Computer Science 210Computer Organization

Course Introduction

A Definition of Computer Science

Computer Science – the study of algorithms, including their

1. formal and mathematical properties2. hardware realizations3. linguistic realizations4. applications

Gibbs and Tucker, “A Model Curriculum for a Liberal Arts Degree in Computer Science,” Comm. Of the ACM 29, no. 3 (March,1986)

Our Core Requirements

Algorithms

CS210 Computer Organization

(hardware realizations)

CS211Data Structures and

Algorithms(mathematical

properties)

CS312Programming Language

Design(linguistic

realizations)

CS313 Theory of Computation

(formal properties)

Topics for Course

• Internal representation of data and instructions

• Logic gates and computer circuitry• Detailed look at major components• Low level programming of computer – C,

assembly language, and machine language

Why?

• General education as a computer science professional

• Better understanding of high level programming

• More efficient use of a computer• Better understanding of compilers, operating

system issues• May have need to operate at low levels from

time to time