CSC 374 Computer Systems II
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Summary
This course covers the general principles and the fundamental concepts behind computer systems. The focus is on operating system components and their relevance for application programming, such as: caching, memory hierarchy, performance optimization, linking, processes, virtual memory, dynamic memory allocation, system level I/O, networking and network programming, concurrent servers and web services. The course will be mostly devoted to basic concepts and techniques but will also include assorted topics in advanced computer systems design and programming. CSC 374 is a good foundational course for many other courses, such as: CSC 308 Frameworks for Web Application Development, CSC 343 Introduction to Operating Systems, CSC 371 Mobile Application Development for IOS and CSC 376 Distributed Systems.
Texts
Randal E. Bryant and David R. O'Hallaron, "Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective" 3rd Edition. (REQUIRED)
The book has a companion website that offers extra materials and practical exercises: https://csapp.cs.cmu.edu/
As this course relies on C programming, the following optional resources is recommended in case you need a refresher: https://www.cprogramming.com/
Grading
- Programming Assignments (5) 50%
- Quizzes (10) 20%
- Midterm Exam (1) 10%
- Final Exam (1) 20%
Prerequisites
CSC 373 Computer Systems I.
Programming Assignments
There will be 5 programming assignments, each worth 10\% of the total grade and each taking between 1 or 1.5 weeks to complete. They will require knowledge of the C programming language, and it is expected that the students already know the basics of these languages. Each assignment will have extra tasks that if you complete can give you bonus points. The solutions to the programming assignments must run on a Linux environment, on which they will also be graded.
Exams and Quizzes
There will be 10 short quizzes, one for each week, and they are to be taken after watching the video lectures. Each quiz is worth 2\% of the total grade. The quizzes must be completed individually. The quizzes are open notes, open book and open Internet.
There will be 1 midterm exam and 1 final exam. The midterm exam will cover materials from the first hald of the quarter, while the final exam will cover all materials from the entire quarter. The exams are closed book exams and must be completed individually. No books, notes, electronic phones, eReaders, tablets or laptops are allowed during the final exam. The midterm exam will be worth 10\% of the total grade and the final exam will be worth 20% of the total grade. In-class students must take the exams in class. Online Flex and Async students must register for a proctored exam and can take the exams at an official testing center, or in-class if there are enough seats available.
There will be no makeup exams or quizzes!
This syllabus is subject to change as necessary during the quarter. If a change occurs, it will be thoroughly addressed during class, posted under Announcements in D2L and sent via email.
Evaluations are a way for students to provide valuable feedback regarding their instructor and the course. Detailed feedback will enable the instructor to continuously tailor teaching methods and course
content to meet the learning goals of the course and the academic needs of the students. They are a requirement of the course and are key to continue to provide you with the highest quality of teaching. The
evaluations are anonymous; the instructor and administration do not track who entered what responses. A program is used to check if the student completed the evaluations, but the evaluation is completely
separate from the student’s identity. Since 100% participation is our goal, students are sent periodic reminders over three weeks. Students do not receive reminders once they complete the evaluation.
Students complete the evaluation online in CampusConnect.
This course will be subject to the university's academic integrity policy. More information can be found at http://academicintegrity.depaul.edu/ If you
have any questions be sure to consult with your professor.
All students are expected to abide by the University's Academic Integrity Policy which prohibits cheating and other misconduct in student coursework. Publicly sharing or posting online any prior or current materials from this course (including exam questions or answers), is considered to be providing unauthorized assistance prohibited by the policy. Both students who share/post and students who access or use such materials are considered to be cheating under the Policy and will be subject to sanctions for violations of Academic Integrity.
All students are required to manage their class schedules each term in accordance with the deadlines for enrolling and withdrawing as indicated in the University Academic Calendar. Information on enrollment, withdrawal, grading and incompletes can be found at http://www.cdm.depaul.edu/Current%20Students/Pages/PoliciesandProcedures.aspx.
Students who feel they may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact the instructor privately to discuss their specific needs. All discussions will remain confidential.
To ensure that you receive the most appropriate accommodation based on your needs, contact the instructor as early as possible in the quarter (preferably within the first week of class), and make sure that
you have contacted the Center for Students with Disabilities (CSD) at:
Lewis Center 1420, 25 East Jackson Blvd.
Phone number: (312)362-8002
Fax: (312)362-6544
TTY: (773)325.7296