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East Tennessee State University
Department of Computer & Information Sciences
CSCI 4717 -- Computer Architecture
Fall Semester, 2007

Last updated 08/20/2007

[ General | Schedule | Grading | Expectations | Other Policies | Attachment ]

Course Number: CSCI 4717

Course Title: Computer Architecture

Catalog Description: Computer systems are viewed as consisting of a series of layers or levels, one on top of another. Topics of computer architecture are presented. Microprogramming stack computers, parallel computers, pipeline processing, multiprocessors, virtual storage, cache storage, addressing schemes, I/O and interrupt structure.

Prerequisite: CSCI 2160 and CSCI 2210, or permission of instructor

Credit: 3 credit hours

Outcomes: We expect students completing this course to be able to:

• demonstrate an understanding of the organization and architecture of computer systems (Student Outcomes 3, CS-1*);
• demonstrate an understanding of the relationship of higher level, abstract ideas to the features of a machine's architecture (Student Outcomes 3, CS-1*);
• demonstrate an understanding of the issues that influence designs of programming languages, operating systems, databases, and algorithms (Student Outcomes 4b, CS-2);
• demonstrate an understanding of the concepts and techniques of constructing machines as a series of levels (Multilevel Machines) (Student Outcomes 3, CS-1*);
• demonstrate a basic understanding of some advanced topics, such as stack computers, parallel computers, overlap and pipeline processing, and performance evaluation (Student Outcomes 3 , 5c, CS-1*); and
• demonstrate through both simulation and the development of performance measuring applications an understanding of how different architectures affect performance (Student Outcomes 4b, 5c, CS-1*).

Required text: Computer Organization and Architecture, 7th ed. by William Stallings (Click here to access author's website)

Course outline: The course outline is presented below. The instructor has the right to alter the outline at any time due to time constraints, unexpected scheduling conflicts, or overall benefit to class effectiveness.

Final Exam Time
(Please verify this time with the University's Final Exam Schedule)
Section 001: Tuesday, December 12 -- 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Grading policy: The table below shows the weights carried by each assignment toward calculating a student's final grade.

The table below presents the translation between a student's total score and their final grade.

Posting of grades: The following is duplicated from Section 5.9 of the East Tennessee State Faculty Handbook which is available on-line at http://www.etsu.edu/senate/facultyhandbook/:

"In order to be in compliance with provisions of the 'Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974' (Buckley Amendment), the posting of student grades at East Tennessee State University is prohibited. Interpretations of the Buckley Amendment have also prohibited the use of any codes such as Social Security numbers and other devices that might make identification of a student and his/her grade still possible.

12/03/87

As a result, the distribution of grades through e-mail is also not allowed.

Expectations, Attendance, and Participation: Both students and instructors have expectations of one another. Many of these are mutual. Students should expect the instructor to be in class on time, to be prepared, to be attentive to students, to be available to answer questions and to provide help related to the course, and to make a genuine effort to help students achieve the course objectives. On those rare occasions when the instructor must miss class, students should expect suitable arrangements for the class to continue in the instructor's absence. Students should expect the instructor to devote considerable time and effort to the course.

The instructor has similar expectations of students: that students come to class on time, are prepared, are attentive and participate in class, complete class assignments and submit them on time, and make a genuine effort to meet the course objectives. The instructor expects students to devote considerable time and effort to the course.

When you are absent, you are still responsible for material, assignments, and anything else that occurs in class. When you must miss class, you are responsible for finding out what was missed, making sure that any work due that day gets to the instructor prior to class, and getting any assignments or materials handed out during your absence so that you can prepare for the next class. This is a 3-hour course and you should be prepared to spend a minimum of 4-6 hours outside of class for each hour in-class. Attendance and participation is important; students with poor attendance generally do poorly. Missing material from one class makes it difficult to understand new material and, once behind, it is difficult to catch up. You are encouraged to ask appropriate questions and to participate in class discussions and activities. You may learn as much from one another as from the instructor. If you are confused about some point, chances are that others are also confused and will appreciate that you asked for clarification.

Homework and Labs: Throughout the semester, there will be graded homework and laboratory exercises assigned that support the material covered in the lectures and reading. These assignments may involve calculations, system design, simulation with software, or research. Each assignment carries equal weight towards calculating the final portion of the student's grade representing "homework/labs". Unless otherwise specified, all homework and lab assignments are to be completed on an individual basis. Absolutely no sharing of solutions will be allowed.

Make-up tests (exams and/or quizzes) will be given for authorized university activities only if a student presents suitable documentation (evidence) explaining the absence to the instructor prior to the scheduled exam time. The instructor reserves the right to disapprove any explanations for absences presented without prior notice and not provide the opportunity for a make-up test. Students knowing they will be absent from an announced test because of personal or business reasons are required to inform the instructor before the absence. A make-up test may be given early in some cases.

Tests may include any material covered in lectures, assigned readings, or
exercises even if the material was not covered directly in lecture.

Late Penalties for Work Not Submitted on Time:

Academic Integrity: Student-teacher relationships are built on trust. For example, students must trust that teachers have made responsible decisions about the structure and content of the course, and teachers must trust that work submitted by a student was indeed done by the student. Acts which violate this trust undermine the educational process and are inconsistent with our very reason for being at ETSU.

You are encouraged to discuss the material and issues addressed in the course, including assignments, with members of the class and others. Helping one another find and understand problems in assignments is permitted as long as an honest individual attempt has been made to solve the problem. Everyone, however, must do his/her own work. Completing an assignment "by committee" and submitting it as an individual work is academic misconduct unless the assignment has been clearly designated as a team assignment. Your name on submitted work is an affirmation that the work is yours.

The following is taken from section 5.7 "Academic Misconduct" of the East Tennessee State University Faculty Handbook, June 1, 2001:

"Academic misconduct will be subject to disciplinary action. Any act of dishonesty in academic work constitutes academic misconduct. This includes plagiarism, the changing of falsifying of any academic documents or materials, cheating, and the giving or receiving of unauthorized aid in tests, examinations, or other assigned school work. Penalties for academic misconduct will vary with the seriousness of the offense and may include, but are not limited to: a grade of 'F' on the work in question, a grade of 'F' of the course, reprimand, probation, suspension, and expulsion. For a second academic offense the penalty is permanent expulsion.

"Plagiarism is defined as follows by Black, Henry Campbell, Black's Law Dictionary, West Publishing Company, St. Paul, Minnesota, 1968 (p. 1308): 'The act of appropriating the literary composition of another, or parts or passages of his writings, or the ideas or language of the same, and passing them off as the product of one's own mind.'

"Moreover, 'To be liable for plagiarism it is not necessarily to exactly duplicate another's literary work it being sufficient if unfair use of such work is made by lifting of substantial portion thereof, but even an exact counterpart of another's work does not constitute 'plagiarism' if such counterpart was arrived at independently' (O'Rouke vs. RKO Radio Pictures, D. C., Mass., 44F. Supp. 480, 482, 483)."

Special Accommodations: Students with needs for note taking or test taking accommodations should make arrangements with the instructor during the first week of the term.

Laptop Policy: The use of laptops or PDAs for the purpose of note taking or viewing the on-line course notes is permitted. All other uses are prohibited. Any student found to violate this policy will be asked to discontinue use of the device for the remainder of the class period. A second offense will result in the removal of the student's laptop privileges for the remainder of the semester.

Snow/ice: Classes are seldom canceled; use your better judgment if main roads are snow-covered or icy. Please listen to the radio if there is any doubt about early morning classes being canceled or delayed.

Use of CSCI Laboratories:The CSCI laboratories are to be used only for work pertaining to CSCI courses. You may not work in the Nicks Hall or Gilbreath Hall labs for other freshman and sophomore level computer science classes. Failure to abide by this policy may result in the removal of your lab privileges which likely will result in a failing grade.

Food, drinks, and tobacco products: Food, drinks, and the use of tobacco products of any type are never permitted in any of the labs. In addition, no tobacco products of any type may be used inside the building.

Please make sure to see the syllabus attachment provided by the Office of the Registrar regarding key dates and other information.