Course Syllabus

Course Title:
Computer Organization/Machine Language
Online - Spring 2012

Course Number:
COSC 2425

Section: (All Sections)

Credits: 4.0

Transferable to a four-year college: Yes

Concept book:
Assembly Language for x86 Processors, 6th edition
Author Kip Irvine Copyright 2010
Publisher Prentice Hall.
ISBN 0-13-602212-1

Others: lash drive (USB drive)

Instructor:

James Dang, M.S., M.S., M.B.A., M.Ed.

Office Hours:
Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday:

Office: ESED 2446B

Phone: (817) 515-3633

Email: James.Dang@tccd.edu

Course Web site

http://www.MyItLab.com

Course Recomended Prerequisite: COSC 1436 Programming Fundamentals I

Course Description:
Syntax and semantics of a typical assembly language; macros and macro-processors; design, construction, and execution of assembly language programs; data representation; and addressing techniques.

Course Focus:

The student will:

learn some basic principles of computer architecture, as applied to the Intel Architecture-32 processor family.
learn some basic boolean logic and how it applies to programming and computer hardware.
learn about how IA-32 processors manage memory, using real mode, protected mode, and virtual mode.
learn how high-level language compilers (such as C++) translate statements from their language into assembly language and native machine code.
learn how high-level languages implement arithmetic expressions, loops, and logical structures at the machine level.
learn about data presentation, including signed and unsigned integers, real numbers, and character data.
learn how application programs communicate with computer's operating system via interrupt handlers, system call, and common memory areas.
learn how the operating system loads and executes application programs.

Course Goals:

Course goals are aligned with required Core Curriculum Intellectual Competencies, Perspectives, and Exemplary Educational Objectives as defined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. While this course is not a core course, it complies with all academic core requirements. Specific core requirements are linked to the class schedule.

1. The student will use software development methodology in program problem solving. (CCIP 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6; CCP 7) The student will be able to

a. demonstrate competency in algorithm development;
b. design program logic with pseudocode;
c. write programs at machine level;
d. write programs using object orientated techniques of the nature unstructured .

2. The student will write program code using a target language. (CCIP 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6; CCP 7) The student will be able to

a. review writing programs using knowledge of variable data types and addressing mode;
b. create programs using procedures and control structure concepts;
c. write code involving data transfer instructions and integer arithmetic;
d. create programs involving stack frames and mutimodule programs;
e. write programs using the concept of recursion;
f. demonstrate the basic idea of simple structures and macros.

3. The student will demonstrate the ability to run, test, and debug programs. (CCIP 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6; CCP 7) The student will be able to

a. create programs using problem solving skills to design, code and test programs;
b. compile programs and use test data when running programs;
c. explain debug techniques to use when needed to correct program errors;
d. understand the importance of validating output.

Instructional Methodologies:

ü Classroom lectures, demonstrations, class discussions, handouts, reading assignments, lab assignments, and question-and-answer sessions. Students are advised to visit the course web site regularly. This class is taught with the assumption that you have never used these applications before and are not familiar with the concepts.

Grade Scale:

A	900 points and over
B	800 points - 899 points
C	700 points - 799 points
D	600 points - 699 points
F	0 points - 599 points

Point Allocations:

Activity	Points	Total Points
Home Work	15 @25 points	375 points
Program	4 @100 points	400 points
Midterm Exam	1 @100 points	100 points
Introduction	1 @25 points	25 points
Final Exam	1 @100 points	100 points
Total		1,000 points

Extra Credit:
This course already involves a substantial workload, and it is the instructor's philosophy that students need to focus on the work already assigned rather than taking on additional work.
Students will have the opportunity to earn additional points to be added to their final grade by completing in-class activities.

Class Policies:

Plagiarism:

q Work that is submitted for credit must be the original work of the student. Assignments that are not the original work of the student are considered plagiarized and in violation of the TCC Code of Student Conduct and Academic Responsibility.

q Plagiarism occurs when another person’s work, words, or ideas are represented as one’s own without the use of an TCC-recognized method of citation, such as the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (e.g., the work, words, or ideas are copied from another source, such as an author’s, or another student’s, work without properly acknowledging the actual writer/author).

q Plagiarism also occurs when giving or allowing one’s own work to be copied or otherwise duplicated.