Syllabus - CSCI 311 - System Architecture
Basic Information
- Section: 01
- Semester: Fall 2021
- Hard Deadline for All Work: Monday, December 6th, 2021
- Meetings: TTh 1:40-2:55 PM in Wall 117
- Prerequisites: CSCI 211 and CSCI 216, both with a grade of C or better
- Credit Hours: 3
- Course Purpose: Introduces computer, data center, and system architectures at a high level.
- Intended Audience: Information Technology majors (required course)
Instructor Information
Dr. Mike Murphy
Please see the About Me page for contact information, and check my Schedule for office hours information.
Catalog Description
Introduction to the high-level architecture of computer systems and the hardware-software interface. Major design features of hardware components are discussed. Topics include instruction set architectures, processor designs, memory components, power, storage devices, device drivers, kernels, bootloaders, firmware, and partition tables.
Course Student Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students should be able to:
- Explain the basic operation of a Central Processing Unit.
- Distinguish between different Instruction Set Architectures and identify benefits and weaknesses of various commercially available CPUs.
- Describe the operation of memory and storage devices, including addressing and partitioning schemes.
- Describe the hardware-software interface of a computer system, including the bootloader, kernel, firmware, and device drivers.
- Calculate power and cooling requirements for equipment given thermal design power specifications.
- Explain how multiple systems can be hosted within a data center in a safe and efficient manner.
ABET Assessment
This course measures the following Performance Indicators:
- 1.1. Define requirements and/or specifications for a computing problem.
- 1.2. Analyze a complex problem by breaking it down into smaller components.
- 1.6. Analyze a component of a complex problem.
- 2.4. Compare multiple solutions against requirements.
- IT 6.3. Select systems appropriate for different user and environment requirements.
Texts and Materials
- No textbook is required for this course.
- Readings, reference materials, tutorials, and videos will be assigned, requiring Internet access.
Grade Categories
Grades will be broken into different categories and weighted as follows:
| Category | Weight |
|---|---|
| Assignments | 30% |
| Learning Quizzes | 30% |
| Assessment Quizzes | 40% |
Additional Policies and Information
The following policies and documents are incorporated into this syllabus by reference:
- My Common Course Policies
- My Online Learning Expectations
- Contingency Plan
- First Week Checklist
- Student Services Guide
Disclaimer
Portions of this course may deal with issues related to cost analysis, laws, and ethics. The instructor of this course is not a lawyer, accountant, or financial advisor, and no portion of this class constitutes legal or financial advice. This syllabus and schedule are tentative and subject to change with notice to the student during the semester. If a portion of this syllabus is found to be non-compliant with University policies or applicable laws, the remainder of this syllabus will remain effective.