CS 485 Computer Architecture

This course will present the basic concepts and technologies in computer organization and architecture. For example, logical devices and digital circuits, data representation, register transfer, central processor organization, microprogram control and organization, parallel computing. Although there could be multiple perspectives in studying computer architecture, our focus would be to better understand computer organization in order to design more efficient and reliable application software. The OER (Open Educational Resources) session of this course will have no textbook required (ZTC: Zero Textbook Cost), conduct lectures based on online resources and other open educational resources, and have students involved in active learning including giving presentations and creating and sharing open pedagogical materials, e.g., students need to finish four writing projects in this class (refer to course schedule on page 6) where each project is to write an article about a given topic in computer architecture on Wikipedia. Students writing articles about what they are learning can help them understand the course contents creatively