This course examines how a computer operates at the machine level. Students will develop an understanding of the hardware/ software interface by studying the design and operation of computing system components. In addition, students will program at the assembly language level to understand internal system functionality. Finally, students will become familiar with the machine representations of programs and data, as well as the influence of the underlying hardware system on the design of systems software such as operating systems, compilers, assemblers, and linkers and loaders. Prerequisite(s): EN.605.202 - Data Structures is recommended. Course Note(s): Not for graduate credit. A course in computer organization is needed for admission to the Computer Science or Cybersecurity program. Students who lack this prerequisite can fulfill admission requirements by completing this course with a grade of B– or better.
The course materials are divided into modules which can be accessed by clicking Modules on the course menu. A module will have several sections including the overview, content, readings, discussions, and assignments. You are encouraged to preview all sections of the module before starting. Most modules run for a period of seven (7) days. You should regularly check the Calendar and Announcements for assignment due dates. To reduce the possibility of dates not properly propagating to all possible places, due dates will be found in the Calendar. Any other due date should not be considered.
All Modules will start on the Tuesday of each week and run until Midnight the following week. There will be 14 Modules. For the spring and fall semesters, one module will be due for each of the 14 weeks of the semester. If this is a summer session, there are 11 or 12 weeks, and modules 3&4, 6&7 and 9&10 will be run concurrently on the same week. All material (except discussions) is available at the start of the semester so students can work ahead to plan their own time.
At the end of this semester you should be able to:
All textbooks for this class are online and free to download.
Class textbook: Kann, Charles W., "Introduction to Assembly Language Programming: From Soup to Nuts: ARM Edition" (2021). Open Textbooks. 8.
https://cupola.gettysburg.edu/oer/8
Extra material: Kann, Charles W., "Digital Circuit Projects: An Overview of Digital Circuits Through Implementing Integrated Circuits - Second Edition" (2014). Open Textbooks. 1.
https://cupola.gettysburg.edu/oer/1
Logisim: http://www.cburch.com/logisim/
You will be given an account on a Raspberry Pi server.
Quizzes - 25%
Programming assignments - 40%
P uses a +/- grading system (see “Grading System”, Graduate Programs catalog, p. 10).
Score Range | Letter Grade |
---|---|
100-97 | = A+ |
96-93 | = A |
92-90 | = A− |
89-87 | = B+ |
86-83 | = B |
82-80 | = B− |
79-77 | = C+ |
76-73 | = C |
72-70 | = C− |
69-67 | = D+ |
66-63 | = D |
<63 | = F |
1 - All homework is due on the date in the syllabus. Late homework will have a fine of 10% of the total assignment grade for each day it is late, up to 30% off it is turned in by Friday midnight. So if you get a 70% on the homework, and it is two days late, you will get a 50%, which is a 20% penalty. Solution will be posted at midnight no Friday, so any assignment turned in after that point will be have a 50% penalty, calculated as shown previously.
2 - If a student has fallen more than 2 weeks behind, the student will likely not complete the class successfully. Therefore the student should contact their advisor and consider a withdraw from the class. Note that the school considers medical issues and other issues in giving a refund for the class which can be applied for.
3 - To be eligible for an incomplete for this class the student must have completed at least 80% of the classwork (other than the final), and must set up a schedule to complete the class which is at the discretion of the professor. The schedule will be less than 5 weeks, and except for unusual circumstances will be 2 weeks or less. If the student has not completed the course work by the end of the incomplete extension for the class, a grade will be given based on the work completed.
Deadlines for Adding, Dropping and Withdrawing from Courses
Students may add a course up to one week after the start of the term for that particular course. Students may drop courses according to the drop deadlines outlined in the EP academic calendar (https://ep.jhu.edu/student-services/academic-calendar/). Between the 6th week of the class and prior to the final withdrawal deadline, a student may withdraw from a course with a W on their academic record. A record of the course will remain on the academic record with a W appearing in the grade column to indicate that the student registered and withdrew from the course.
Academic Misconduct Policy
All students are required to read, know, and comply with the Johns Hopkins University Krieger School of Arts and Sciences (KSAS) / Whiting School of Engineering (WSE) Procedures for Handling Allegations of Misconduct by Full-Time and Part-Time Graduate Students.
This policy prohibits academic misconduct, including but not limited to the following: cheating or facilitating cheating; plagiarism; reuse of assignments; unauthorized collaboration; alteration of graded assignments; and unfair competition. Course materials (old assignments, texts, or examinations, etc.) should not be shared unless authorized by the course instructor. Any questions related to this policy should be directed to EP’s academic integrity officer at ep-academic-integrity@jhu.edu.
Students with Disabilities - Accommodations and Accessibility
Johns Hopkins University values diversity and inclusion. We are committed to providing welcoming, equitable, and accessible educational experiences for all students. Students with disabilities (including those with psychological conditions, medical conditions and temporary disabilities) can request accommodations for this course by providing an Accommodation Letter issued by Student Disability Services (SDS). Please request accommodations for this course as early as possible to provide time for effective communication and arrangements.
For further information or to start the process of requesting accommodations, please contact Student Disability Services at Engineering for Professionals, ep-disability-svcs@jhu.edu.
Student Conduct Code
The fundamental purpose of the JHU regulation of student conduct is to promote and to protect the health, safety, welfare, property, and rights of all members of the University community as well as to promote the orderly operation of the University and to safeguard its property and facilities. As members of the University community, students accept certain responsibilities which support the educational mission and create an environment in which all students are afforded the same opportunity to succeed academically.
For a full description of the code please visit the following website: https://studentaffairs.jhu.edu/policies-guidelines/student-code/
Classroom Climate
JHU is committed to creating a classroom environment that values the diversity of experiences and perspectives that all students bring. Everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and respect. Fostering an inclusive climate is important. Research and experience show that students who interact with peers who are different from themselves learn new things and experience tangible educational outcomes. At no time in this learning process should someone be singled out or treated unequally on the basis of any seen or unseen part of their identity.
If you have concerns in this course about harassment, discrimination, or any unequal treatment, or if you seek accommodations or resources, please reach out to the course instructor directly. Reporting will never impact your course grade. You may also share concerns with your program chair, the Assistant Dean for Diversity and Inclusion, or the Office of Institutional Equity. In handling reports, people will protect your privacy as much as possible, but faculty and staff are required to officially report information for some cases (e.g. sexual harassment).
Course Auditing
When a student enrolls in an EP course with “audit” status, the student must reach an understanding with the instructor as to what is required to earn the “audit.” If the student does not meet those expectations, the instructor must notify the EP Registration Team [EP-Registration@exchange.johnshopkins.edu] in order for the student to be retroactively dropped or withdrawn from the course (depending on when the "audit" was requested and in accordance with EP registration deadlines). All lecture content will remain accessible to auditing students, but access to all other course material is left to the discretion of the instructor.