Faculty Syllabus

Instructor Name: Carlos Rodriguez

Section / Synonym: CETT-1445-001

Location: RVS/Frank Squires (S Building) / Room S122 

Meeting Times: Monday & Wednesday 

LEC: 5:30 p.m. – 6:50 p.m. 

LAB: 6:50 p.m. – 8:10 p.m.

Office: Online

Office Hours: Monday & Wednesday 8:15 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. Email me to schedule an appointment. Other times by appointment only.

Email: carlos.rodriguez2@austincc.edu  

Office Phone: (737) 291-3186

Department administrative assistant: Ms. Alona Rojo, (512) 223-6225, arojo@austincc.edu

An introductory course in microprocessor software and hardware: architecture, timing sequence, operation, and programming.

Discussion of appropriate software diagnostic language and tools.  

CETT 1425 and COSC-1315 or instructional program approval 

Flash Drive - For saving all your work. Do not save your work on classroom computers. You can also save on your Google Drive.
Notebook/Binder Recommended – For keeping copies of all your assignments/exams.
Calculator: A simple scientific calculator. Cell phones, tablets, or other smart devices are not allowed as calculators during exams.

• College Algebra

• Computers

• DC Circuits

• Multimeters

Reference Textbooks:

Microcontroller Theory and Applications: HC12 and S12 (2nd Ed.)  

Daniel J. Pack; Pearson Publishing.  

ISBN# 9780136152057  

MC68HC11: An Introduction - Software and Hardware Interfacing, 2nd Edition  H. Huang  

Publisher: Delmar Thomson Learning; 2 edition (June 1, 2000)  

ISBN-10: 0766816001 or ISBN-13: 978-0766816008

• All Lectures, Labs, Assignments, Exams & Due Dates will be posted on Blackboard Ultra. 
• Turn in assignments by uploading them to the correct Blackboard folder. 
• Grades will be entered in the Blackboard gradebook.

Flash Drive - For saving all your work. Do not save your work on classroom computers.  You can also save on your Google drive. 

Notebook/Binder Recommended – For keeping copies of all your assignments/exams. 

Calculator: A simple scientific calculator. Cell phones are not allowed during exams. 

Course Rationale: 

Microprocessor is the course used to provide an understanding of microprocessor hardware and software. Technicians completing this course will work with microprocessor-based equipment and be capable of distinguishing hardware from software faults. The superior students will also be capable of participating in product development efforts, including support and development of assembly language code. 

Course Objectives: 

Define terms applicable to microprocessor/microcomputer systems; program applications for microprocessor/microcomputer systems; write a program using Assembly Level Language; and describe the purpose of microprocessor internal registers.

Course Topics Overview:

1. Introduction to Microcontrollers
    a. freescale 68HC11 intro
    b. Hardware Overview
    c. Software Instruction Set
2. Programming Manual & other reference material
3. Overview of Evaluation Board
4. Operation Modes
5. JBUG talker overview
6. Assembly Language Basics
    a. Instruction Execution Cycle
    b. Instruction Sets
    c. Data transfer and manipulation
    d. Arithmetic Operations
    e. Addressing modes
    f. directives
7. STACK – Basics
8. Subroutine calls and Returns
9. Branch Subroutines
10. Exceptions/Interrupts (IRQ, XIRQ & RESET)
11. Applications and Other Topics
12. ARDUINO UNO Red Board system

Lecture and lab exercises will be the primary forms of instruction. 

During the Lab exercise itself, students will work in teams. Teamwork is essential to accomplish the lab and capture the required data. Once the lab is completed and the data has been captured and shared with the team then it is expected that each student is to create/write up his or her own lab report. The lab handout describes the lab report format that is to be followed. Make sure that each question listed in the lab handout is addressed in the lab report. The instructor reserves the right to return incomplete work for resubmission.

Course evaluation will consist of exams, labs, homework, projects, and participation: 

Labs/Homework 20 % of final grade 

Project 20 % of final grade 

Three Exams 15 % of final grade each (total of 45 %)  

Final Exam - Comprehensive 15% of final grade 

Total 100%

• Class Begins Wednesday, January 21, 2026
• Exam-1 Monday, February 16, 2026
• Spring Break Holiday, College Closed, March 16th - 20th, 2026
• Exam-2 Monday, March 23, 2026 
• Spring Graduation App. Deadline, Friday, March 27, 2026 
• Summer Semester Registration Begins Monday, March 30 , 2026
• Last Day to Withdraw, Monday, April 27, 2026 
• Exam-3 Monday, April 27, 2026 
• Project Due, Wednesday, May 13, 2026
• Final Exam (Comprehensive), Wednesday, May 13, 2026 
• Spring Graduation, Thursday, May 13, 2026  
• Spring Semester Ends, Sunday, May 17 

a. Name the basic components of a computer system.  

b. Explain the difference between von Neumann and Harvard architecture.  

c. Write short programs using either op-codes or mnemonics.  

d. Explain the difference between a low-level language and a high-level language.  

e. Interpret a memory map.  

f. Define what an accumulator or a register is.  

g. Describe what a stack is and how to identify what type it is.  

h. Distinguish between SCI communications and SPI communications.  

i. Explain how an external resource can be connected to the microprocessor using the address bus, data bus, and control bus.

Participation and meeting deadlines are very important to your performance in the class.

If circumstances arise such that you cannot complete this course, it is to your advantage to  drop the class by the deadline to avoid getting an unsatisfactory grade on your permanent  school record. Students or instructors may initiate withdrawals anytime during the semester  before the official withdrawal deadline. 

Students may be withdrawn from the course by the instructor. However, it is ultimately the  responsibility of the student to initiate the withdrawal process if they are unable to attend or  complete their coursework as required. Failure to withdraw by the established deadline will result in a grade of “A”, “B”, “C”, “D”, or “F”, based on the student’s recorded  performance in the course. Withdrawal forms are available from campus Admissions and  Records offices

The last day to withdraw is [Monday, April 27]

Missed or Late Work 

Exams: Exams may include material from any of the assignments. 10 points off of any late exam, instructor’s discretion. If you know that you will miss an exam in advance,  contact me ahead of time in order to make arrangements and avoid the penalty. There will be absolutely no make-up tests allowed for the final Exam. The final exam must be taken when scheduled and is comprehensive.

A student may receive a temporary grade of “I” (incomplete) at the end of the semester only if the following conditions are satisfied:

The student is unable to complete the course during the semester due to circumstances beyond their control. The student must have earned at least half of the grade points needed to earn a “C” by the end of the semester. Arrangement for an incomplete must be made with the instructor. A “Report of Incomplete Grade” form must be completed by the instructor and filed with the Program Coordinator.

To convert the incomplete “I” into a grade, the student must submit for grading all work required to complete the course to the instructor by a date specified by the instructor within the next immediately following semester, but absolutely no later than 2 weeks before the drop date of that semester. Incompletes not completed by the date specified automatically become a letter grade of “F” for the course.

Artificial Intelligence Policy for the Departments of
Engineering Technology and Advanced Manufacturing

1. Introduction: The use of generative AI (GAI) is permitted in this course under certain
conditions and with instructor approval for the purposes of enhancing learning while
maintaining academic integrity.
2. Rationale: GAI is permitted to foster technological fluency and to leverage advanced
tools for research, projects, and other relevant assignments, as long as it does not
substitute for the students’ original work, critical thinking, and learning.
3. Definition of GAI: Generative AI encompasses technologies that create content through
learned patterns and data without direct human input.
4. Usage Permissions: Permitted: GAI can be used for initial research, idea generation,
and learning coding practices. It is not to be used for final submissions unless explicitly
cited and discussed. Students should check with their instructors for approval before
using AI in their assignments.
5. Resources: The ACC Library provides guidance on the ethical and effective use of GAI .
Additional resources may be provided by your instructor.
6. Assessment: Contributions of GAI must be clearly cited and will be assessed on the
student’s ability to critically analyze and integrate the AI-generated content.
7. Penalties: Misuse of GAI, including a failure to cite, will be considered a breach of
academic integrity, with consequences including a failing grade for the assignment and
academic review.
8. Exceptions: Should the technology be required as an accommodation, exceptions will be
made on a case-by-case basis.

To see the ACC College Policies, please click on the “College Policies and Student Support Services” link found in the Blackboard main menu.

STUDENT ADVISING ADDENDUM
(Last Update 1/07/2026)

Engineering Technology & Advanced Manufacturing Students who are seeking a degree
or certificate should visit with their assigned Area-Of-Study advisor. To find out who
your assigned advisor is, go to Find My Advisor and follow the steps using MyACC. If
you have not been assigned an advisor, then please visit the Advising Office on your
campus or fill out the Contact ACC Advising form, and someone will get back to you.

    For online advising, please go to the following site:
https://students.austincc.edu/advising/online-advising/ 

    High School students taking classes in dual enrollment or as part of an academy or
institute will have different advisors and counselors assigned to them. For help
finding advising support for High School students, contact the ACC Office of College
& High School Relations.

All students are expected to check their ACC Gmail regularly throughout the semester.
We will be sending pertinent information about scholarships, the course schedule, job &
internship opportunities, Microsoft Azure free student software program, career fairs,
special events, and etc. Your instructor will communicate with you through Blackboard
Announcement and Email.

Please join our departments LinkedIn account for networking opportunities 

▪ Department website: https://dmcat.austincc.edu/engineering-technology/

▪ Tutor Schedules: https://dmcat.austincc.edu/engineering-technology/tutoring/

▪ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/accengtech/ 

▪ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/accengtech/ 

▪ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/accengtech/