Syllabus – Summer 2026

Welcome to Data Structures, CS112. After completing the course the student will be able to:

Analyze runtime efficiency of algorithms related to data structure design.
Select appropriate abstract data types for use in a given application.
Compare data structure tradeoffs to select the appropriate implementation for an abstract data type.
Design and modify data structures capable of insertion, deletion, search, and related operations.
Combine data structures to build more complex implementations.
Trace through and predict the behavior of algorithms (including code) designed to implement data structure operations.
Identify and remedy errors/inefficiencies in a data structure implementation that may cause its behavior to differ from the intended outcomes.
Design data structures and associated algorithms to meet specified performance requirements for given task specifications.

We use the Java programming language for all assignments and exams in the course.

Required textbook Algorithms, 4th Edition, Robert Sedgewick and Kevin Wayne, Princeton University

Book site

Book Videos:

https://www.cubits.ai/collections/46/

Code: TeB5xCPz

Academic Integrity

You are responsible for reading and understanding the DCS Academic Integrity Policy. Read the overview as well as the specific policies for exams. Students who are suspected of violating the Rutgers Academic Integrity Policy, will be reported to the Office of Student Conduct for an Academic Integrity Review Process.

All assignments and exams are individual but we encourage collaboration with course staff and classmates. However, you must be careful how you collaborate.

Use the guidelines below for reference:

	Course staff	Classmates	Other people	AI Chatbots
Discuss concepts with:	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Acknowledge collaboration with:	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Expose code/solutions to:	Yes	No	No	No
Copy code/solutions from:	No	No	No	No

Rutgers CS Diversity and Inclusion Statement

Rutgers Computer Science Department is committed to creating a consciously anti-racist, inclusive community that welcomes diversity in various dimensions (e.g., race, national origin, gender, sexuality, disability status, class, or religious beliefs). We will not tolerate micro-aggressions and discrimination that creates a hostile atmosphere in the class and/or threatens the well-being of our students. We will continuously strive to create a safe learning environment that allows for the open exchange of ideas while also ensuring equitable opportunities and respect for all of us. Our goal is to maintain an environment where students, staff, and faculty can contribute without the fear of ridicule or intolerant or offensive language. If you witness or experience racism, discrimination micro-aggressions, or other offensive behavior, you are encouraged to bring it to the attention to the undergraduate program director, the graduate program director, or the department chair. You can also report it to the Bias Incident Reporting System http://inclusion.rutgers.edu/report-bias-incident/

Lectures

Attendance is expected and participation is very welcomed. Everyone benefits when you attend lecture and ask questions. Note that some examples might not be in the lecture slides. If you miss a lecture, you are responsible for getting class notes from a classmate.

Recitations

Recitations are the shorter of the listed periods on your class schedule listed as CS112. i.e. the only CS112 class meeting time that is NOT 1 hr 20 min. The recitation period is problem-solving oriented and is led by a Learning Assistant (LA), a senior undergraduate student that has taken CS112 previously and has been pedagogically trained.

You will find recitation problems under Canvas Modules. We will release recitation problems a week ahead of the week’s recitation along with the pre recitation quiz. The problem’s solutions are released on Saturday after the week’s recitation.

Each recitation is 6 points: 2 points for attendance (arrive within 10 minutes of scheduled time), 2 points (completion based) for the Canvas online pre-quiz and, 2 points (correctness based) for the Canvas online post-quiz.

We will release recitation problems a week ahead of the week’s recitation along with the pre-recitation quiz.
The week’s pre-quiz is available until Sunday 11:00PM preceding the recitation.
The week’s post-quiz is available until Sunday 11:00PM following the recitation.
You will only receive the quiz points if you attend the recitation section you are registered for and complete the quiz.

Attend the recitation for the section that you are registered. You will not receive points if you attend a different recitation than the one you are registered for.

Labs

Labs involve programming in Java. Labs are short programming practice assignments on some of the data structures you will learn this semester. They are intended to help you become familiar with data structures which may not be covered by the larger assignments.

Similar to assignments, you will submit labs on Autolab (see below). Labs are always due at 11pm. There is a two day late-period after the due date, where you can submit the lab with no late-penalty.

Labs follow the same submission limits as assignments as described below: 3 are penalty free and there is a hard cap of 10 submissions total.

You will be given a week after a topic has been taught to complete each lab.

Assignments

Assignments involve programming in Java. The due dates are strictly followed by the course staff. All assignments are due at 11:00PM. Always make a copy of your assignment and ensure you’re submitting the correct assignment to the correct place. Remember that technical problems happen and that due dates are enforced. We will not make exceptions if you submit the wrong assignment or submit to the wrong place.

Assignments are graded automatically by AutoLab. Your program must compile without errors on Autolab – otherwise you will not receive any credit for the assignment. For each problem, your code will be tested using a suite of test cases, and you will receive credit for each case on which your code performs correctly. AutoLab will not display a score but it will give you feedback on your submitted program, which you can then update and submit again for grading. Always read the feedback!

You have 3 submissions without deductions; 5% of the problem total points are deducted for every submission thereafter. You’re able to submit ten versions total (this includes submissions that have errors or don’t compile). Submissions that don’t compile don’t count towards the three versions but do count towards the ten-version cap.

Autolab uses the last submission for the assignment grade.

Autolab. When your first programming assignment is released you will be able to login into AutoLab using your Rutgers credentials.

Plan to submit your work with at least one day in advance.

Depending on the load AutoLab MAY TAKE UP TO 1 day to give you feedback.
Note that if the system is busy it may take some time before it gets to your submission request. If the deadline passes while you are waiting, your assignment will not be accepted. In other words, if you try to hand in your work close to the end of the deadline, you may be too late.

AutoLab uses Java 17 to compile and run an assignment’s test cases. After each submission the feedback includes a written text and a light:

red means that either your program didn’t compile or it passed very few of our test cases (0 – 20% of points);
yellow means that your program passed some test cases (21 – 80% of points);
green means that your program passed most of our test cases (81 – 100% of points).

Programming assignments have a built-in extension of 3 days. The extension works as follows:

if you submit up to 24 hours after the deadline a 5% penalty applies.
if you submit after 24 hours but before 48 hours after the deadline a 10% penalty applies.
if you submit after 48 hours but before 72 hours after the deadline a 15% penalty applies.

Scores will be visible the day following the end of the built-in extension (if a token applies, scores will be visible the day after the token due date).

Here’s how submission works:

Once your assignment is complete (all methods have been implemented) you can submit it into Autolab under the assignment name (full submission).
Even if you submitted the entire assignment under early submission you STILL HAVE TO SUBMIT under the full assignment. The early submission is only worth 5 points.
Your first method will be tested again.

If any prolonged or ongoing circumstances come up beyond one token/one week, please email us at cs112@cs.rutgers.edu for next steps, and contact a dean of students for these circumstances.

Academic Integrity. Autolab uses JPlag to detect similarities in code. DO NOT include any identifying information on the files you submit to Autolab (e.g. name, netid, RUID, email).

DO NOT share or post your assignment until the late period or token due date (as described above) has passed.
You MAY NOT use generative AI software (such as ChatGPT or GitHub Copilot) to create or debug programming assignment code.

Our policy for Academic Integrity Violations is as follows:

Student receives a 0 (zero) on the assignment, and possible further sanctions including a failing grade in the course or referral to your dean.
The violation is reported. The consequences of reporting are (a) a record on your file of this violation, (b) suspension, (c) or expulsion.
If you’re found responsible for academic dishonesty on an assignment you used a token for, you won’t get that token back.

Accommodations. If you’re an ODS student with accommodations pertinent to assignments, you can submit labs and assignments without a late penalty, as follows:

Submit an assignment under full submission during the three-day late extension period. This waives late penalties on the existing built-in extension.
Please reach out to us at cs112@cs.rutgers.edu as soon as possible with your letter of accommodations.
Don’t use an assignment token for an ODS accommodation as tokens cannot be revoked.

Regrades

You have one week after exam grades and recitation quizzes are released to ask for a regrade. Only ask for a regrade if you think there was a grading error, do not request a regrade simply because you think you deserve more partial credit.

If you still have concerns regarding your score, please reach out to your instructor.

All programming assignments are autograded, make sure you read the Hints for each submission and correct your code accordingly before your next submission. Programming assignments are not regraded unless there is a problem on the autograder. A regrade of a programming assignment would involve running the same autograder code that Autolab runs, and that would not affect your grade. If your program does not perform correctly on a particular test case, you will not receive points for that test case. For all programming assignments you have one week after the grades are released to contest your grade.

Canvas

Canvas is a course management tool that will be used to keep students scores and send out announcements. Once registered to the course you will be automatically added to Canvas. Use your Rutgers credentials to login.

The course staff expects all students to read the announcements. All recitation quizzes will be administered through Canvas.

Piazza

We will be using Piazza for class discussion. The system is highly catered to getting you help fast and efficiently from classmates, the TAs, and instructors. Rather than emailing questions to the teaching staff, we encourage you to post your questions on Piazza. If you have any problems or feedback for the developers, email team@piazza.com. Find our class page at Canvas’s left menu under Piazza.

DO NOT post any assignment solution or partial solution on Piazza. Those posts will be promptly deleted.

Quizzes and Exams

There will be 2 in person exams and 3 in person quizzes

Midterm Exam is worth 165 points. Final exam is worth 185 points
Each quiz is worth 50 points each.
Exams and quizzes are in person. You are required to be on campus to take the exams, DO NOT make travel arrangements for those days.
You cannot consult the textbook, notes, and assignments during exams.
You will have 90 consecutive minutes to complete the midterm and final exam.
Refer to the course Canvas page for exam and quiz dates.
There is one course policy quiz that will be taken online at the beginning of the semester.

Minimum exam score. To pass the course, the total exam score must be at least 210 points, which is 60% of the 350 points for all exams.

Academic Integrity Violations. Students who are suspected of violating the Rutgers Academic Integrity Policy, will be reported to the Office of Student Conduct for an Academic Integrity Review Process.

Put your phone inside your bag during exams. If you have a phone out while the exam is ongoing, your exam will be taken, you’ll receive a 0 on the exam, and a report to Academic Integrity will be made.

Accommodations. Students that require accommodations, such as extra time, must contact ODS at least two weeks before the quiz date. Email your accommodations letter to the course coordinator.

Grading

Your grade is computed out of 1000 points.

There are 12 labs. Each lab is worth either 25 points, totaling 300 points. (see Labs and Assignments tab).

There is 1 assignment. The assignment is worth 100 points. (Start your assignments early!!)

Assignments are automatically graded by Autolab. Please give Autolab up to 24 hours to fully grade your submission.

Each recitation is worth 6 points (2 attendance, 2 pre quiz, 2 post quiz).

The two exams are in person and total to 350 points. The midterm is worth 165 points and the final is worth 185 points

There will be 3 quizzes that will be taken in person and are worth 50 points each.

Along with the 3 quizzes, there will be 1 course policy quiz at the beginning of the semester that is worth 10 points. This quiz will be taken online on Canvas.

To compute your grade sum up all the assignments, exams, quizzes, and recitations points.

There is no curve. You must earn a minimum of 900 of the available points for an A, 850 for a B+, 800 for a B, 750 for a C+, 700 for a C, and 600 for a D. Below 600 points will be an F.

Additional requirement to pass the course. You must earn at least 210 points in the all exams combined (Midterm and Final exam). That is 60% of the 350 points available for exams.

The cutoffs are strictly followed for each letter grade. A computed grade of 749.99 is a C not a C+.

Below is a table that details the total grade distribution.