CSC 252
Computer Organization
Introduction to computer architecture and the layering of hardware/software systems. Topics include instruction set design; logical building blocks; computer arithmetic; processor organization; the memory hierarchy (registers, caches, main memory, and secondary storage); I/Obuses, devices, and interrupts; microcode and assembly language; virtual machines; the roles of the assembler, linker, compiler, and operating system; technological trends and the future of computing hardware. Several programming assignments required.
Topics
- instruction set design
- logical building blocks
- computer arithmetic
- processor organization
- the memory hierarchy (registers
- caches
- main memory
- and secondary storage)
- I/Obuses
- devices
- and interrupts
- microcode and assembly language
- virtual machines
- the roles of the assembler
- linker
- compiler
- and operating system
- technological trends and the future of computing hardware
Topics explicitly listed in official catalogue description
Sources
- Course catalogue ↗2026-2027
Catalogue variants
- Computer Organization · 4.0