Csci 278
Introduction to Personal Computer Hardware
Course description: PC hardware components and peripherals. Concepts including installation, replacement, and upgrading of PC hardware components and identifying and troubleshooting common PC hardware problems.
Prerequisites: Fundamental computer literacy, Math 113 and Math 170, or permission of department head.
Text: A+ Guide to Hardware: Managing, Maintaining and Troubleshooting, 4th edition enhanced, by Jean Andrews, Course Technology, 2007
Objectives
The course is designed to be a complete, step-by-step approach for learning the fundamentals of supporting and troubleshooting computer hardware.
Course material
Course material will include the following topics:
| Topics | Approx. time |
|---|---|
| Hardware needs software to work | ~ 1 week |
| PC repair fundamentals | ~ 1 week |
| Form factors and power supplies | ~ 1 week |
| Possessors and chipsets | ~ 1 week |
| Motherboards | ~ 1 week |
| Upgrading memory | ~ 1.5 weeks |
| Hard drives | ~ 1 week |
| Installing and supporting I/O devices | ~ 1 week |
| Multimedia devices and mass storage | ~ 1 week |
| PCs on a network | ~ 1 week |
| Notebook, Tablet PCs, and PDAs | ~ 1.5 weeks |
| Supporting printers and scanners | ~ 1 week |
Other topics as time permits.
Assessment
The Semester score for the course will be calculated by using the weights (%) indicated below:
| Weight (%) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 75% | Semester average | Tests | ______ % |
| Assignments | ______ % | ||
| _________ | ______ % | ||
| 25% | Final exam grade |
The Semester letter grade in the course will be assigned according to the scale below:
| Semester grade | Semester score |
|---|---|
| 90–100 | A |
| 80–89 | B |
| 70–79 | C |
| 60–69 | D |
| 0–59 | F |
Notes:
- In cases of an excused absence, the instructor reserves the right to reweight the final exam in lieu of a make-up test.
- In the case where a student's score on his final exam indicates exceptional achievement above and beyond that indicated by the semester average, the instructor reserves the right to reweight the value of the final exam in computing the semester grade.
Please read the Department's Attendance Policy.
Instructor's office hours
can be found on the MSU web site at
http://www.faculty.mcneese.edu
Click on individual instructor to view their web page.
Or navigate from MSU Home Page; select Faculty & Staff, select Faculty Web Server.
Students should visit the MSU web page at
http://www.mcneese.edu/policy/diversity.htm
for information about diversity awareness and sexual harassment policies and
procedures, as well as the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Students should also visit the MSU web page at
http://www.mcneese.edu/integrity
for information on the Academic Integrity Policy.
ANY STUDENT WITH A DISABILITY IS ENCOURAGED TO CONTACT THE OFFICE OF SERVICES FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES IN DREW HALL, ROOM 200, VOICE (337) 475-5916, HEARING IMPAIRED (337) 475-5722. IT IS EACH STUDENT'S RESPONSIBILITY TO REGISTER WITH THE OFFICE OF SERVICES FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES WHEN REQUESTING A REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION.
One week of summer school is equivalent to 2 ½ weeks of Fall or Spring classes
DMCS
Location:
Kirkman Hall, Beauregard Drive
Mail:
Box 92340, MSU, Lake Charles, LA 70609
Phone:
(337) 475–5788,
Fax:
(337) 475–5799
e-Mail:
sbradley@mcneese.edu
