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Top of Syllabus

Course Info

Overview Sections Schedule Office Hours Canvas/Piazza

Grading

Breakdown Policies Projects Exams Quizzes Recitations Zeus Server

GMU Policies

Accommodations Honor Code Title IX Privacy FERPA and Email Inclusion

Contact Info

Email

Course Overview

Course: CS 367
Credits: 4
Repetition: Limited to 3 Attempts (see AP. 1.3.4 in the Catalog)
Modality: In-Person Lecture (Online Lectures only in Snow Days or Campus Shutdowns)

Course Description:

CS367 provides an introduction to the field of Systems Programming. This is an area of programming wherein the software written generally provides services to other software.

Examples of Systems Programming are Operating Systems, Game Engines, Embedded Systems Programming, Industrial Automation, and Networking.

This course will prepare you for CS471 (Operating Systems), CS465 (Architecture), CS455 (Networking), and various other courses with systems level programming.

Textbook

Required Textbook: "Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective (3rd ed.) by Randal Bryant and David O'Hallaron (Prentice Hall).

Course Outcomes

  1. Demonstrate understanding of data representation at machine level, including binary numeric encodings, data structures, and Boolean operations.
  2. Demonstrate understanding of program representation at the machine level using assembly language, including control flow, procedures, and file linking.
  3. Demonstrate practical techniques of system tools to understand low level behaviors of programs, including debuggers.
  4. Understanding of basic CPU design including circuits, pipelining, and digital logic.
  5. Demonstrate understanding memory concepts including virtual memory, caching, and dynamic memory layout.
  6. Demonstrate understanding of computer processes, including its lifecycle and communications with the system.

Prerequisites

Topics for this Semester Will Include:

Sections

All sections are taught in-person.

Lecture Sections: Prof. Ivan Avramovic  
Section Time Location
003 T/Th 9:00am - 10:15am Horizon Hall 2016
004 T/Th 10:30am - 11:45am Exploratory Hall L102

Lecture Sections: Prof. Hamza Mughal
Section Time Location
005 T/Th 9:00am - 10:15am Horizon Hall 3008

Lecture Sections: Prof. Yutao Zhong
Section Time Location
001 M/W 1:30pm - 2:45pm Horizon Hall 2016
002 M/W 3:00pm - 4:15pm Exploratory Hall L102

Recitation Sections
Section Time Location GTA Instructor
302 F 9:30am - 10:20am Horizon Hall 1012 TBA
303 F 10:30am - 11:20am Horizon Hall 1012 TBA
304 F 11:30am - 12:20pm Horizon Hall 1012 TBA
305 F 12:30pm - 1:20pm Horizon Hall 1012 TBA
306 F 1:30pm - 2:20pm Horizon Hall 1012
 TBA
307 F 2:30pm - 3:20pm Horizon Hall 1012 TBA

Schedule

You can find our tentative schedule on Canvas under Schedule.

Office Hours

Office Hours Policies

Office Hours Times

Times and Locations will be kept updated on Piazza and on Canvas.

Professor's Office Locations

Professor Location
Prof. Avramovic Buchanan Hall D215K
Prof. Mughal Buchanan Hall D217F
Prof. Zhong Engineering 4433

GTA Office Hours

GTA Office Hours (All GTAs): Map Link: Engineering Building 4456 on the Fourth Floor.

Canvas and Piazza

Canvas

Canvas will be used for course schedule, announcements, lecture slides, assignments, grades release etc. Canvas Link: https://canvas.gmu.edu

Piazza

This term we will be using Piazza for class discussion. The system is highly catered to getting you help fast and efficiently from classmates, the TA, and your Professors. Rather than emailing questions to the teaching staff, we encourage you to post your questions on Piazza.

For security, we will be posting the Piazza Access Code on Canvas.

Piazza Link: https://piazza.com/gmu/spring2025/cs367

Piazza Policies

Grading

The course will have one midterm and a final. Much of the work during the semester will be completing projects, as well as regular recitation activities (written and digital).

In general, all grades should be available about two weeks after submission.

Semester Grades

Category Grade % Notes
Projects 32% Four Projects (8% Each)
(Note: Projects Average >= 60% to Pass the Course)
Quizzes 7% Lowest Two Quizzes Dropped
Recitations 7% Participation Based, One Dropped
Midterm
 24%
 No Replacement Policies
Final 30% Cumulative

Grading Scale

Grade Cut-Off Grade Cut-Off Grade Cut-Off Grade Cut-Off
A+ 98% B+ 88% C+ 78% D 60%
A 92% B 82% C 72% F 0%
A- 90% B- 80% C- 70%

Grading Policies

Grade Contesting

Project Policies

Exam Policies

Quiz Policies

Recitation Policies

Computer Accounts

This is a Systems Programming class. Unlike CS 262 or CS 222, which are general-purpose C courses for any computer system, this course is based on building programs for a specific system. For CS 367, that system is Zeus.

Zeus is a Linux computer running Red Hat Enterprise Linux and is administerd by the College of Engineering and Computing for our use. Some of our programs will involve libraries that have been pre-built on Zeus, and some programs will use system specific features that may only build properly on Zeus.

Connecting to Zeus

Zeus Policies

Accommodations

Disability Services at George Mason University is committed to upholding the letter and spirit of the laws that ensure equal treatment of people with disabilities. Under the administration of University Life, Disability Services implements and coordinates reasonable accommodations and disability-related services that afford equal access to university programs and activities. Students can begin the registration process with Disability Services at any time during their enrollment at George Mason University. If you are seeking accommodations, please visit https://ds.gmu.edu/ for detailed information about the Disability Services registration process. Disability Services is located in Student Union Building I (SUB I), Suite 2500. Email: ods@gmu.edu. Phone: (703) 993-2474.

Student responsibility: Students are responsible for registering with Disability Services and communicating about their approved accommodations with their instructor in advance of any relevant class meeting, assignment, or exam.

Course Accommodations Policies

Academic Standards (Honor Code)

Academic Standards exist to promote authentic scholarship, support the institution’s goal of maintaining high standards of academic excellence, and encourage continued ethical behavior of faculty and students to cultivate an educational community which values integrity and produces graduates who carry this commitment forward into professional practice. 

As members of the George Mason University community, we are committed to fostering an environment of trust, respect, and scholarly excellence. Our academic standards are the foundation of this commitment, guiding our behavior and interactions within this academic community. The practices for implementing these standards adapt to modern practices, disciplinary contexts, and technological advancements. Our standards are embodied in our courses, policies, and scholarship, and are upheld in the following principles: 

Violations of these standards—including but not limited to plagiarism, fabrication, and cheating—are taken seriously and will be addressed in accordance with university policies. The process for reporting, investigating, and adjudicating violations is outlined in the university’s procedures. Consequences of violations may include academic sanctions, disciplinary actions, and other measures necessary to uphold the integrity of our academic community. 

The principles outlined in these academic standards reflect our collective commitment to upholding the highest standards of honesty, acknowledgement, and uniqueness of work. By adhering to these principles, we ensure the continued excellence and integrity of George Mason University’s academic community. 

Student responsibility: Students are responsible for understanding how these general expectations regarding academic standards apply to each course, assignment, or exam they participate in; students should ask their instructor for clarification on any aspect that is not clear to them.

We take the honor code quite seriously. Any attempts at copying or sharing code, algorithms, or other violations of the honor code simply will not be tolerated.

As seductively simple as it may seem to just copy and paste work from a friend or online source, remember that it is just as easy to compare your work electronically, and discover the similarities. We use automated software to flag suspicious cases, and then review them by hand to find the cases that must be submitted to the Academic Standards Office. Repeat to yourself: it's not worth trying to cheat. We will catch it, and sadly but surely, we will turn it in.

The penalty for cheating will always be far worse than a zero grade, to ensure it's not worth taking the chance.

Course Policies

Student Responsibilities

Academic Standards Links and Specifics

Sexual Harassment and Interpersonal Violence Policies

As a part of George Mason University’s commitment to providing a safe and non-discriminatory learning, living, and working environment for all members of the University community, the University does not discriminate on the basis of sex or gender in any of its education or employment programs and activities. Accordingly, all non- confidential employees, including your faculty member, have a legal requirement to report to the Title IX Coordinator, all relevant details obtained directly or indirectly about any incident of Prohibited Conduct  (such as sexual harassment, sexual assault, gender-based stalking, dating/domestic violence). Upon notifying the Title IX Coordinator of possible Prohibited Conduct, the Title IX Coordinator will assess the report and determine if outreach is required. If outreach is required, the individual the report is about (the “Complainant”) will receive a communication, likely in the form of an email, offering that person the option to meet with a representative of the Title IX office.

For more information about non-confidential employees, resources, and Prohibited Conduct, please see University Policy 1202: Sexual and Gender-Based Misconduct and Other Forms of Interpersonal Violence. Questions regarding Title IX can be directed to the Title IX Coordinator via email to TitleIX@gmu.edu, by phone at 703-993-8730, or in person on the Fairfax campus in Aquia 373.  

Student opportunity:  If you prefer to speak to someone confidentially, please contact one of Mason’s confidential employees in Student Support and Advocacy (SSAC), Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), Student Health Services (SHS), and/or the Office of the University Ombudsperson.

Privacy

All course materials posted to Canvas or other course site are private; by federal law, any materials that identify specific students (via their name, voice, or image) must not be shared with anyone not enrolled in this class.

To protect your privacy, we also cannot list your GMU email address on any public forum or provide it to any other students. You may, of course, give your email address to any other students.

Video recordings of class meetings that are shared only with the instructors and students officially enrolled in a class do not violate FERPA or any other privacy expectation.

Personal Privacy Statements

FERPA and Email

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) governs the disclosure of education records for eligible students and is an essential aspect of any course. Students must use their GMU email account to receive important University information, including communications related to this class. Instructors will not respond to messages sent from or send messages regarding course content to a non-GMU email address.

Student responsibility: Students are responsible for checking their GMU email regularly for course-related information, and/or ensuring that GMU email messages are forwarded to an account they do check.

All course materials posted to Canvas or other course site are private; by federal law, any materials that identify specific students (via their name, voice, or image) must not be shared with anyone not enrolled in this class.

To protect your privacy, we also cannot list your GMU email address on any public forum or provide it to any other students. You may, of course, give your email address to any other students.

Video recordings of class meetings that are shared only with the instructors and students officially enrolled in a class do not violate FERPA or any other privacy expectation.

Inclusion

Every student in this class is exactly where they belong and it is our honor to welcome each of you to join us in learning throughout this semester. Every student in this class, regardless of background, sex, gender, race, ethnicity, class, political affiliation, physical or mental ability, veteran status, nationality, or any other identity category, is an equal member of our class.

You have the right to be called by whatever name you wish, to be referred to by whatever pronoun you identify, and to adjust these at any point.

If you feel uncomfortable in any aspect of our instruction that results in any barrier to your inclusion in this course, please contact your professor directly.

Email Address and Required Subject Information

Prof. Avramovic Email: iavramo2 @ gmu.edu

Prof.  Mughal Email: hmughal2 @ gmu.edu

Prof. Zhong Email: yzhong @ gmu.edu

Email Policies