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CSC-10080 - Module Specification
School of Computer Science and Mathematics
Faculty of Natural Sciences

For academic year: 2025/26 Last Updated: 04 December 2025

CSC-10080 - Computer Systems and Fundamentals
Coordinator: Thomas Neligwa Room: CR006 Tel: +44 1782 7 33476
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 4
Credits: 30
Study Hours: 300
School Office: 01782 733075

Programme/Approved Electives for 2025/26

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2025/26

You will learn fundamental concepts of computer hardware and software, and achieve a foundation for other computer science modules. You will obtain an overview of computer systems, bridging theoretical concepts with practical applications and gain an understanding of the capabilities and limitations of modern IT. You will see logic design for core hardware components, the architecture of operating systems, essential features of programming languages, a selection of computing applications, hardware design, operating systems, and computational principles like parallelism and caching.

Aims
You will learn an expanded view of the operation of real computer systems by studying the core concepts of computer hardware in detail and elucidating the hierarchy of abstraction found in modern technology. The starting point for the module is architecture (e.g. processing, memory, caching, parallelism and I/O). This then leads into the role of operating systems (e.g. task scheduling, memory allocation and the organisation of storage) and virtualisation environments (e.g. translation of bytecode to CPU-native code by the Java Virtual Machine) as mediators between hardware and user-defined software. The overall aim is to bridge the gap in description between the fundamental organisation of computer systems and the high-level language constructs and design philosophies that are expanded upon later in the degree programme. You will learn to understand what the fundamental concepts are in computer science, and how these concepts link with each other.

Intended Learning Outcomes

evaluate the suitability of different hardware architectures for particular problems: 2
deconstruct the role of operating systems in relation to computer architectures and user-defined software: 2
describe the organisation of modern computer architectures and explain mechanisms of memory management: 2
describe, apply, analyse and interpret the results of various benchmark measures of computer performance: 2
identify and explain how computing interacts with social, organisational and individual user factors: 1
select and apply appropriate IT applications and information handling techniques: 1

Study hours

Lectures: 44 hours
Practical classes and tutorials: 28 hours
Assessment completion: 4 hours
Guided independent study: 224 hours.
The guided independent study consists of approx 30 hours of making notes, 60 hours of background reading, 70 hours of revising course materials, 20 hours of attempting, revising, and understanding past exam papers, and 48 hours of practical preparations and writing.

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Class Test weighted 40%
In-class Multiple Choice Test
Multiple Choice Test. There will be two-hours to complete the in-class test, however it is envisaged that it will take no more than one hour to complete, making it inclusive for all students. The test will be arranged towards the end of the first Semester (in approx. week 10-11). The multiple choice test will consist of between 30 and 40 questions. The test will be invigilated and in-situ. Some sample questions and solutions will be made available in advance of the test.

2: Open Book Assessment weighted 60%
Online open-book exam
The examination will assess both theoretical understanding and problem-solving abilities developed throughout the module. The exam is 150 minutes (two and a half hours) in duration, however it is expected that the exam paper will take no more than 90 minutes to complete (one and a half hours) and therefore the assessment is designed to be inclusive. Students will choose four out of five available questions to answer, for additional flexibility. Each question will be broken down into subquestions. At least one sample or past exam paper will be made available during the module to help preparations. Indicative word count: 1000 words.

The University undertakes a continuous review of its teaching and research provision to ensure programmes are of a high quality and changes may be made to modules where it is necessary and reasonable to do so. Please be aware that minor changes to modules, such as a change to an individual assessment, can occur up until enrolment, although we endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes. Details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/legalgovernancecompliance/governance/actcharterstatutesordinancesandregulations/studenttermsconditions/

Last Updated: 04 December 2025