GRADUATE PROGRAMS IN SOFTWARE ENGINEERING, IT & IS

University of St. Thomas

St. Paul, MN 55105
 
 

SYLLABUS Spring 2001

CSIS625


Course Title: Network Communications
Credit Value: 3
Instructor: Dan Oelke
Email: Dan@oelke.com -or- droelke@stthomas.edu
Plain text preferred. HTML format ok. 
RTF tolerated. "Word" documents deleted.
Phone: 763-241-8604 - home
763-268-3382 - daytime 
Office hours: After class or by appointment
Course Objectives: Basic understanding of communications technology. Understand the communication industry's vernacular. Understanding of OSI reference model. More detailed knowledge of different physical and transport layer technologies.
Required Text: Data Communications and Networking - 2nd Edition
By: Behrouz Forouzan - McGraw-Hill
Grading Policy: 2 take-home quizzes (aka homework) before midterm- 10% each
Midterm - 25%
2 take-home quizzes after midterm - 15% each
Final - 25%
Optional 5th homework as a grade booster if your grade is B- or lower (at discretion of the instructor.)
100-90% 
89-80%
79-70%
70-
Attendance Policy: Attendance will be taken. 
Knowledge Base: Lecture notes & handouts.
Voice and Data Communications Handbook
by Regis "Bud" Bates & Donald Gregory - McGraw-Hill
Newton's Telecom Dictionary by Harry Newton
Computer Networks by Andrew S. Tanenbaum

 
 
 

Course Outline:
Week 1 1/30 Introduction to Communications & Plain Old Telephony Service
Lecture notes & Chapter 1
Week 2 2/6 Introduction to Data Networks & Basic Concepts
Chapters 1-3
Week 3 2/13 Encoding and Transmission of Digital Data
Chapters 4-5
Week 4 2/20 Transmission Media, Multiplexing and Error Detection and Correction
Chapters 6-7
Week 5 2/27 Multiplexing Error Correction, T1, Lecture notes
Chapters 8-9
Week 6 3/6 Data Link Protocols, Media Access Sublevel.
Chapters 10-11
Week 7 3/13 Midterm
3/20 Spring Break
Week 8 3/27 Local Area Networks, Switching
Chapters 12 & 14
Week 9 4/3 Local Area Networks
Chapter 12
Week 10 4/10 Switching, ISDN & X.25
Chapters 14-16
Week 11 4/17 Frame Relay, ATM & Sonet/SDH
Chapters 17-19
Week 12 4/24 Networking and Internetworking Devices, Transport Layer
Chapters 20-21
Week 13 5/1 Presentation Layer (selective), TCP/IP
Chapters 22-23
Week 14 5/8 Final

Course outline subject to change
 

Work Submission Guidelines

All Homework must be typed. Diagrams must be drawn using computer tool, or straight-edge and compass. Freehand drawings are not acceptable.

Electronic submissions are ok. Printed submissions are better for feedback. I will email back a grade for Electronic submissions with minimal comments. Printed submissions will get more written comments.

All homework is due one week after it is assigned. Homework will be accepted for one week after it is due, for reduced credit. After one week late grade for that homework is considered a zero.

Cooperation on homework is ok. Copying of homework is not ok. Do not copy answers word for word from another person. Do not copy word for word from the book. Answers that are found violate this policy will be marked as incorrect.
 

Miscellaneous Administrative Notes

Set phasers to stun - All cell phones, pagers, etc turned off or set to vibrate. No calls during tests.
Everyone should bring pencil, and ruler for diagrams to midterm and final.
Enable your St. Thomas email. If I need to get in touch with you, I'll use that address.
 

CSIS625 Course Description

This course is not about Internet

This course is not about the Web

This course is not about programming

This course is only some about TCP/IP

This course is about vocabulary.

This course is about concepts.

This course is about the technologies that make up our world's communications networks.

Main areas covered