CSC 242 Digital Logic, Computer Organization, & Assembly
Fall 2008

Section 01 - M 9 - 10:40 am & WF 10 – 10:50 am
CIS Room 2006
[Instructor Home] [Syllabus] [Course Calendar] [Resources]
 


Instructor

Dr. Karl Ricanek, Jr.

This instructor is available by email at ricanekk@uncw.edu, by telephone (962-4261), and during office hours (CI 2042).   Office hours are posted on the instructor’s home page and located on the door to his office.  In addition, students can arrange to meet with the professor outside of normal office hours by contacting him via email or phone or schedule using Outlook. 


Learning Strategies

You are expected to take an active role in your learning in this course. This includes regular attendance, paying attention in class, reading the textbook, and completing all course requirements. You are encouraged to study with your classmates outside of class. Project assignments usually require a lot more time than expected, so start early and work some every day.
 

Student Resources

Course

Prerequisites: CSC 121 (Introduction to Computer Science) and CSC 133 (Discrete Structures).

 

Textbook The Elements of Computing Systems: Building a Modern Computer from First Principles.
ISBN: 0-262-14087-X. Textbook Resources - may download here.

 

Course Description: Fixed-precision binary numbers, binary representation of integers and real numbers, combinational and sequential logic circuits, memory and logic devices, instruction set architecture, CPU design, I/O and communication, cache memory, introduction to a modern instruction set, machine, assembly and mix language programming, procedure call and return, parameter passing, interrupt handling.

Exit Goals: The student will construct a virtual computer complete with hardware/middleware, and framework for high level programming languages. The student will know how to construct flip-flops, registers, multiplexers, encoders, decoders, sequencers, memory, microprocessor, and peripherals form primitive digital gates:  NAND, AND, OR, and NOT.  The student will know how to use digital components to build an ALU, memory, and finally the processor.  The student know how to create and use processor specific assembly language, construct an assembler and a stack based virtual machine.

 

Participation: Regular class attendance is required. Completion of assignments will entail time spent at a personal computer during class hours and outside of class (see ITSD Student Lab Schedule).

 

Grading:                      Class Attendance:        10%

                                    Assignments:               10%

                                    Projects (~7):              20%

                                    Two exams (20% per) 40%

                                    Final Exam                  20%

 

                        All late assignments will receive a 10% per day deduction from the maximum score.

           

            Note: All exams are closed notes and book.  The date of the exams will be announced in class and recorded on the web calendar for the course.

1.     Make-up exams only with written excuse from a medical doctor and student must contact instructor before the day of the exam.  (This will be strictly enforced.)

2.     Any student who will be absent for more than five times will be encouraged to drop this course.

 

Numeric Score     Letter Grade     Quality Points 
   ====================================================               
      90.0 - 100           A                4.00 
      80.0 - 89.5          B                3.00
      70.0 - 79.5          C                2.00
      60.0 - 69.5          D                1.00
      00.0 - 59.5          F                0.00
 

Study Guide: The first 8 chapters of the text will be covered as follows:

1.     Boolean Logic

2.     Boolean Arithmetic

3.     Sequential Logic

4.     Machine Language

5.     Computer Architecture

6.     Assembler

7.     Virtual Machine I: Stack Arithmetic

8.     Virtual Machine II. Program Control

 

Special Needs

If you have a disability and need reasonable accommodation in this course, you should inform the instructor of this fact in writing within the first week of class or as soon as possible. If you have not already done so, you must register with the Office of Disability Services in Westside Hall (extension 3746) and obtain a copy of your Accommodation Letter. You should then meet with your instructor to make mutually agreeable arrangements based on the recommendations of the Accommodation Letter.

 

Code of Academic Responsibility and Conduct

Students are responsible for submitting their own work. Students who cooperate on oral or written examinations or work without authorization share the responsibility for violation of academic principles, and the students are subject to disciplinary action even when one of the students is not enrolled in the course where the violation occurred.