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Electrical and Computer Engineering

18-243 – Introduction to Computer Systems

12 units

This course provides a programmer's view of how computer systems execute programs, store information, and communicate. It enables students to become more effective programmers, especially in dealing with issues of performance, portability and robustness. It also serves as a foundation for courses on compilers, networks, operating systems, and computer architecture, where a deeper understanding of systems-level issues is required. Topics covered include: machine-level code and its generation by optimizing compilers, performance evaluation and optimization, computer arithmetic, memory organization and management, networking technology and protocols, and supporting concurrent computation. NOTE: students must achieve a C or better in order to use this course to satisfy the pre-requisite for any subsequent Computer Science course.

Prerequisites: 15-122 or 15-123 (Grade of C or higher is required in the prerequisites)

Prerequisite for: 18-447, 18-487, 18-648, 18-848C

Last updated on April 11, 2011

ECE classifications

Undergraduate areas

Computer Hardware

Links

Past semesters

M111, S11, F10, S10, F09, S09

Please note that the course history information is incomplete and/or may reflect different courses offered under the same course number.



5000 Forbes Avenue / Pittsburgh, PA 15213-3890 / Phone: 412-268-7400 / Fax: 412-268-2860