INSS 510

Computer Concepts

Wiesbaden Center, Term IV 01/02

Course Description:: (3 semester hours) Prerequisites: All undergraduate prerequisites or permission of instructor. Programming skills are required. The course will provide an overview of computer concepts as they apply to MIS professionals. Emphasis will be placed on basic machine architecture including data representation and manipulation; principles of operating systems; software algorithms and programming languages. In addition, basic concepts of data organization, file structures, and principles of networking will be examined. Emerging trends in computer technology and their impact on organizational information systems will also be discussed. Students will be required to complete a programming project and a review essay.

Course Objectives: Upon completion of the course, participants should understand:

            1. Basic principles of computer architecture

            2. Major operating system concepts

            3. The interrelationships between operating systems and computer hardware

            4. Concepts of programming languages, including machine, assembly and high                level languages

Course Requirements: Midterm Examination 100 pts (40%)

                                       Final Examination                   100 pts (40 %)

                                       Assignments                         50 pts (20 %)

_{(Exams will be in-class.   Assignments are due on the date given in the syllabus;  late programs and papers will be penalized 25%)}

_{Grading Scale:                      90% or above         -- A}

                                               _{80-89%    -- B}

                                               _{70-79%                    -- C}

                                               _{Below 70%              -- F}

 

Text: Stephen D. Burd, Systems Architecture (3rd Ed).

Instructor.   James B. Briscoe.  ( jbriscoe@ed.umuc.edu ).

Phone  (DSN) 370-6762.  (Civ)  06221 378364

Office Hrs.  In UMUC Hq. Heidelberg (behind Campbell):  M-F 9-6.

The instructor, James Briscoe, received a B S in mathematics from Stanford University, the MA and PhD (History) from Columbia University, and an MBA (emphasis in MIS) from the University of Oklahoma. He has taught computer science and MIS courses at the University of Oklahoma and the University of Maryland, European Division, and has worked as a programmer, systems analyst, and consultant for a number of businesses and organizations. He wrote his first computer program on an IBM 650 computer in the summer of 1961. It eventually ran. Office Hrs.  Sat-Sun 12 - 1 or by appointment

Tentative Course Outline:

(All readings from the text; supplemental readings TBA: assignments should be completed prior to class)

23-24 March: Introduction; Overview of computer hardware and software,                                 Data Representation;  CPU Architecture.

READ chs 1,2,3,4.

13-14 April: Computer system architecture, including principles of central processors, memory and cache design, mass storage and I/O systems.

            READ chs 5,6,7.

First Programming Assignment Due Sun, 14 April.

MIDTERM EXAM: 1000 -1200 28 April.  References: Chs 1-7.

27-28 April: Principles of programming languages, machine, assembly and high level; principles of operating system design, file systems.

            READ chs 10, 11, 12.

11-12 May: Principles of data communications and networking,  the Internet; distributed architectures; evaluation and acquisition of computer systems; System Administration.

            READ chs 8, 9, 13, 14.

Research Paper Due Sun, 12 May.

FINAL EXAM: 1300-1600 Sunday, 12 May. References: all since midterm.