CS 252: Introduction to Computer Organization, Fall 2009

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InstructorProf. Suzanne Rivoire
Meeting time Lecture:TTh 5:25-6:50 PM, Darwin 30
Lab:Th 2:00-4:50 PM, Darwin 28
TextbookPlantz, Introduction to Computer Organization with x86-64 Assembly Language & GNU/Linux, Fall 2009 printing

Catalog Description

(4 units) Lecture, 3 hours; laboratory, 3 hours. This course looks at the interface between computer hardware and software by introducing computer architecture and low-level programming. Topics to be covered include: data representations, digital logic, combinational and sequential circuits, computer system organization from the machine language point of view, and assembly language implementation of high-level constructs.

Prerequisite: CS 110 and CS 242.

Course Goals and Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to

  1. Represent signed and unsigned numbers in different number systems.
  2. Perform arithmetic on signed and unsigned numbers.
  3. Manipulate Boolean algebra and logic gates.
  4. Design and use circuits using combinational and sequential logic.
  5. Explain the high-level organization of a computer.
  6. Write simple programs in C and in x86_64 assembly language.
  7. Explain and trace the execution of machine instructions in a processor.