Syllabus for CSC 345
Principles of Computer Organization
Weekend College
Winter 2006

An introduction to computer organization, processors, instruction sets, and assembly language programming. (Prereq: CSC 210.)

General Information.

I'm often in my office at other times during the day, not just during my regular office hours. You may visit my office (almost) any time I am there. You may also phone or send email at any time.

Textbook.

David A. Patterson and John L. Hennessy. Computer Organization and Design: The Hardware-Software Interface. Third Edition. Morgan-Kaufmann Publishers, Inc. San Francisco, 1998. (ISBN 1-55860-604-1)

This textbook comes with a CDROM. If you buy a used copy of the textbook, make sure you get the CDROM with it. The CDROM contains information you will need for the course.

Software.

Some assignments in this class will use SPIM, a software simulator that runs assembly language programs for MIPS computers. SPIM is already installed on the Macintoshes in Sverdrup 204, but you may wish to install it on your own computer.

SPIM is available on the CDROM that comes with the textbook. SPIM is also available for free from its author, James Larus, at http://www.cs.wisc.edu/~larus/spim.html. The version on Larus's website may be newer than the one on the CDROM.

Assignments.

I'll usually assign homework at the end of every class. It will be due at the beginning of the following class. I hand out answers to homework after it's turned in, so I can't accept late assignments. Sorry.

Homework may involve written exercises and assembly language programming projects. If an assignment involves writing a program, you must turn in a listing of your program, and a copy of the actual output produced by your program. Your programs will be graded both on correctness (are they free of errors?) and on style (are they easy to understand?).

If you turn in homework by email, you must attach it as a plain ASCII text file. Please don't use proprietary file formats (like Microsoft Word). My computer can't read them.

Honesty.

Students are expected to be familiar with Augsburg College's policies on academic honesty. You will be required to sign a statement indicating that you understand these policies. Although you may exchange ideas with other students, everything you turn in must be your own work. Copying assignments, or parts of assignments, is not permitted!

Examinations.

There will be two examinations in this course: a one-hour midterm and a two-hour final. Examinations will be ``open book,'' so you will be able to use your textbook and your class notes to help you answer questions. See the schedule for (approximate) dates.

Grading.

I'll assign points for each homework assignment and examination. Your final grade will be based on the number of points you get during the term. About 60% of your grade will be determined by homework, and about 40% will be determined by examinations.

Schedule.

This schedule is approximate. I might change it slightly during the term. I will refer to Appendix A (Assemblers, Linkers, and the SPIM Simulator) and Appendix B (The Basics of Logic Design) throughout the course. These appendices are on the CDROM that comes with the Patterson and Hennessy textbook.