CSCI 311 - System Architecture
Syllabus for section D1, Spring 2023.
This class is an asynchronous online course. There are no scheduled class meetings.
Instructor Information
Dr. Mike Murphy
mmurphy2@coastal.edu
Office Location: Penny Hall (formerly AOC2) room 238
https://ww2.coastal.edu/mmurphy2
Office Hours
- Wednesdays 10:00-12:00, 13:00-17:00
- I am available via Zoom at other times via appointment. Please email me (mmurphy2@coastal.edu) for scheduling.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, you 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.
Technology Requirements
- Broadband Internet access is required to access course materials.
- A device capable of taking online quizzes using Moodle is required.
- Assignments may require access to a laptop or desktop computer system capable of running specialized software, which may include virtualization systems. Recommended specifications are listed on the departmental Computing Requirements page.
Grading
Grades will be broken into different categories and weighted as follows:
| Category | Weight |
|---|---|
| Quizzes | 78% |
| Extension Assignment | 10% |
| Challenge Assignment | 12% |
Your 3 lowest quiz grades will be dropped.
The final course grade will be computed using the standard 10-point scale:
| Grade | Range |
|---|---|
| A | 90-100 |
| B+ | 85-89 |
| B | 80-84 |
| C+ | 75-79 |
| C | 70-74 |
| D+ | 65-69 |
| D | 60-64 |
| F | 0-59 |
There is NO final exam in this course.
Quizzes
Most of the grade for this course is based on weekly quizzes. These quizzes are delivered via Moodle and will cover course learning materials, readings, etc. Some weeks may have multiple quizzes due, depending on the topics covered that week. You will have an unlimited number of attempts on each quiz, and you MAY work together as long as you aren’t simply sharing answers. Each quiz attempt draws random questions in a random order from the underlying question bank, so it is to your benefit to review the material prior to attempting each quiz.
As noted above, at least a full week’s worth of quiz grades will be dropped. This policy permits some flexibility in scheduling, tailoring the course to your interests, and handling unexpected events during the semester. Reviewing the course material and completing the quizzes is expected to take you about 4-5 hours each week. While it is possible to pass this course with a grade of up to a C+ without doing any of the assignments, it is NOT possible to pass this course if you don’t do any of the quizzes or miss too many of them!
Extension Assignment
The Extension Assignment provides an opportunity to explore a topic related to this course in greater detail. Multiple assignment choices will be available, but only one of these choices may be attempted in any given semester. Submission of the Extension Assignment requires the creation of a recorded presentation in MP4 or WEBM format. Extension Assignments must be completed individually.
Partial credit for an Extension Assignment is only available with a grade of 70 or higher. Equivalently, an Extension Assignment with a hypothetical grade of 69 or below will be graded zero (0).
Extension Assignments will be DUE in the first half of the semester. If you submit an Extension Assignment by the published DRAFT date, I will provide feedback by the DUE date, and you can make a revised submission by the closing date. A maximum of one (1) revision is permitted for the Extension Assignment.
The Extension Assignment is expected to require sustained effort over a period of several weeks, for a total time investment of about 20-30 hours. Successful completion of the Extension Assignment with a grade of 70 or higher unlocks the final course grades of B and B+; however, your course total average of all 3 grade categories must be at least an 80 or 85, respectively, to earn these grades.
Challenge Assignment
As its name implies, the Challenge Assignment is a more difficult assignment that allows exploration of a topic in even greater depth than the Extension Assignment. The Challenge Assignment is available in the second half of the semester but ONLY if you complete the Extension Assignment in the first half of the semester and earn a grade of 85 or above on the Extension Assignment – NO EXCEPTIONS.
Challenge Assignments are similar to Extension Assignments in that multiple assignment choices will be available, although only one of these choices may be attempted in any given semester. Submission of the Challenge Assignment will require a video presentation in MP4 or WEBM format. Challenge Assignments must be done individually and are designed to require about 30-40 hours of effort spread over multiple weeks.
If you submit a Challenge Assignment by a DRAFT date, I will have feedback available by either the next DRAFT or DUE date. You can resubmit the Challenge Assignment for a higher grade until the assignment closing date. A maximum of two (2) revisions may be made to the Challenge Assignment, so there are two published DRAFT dates.
Partial credit for a Challenge Assignment is only available with a grade of 75 or higher. Equivalently, a Challenge Assignment with a hypothetical grade of 74 or below will be graded zero (0). Successful completion of the Challenge Assignment with a grade of 75 or higher unlocks the final course grade of A; however, your course total average of all 3 grade categories must be 90 or above to earn this grade.
Late Work
Each graded item has an automatic one-week extension between the DUE date and the closing date. There is no need to submit documentation or request an extension since one is provided automatically. That said, you should treat the DUE dates as due dates and not habitually submit work on or just before the closing date.
No work will be accepted after the corresponding closing date for ANY reason whatsoever. It is your responsibility to plan ahead and be prepared for any contingencies that might arise during the semester (including illness, family emergencies, work conflicts, and other things beyond your immediate control). There is no such thing as an “excused” reason for an extension beyond the closing date for any work in this course. I am instead providing you with a no-questions-asked extension on every quiz and assignment to provide flexibility for handling unexpected events.
Both the Extension Assignment and Challenge Assignment are designed to take several weeks to complete. If you plan to complete these assignments, be sure to start early. It will be difficult to finish in time if you wait until the week the assignment is due to start.
Incomplete Grades and Alternatives
I have structured the DUE dates in this course to avoid making anything due on the last week of class. Since an automatic one week extension is provided (which can run into exam week), there is already contingency time built into the course to account for illnesses and emergencies. For this reason, I will NOT assign grades of Incomplete for this class.
If you encounter a significant hardship early in the semester that precludes successful completion of this course, then it is advisable to drop the course by the deadline for a “W” grade. Should you have a health issue (physical or mental) that substantially impairs your ability to finish the course after the drop deadline, the University has a policy for medical and psychological withdrawal that should be followed. For hardships that are not covered by this policy, you may consult with your academic advisor regarding an Academic General Petition for a retroactive withdrawal from this course after final grades have been posted.
Attendance Policies
Regular participation in class is expected, but I do not record or grade attendance.
Please do NOT attend physical office hours if you are sick. Instead, please let me know via email at least an hour before the scheduled meeting so that you can participate electronically.
Other Policies
Academic Integrity
The CCU Academic Integrity Code applies to this course. In particular, making false statements, hiring or permitting someone else to complete course activities, and willful and flagrant plagiarism are all examples of academic integrity violations. Violations of the CCU Academic Integrity Code in this course will result in a course grade of FX.
Communications Policy
I will normally reply to email within 1-2 business days. Email received over a weekend or on a holiday may not receive a response for 1-2 business days after the weekend or holiday. Please note that I’m only able to answer the phone and return phone calls on days where I work from the office (typically, days when I have posted office hours). Email is a much faster way to reach me and receive a reply.
Disability Accommodations
Per University policy, I can only grant you accommodations that are authorized through Accessibility and Disability Services. Please have your accommodations information sent to me within the first week of class or within a week of approval if accommodations are implemented in the middle of the semester. Note that quizzes in this course are NOT timed, and lectures are prerecorded with closed captioning.
Contingency Plan
Per the CCU Academic Continuity Plan, courses will continue online whenever the University is unable to hold in-person classes. If this course has a synchronous meeting time, then we will meet online using a University-licensed meeting platform. All other activities will proceed as scheduled, unless the University announces otherwise. ALWAYS take your laptop or other computer with you whenever you go out of town, including during University breaks, evacuations, and other travel. Remember that you could encounter travel difficulties and have issues returning on time, even if University operations are not affected.
For fall semester courses, please review my Hurricane Information page. Always monitor your email and the CCU Website for official announcements regarding irregular operations.
Disclaimer
Portions of this course may deal with issues related to cost analysis, laws, and ethics. I am not a lawyer, accountant, or financial advisor, and no portion of this class constitutes legal, financial, or other regulated professional advice. This syllabus is tentative and is subject to change with notice to the class 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.