COMPUTER SYSTEMS ORGANIZATION
CSCI 463 Section 02
MWF 10-10:50 AM
PM 203
Fall 2013
Course Description
Organization and Architecture of Computer Systems. Basic concepts and examples
from microcomputers and networks, peripheral components, data communications,
and the organization of operating systems.
Prerequisite:
CSCI 360 or Consent of the Department.
Required Materials
1) Online Course notes by the Department of Computer Science
faculty.cs.niu.edu/~berezin
Recommended Materials
1) "Computer Organization and Architecture, 2nd Ed."
by Linda Null & Julia Lobur
2006, Jones and Bartlet
2) Access to various Online sites such as Wikipedia and arstechnica.com
Final (Semester) Grade
The following is the policy that will determine your semester grade.
| Components: | Count | Grade weight |
| Assignments | 6-8 | Weighted 25% Total |
| Tests | 3-4 | Weighted 75% Total |
| Scales: |
| A 90% - 100% |
| B 80% - 89% |
| C 70% - 79% |
| D 60% - 69% |
You must score on boundry or above to get grade. There is no rounding.
For a passing grade (D or better), student must achieve a grade of 60% or
better in the test portion and 60% or better in the assignment portion.
Note that testing provides the critical portion of the total score.
All assignments are due in class at the time specified for that assignment. Be
sure to include the following information on each assignment:
- Your Name (Last, First, Middle Initial: Print clearly)
- CSCI 463
- Your faculty's name / Your TA's name
- Assignment Number / Date Due
All assignments will be graded by the teaching assistant of your section. To
receive full credit for an assignment, all the requirements specified in the
assignment must be satisfied. For example, a program with no documentation or
with an execution error will be assigned the grade of ZERO.
If you do not agree with the assigned grade, see your TA first to resolve the
matter. Late assignments will be accepted with 25% of the base points deducted
for each 24 hours past.
Attendance
You and you alone will be responsible for lectures, announcements, and
handouts made in the class. If you were absent, you should NOT expect your
instructor or your TA to repeat whatever you missed. No messages (e.g.,
phone or e-mail) will either substitute your attendance of the class or
excuse you for any makeup test or late submission of any assignment.
Getting Assistance
To get assistance from your instructor or TAs, your MUST bring the following
materials with you:
- 1) Your notes of class lectures
- 2) The assignment, work sheet, and/or a printed copy of your current
source program if a programming assignment is involved.
Audio and/or video recording of class is forbidden.
Cheating
Everything that you do in this course must reflect your own work. If you copy
all or part of another student's work, it will be considered an act of
cheating.
Disciplinary action for cheating may range from receiving a zero for the
assignment up to receiving an F for the course. Cheating is reported to the
University and the University may take additional disciplinary action.
Discussing concepts behind an assignment is not cheating, comparing solutions
is. If you need your work checked, see your instructor or TA.
Additionally, significant portions of the tests are based on the homework. If
you don't get it, you will fail the test and the course.