Planning and Quality Assurance Affairs
Form (A)
Course Specifications
General Information
Course name Computer Architecture & Assembly
Course number ITCS2308
Faculty
Department
Course type College Needs
Course level 2
Credit hours (theoretical) 3
Credit hours (practical) 0
Course Prerequisites
Course Objectives
1 - Identify the major component of a PC-based system, describe the steps involving in assembling, linking, and
executing a program
2 - The relationship between hardware and software and how they work together to accomplish a task
3 - Write programs in assembly language to perform given tasks and run them
4 - The characteristics of a computers, and its applications
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Intended Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and Understanding
* a1- Discuss issues about the computer performance
* a2- List the main syntax of assembly language
* a3- Outline fundamentals in computing, including hardware and operating
systems
* a4- Describe functions of the basic building blocks of a computer system
* a5- Discuss how computers execute instructions
* a6- Explain the basic operations of cache and main memory, I/O operations,
bus, interrupt and peripheral devices as well as analyzing the performance of
different designs
Intellectual Skills
* b1- Identify attributes and components
* b2- Discuss how computers execute instructions
* b3- Identify various architectures and explain the design concepts for
analyzing computer systems
* b4- Sequence complete computer instructions
Professional Skills
* c1- Simulate micro instruction executions
* c2- Operate computing equipment efficiently, taking into account its logical
and physical properties
* c3- Write programs using the assembly language
* c4- Use the assembly language to control the different computer units
General Skill
* d1- Work in stressful environment and within constraints
* d2- Communicate effectively
* d3- Manage tasks and resources
Course Contents
1 - Introduction to computer organization, Data representation, bits, bytes, words, double words, binary and
hexadecimal systems, Computer components: memory systems including caches, CPU registers, x86
instruction set and its modes, encoding instructions, differences between x86 processors, computer
arithmetic, processors, controllers, input/ output, buses, DMA, data formats, addressing modes, instruction
sets
2 - Fundamental of Assembly Language, Data movement instruction, arithmetic and logic instructions, program
control instructions, memory addressing modes
3 - Subroutine calls and return mechanism. I/O and interrupts, linking to subprograms Video and Keyboard
Operations: Introduction to Video and Keyboard Processing, Video Systems, Keyboard Operations. Data
Manipulation: Processing String data, Processing Binary Data, Processing ASCII and BCD data
Teaching and Learning Methods
1 - Lectures
2 - Labs
3 - Practical Exercises
Teaching and Learning Methods for the Disabled Students
1 - N/A
Students Assessment
Assessment Method TIME MARKS
Lab and Quizes Week 1-12 15%
First Midterm exam Week No. 7 15%
Second Midterm Exam Week No. 12 20%
Final Exam Week No. 16 50%
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Books and References
Essential books The Art of Assembly, Randall Hyde. 2005. Second Edition
Recommended books IBM PC Assembly Language and Programming. Peter Abel. 2001. Prentice Hall. ISBN:
0-13-030655-X
Knowledge and Skills Matrix
Main Course Contents Study Week Knowledge and Intellectual Skills Professional Skills General Skill
Understanding
Introduction to computer 4 a1, a3-a6 b1, b2, b3 c1, c2 d1, d2
organization, Data
representation, Computer
components, memory
systems including caches,
CPU registers, x86 instruction
set and its modes,
Fundamental of Assembly 6 a2, a6 b2, b4 c1, c3, c4 d1, d2, d3
Language, Data movement
instruction, arithmetic and
logic instructions, program
control instructions, memory
addressing modes
Subroutine calls and return 5 a2,a4 b2,b4 c3,c4 d2,d3
mechanism. I/O and
interrupts, linking to
subprograms Video and
Keyboard
Operations: Introduction to
Video and Keyboard
Processing, Video Systems
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