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Course Syllabus

CS 2810 Computer Organization & Architecture

  • Division: Natural Science and Math
  • Department: Computer Science & Engineering
  • Credit/Time Requirement: Credit: 3; Lecture: 3; Lab: 0
  • Prerequisites: CS 2420 (may be taken concurrently)
  • Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring
  • Semester Approved: Spring 2025
  • Five-Year Review Semester: Fall 2029
  • End Semester: Fall 2030
  • Optimum Class Size: 20
  • Maximum Class Size: 30

Course Description

This course examines the organization and architecture of computer systems. Topics include an instruction set architecture, assembly language programming, basics of logic design, pipelining, and memory hierarchy.

Justification

This is a course in computer systems. It is part of the recommended curriculum for computer science majors at Snow College. This course is similar to CS 2810 at other USHE institutions.

Student Learning Outcomes

  1. Students will understand the basic characteristics of an instruction set architecture and associated performance and compilation issues.
  2. Students will be able to implement algorithms in assembly/machine language.
  3. Students will have a basic understanding of digital logic.
  4. Students will be able to organize an implementation of an instruction set at the block level and analyze its performance capabilities.

Course Content

The following topics will be covered in this course: Performance; An instruction set architecture; Instruction formats; Assembly/machine language; Arithmetic implementation in hardware and associated concerns; Basic logic design; Datapath and control; Pipelining; Memory hierarchy.