This document provides an overview of operating systems and the CSE-3201 Operating Systems course. It defines an operating system as a program that acts as an intermediary between the user and computer hardware, providing an environment for other programs to do useful work conveniently and efficiently. The goals of an operating system are outlined as simplifying user programs, efficiently using hardware, making applications portable and versatile, and providing security. Reasons for studying operating systems include understanding hardware and software interaction, basic principles of efficient resource management and security, and specialized operating systems like embedded, real-time, distributed, and cloud systems. The course will cover topics such as processes, threads, CPU scheduling, synchronization, file systems, virtual machines, and distributed systems