CS301: COMPUTER ARCHITECTURE
Online Free Online Course by
Saylor Academy
Online
/ Free Online Course
Details
Modern computer technology requires an understanding of both hardware and software, as the interaction between the two offers a framework for mastering the fundamentals of computing. The purpose of this course is to cultivate an understanding
of modern computing technology through an in-depth study of the interface between hardware and software. In this course, you will study the history of modern computing technology before learning about modern computer architecture and a number of its important
features, including instruction sets, processor arithmetic and control, the Von Neumann architecture, pipelining, memory management, storage, and other input/output topics. The course will conclude with a look at the recent switch from sequential processing
to parallel processing by looking at the parallel computing models and their programming implications.
Learning Outcomes
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:
Course Requirements
- identify important advances that have taken place in the history of modern computing, and discuss some of the latest trends in computing industry;
- explain how programs written in high-level programming language, such as C or Java, can be translated into the language of the hardware;
- describe the interface between hardware and software, and explain how software instructs hardware to accomplish desired functions;
- explain the process of carrying out sequential logic design;
- explain computer arithmetic hardware blocks and floating point representation;
- explain how a hardware programming language is executed on hardware and how hardware and software design affect performance;
- explain the factors that determine the performance of a program;
- explain the techniques that designers use to improve the performance of programs running on hardware;
- explain the importance of memory hierarchy in computer design, and explain how memory design impacts overall hardware performance;
- describe storage and I/O devices, their performance measurement, and redundant array of inexpensive disks (more commonly referred to by the acronym RAID) technology; and
- identify the reasons for and the consequences of the recent switch from sequential processing to parallel processing in hardware manufacture, and explain the basics of parallel programming.
In order to take this course, you must:
√ have access to a computer;
√ have continuous broadband Internet access;
√ have the ability/permission to install plug-ins or software (e.g., Adobe Reader or Flash);
√ have the ability to download and save files and documents to a computer;
√ have the ability to open Microsoft files and documents (.doc, .ppt, .xls, etc.);
√ be competent in the English language;
√ be knowledgeable about basics of computer programming using a high-level language such as C/C++ and/or have completed both CS101: Introduction to Computer Science I and CS102: Introduction to Computer Science II;
√ be comfortable in writing, compiling, and executing your own programs;
√ be knowledgeable about the basics of digital logic and Boolean algebra; and
√ have read the Saylor Student Handbook.
√ have access to a computer;
√ have continuous broadband Internet access;
√ have the ability/permission to install plug-ins or software (e.g., Adobe Reader or Flash);
√ have the ability to download and save files and documents to a computer;
√ have the ability to open Microsoft files and documents (.doc, .ppt, .xls, etc.);
√ be competent in the English language;
√ be knowledgeable about basics of computer programming using a high-level language such as C/C++ and/or have completed both CS101: Introduction to Computer Science I and CS102: Introduction to Computer Science II;
√ be comfortable in writing, compiling, and executing your own programs;
√ be knowledgeable about the basics of digital logic and Boolean algebra; and
√ have read the Saylor Student Handbook.
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Saylor Academy’s mission is to open education to all.
Saylor Academy’s mission is sustained by the continued evolution of an open educational ecosystem, and we are dedicated partners in this movement. Saylor’s commitment to the open education ecosystem is founded not just on open educational resources and open source learning technologies, but also on open access to credentials, and ongoing open learning opportunities.
Guided by these beliefs, Saylor Academy is currently focused on the following projects:
Open Courses: Maintenance and Learner-Centered Improvements
- A commitment to the OER community means that we’ll continue to replace open access materials with openly licensed ones in an effort to make Saylor courseware as reusable and remixable as possible.
- Open courses require more instructional supports for learners, so our current improvements focus on ensuring better and more frequent opportunities for Saylor students to practice what they’re learning.
Open Credentials: Adding New Opportunities and Bolstering Existing Ones
- We’re working on expanding our suite of Saylor Direct credit recommended exams, and we’re also keen on working with university partners to develop innovative and flexible partner degree launching and completion programs. ...
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