding honesty, online etiquette, communication expectations, etc.

Course Summary:

Date Details Due