COMPUTER SYSTEMS ORGANIZATION
CSCI 463 Section 01
MW 3:30-4:45 PM

Spring 2016

Course Description

Tentative

Organization and Architecture of Computer Systems. Basic concepts and examples from microcomputers and networks, peripheral components, data communications, and the organization of operating systems in relation to hardware.

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
2) "Schaum's Outline of Computer Architecture"
by Nick Carter

Recommended Materials

1) 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:CountGrade weight
Tests4Weighted 100% Total
Scales:
A 90% - 100%
B 80% - 89%
C 70% - 79%
D 60% - 69%

You must score on boundary or above to get grade. There is no rounding and no +/- scores.

Note that testing establishes the total score.

There will be a series of work sheets posted. These can be used to review the material and will be the basis for a fair portion of the tests.

Solutions may be posted shortly after the topic is covered so you can check your own work/understanding.

Both your TA and I will be available for help during office hours and by appointment.

This course relies on extensive reading of online material. You will find it more productive to read material daily (20-30 minute?) rather than trying to cram several hours before a test.

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

The DRC has requested a week lead time for preparation. Those working through the DRC must bring paper work for alternative testing to me at least 1 week before the test.

To get assistance from your instructor or TAs, your MUST bring the following materials with you:

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.

You may work on worksheets in groups. Just make sure you understand the concepts so you are ready for the tests.

Worksheets are used to emphasize concepts and test your understanding. If you don't get it, you will fail the test and the course.

Students with 3 finals on the same day must notify me a week in advanced. Remember that it is the highest level class that makes the final adjustment.

Students who wish to discuss/challenge a particular grading must do so with 2 weeks of my returning a test. Failure to pick up test does not extend this clock.