CSCI 2271 Computer Systems
This course is about how computing machines implement the human-friendly abstractions we express in our programs. It reveals the internal representations of data and instructions, as well as the management of data storage in memory, the coordination of processes, and the interactions between operating systems and the programs being executed. Computer Systems explores system behavior and operations in considerable detail. This greater detail is essential for optimizing program performance, for working within the finite memory and word size constraints of computers, for effective debugging, and for systems-level programming. This hands-on course introduces you to the C programming language and techniques of systems programming through extensive coding exercises
Course overview
- Department
- Computer Science
- School
- MCAS
- Credits
- 3
- Level
- Undergraduate
- Offered
- Every Fall, Every Spring
Catalog details
- Prerequisites
- CSCI1102
Requirements fulfilled
- Computer Science B.A.: CSCI 2000-level-or-higher elective (Current University Catalog; students should confirm their catalog year)
- Mathematics B.S.: Natural science, computer science, or economics corequisites (Current University Catalog; students should confirm their catalog year)
- Computer Science B.A.: Required computer science core (Current University Catalog; students should confirm their catalog year)
- Computer Science B.S.: Required computer science core (Current University Catalog; students should confirm their catalog year)
- Computer Science: One elective numbered 2000 to be chosen from (Current University Catalog; students should confirm their catalog year)
Course evaluations
- Course rating
- 3.07 / 5 · Good
- Instructor rating
- 3.28 / 5 · Good
- Terms evaluated
- 10
| Term | Instructor | Course overall | Instructor overall | Well organized | Clear learning objectives | Intellectually challenging | Helpful assignments | Applicable beyond course | Attendance necessary | Weekly effort | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 2026 | Mira Yun | 3.9 | 4.1 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.3 | 4.1 | 3.7 | 4–6 hrs/week | 29 of 39 |
| Spring 2026 | Naomi Bolotin | 3.2 | 3.2 | 3.5 | 3.9 | 3.4 | 4.6 | 3.9 | 3.6 | 1–3 hrs/week | 13 of 15 |
| Fall 2025 | Amittai Aviram | 2.2 | 2.3 | 2.6 | 2.9 | 4.4 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 2.6 | 4–6 hrs/week | 14 of 14 |
| Fall 2025 | Mira Yun | 3.8 | 4.4 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.3 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4–6 hrs/week | 39 of 42 |
| Spring 2025 | Amittai Aviram | 2.3 | 2.6 | 3.3 | 3.5 | 4.5 | 3.8 | 3.5 | 2.5 | 4–6 hrs/week | 56 of 70 |
| Fall 2024 | Amittai Aviram | 3.1 | 3.2 | 4.0 | 4.1 | 4.7 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 3.4 | 7–9 hrs/week | 46 of 57 |
| Spring 2024 | Amittai Aviram | 2.5 | 2.6 | 3.1 | 3.3 | 4.5 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 2.9 | 10+ hrs/week | 62 of 77 |
| Spring 2024 | Mira Yun | 3.8 | 4.1 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 4–6 hrs/week | 27 of 35 |
| Fall 2023 | Amittai Aviram | 2.6 | 2.7 | 3.2 | 3.3 | 4.6 | 3.6 | 3.7 | 2.9 | 10+ hrs/week | 63 of 77 |
| Spring 2023 | Amittai Aviram | 2.5 | 2.7 | 3.2 | 3.2 | 4.4 | 3.6 | 3.7 | 2.8 | 4–6 hrs/week | 51 of 82 |
| Spring 2023 | Mira Yun | 4.1 | 4.3 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.4 | 3.6 | 7–9 hrs/week | 34 of 40 |
| Fall 2022 | Amittai Aviram | 2.5 | 2.5 | 3.4 | 3.3 | 4.7 | 3.6 | 3.7 | 3.0 | — | 27 of 33 |
| Fall 2022 | Charles Wiseman | 4.6 | 4.9 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 3.9 | 7–9 hrs/week | 36 of 42 |
| Spring 2022 | Amittai Aviram | 2.3 | 2.2 | 2.9 | 3.2 | 4.5 | 3.6 | 3.2 | 2.1 | 7–9 hrs/week | 29 of 64 |
| Spring 2022 | Charles Wiseman | 4.4 | 4.9 | 5.0 | 4.9 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.5 | 4.0 | 7–9 hrs/week | 27 of 39 |
| Fall 2021 | Amittai Aviram | 2.7 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.7 | 4.7 | 3.9 | 3.6 | 3.8 | 4–6 hrs/week | 41 of 68 |
Data freshness
Instructors
Sections
- Section 01
- Section 01
- Section 02