Computer Architecture and System Software

3 credits · Undergraduate

(3 hrs Lecture | 1 hrs Lab) The course begins with discussions of the architecture of computer hardware and progresses to an examination of system software, including its relationship to the hardware, its structure and design, and its impact on application software, system developers, and end-users. Operating system concepts such as memory management, process management, and I/O sub-systems are covered. Other topics include language processors, system utilities, security issues, and performance management. The course provides students a hands-on experience of programming at different levels such as high level, assembly, and machine code. Requisite Courses: ACS-1904 or ACS-1905 with a minimum grade of C [prerequisite(s)]; ACS-2906L (lab) (must be taken concurrently).