COSC 230 - Computer Architecture
Fall 2004
St. Mary's College of Maryland

Instructor Bob Tracy
SH 232
301-373-3698 (Home)
240-725-7021 (Anteon Office)
240-895-2098 (SMCM Office)
rttracy@smcm.edu
Course Web Site www.smcm.edu/users/rttracy
Course Prerequisites COSC 130
Required Text McCabe, Arthur B.
COMPUTER SYSTEMS: ARCHITECTURE, ORGANIZATION, AND PROGRAMMING
McGraw-Hill, 1993
ISBN: 0256114560



Course Description
Principles of structure and function of computers. Course topics include the following:


Course Objectives
This course familiarizes students with the inner-workings of the computer, especially the processor and memory functions. Upon course completion students should have an increased awareness of low-level programming operations and better understand how all programming code interacts with the critical resources of the computer system.


Course Schedule/Important Dates
This course outline is a tentative plan of class activities and lecture content. It may be modified due to unforeseen circumstances. The order in which lectures and activities appear on the schedule will be followed.

Week Date Topic/Assignment Project
1 August 31 Introductions, discussion of syllabus, discussion of course schedule, course overview  
September 2 Chapter 1: up to and including section 1.2  
2 September 7 Chapter 1: Sections 1.3 - 1.4 Team Names Due
September 9 Chapter 2: section 2.1  
3 September 14 Chapter 2: Sections 2.2 - 2.3  
September 16 Class cancelled  
4 September 21 Chapter 2: Sections 2.2 - 2.3 (cont)  
September 23 Chapter 3: up to and including section 3.2  
5 September 28 Chapter 3: Sections 3.3 - 3.4  
September 30 Chapter 4: up to and including section 4.3  
6 October 5 Review for Midterm Exam  
October 7 Midterm Exam  
7 October 12 No Class  
October 14 Chapter 4: Sections 4.4 - 4.7  
8 October 19 No Class  
October 21 Chapter 5: up to and including section 5.3  
9 October 26 Chapter 5: Sections 5.4 - 5.7  
October 28 Chapter 6  
10 November 2 No Class  
November 4 Chapter 7 Team Project #1 Due
11 November 9 Chapter 8  
November 11 Chapter 9: up to and including section 9.3  
12 November 16 Chapter 9: Sections 9.4 - 9.5  
November 18 Chapter 10: up to and including section 10.2  
13 November 23 No Class  
November 25 No Class  
14 November 30 Chapter 10: Section 10.3  
December 2 Chapter 11  
15 December 7 Chapter 12  
December 9 Review for Final Exam Team Project #2 Due
16 December 10 Final Exam  

Grading
The final grade for this course will be based on the following criteria:

Homework/In-Class Activities   15%
Project Team Assignments 30%
Midterm Exam 25%
Final Exam 30%

All tests and assignments will have a possible score of 100 points, and the above percentages will be multiplied by each score and summed to determine the overall course grade. The following grading scale will be used to determine letter grades:

93-100  A
90-92 A-
87-89 B+
83-86 B
80-82 B-
77-79 C+
 
73-76   C
70-72 C-
67-69 D+
63-66 D
60-62 D-
0-59 F

Test and exams will be based upon the course text book, lecture materials, and handouts. Prior to each test or exam, class time will be allocated for question/answer sessions. Make-up tests will be administered only with prior approval by the instructor. All tests, exams, and assignments will be discussed and announced in class as well as the requirements and due dates. Unless prior arrangements have been made with the instructor, assignments will not be accepted after the due dates.


Academic Honesty
Each student is expected to perform his or her own academic work. Plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty are considered an extremely serious offense. Each student is personally responsible for understanding the various forms of academic dishonesty as they are explained in the Student Code section of the College's Student Handbook. Ignorance of any requirement for academic honesty will not constitute an excuse from disciplinary proceedings.


Absences
Students are expected to attend class and be on time. Students are responsible for all material covered during each class session. The majority of students will find that class attendance is imperative in order to complete the course work satisfactorily.

Absence from any class session will likely be detrimental to a student's progress and grade due to the technical nature of the course. In legitimate emergency situations, the student should contact the instructor so that the opportunity to make up work that was missed can be granted. Otherwise, the absence will be considered unexcused.