Computer Science

1 Determine how data is encoded and transmitted among computer systems:

· Explain communication protocols.

· Assess signals and the media used to transmit digital signals.

· Compare and contrast methods of encoding and transmitting data using analog or digital signals.

· Recommend methods for efficiently using communication channels.

· Critique methods for detecting and correcting data transmission errors.

2 Explore computer topologies and layered protocols:

· Compare and contrast bus, ring and star network topologies.

· Review packet routing across local and wide area networks.

· Evaluate the CSMA/CD media access control protocol.

· Compare and contrast network hardware devices, including network interface units, routers, and switches.

· Critique the OSI network model, the TCP/IP protocol suite, and the IEEE network standards

3 Learn the various principles of proper application design and language selection:

· Justify the application development process and the role of methodologies, models, and tools.

· Compare and contrast programming language generations.

· Defend the function and operation of program translation software, including assemblers, compilers, and interpreters.

· Exemplify link editing, and contrast static and dynamic linking.

· Review integrated application development software, including programmer’s workbenches and CASE tools.

4 Explore computer memory and operating system architecture:

· Summarize functions and layers of an operating system.

· List the resources allocated by the operating system and describe the complexities of the allocation process.

· Evaluate how an operating system manages processes and threads.

· Compare and contrast alternative CPU scheduling methods.

· Explain how the operating system manages memory

5 Investigate the various ways in which data is represented in a modern computer system:

· Review the components and functions of a file management system.

· Evaluate the logical and physical organization of files and directories.

· Analyze how secondary storage locations are allocated to files and describe the data structures used to record those allocations.

· Summarize file manipulation operations, including open, close, read, delete and undelete operations.

· List access controls that can be applied to files and directories.

· Describe security, backup, recovery and fault tolerance methods and procedures.

· Compare and contrast storage area networks and network-attached storage

6 Understand the protocol stack and how they cooperate with each other:

· Examine client-server and multi-tier application architecture and discuss their advantages compared to centralized applications.

· Evaluate how operating systems and network protocol stacks cooperate so users and programs can access remote resources.

· Appraise low-level protocols for inter-process communication across networks, including sockets, named pipes, RPC, and DCE.

· List and describe standard Internet protocols used to access distributed resources.

· Explore component-based application development and describe the protocols and standards that support component-based applications.

· Justify the role and function of directory services and the LDAP standard

7 Explore the various responsibilities of system administration:

· Analyze system administration responsibilities and tasks.

· Review the process of acquiring computer hardware and system software.

· Describe tools and processes for evaluating application resource requirements and computer system performance.

· Define a system security model and describe how it can be implemented.

· Examine issues related to installing and protecting computer hardware.