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Course & Unit Catalogues


CM12002: Computer systems architectures

[Page last updated: 23 October 2023]

Academic Year: 2023/24
Owning Department/School: Department of Computer Science
Credits: 10 [equivalent to 20 CATS credits]
Notional Study Hours: 200
Level: Certificate (FHEQ level 4)
Period:
Academic Year
Assessment Summary: CWPG 20%, EXCB 80%
Assessment Detail:
  • Physical Computing (CWPG 20%)
  • Closed-book written examination (EXCB 80%)
Supplementary Assessment:
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Requisites:
Learning Outcomes: After successfully completing this unit, students will be able to:
  • Write programs in a low-level language such as C.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of computer architectures and their abstractions, from hardware to the interface with operating systems.
  • Identify the machine representation of key data forms and describe their machine level processing.
  • Describe the basic building blocks of a computer: arithmetic-logic unit, registers, central processing unit, memory.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of operating systems architectures and their abstractions.
  • Describe concepts and mechanisms for the management, ownership and protection of computer resources.
  • Use of IT (T/F, A), Application of Number (T/F, A).



Synopsis: You will examine the architecture of modern computer systems and operating systems. Progressing through various hardware layers, you will see the roles of each layer in the representation, storage, and transmission of data and the management of resources.

Content: Examples of topics include:
history of computing

architectures - von Neumann, non-von Neumann, SIMD to MIMD

principles of digital computer operation

integer numbers: representations

floating point numbers: representations, precision and accuracy

introduction to digital logic, simplification of Boolean logic

input and output: memory maps, polling, interrupts; buses, devices and device addresses

aspects of physical computing (e.g. Arduino).

basic assembler concepts: machine codes, instruction execution, addressing modes, CISC v RISC, register use, subroutine calls and the stack

low-level programming (e.g. C)

introduction to operating systems: what they are and what they do, history, ownership and protection of resources

processes: scheduling, deadlock, and inter-process communication (IPC)

memory: virtual memory and memory management

files and file systems.

Course availability:

CM12002 is Compulsory on the following courses:

Department of Computer Science
  • USCM-AFB30 : BSc(Hons) Computer Science (Year 1)
  • USCM-AFB31 : BSc(Hons) Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence (Year 1)
  • USCM-AKB31 : BSc(Hons) Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence with professional placement (Year 1)
  • USCM-AKB31 : BSc(Hons) Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence with study abroad (Year 1)
  • USCM-AKB30 : BSc(Hons) Computer Science with professional placement (Year 1)
  • USCM-AKB30 : BSc(Hons) Computer Science with study abroad (Year 1)
  • USCM-AFM30 : MComp(Hons) Computer Science (Year 1)
  • USCM-AFM31 : MComp(Hons) Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence (Year 1)
  • USCM-AKM31 : MComp(Hons) Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence with professional placement (Year 1)
  • USCM-AKM31 : MComp(Hons) Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence with study abroad (Year 1)
  • USCM-AKM30 : MComp(Hons) Computer Science with professional placement (Year 1)
  • USCM-AKM30 : MComp(Hons) Computer Science with study abroad (Year 1)

Notes:

  • This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2023/24 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2024/25 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2023/24.
  • Courses and units are subject to change in accordance with normal University procedures.
  • Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.
  • Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.