Data Communications and Computer Networks
Fall 2006

Syllabus

Dr. Vasil Y. Hnatyshin and Dr. Andrea Lobo

General Class Information
Course Title:  Data Communications and Computer Networks
Instructors:  Dr. Vasil Y. Hnatyshin and Dr. Andrea Lobo
Contact Information:  E-mail: hnatyshin@rowan.edu
Phone: (856) 256-4758

E-mail: lobo@rowan.edu
Phone: (856) 256-3815
Catalog Description:  0706.410 Data Communications and Networking (3 credits) 

Students in this upper-division course will study the principles of data communications and important network architectures and protocols. Its topics include: the advantages of networking, major network architectures, protocol reference models and stacks, the Data Link Layer, the Network Layer, the Transport Layer, and the Internet. Additional topics may include: local, metropolitan and wide area networks; wireless, telephone and cellular networks; network security; and network programming. Students complete a networking team project. (Prerequisites: 0707.340, 1702.360 or permission from the instructor)
Office Hours:  Dr. Hnatyshin: 
  • M/W: 9:30 - 10:30 AM
  • M/W: 2:00 - 3:00 PM
Dr. Lobo:
  • M: 2:00 - 3:00 PM
  • W: 1:00 - 3:00 PM
or 
  • By priror appointment
Class Meeting Times and Location:  Mon./Wed.  3:15 PM  - 4: 30 PM
Education Building 2100
Required Book:  The Computer Networking Complete Package, 3e ISBN: 0-321-41849-2
  • "Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach Featuring the Internet", 3e J. Kurose and K. Ross
  • A Study Companion for Computer Networking, 3e
OR

J. Kurose and K. Ross, "Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach Featuring the Internet", 3e ISBN: 0-321-22735-2
Supporting Materials:
  • K. Brown and L. Christianson, "OPNET LAB Manual", ISBN: 0-13-148252-1
  • Handouts
  • Some classroom activities will require a computer. Each student is required to bring a laptop with Ethereal and OPNET software installed and operational. The laptop must also have  network access. Students who do not own a laptop MUST arrange for a loaner laptop with the professors at the end of today's class. 
Class Policies
Expected Work:  o   Weekly reading assignments
o   Final 
o   Substantial laboratory and programming assignments. 
o   Frequent unanounced in class quizzes. 
Grading:  o  Quizzes, in class contributions, reading the textbook --   30%
o  Laboratory, programming, and other assignments     --   40%
o  Final examination                                                     --  30%

The Final Letter Grade is assigned based on the following numeric grade to letter grade conversion table: 
 
 A  = 93 and above 
 A-  = 90 to 93 
 B+  = 87 to 89 
 B  = 83 to 86 
 B-  = 80 to 82 
 C+  = 77 to 79 
 C  = 73 to 76 
 C-  = 70 to 72 
 D+  = 67 to 69 
 D  = 63 to 66 
 D-  = 60 to 62 
 F  = Less than 60 
 
Assignments/Exams Description:  This course is an advanced restricted elective. You are expected to prepare in advance for each lecture by reading all assigned material, to attend each lecture, and to actively participate and contribute to all class discussions. The professor will keep track of the frequency, quality, and professionalism of your contributions.

Attendance to all lectures is mandatory; please inform the professor, preferably by email and in advance, if you will be absent from a class session.

o  Reading Assignments:

  • Students MUST come to class having read the assigned chapters from the course textbook. 
  • Students MUST be ready to discuss assigned reading material in class
  • Students MUST be ready to do problems based on the assigned reading material in class
o   Quizzes: Quizzes, often unannounced, will emphasize the material that was covered in reading assignments, suggested problems, and/or recent preceding class sessions. There will be no re-quiz for a missed quiz, as attendance to class is mandatory.

o  In Class Contributions: Students will also be graded on thier in-class participation and contribution to the class discussions and problem solving.

o   Homework Assignments: Assigned work that should be completed outside of class time must be submitted by the beginning of class on the due date. Late submissions will be penalized at the rate of 25% points for the first late day, followed by 10% points for each subsequent late day, including weekend days. 

Assignments will be graded based on their correctness, efficiency, testing, and documentation. Students are responsible for showing evidence that their assignment is completed  according to requirements. 

o   Exams: The final evaluation will be conducted at the time scheduled by the Registrar's Office.  Re-tests will be given only in cases of extreme hardship as defined by the rules of Rowan University.
A note about missing exams or class due to illness: In my class (and all of your other classes) it is very important to get a note from student health services, or your personal doctor, if you miss an important class. If you are not feeling well on a given day, you email or call me ahead of time. In this case, if you miss a quiz, I may let you make that quiz up. If you don't let me know in advance, I will always require some sort of documentation  that your absence was reasonable before allowing you to make up work. If you have to miss an exam (and I hope you will not) re-tests will be given only in cases of extreme hardship as defined by the rules of Rowan University, and I always require documentation of the reasons for your absence.
Policy on Plagiarism:  To submit someone else's work as your own is plagiarism, a form of academic dishonesty. It is college policy that students who commit an act of academic dishonesty may be subject to failure in the course, suspension from the College, or both. See the Rowan University Student Handbook or the Course Schedule for more details. 

If you use materials that you've obtained on the Internet, from a book, etc., for example as part of a programming assignment, you must include an appropriate reference. To use such materials without proper attribution is a form of plagiarism. 

I will make a reasonable effort to catch plagiarizers, and it will not be tolerated.
Email:  Please check your e-mail regularly because I often will send class announcements via e-mail.
Classroom Decorum:  In order to show proper respect for the instructor and for your fellow students,please observe the following: 
  • Be on time. Class will begin promptly at the scheduled time. Allow yourself enough time to park and get to class, ready to learn, before the period begins. 
  • Do not eat in class. It's very distracting, especially since other students may be hungry too! 
  • Do your best to remain in the room during the period. Exiting and entering during the period breaks the concentration of your fellow students, and makes it hard for you to get the full value of the class. 
  • Turn off all cell phones, pagers, and anything else that would cause a distraction to yourself or others around you. 
Getting Help:  I can always be reached quickly via email or telephone (see contact information above). If you are having a problem with the course, the sooner we discuss it the more likely we'll be able to deal with it. 

NOTE: Questions about the assignment asked in less than 24 hours before the assignment is due may receive no answer.