CSC1032 : Computer Systems Design and Architectures
CSC1032 : Computer Systems Design and Architectures
- Offered for Year: 2025/26
- Module Leader(s): Dr Tomasz Szydlo
- Co-Module Leader: Dr Abolfazl Lavaei
- Lecturer: Dr Dev Jha, Dr Fareed Arif
- Teaching Assistant: Mr Behrad Samari, Mr Haowei Xu
- Owning School: Computing
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 10 |
| Semester 2 Credit Value: | 10 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Pre-requisite
Modules you must have done previously to study this module
Pre Requisite Comment
N/A
Co-Requisite
Modules you need to take at the same time
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| CSC1034 | Programming Portfolio 1 |
| CSC1035 | Programming Portfolio 2 |
Co Requisite Comment
N/A
Aims
On completion of this module students will, from a high level perspective, be able to:
• Describe the purpose of, and the interaction between, the functional hardware and software components of a
variety of computer systems.
• Identify the principal hardware components and software services which provide infrastructure for the Internet
from the global scale down to the desktop.
• Describe the components of operating systems and how they are combined with applications to provide services
and share resources.
Outline Of Syllabus
• An overview of current computer systems architecture.
• Introduction to Operating Systems: what they are and what they do, management of resources.
• Processes, scheduling. Interprocess communication (IPC).
• Memory, virtual memory and memory management. Files, file systems.
• An introduction to Linux and system administration and systems programming.
Learning Outcomes
Intended Knowledge Outcomes
On completion of this module students will be able to:
• Explain and discuss computer architectures and their abstractions, from operating systems to distributed
systems, and from hardware to the interface with operating systems.
• Relate various forms of systems architecture and their interactions.
• Review the concepts and mechanisms for the management, ownership and protection of computer resources.
• Identify the machine representation of key data forms and describe their machine level processing.
Intended Skill Outcomes
At the end of this module students will be able to analyse and design computer systems at a high level, relating the topics covered in this module in a variety of appropriate scenarios. Further practical skills related to this material will be developed in the co-requisite modules Portfolio 1 and Portfolio 2. Students will be able to:
• Incorporate software and hardware elements of a system design.
• Represent key data forms in terms of design and application.
• Design memory management and file management systems.
• Identify issues of deadlock in multiple processing systems.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 2:30 | 2:30 | Mock examination. |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 50 | 1:00 | 50:00 | Lecture follow-up. |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 11 | 1:30 | 16:30 | Lectures (in person). |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 11 | 1:00 | 11:00 | Lectures (in person). |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 4 | 1:00 | 4:00 | Formative exercises. |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 33 | 1:00 | 33:00 | Revision for examination. |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Practical | 23 | 1:00 | 23:00 | Practical activities (in person). |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 60:00 | 60:00 | Background reading and independent study. |
| Total | 200:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Techniques and theory are presented in lectures which are recorded in advance.
Practical sessions provide experience of designing and building database applications and can be carried out online.
This is a very practical subject, and it is important that the learning materials are supported by hands-on opportunities provided by practical classes, and on the related Programming Portfolio modules.
Reading Lists
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Exams
| Description | Length | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Digital Examination | 90 | 1 | A | 50 | Inspera exam. |
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Practical/lab report | 2 | M | 50 | Coursework (tasks to solve and software implementation). |
Formative Assessments
Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.
| Description | Semester | When Set | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Digital Examination | 1 | M | Mock Test prior to exam to consolidate student knowledge ahead of the summative exam. |
| Prob solv exercises | 2 | M | Quizzes to support learning and summative assessments. |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
Semester 1 will be assessed with a digital examination allowing the students to apply the theory taught in lectures. A mock test will take place in Semester 1 to enable the students to prepare for the examination.
The digital examination will assess the fundamental knowledge and understanding of taught material.
Semester 2 is assessed through practical lab report on software implementation and test learning outcomes.
Formative assessment allows students to gauge progress in preparation for the summative assessments.
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- CSC1032's Timetable
Past Exam Papers
- Exam Papers Online : www.ncl.ac.uk/exam.papers/
- CSC1032's past Exam Papers
General Notes
N/A
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Disclaimer
The information contained within the Module Catalogue relates to the 2025 academic year.
In accordance with University Terms and Conditions, the University makes all reasonable efforts to deliver the modules as described.
Modules may be amended on an annual basis to take account of changing staff expertise, developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, staffing changes, and student feedback. Module information for the 2026/27 entry will be published here in early-April 2026. Queries about information in the Module Catalogue should in the first instance be addressed to your School Office.