Introduction to the architecture of computer systems. Topics include: central processing units, memory systems, channels and controllers, peripheral devices, interrupt systems, software versus hardware tradeoffs.
4
UnitsLetter
Grading1, 2, 3
PasstimeNone
Level LimitEngineering
CollegePretty easy class, only hard part is final sort of.
Really enjoyed this class. The professor is supportive, understanding, and genuinely open to student feedback. Assignments and lectures are also well-organized and clear. The class work can be challenging on its own, but you are almost always provided with really helpful supplemental resources. Highly recommend taking CS154 with him if you can!
Prof Balkind is a great lecturer and provides quizzes and lab assignments that actively reflect the class material. Outside of class he is super approachable and understanding of students. The class is graded on moderately challenging lab assignments, reasonable quizzes, and a final.
I dont get all these negative reviews. Prof Balkind is so knowledgeable in his field and is a great lecturer. He makes himself open to all students and cares for us! The quizzes and final was pretty difficult, often giving me headaches. Some labs are pretty hard, others are fine. The curve was GIANT at the end I went from a B --> A-.
Overall, the class is easy if you take your time to learn. For W26 the quizzes and final were moved to the testing center which definitely made the class harder. There were a lot of gotchas / one liner questions on the quizzes and final. He is a great lecturer and the labs are informative. I learned a lot from the class and would highly recommend.
Professor Balkind's lectures are generally disconnected to his lab assignments. As a result, the labs feel much more challenging than they need to be. Other than that, however, I had no qualms with Professor Balkind. The weekly online quizzes and online final are mostly multiple choice and easy.
Ben Hardekopf
4.7
Tao Yang
2.8
Yekaterina Kate Kharitonova
2.5
Yu Feng
2.7
Maryam Majedi
2.6
Elizabeth Belding
4.0