That's so sad. 

It should be mandatory to build some Flip flops and implement a clock in 1st semester. 

A serial to parallel interface and vice versa. 

Understand memory spaces and addresses.

First in theory, then with an soldering iron.

Build a computer from discrete components. 
Something like this.

Every electronics technician with an 3 years apprenticeship can do this. 

FFS they should at minimum program some low-tech robot in C or assembler. Or at least do something with an ATmega or similar.