Catalog description: This course is an in-depth analysis of one or more operating systems, system data structure, hardware architecture, interrupt handling. Other topics may include parallel hardware architectures and performance analysis. Prerequisite: CS202.

Course Content: The following topics will be covered in CS365:

Rationale for the course: This class covers advanced computer architecture for the student. It covers advanced programming at the machine level and at the assembler level, plus it covers the physical activities, which occur in a machine, as it processes these programs. This is the equivalent of the computer architecture module recommended by the ACM (Association of Computing Machinery) as part of a computer science degree curriculum.

Skills and background required or expected: The student should have moderately advanced programming skills from 2 semesters of programming, and preferably an additional semester of assembly language.

Teaching methodologies and anticipated class size: The course meets 3 hours a week for 16 weeks. 15 to 20 students are expected.

Additional course descriptors: none.

Learning objectives for students: Upon course completion, students can write advanced programs at the machine level, and at the assembler level. They will understand advanced computer architecture principles.

Methods of evaluation: Half of the course grade will come from weekly homework assignments. The remaining half of the grade will be based on attendance, one midterm exam and one final exam, used to assess basic mastery of the course material.

Required and recommended texts and/or study guides:

Subsequent courses: none.