Computer Systems

Undergraduate | 2026

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Mode icon
Mode
Mode
Your studies will be on-campus, and may include some online delivery
On campus
area/catalogue icon
Area/Catalogue
COMP 2000
Course ID icon
Course ID
200076
Campus icon
Campus
Mawson Lakes, Adelaide City Campus East
Level of study
Level of study
Undergraduate
Unit value icon
Unit value
6
Course owner
Course owner
School of Comp Sc & IT
Course coordinator
Course coordinator
Damith Ranasinghe
Course level icon
Course level
2
Work Integrated Learning course
Work Integrated Learning course
No
Study abroad and student exchange icon
Inbound study abroad and exchange
Inbound study abroad and exchange
The fee you pay will depend on the number and type of courses you study.
Yes
University-wide elective icon
University-wide elective course
Yes
Single course enrollment
Single course enrolment
Yes

Course overview

This course will teach students the elements of computer systems from the level of basic hardware gates, through to compilers, languages, and applications. This course will give an overview of the layered nature of computer systems and how the use of simple interfaces can make the design of complex and powerful systems possible. Topics covered include: digital logic, memory, processors, assembly language, high level languages (C), hardware/software interaction and operating systems.

 

Students will gain a working understanding of how the underlying operating system and hardware of a computer works so that they can make choices and build applications that interact and/or optimise at the low level.

  • Hardware
  • Software

Course learning outcomes

  • Describe the function of basic electronic components and logic gates used in digital circuits and their role in building a computer system
  • Describe the structure of assemblers for translating assembly languages into machine code and for program optimization
  • Compare and contrast the different approaches to programming languages and make decisions on what approach is best for a particular problem
  • Outline the organization of the logic elements in computer architecture
  • Demonstrate knowledge of how computers represent programs and data
  • Identify and explain system functions of Operating Systems and their differences from user functions in a programming language

Availability

Census date Icon
Census date
Fri 27/03/2026
Enrol by date
Enrol by date
Fri 13/03/2026
Last day to W
Last day to W
Fri 10/04/2026
Last day to WF
Last day to WF
Fri 08/05/2026

Class details

Adelaide City Campus East

Class number
Class number 23402
Section
Section FR01
Size
Size 100
Available
Available 100
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
27 Feb - 17 Apr Friday 9:10am - 11am Adelaide City Campus East Napier, 102
8 May - 5 Jun Friday 9:10am - 11am Adelaide City Campus East Napier, 102
Class number
Class number 23404
Section
Section WS01
Size
Size 50
Available
Available 50
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
26 Feb - 16 Apr Thursday 2:10pm - 4pm Adelaide City Campus East Barr Smith South, 2060
7 May - 4 Jun Thursday 2:10pm - 4pm Adelaide City Campus East Barr Smith South, 2060
Class number
Class number 23403
Section
Section WS02
Size
Size 50
Available
Available 50
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
27 Feb - 17 Apr Friday 1:10pm - 3pm Adelaide City Campus East Barr Smith South, 1062
8 May - 5 Jun Friday 1:10pm - 3pm Adelaide City Campus East Barr Smith South, 1062

Census date Icon
Census date
Fri 04/09/2026
Enrol by date
Enrol by date
Fri 21/08/2026
Last day to W
Last day to W
Fri 18/09/2026
Last day to WF
Last day to WF
Fri 16/10/2026

Class details

Adelaide City Campus East

Class number
Class number 52636
Section
Section FR01
Size
Size 100
Available
Available 100
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
4 Aug - 22 Sep Tuesday 11:10am - 1pm Adelaide City Campus East Barr Smith South, 3029
13 Oct - 10 Nov Tuesday 11:10am - 1pm Adelaide City Campus East Barr Smith South, 3029
Class number
Class number 52638
Section
Section WS01
Size
Size 50
Available
Available 50
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
7 Aug - 25 Sep Friday 11:10am - 1pm Adelaide City Campus East Barr Smith South, 1062
16 Oct - 13 Nov Friday 11:10am - 1pm Adelaide City Campus East Barr Smith South, 1062
Class number
Class number 52637
Section
Section WS02
Size
Size 50
Available
Available 50
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
7 Aug - 25 Sep Friday 1:10pm - 3pm Adelaide City Campus East Barr Smith South, 2060
16 Oct - 13 Nov Friday 1:10pm - 3pm Adelaide City Campus East Barr Smith South, 2060

Prerequisite(s)

  • must have completed all of COMP1005 Object-Oriented Programming/MATH1000 Foundations in Mathematics

Corequisite(s)

N/A

Antirequisite(s)

N/A

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The Student Contribution amount displayed below is for students commencing a new program from 2021 onwards. If you are continuing in a program you commenced prior to 1 January 2021, or are commencing an Honours degree relating to an undergraduate degree you commenced prior to 1 January 2021, you may be charged a different Student Contribution amount from the amount displayed below. Please check the Student Contribution bands for continuing students here. If you are an international student, or a domestic student studying in a full fee paying place, and are continuing study that you commenced in 2025 or earlier, your fees will be available here before enrolments open for 2026.