Computer Organization and Architecture and the Laboratory Sequence

In November of 1976, the Computer Society\´s Model Curricula Subcommittee issued a report on "A Curriculum in Computer Science and Engineering." Two subject areas of that curriculum are summarized here: computer organization and architecture, and the associated laboratory sequence. The ensuing paragraphs provide some insight into the rationale which governed the committee\´s choice of topics and courses, taking into account the diverse opinions of its contributors and, in particular, the thorny question of how to bridge the hardware/software gap.