Spring 2011
Instructor:
Dr. Song Ci
Office: PKI 200B
Phone number: 402-554-2005
E-mail: sci@engr.unl.edu
Note: email me or leave messages at (my office) if you
are unable to reach me.
TA:
TBD.
Textbook:
Computer Systems: A Programmer Perspective (Second Edition),
by Randal E. Bryant and David O’Hallaron, Prentice
Hall. ISBN: 0-13-610804-0.
Classroom:
PKI 161
Time:
10:30am – 11:20am, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
Office Hours:
9:00am - 10:15am, Monday and Wednesday, or by appointment
Prerequisites:
The prerequisite of this course is CEEN 4330 (Computer
Design I) or concurrently taking. If you have not taken this class, please come
to my office and talk with me about this.
Class website:
All the class-related information will be put into
Blackboard. Please check the web page frequently for class announcements,
handouts, reading assignments, homework and lab assignments, and other relevant
information.
Course Description:
This course is designed to introduce engineering students to
the basics of computer architecture, operating system and system-level
programming. Topics include representing and manipulating information, machine
level representation of programs, processor architecture and pipelining,
optimizing program performance from the system level, memory hierarchy, and
dynamic memory allocation. If time permits, we will introduce linking,
exceptional control flow, and concurrent programming and their applications in
network system programming.
Course Objectives:
To be a good system programmer! The successful student will
exhibit competence in a wide variety of topics pertaining to computer
organization and architecture and system programming, including:
Course Content:
We will cover Chapters 1-3 and 5-12 of the text, but it is
not likely that we will cover every section of them. If time permits, we will
discuss more advanced topics such as threads and concurrent network system
programming. Please refer the reading assignment section of the class web page.
Grading:
The following three parts compose your final grade:
24% Quizzes and homework assignments
40% Class labs
36% Exams (3, equally weighted)
Letter grade will be given in this course, which is based on
the following table.
|
A |
92-100% |
|
A- |
89-91% |
|
B+ |
86-88% |
|
B |
82-85% |
|
B- |
79-81% |
|
C+ |
76-78% |
|
C |
70-75% |
|
D |
60-69% |
|
E |
0-59% |
Homework and Class Projects:
Homework assignments will be made regularly and solutions
will be provided. Students are encouraged to complete the assignments on a
timely basis. Students are also encouraged to work on their own. Help received
from other students, professors, previous assignments or solutions and
textbooks MUST be acknowledged in writing at the time the assignment is
turned in.
Homework
should be turned in at the beginning of the class on the specified due date.
Unless stated, otherwise in writing. Class projects should be turned in by the
specified deadline on the due date.
All project
programs should be handed in via the Digital Drop Box of Blackboard. Please
drop an all-in-one zipped file containing all your project programs and
necessary explanation files. Files handed in separately will not be accepted.
In-class Quizzes:
In-class quizzes will be given. Usually we will use these to
check whether or not you have done your homework.
Late Homework/Project Policy:
Late homework and class projects will be accepted, however, there is a 10% percent penalty PER DAY (including weekends and holidays) on your possible highest score. After a week from the due date, no credit will be given.
Midterm Exams:
Three
midterm exams will be given during the semester. The midterm exams are in-class
exam, which are schedule on 02/11, 03/11, and 04/29.
Final Exam:
There is no final exam in this class.
Note: All exams and quizzes are closed
book and closed notes.
Make-up Policy:
NO
make-up exam and make-up quiz will be given in this class unless the
arrangements are made before the exam or the quiz occurs.
Academic Integrity:
As is always the case, you will be responsible for your own
work in this class. Any incidence of
academic dishonesty or violation of these policies will result in a course
grade of F for the entire course.
Students with Disabilities:
Accommodations are provided for students who are registered with Disability Services and make their requests sufficiently in advance. For more information, contact Disability Services (EAB 117, Phone: 554-2872, TTY: 554-3799) or go to the website: www.unomaha.edu/disability.
Note:
The instructor reserves the right to modify course policies, the course calendar, grading point values, and due dates.