Instructor: Dr. Cal Ribbens, 660 McBryde, ribbens@vt.edu, Office Hours: M-F, 1:30-2:30.

Graduate Teaching Assistant: Hui Yang, hyang79@vt.edu, Office Hours: MW 4:00-6:00.

Prerequisite: CS 3204 (Operating Systems) with a C or better.

Text: Parallel Programming, Quinn, McGraw Hill, 2004.

Web page: http://courses.cs.vt.edu/~cs4234.

Grading: homework (4 @ 10% each), project1 (15%), project2 (20%), midterm (10%), final (15%). Assignments are due at the beginning of class on the due date. Unexcused late assignments are penalized 25% per weekday.

Justification and learning objectives:

Parallel computation is becoming pervasive in all levels of computing---from massively parallel supercomputers used in large scale computational science, to multiprocessor servers supporting transaction processing and the World Wide Web. The major issues raised in each of the core areas of computer science (e.g., algorithms, systems, languages, architecture, etc.) become even more interesting when considered in the context of parallel computing. Hence, this course challenges students to apply in a new context the concepts and tools they have studied in earlier computer science courses. This hands-on course will also introduce students to a topic of fundamental importance to a wide variety of application areas.

Having successfully completed this course, the student will be able to

• explain the basic concepts of parallel computation.
• compare alternative approaches to designing and implementing parallel algorithms and architectures.
• solve large scale problems on at least one parallel computing platform.
• measure and evaluate the performance of parallel applications.

Schedule:

We will cover the following chapters from the textbook, in order, spending 1-2 weeks on each: 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 17, 2.

Note: if any student needs special accommodations because of a disability, please contact the instructor during the first week of classes.