Stellenbosch University Faculty of Engineering
Module Framework
© Copyright reserved: Stellenbosch University
This document should be read with the following documents:
Ø Stellenbosch University Calendar Parts 1 and 11.
Ø Faculty of Engineering Assessment Rules1
Ø Faculty of Engineering General Stipulations for Undergraduate Modules1
Lecturer(s): Approved by Programme
Module: 36153-214
Prof RP Theart, rptheart@[Link] Coordinator:
Computer Systems
214 Internal moderator: Dr T Ebrahim, taskeen@[Link]
2026 Date:6/2/2026
1 Assessment Details
Ø Major assessment dates and venues are provided at [Link] and [Link]
Ø Method of assessment as indicated in the Calendar Part 11
Ø Note that awarding a pass mark is subject to meeting each ECSA Graduate Attribute assessed in this module, as stated in
Faculty of Engineering’s Assessment Rules
Calculation of final marks (according to formulas in the Faculty of Engineering’s Assessment Rules):
wAF = 15%; wA1 =35%; w A2=50%
AF=average(Tutorials/Practicals)
Assessment format:
Ø Major assessments (A1, A2 and A3) will be invigilated sit-down examinations
2 Notional Hours
Ø You should spend 10 notional hours per credit on this module over the course of the semester.
Ø It is envisaged that these hours will be allocated as follows:
Activity Contact Hours Self-study Hours
Lectures 36 x 0.83h (50 minutes each) = 30 30
Tutorials/Practicals 10 x 3h = 30 25
Main assessments 5 30
Total (for this 15-credit module) 150
3 Language of Tuition
Ø The language of tuition in this module is according to the Faculty's approved Language Implementation Plan. Please refer
to the website of the Engineering Faculty for the particulars.
Ø The module is presented according to the format 7.1.4, as described in the Appendix of the Faculty's Language
Implementation Plan.
1
Available on SUNLearn for modules offered by Faculty of Engineering, in the block titled "General Programme
Information" on the side of the screen
2
See point 3.1.4 the Faculty of Engineering Assessment Rules about access to assessment opportunities.
4 Module Objectives
Aim: Mastering the basic aspects of the analysis and design of digital circuits.
A student who has successfully completed this module can:
Ø Use Boolean algebra to perform Boolean operations
Ø Understand and apply the underlying principles of number systems
Ø Understand and design combinational and sequential digital circuits on a gate and register level
Ø Analyse and design finite state machines
Ø Design a basic microprocessor and evaluate the pros and cons of different microarchitectures.
Ø Write basic assembly language programs by using the ARM instruction set.
Prior knowledge required:
Ø This module is part of the Computer Systems module chain. It relies on knowledge obtained in Computer Programming
143.
Proceeding application:
Ø The knowledge developed in this module is applied further in Computer Systems 245, Design (E) 314, and Computer
Systems 414.
2
5 Module Content and Schedule
Prescribed textbook(s): Harris S, Harris D. Digital design and computer architecture: ARM edition. Morgan Kaufmann; 2015.
Week Topic F2F Contact Session/Assignments
1 Digital logic, number systems and binary arithmetic Tutorial/Practical 1
2 Floating point numbers, Logic gates, CMOS Tutorial/Practical 2
3 Combination logic, Boolean equations, logic synthesis Tutorial/Practical 3
4 Logic circuit optimization with Karnaugh Maps, combinational building blocks (Multiplexers, decoders, etc.) Tutorial/Practical 4
5 Latches and flip-flops, Tutorial/Practical 5
6 Finite state machines; Timing of sequential logic None
Test Week & Break
7 Arithmetic circuits (adders, subtractors, comparators, ALU, etc.), Programmable logic, FPGAs, VHDL Tutorial/Practical 6
8 Introduction to ARM and assembly language programming Tutorial/Practical 7
9 Continue with ARM assembly language. Machine instructions. Tutorial/Practical 8
10 Machine instructions None (due to Workers’ Day)
11 Compiling, assembling and loading; Microarchitectures; Single cycle processor Tutorial/Practical 9
12 Multicycle and pipeline processors Tutorial/Practical 10
3
6 ECSA Knowledge Area Credits
Mathematical Natural Sciences Engineering Design and Complementary
Sciences Sciences Synthesis Studies
0 0 10 5 0
Engineering Sciences:
Content: Boolean algebra; combinational and sequential circuit analysis and design; state machines; central processing
unit; assembler language programming.
Assessment: Assessed in tests
Design and Synthesis:
Content: Design and implementation of digital circuits and assembler language programming
Assessment: Assessed in tests and practicals
7 ECSA Graduate Attributes
This module is not used to assess any ECSA Graduate Attributes.
4
8 Other Module Specific Information
8.1 General
All announcements regarding the module will be made via STEMLearn. This will be the definitive
source of information.
8.2 Lectures
Lectures will be conducted in person in the allocated lecture halls. Due to limited venue capacity
there will be an overflow venue where the lecture will be streamed.
8.3 Practicals
Note: For the purposes of this module framework, the terms practical and tutorial are used
interchangeably.
• Practical sessions are scheduled on Fridays from 14:00 to 17:00 in the Department of
Electrical & Electronic Engineering laboratories.
• Participation in and completion of practicals are compulsory, except where official leave has
been granted in accordance with Stellenbosch University regulations.
• Unless explicitly stated otherwise, all practical assignments must be completed individually.
• Practical assessments will be conducted electronically and/or by means of a written report
and/or a practical demonstration of circuits, as specified for each assignment.
• A total of ten (10) practical assignments will be prescribed during the semester. For the
purposes of calculating the practical component of the class mark, the single lowest practical
mark will be excluded.
• Non-submission of a practical assignment, irrespective of the reason, will result in a mark of
zero (0) for that assignment.
• Students who are unable to attend or complete a practical due to illness or other valid
circumstances must apply for official leave by submitting a doctor’s certificate or other
formally accepted supporting documentation, in accordance with University procedures.
o Practicals for which official leave is granted will be excluded from both the calculation
of the practical average and the determination of practical completion.
• Eligibility for a final module mark requires that a student:
o Achieves a minimum average of 25% across all counted practical assessments; and
o Completes at least 50% of the prescribed practical assignments, excluding those for
which official leave has been granted.
o Failure to meet either of these requirements will result in an Incomplete outcome.
• All practical submissions are subject to plagiarism detection and academic integrity checks.
Any breach of academic integrity will be dealt with in accordance with Stellenbosch University
disciplinary regulations.
8.4 A1, A2 and A3 Tests
• Study material for A1, A2 and A3 tests are contained in the prescribed textbook and study
and other reference material provided on STEMLearn.
• The A1, A2 and A3 tests will be in-person invigilated.
◦ All assessments will be fully handwritten. No calculators allowed!