Course

Operating Systems

Faculty
Commerce & Business Administration
Department
Computing Studies & Information Systems
Course code
CSIS 2260
Credits
3.00
Semester length
15 weeks
Max class size
35
Method(s) of instruction
Lecture
Seminar
Course designation
None
Industry designation
None
Typically offered
To be determined

Overview

Course description
This course introduces the major components of operating systems, such as memory management, processor management, process management and file management. Emphasis will be placed on system performance under different design alternatives. Some popular operating systems, such as Windows, Unix/Linux, and Android may be used to illustrate their implementations. Students are required to work on at least two operating systems. This course is suitable for students who wish to learn more about the operating system process under different system environments, such as mobile, desktop and server environments. This course may involve group work.
Course content
  • Introduction to computer hardware
  • Computer systems overview
  • Fundamentals of microprocessor architecture and instruction cycle
  • Memory management and virtual memory
  • Processor management
  • Process and thread management
  • Input/Output management and RAID
  • Accessing files and directories
  • System commands and scripting
  • System help facilities and services
  • Problem solving for operating systems
Learning activities

The methods of instruction for this course will include lectures, seminars, demonstrations, and hands-on assignments/projects

Means of assessment

Assessment will be in accordance with the Douglas College Evaluation Policy.

Assignments/labs           15%-30%
Quiz(zes)*                     10%-25%
Midterm Examination*    25%-40%
Final Examination*          25%-40%
Total                                     100%

* In order to pass the course, students must, in addition to receiving an overall course grade of 50%, also achieve a grade of at least 50% on the combined weighted examination components (including quizzes, tests, exams).

Students may conduct research as part of their coursework in this class. Instructors for the course are responsible for ensuring that student research projects comply with College policies on ethical conduct for research involving humans, which can require obtaining Informed Consent from participants and getting the approval of the Douglas College Research Ethics Board prior to conducting the research.

 

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of this course, the successful student will be able to:

  • Identify different hardware components within a computer system.
  • Identify the system components that are managed by the operating system.
  • Describe the major components and functions of operating systems.
  • Explain memory management and its performance implications.
  • Demonstrate the differences between process and thread.
  • Analyze the applications of different RAID levels.
  • Demonstrate the performance implications of different file management mechanisms.
  • Manage popular operating systems such as Linux/Unix and Windows systems.
  • Use systems’ help facilities.
  • Perform operating system commands and scripting to execute different computer tasks.
  • Manipulate files and directories within the operating system.
  • Identify system problems and provide possible solutions.
Textbook materials

Mchoes, A. and Flynn, I. Understanding Operating Systems, Latest Ed, Cengage Learning.

or

other textbook approved by the CSIS department.

Requisites

Prerequisites

Pre-Calculus 11 (minimum of C) or Foundations of Math 11 (minimum of C) or MATU 0410 (minimum of C) or an approved substitute.

OR currently active in one of the following:

Diploma in Computing Studies and Information Systems

PDD Data Analytics

PDD Emerging Technology

PDD Information and Communication Technology

PBD Computer and Information Systems

Corequisites

No corequisite courses.

Equivalencies

No equivalent courses.

Course Guidelines

Course Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this course and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the course, consider the previous version as the applicable version.

(Current)

Course Transfers to Other Institutions

Below are current transfer agreements from Douglas College to other institutions for the current course guidelines only. For a full list of transfer details and archived courses, please see the BC Transfer Guide.

Institution Transfer details for CSIS 2260
Alexander College (ALEX) ALEX CPSC 2XX (3)
Athabasca University (AU) AU COMP 2XX (3)
Capilano University (CAPU) CAPU BCPT 1XX (3)
Coast Mountain College (CMTN) CMTN CPSC 1XX (3)
College of New Caledonia (CNC) No credit
Columbia College (COLU) COLU CSCI 2nd (3)
Coquitlam College (COQU) COQU CSCI 2XX (3)
Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) KPU INFO 1211 (3)
Langara College (LANG) LANG CSIS 1XXX (3)
Nicola Valley Institute of Technology (NVIT) NVIT CMSC 2XX (3)
Okanagan College (OC) OC COSC 109 (3)
Simon Fraser University (SFU) SFU CMPT 1XX (3)
Thompson Rivers University (TRU) TRU COMP 2XXX (3)
University Canada West (UCW) UCW CPSC 2XX (3)
University of British Columbia - Okanagan (UBCO) UBCO COSC_O 2nd (3)
University of British Columbia - Vancouver (UBCV) No credit
University of Northern BC (UNBC) UNBC CPSC 2XX (3)
University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) UFV CIS 2XX (3)
University of Victoria (UVIC) UVIC CSC 2XX (1.5)
Vancouver Community College (VCC) No credit
Vancouver Island University (VIU) VIU CSCI 2nd (3)

Course Offerings

Fall 2025

CRN Days Instructor Status
Maximum seats
35
Currently enrolled
26
Remaining seats:
9
On waitlist
0
Building
New Westminster - North Bldg.
Room
N6107
Times:
Start Time
12:30
-
End Time
15:20
Section notes

CSIS 2260 is restricted to students in the following programs: Computing Studies and Information Systems Diploma, PBD Computer & Info Systems (Data Analytics, Emerging Technology, and Cybersecurity), PDD Information & Communication Technology, and PDD Data Analytics.

On Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at 10 am registration opens to students in the following programs: Computing Science and Info Systems Diploma, BBA-Accounting - Bach Degree FT, Accounting Diploma, Commerce and Business Administration Diploma, General Business Certificate, General Business Diploma, Accounting Post-Degree Diploma, BBA-Fin Serv & Admin-Bach Degree FT, Business Management Diploma – General Business, Marketing Diploma and Web & Mobile Computing.

CRN Days Instructor Status
Maximum seats
35
Currently enrolled
23
Remaining seats:
12
On waitlist
0
Building
New Westminster - North Bldg.
Room
N5111
Times:
Start Time
12:30
-
End Time
15:20
Section notes

CSIS 2260 is restricted to students in the following programs: Computing Studies and Information Systems Diploma, PBD Computer & Info Systems (Data Analytics, Emerging Technology, and Cybersecurity), PDD Information & Communication Technology, and PDD Data Analytics.

On Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at 10 am registration opens to students in the following programs: Computing Science and Info Systems Diploma, BBA-Accounting - Bach Degree FT, Accounting Diploma, Commerce and Business Administration Diploma, General Business Certificate, General Business Diploma, Accounting Post-Degree Diploma, BBA-Fin Serv & Admin-Bach Degree FT, Business Management Diploma – General Business, Marketing Diploma and Web & Mobile Computing.

CRN Days Instructor Status
Maximum seats
35
Currently enrolled
14
Remaining seats:
21
On waitlist
0
Building
New Westminster - North Bldg.
Room
N5107
Times:
Start Time
9:30
-
End Time
12:20
Section notes

CSIS 2260 is restricted to students in the following programs: Computing Studies and Information Systems Diploma, PBD Computer & Info Systems (Data Analytics, Emerging Technology, and Cybersecurity), PDD Information & Communication Technology, and PDD Data Analytics.

On Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at 10 am registration opens to students in the following programs: Computing Science and Info Systems Diploma, BBA-Accounting - Bach Degree FT, Accounting Diploma, Commerce and Business Administration Diploma, General Business Certificate, General Business Diploma, Accounting Post-Degree Diploma, BBA-Fin Serv & Admin-Bach Degree FT, Business Management Diploma – General Business, Marketing Diploma and Web & Mobile Computing.