CS304 Computer Architecture
CS304 Computer Architecture
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Feb 02, 2026
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Computer Sciences and Engineering
Ali Almisreb
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
This course is concerned with the structure and behavior of the various functional modules of a digital computer and the reasoning behind their interaction to provide the processing needs of the user. It covers the general features of the MIPS instruction set, arithmetic and floating-point operations, performance evaluation using Amdahl's law, pipelining, data and branch hazards, and memory.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
Computer Organization and Architecture, W. Stalling, 10th Edition, Prentice Hall, 2016.
Additional Literature
David A. Patterson and John L. Hennessy Computer Organization and Design: The Hardware/Software Interface, 5th Edition, 2013.Teaching Methods
Class discussions with examples
Lab exercises and quizzes
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Basic concepts and computer evolution & Performance Issues | Ch 1+ Ch 2 |
| 2 | A Top-Level View of Computer Function and Interconnection | Ch 3 |
| 3 | Cache Memory | Ch 4 |
| 4 | Internal Memory - Quiz 1 | Ch 5 |
| 5 | External Memory | Ch 6 |
| 6 | Input/Output | Ch 7 |
| 7 | Instruction Sets: Characteristics and Functions | Ch 12 |
| 8 | Mid-Term Exam | |
| 9 | Instruction Sets: Addressing Modes and Formats | Ch 13 |
| 10 | Processor Structure and Function | Ch 14 |
| 11 | Parallel Processing | Ch 17 |
| 12 | Multicore Computers - Quiz 2 | Ch 18 |
| 13 | General- Purpose Graphic Processing Units | Ch 19 |
| 14 | Control Unit Operation - Project Submission | Ch 20 |
| 15 | Microprogrammed Control | Ch 21 |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CS304.1 | Course | Monday 15:00 - 17:50 | A F1.24 - Amphitheater I | - | - |
| CS304.1 | Tutorial | Friday 14:00 - 15:50 | B F1.25 Computer Lab | - | - |
| CS304.2 | Tutorial | Wednesday 18:00 - 19:50 | A F1.4 - Class/Laboratory | - | - |
| CS304.3 | Tutorial | Tuesday 18:00 - 19:50 | A F1.18 - Computer Lab | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
| Day | Time | Office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday | 09:00 - 11:55 | A F2.6 | |
| Friday | 09:00 - 11:55 | A F2.6 |
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4 5
Midterm exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3
Quizzes
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 5
Projects
AI: Consult InstructorAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 2 3 4 5
IUS Grading System
| Grading Scale | IUS Grading System | IUS Coeff. | Letter (B&H) | Numerical (B&H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 44 | F | 0 | F | 5 |
| 45 - 54 | E | 1 | ||
| 55 - 64 | C | 2 | E | 6 |
| 65 - 69 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 7 |
| 70 -74 | B- | 2.7 | ||
| 75 - 79 | B | 3 | C | 8 |
| 80 - 84 | B+ | 3.3 | ||
| 85 - 94 | A- | 3.7 | B | 9 |
| 95 - 100 | A | 4 | A | 10 |
Late Work Policy
Information about late submission policies will be shared during class and posted in this section. Please check back for official guidelines.
ECTS Credit Calculation
📚 Student Workload
This 6 ECTS credit course corresponds to 150 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Lecture Hours
45 hours ⏳ (15 week × 3 h)
Quizzes
16 hours ⏳ (4 week × 4 h)
Projects
20 hours ⏳ (2 week × 10 h)
In-term exam study
11 hours ⏳ (1 week × 11 h)
Final exam study
16 hours ⏳ (1 week × 16 h)
Home study
42 hours ⏳ (14 week × 3 h)
150 Total Workload Hours
6 ECTS Credits
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action according to university policies. When in doubt about citation practices, consult the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to adhere to the attendance requirements as outlined in the International University of Sarajevo Study Rules and Regulations. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may impact academic performance and eligibility for assessment. Mandatory sessions (e.g., labs, workshops) require attendance unless formally exempted. For detailed policies on absences, documentation, and penalties, please refer to the official university regulations.
Technology & AI Policy
Laptops/tablets may be used for note-taking only during lectures. Phones should be silenced and put away during all class sessions. Audio/video recording requires prior permission from the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) varies by assessment component. Please refer to the AI usage indicator next to each assessment item in the Assessment Methods and Criteria section above. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work, where AI is not explicitly allowed, constitutes an academic integrity violation.
Communication Policy
All course-related communication should occur through official university channels (institutional email or SIS). Emails should include [CS304] in the subject line.
Academic Quality Assurance Policy
Course Academic Quality Assurance is achieved through Semester Student Survey. At the end of each academic year, the institution of higher education is obliged to evaluate work of the academic staff, or the success of realization of the curricula.
Learning Tips
Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.
Complete assigned readings or prep materials before class. Take notes, highlight key ideas, and jot down questions. Aim to grasp core concepts and their applications—not just facts.
Use course frameworks or methodologies to analyze problems, case studies, or projects. Begin early to allow time for reflection and refinement. Seek feedback to improve your work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when something is unclear. Use office hours, discussion boards, or peer networks to clarify concepts and stay on track.
Syllabus Last Updated on Feb 02, 2026 | International University of Sarajevo
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Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| CS304 | Computer Architecture | 3 | 2 | 6 | Monday: 15:00-17:50 | |||||
| Prerequisite | CS105 | It is a prerequisite to | CS307, SE421 | |||||||
| Lecturer | Ali Almisreb | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Thursday: 9:00-11:55 Friday: 9:00-11:55 |
|||||||
| aalmisreb@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Harun Hadžo | Assistant E-mail | hhadzo@ius.edu.ba | |||||||
| Course Objectives | This course is concerned with the structure and behavior of the various functional modules of a digital computer and the reasoning behind their interaction to provide the processing needs of the user. It covers the general features of the MIPS instruction set, arithmetic and floating-point operations, performance evaluation using Amdahl's law, pipelining, data and branch hazards, and memory. | |||||||||
| Textbook | Computer Organization and Architecture, W. Stalling, 10th Edition, Prentice Hall, 2016. | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
|||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
||||||||||
| Teaching Methods | Class discussions with examples. Lab exercises and quizzes. | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Basic concepts and computer evolution & Performance Issues | Ch 1+ Ch 2 | ||||||||
| Week 2 | A Top-Level View of Computer Function and Interconnection | Ch 3 | ||||||||
| Week 3 | Cache Memory | Ch 4 | ||||||||
| Week 4 | Internal Memory - Quiz 1 | Ch 5 | ||||||||
| Week 5 | External Memory | Ch 6 | ||||||||
| Week 6 | Input/Output | Ch 7 | ||||||||
| Week 7 | Instruction Sets: Characteristics and Functions | Ch 12 | ||||||||
| Week 8 | Mid-Term Exam | |||||||||
| Week 9 | Instruction Sets: Addressing Modes and Formats | Ch 13 | ||||||||
| Week 10 | Processor Structure and Function | Ch 14 | ||||||||
| Week 11 | Parallel Processing | Ch 17 | ||||||||
| Week 12 | Multicore Computers - Quiz 2 | Ch 18 | ||||||||
| Week 13 | General- Purpose Graphic Processing Units | Ch 19 | ||||||||
| Week 14 | Control Unit Operation - Project Submission | Ch 20 | ||||||||
| Week 15 | Microprogrammed Control | Ch 21 | ||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 40 | 1,2,3,4,5 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Midterm exam | 1 | 30 | 1,2,3 | Not Allowed | |
| Quizzes | 2 | 10 | 1,2,3,5 | Not Allowed | |
| Projects | 1 | 20 | 2, 3, 4, 5 | Consult Instructor | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture Hours | 3 | 15 | 45 | Quizzes | 4 | 4 | 16 | |||
| Projects | 10 | 2 | 20 | In-term exam study | 11 | 1 | 11 | |||
| Final exam study | 16 | 1 | 16 | Home study | 3 | 14 | 42 | |||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 23/02/2026 | |||||||||