Course co-ordinator(s): Dr Idris Skloul Ibrahim (Edinburgh), Dr Mohamed Abdelshafy (Dubai).
Aims:
- To introduce students to modern computer systems architecture
- To give students an appreciation of logical design and data representation
Detailed Information
Pre-requisites: none.
Location: ALP, Dubai, Edinburgh.
Semester: 2.
Syllabus:
- Hardware components - peripherals, memory & CPU.
- Boolean algebra.
- Low-level information representation.
- CPU organisation.
- Introductory assembly language programming.
- Operating system: I/O; interrupts; scheduler; virtual memory; file system.
- Concurrency: processes; threads; synchronisation; shared & distributed memory; distributed & parallel architectures.
- Language processors: compiler; interpreter; assembler; loader.
- Linux shell scripting
Learning Outcomes: Subject Mastery
Understanding, Knowledge and Cognitive Skills Scholarship, Enquiry and Research (Research-Informed Learning)
- Overview of hardware/software hierarchy in contemporary computer systems;
- Understanding of purpose and function of major system hardware and software components;
- Understanding of information representation in computer systems;
- Ability to write Linux shell scripting
Learning Outcomes: Personal Abilities
Industrial, Commercial & Professional Practice Autonomy, Accountability & Working with Others Communication, Numeracy & ICT
- To be able to express arguments/problems in propositional and predicate calculus.
- To be able to communicate in using formal notations
Assessment Methods:
Assessment: Examination: (weighting – 70%) Coursework (weighting – 30%)
Re-assessment: Examination: (weighting – 100%)
SCQF Level: 7.
Credits: 15.