You realize these pet topics are only 5 university courses. It would be a intense 4 month semester, but it's workable.

  1. full understanding of computer architecture, realizing how the CPU executes code
  2. analyze efficiency (Big O) (a few hours), knowledge of advanced algorithms
  3. understanding compilers
  4. knowledge of the OS workings (often self taught out of necessity) 
  5. AI fundamentals (Admittedly a specialized topic)