Course Syllabus – Systems Programming

CS 521 ⋅ Spring 2025 ⋅ 4 Units

Systems software provides a layer of abstraction above the hardware that facilitates higher-level applications. This course provides an overview of computer systems, including low-level information representation, systems-oriented programming languages, explicit memory management, operating system interfaces, bitwise operations, concurrency, and network programming.

Course Information

This course will be offered in a hybrid format, with on-campus meetings on Monday and Wednesday, and an online lecture on Friday via a live Zoom stream. On-campus sessions will focus on hands-on, team-based learning and one-on-one help, while the Friday lecture will cover new material with live Q&A.

Instructor: Matthew Malensek
mmalensek@usfca.edu
Office Hours: M, W 11:45am – 12:45pm ⋅ HR 407B

TA: Athene Marston
Office Hours: Th 5:00 – 6:30pm ⋅ HR CS Labs

Prerequisites

Texts/Materials

Learning Outcomes

After completing the course, students will be able to:

Each of these learning outcomes will be evaluated via quizzes, labs, and projects.

Grading and Assessment

The course will be graded on an A-F basis. The grade distribution is:

Grades will be assigned as follows:

Score Grade
100 – 93 A
92 – 90 A-
89 – 87 B+
86 – 83 B
82 – 80 B-
79 – 77 C+
76 – 73 C
72 – 70 C-
69 – 67 D+
66 – 63 D
62 – 60 D-
59 – 0 F

This scale is subject to change; scoring in the ranges above guarantees you will receive at least the grade listed.

Labs: There will be several lab assignments throughout the semester. These assignments are designed to give you a chance to practice what you’ve learned and get feedback on your progress.

Projects: These are larger-scale assignments that integrate what you have learned from the labs and in-class exercises.

Quizzes: Your knowledge of the concepts covered in class will be evaluated via quizzes administered roughly once every 3 weeks. These quizzes are intended to make sure you’re not only learning the programming concepts from class, but also the theory and reasoning behind why systems software works the way it does. Each quiz will take around 10-15 minutes to complete. While they are short, quizzes constitute a large percentage of your course grade, so be sure to prepare by reviewing course material.

Quizzes consist of two phases: individual and team, with a separate score for each. During the team phase of the quiz, you can discuss the questions with your teammates and come to a consensus on the answers. The individual and team portions of the quiz are turned in separately.

Your lowest quiz grade for the semester will be dropped (including a missed quiz).

Make-up quizzes are not given unless arranged at least one week in advance.

Final Exam: This course does not have a final exam. Instead, there will be a cumulative final quiz that covers slightly more material than usual. Since the lowest quiz score is dropped, you may not need to take the final quiz if you did well on the other quizzes throughout the semester.

Grading Policy:

Late Policy:

Classroom Conduct

You are here to learn. Be professional and courteous toward your peers, and help create a learning environment that supports diverse thinking, experiences, perspectives, and identities. If you need to use an electronic device during a lecture, do so in a way that doesn’t distract others. And most importantly, be excellent to each other.

Important Dates

Students with Disabilities

The University of San Francisco is committed to providing equal access to students with disabilities. If you are a student with a disability, or if you think you may have a disability, please contact Student Disability Services (SDS) at sds@usfca.edu or 415 422-2613, to speak with a disability specialist. (All communication with SDS is private and confidential.) If you are eligible for accommodations, please request that your accommodation letter be sent to me as soon as possible; students are encouraged to contact SDS at the beginning of the semester, as accommodations are not retroactive. Once I have been notified by SDS of your accommodations we can discuss your accommodations and ensure your access to this class or clinical setting. For more information please visit the SDS website: https://www.usfca.edu/student-disability-services.

Behavioral Expectations

All students are expected to behave in accordance with the Student Conduct Code and other University policies (see http://www.usfca.edu/fogcutter/). Students whose behavior is disruptive or who fail to comply with the instructor may be dismissed from the class for the remainder of the class period and may need to meet with the instructor or Dean prior to returning to the next class period. If necessary, referrals may also be made to the Student Conduct process for violations of the Student Conduct Code.

Academic Integrity

As a Jesuit institution committed to cura personalis – the care and education of the whole person – USF has an obligation to embody and foster the values of honesty and integrity. USF upholds the standards of honesty and integrity from all members of the academic community. All students are expected to know and adhere to the University’s Honor Code. You can find the full text of the code online at http://myusf.usfca.edu/academic-integrity/. The policy covers:

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)

CAPS’ diverse staff offers brief individual, couple, and group counseling to student members of our community. CAPS services are confidential and free of charge. Call (415) 422-6352 for an initial consultation appointment. Telephone consultation through CAPS After Hours is available Monday - Friday from 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 a.m., 24 hours during weekends and holidays; call the above number and press 2. Further information can be found at https://myusf.usfca.edu/student-health-safety/caps.

Confidentiality, Mandatory Reporting, and Sexual Assault

As instructors, one of our responsibilities is to help create a safe learning environment on our campus. We also have a mandatory reporting responsibility related to our role as faculty. We are required to share information regarding sexual misconduct or information about a crime that may have occurred on USF’s campus with the University. Here are some useful resources related to sexual misconduct: