CPSC 207 System Software and Architecture for End Users
Fall 2003
Instructor: Dr. Whitfield Voice Mail/ Phone: (724) 738-2935
Office Hours: MWF 12:00 – 12:50, R 10:00 – 12:30 E-Mail: deborah.whitfield@sru.edu
Office: Maltby 106A http://granite.sru.edu/~whit

Required Text: A Practical Guide to the UNIX System by Mark G. Sobell

Course Objectives: This course introduces the student to prevalent operating systems and the hardware and networking of those systems. User level commands in the current PC operating system and the Unix operating system for managing files, system utilities, and task management are introduced. The architecture of the PC and how it relates to the OS is discussed conceptually and physically examined. The hardware and software required for inter-connecting systems are discussed.

The departmental learning outcomes that a student will acquire from this course are Problem Solving, Critical Thinking, and Information Management

    By the end of the semester, the student will be able to:
  1. manage files, use system utilities and tools, and manage tasks on two computing platforms
  2. define and identify terms related to computer systems, telecommunications, and networking.
  3. manipulate and configure system resources

Course Grade
The course grade will be based upon the grades from 3 exams (the final exam is scheduled for Monday Dec 8th at 11 am), several quizzes, numerous assignments, class participation and attendance. The following is a tentative point assignment for the course:
Exam 1: 100
Exam 2: 100
Exam 3: 100
Assignments: 200
Quizzes: 50
Other: 20

The final grade is calculated by adding the number of points that the student earned divided by the total number of possible points. The final grade will be based on the scale:
100 to 90% -- A
89 to 80% -- B
79 to 70% -- C
69 to 60% -- D
59% and below – F
The instructor may change this scale to benefit the students.

Late Work: Assignments are due at the BEGINNING of class on the due day.

Academic Integrity: All work in this class will be the sole effort of the individual student. Cheating in any form will automatically result in a 0 and may result in failure of the course.