UNIVERSITY OF MADRAS
BACHELOR OF COMPUTER APPLICATIONS (BCA)
DEGREE PROGRAMME
SYLLABUS WITH EFFECT FROM 2023-2024
Year: I Semester:I
Foundation Course: Fundamentals of Computers 120B1A
(Common to B.Sc.-CS, CS with AI, CS with DS, Software Appl.)
Credits 2 Lecture Hours:2 per week
Learning Objectives: (for teachers: what they have to do in the class/lab/field)
to understand fundamentally the general scope of the computer system
to interact effectively with the computer
to know the uses of the basic components of the computer
to manage the system to some extent before involving an expert
to know some basic things about the computer and the world
Course Outcomes: (for students: To know what they are going to learn)
CO1:Fundamental concepts of computer
CO2: Fundamental mathematical techniques and how they relate to computer
CO3: The architecture of processing and file storage in a computer system
CO4: Basic operations of operating systems
CO5: A variety of software packages applicable to an academic, software development and
business environment
Units Contents
I Understanding the Computer: - Introduction - Evolution of Computers -
Generations of Computers - Classification of Computers - Computing Concepts -
The Computer System - Applications of Computers. Computer Organisation and
Architecture: - Introduction - Central Processing Unit - Internal Communications -
Machine Cycle - The Bus - Instruction Set. Memory and Storage Systems: -
Introduction - Memory Representation - Random Access Memory - Read Only
Memory - Storage Systems - Magnetic Storage Systems - Optical Storage Systems -
Magneto Optical Systems - Solid-state Storage Devices - Storage Evaluation
Criteria. Input Devices: - Introduction - Keyboard - Pointing Devices - Scanning
Devices - Optical Recognition Devices - Digital Camera - Voice Recognition
System - Data Acquisition Sensors - Media Input Devices.Output Devices: -
Introduction - Display Monitors - Printers - Impact Printers - Non-impact Printers -
Plotters - Voice Output - Systems - Projectors - Terminals
II Computer Codes: - Introduction - Decimal System - Binary System - Hexadecimal
System - Octal System - Binary Coded Decimal (BCD) Systems – Unicode.
Computer Arithmetic: - Introduction - Binary Addition - Binary Multiplication -
Binary Subtraction - Binary Division - Signed/unsigned Numbers - Complements of
Binary Numbers - Binary Subtraction Using Complements - Representing Numbers
- Integer Arithmetic - Floating-point Arithmetic
UNIVERSITY OF MADRAS
BACHELOR OF COMPUTER APPLICATIONS (BCA)
DEGREE PROGRAMME
SYLLABUS WITH EFFECT FROM 2023-2024
III Boolean Algebra of Switching Circuits: - Introduction - Elements of Boolean
Algebra - Basic Postulates of Boolean Algebra - Boolean Operations - Principle of
Duality - Basic Laws of Boolean Algebra - De Morgan’s Theorem - Boolean
Expressions. Logic Gates and Digital Circuits: - Introduction - Basic Logic Gates
- Derived Logic Gates - Conversion of Boolean Functions - Adder Circuits - Flip-
flop Circuits - Application of Flip-flops. Computer Software: - Introduction -
Types of Computer Software - System Management Programs - System
Development Programs - Standard Application Programs - Unique Application
Programs - Problem Solving - Structuring the Logic - Using the Computer
IV Operating Systems: - Introduction - History of Operating Systems - Functions of
Operating Systems - Process Management - Memory Management - File
Management - Device Management - Security Management - Types of Operating
Systems - Providing User Interface - Popular Operating Systems. Programming
Languages: - Introduction - History of Programming Languages - Generations of
Programming Languages - Characteristics of a Good Programming Language -
Categorisation of High-level Languages - Popular High-level Languages - Factors
Affecting the Choice of a Language - Developing a Program - Running a Program
V Data Communications and Networks: - Introduction - Data Communication
Using Modem - Computer Network - Network Topologies - Network - Protocols
and Software - Applications of Network. The Internet and World Wide Web: -
Introduction - History of Internet - Internet Applications - Understanding the World
Wide Web - Web Browsers - Browsing the internet - Using a Search Engine - Email
Service - Protocols Used for the Internet
Learning Resources:
Recommended Texts
1. E Balagurusamy. Fundamentals Of Computers, Tata McGraw Hill Publishing
Company Limited
2. Fundamentals of Computers (Paperback), 2019,Manaullah Abid, Mohammad
Amjad, Dreamtech Press
