East Carolina University
Department of Computer Science

CSCI 3010
Computer Networks
Standard Syllabus

Catalog entry

P: CSCI 2530. Design and analysis of computer communication networks. Topics include application layer protocols, Internet protocols, network interfaces, local and wide area networks, wireless networks, bridging and routing.

Course summary

This course provides a conceptual and practical knowledge in relation to Computer Networking, Telecommunication, and Internet. It investigates the structure, main concepts, and terminology of networking.

Course topics

• Internet Applications and Network Programming
• Data Communications
• Information Sources and Signals
• Transmission media
• Reliability and Channel Coding
• Transmission Modes
• Modulation and Modems
• Multiplexing and Demultiplexing
• Access and Interconnection Technologies
• The IEEE Mac Sub-Layer
• Wired LAN Technology
• Wireless Network Technologies
• LAN Extensions
• WAN Technologies and Dynamic Routing
• Networking Technologies Past and Present
• Internetworking
• IP: Internet Addressing
• Datagram Forwarding
• Support Protocols and Technologies
• IPv6
• UDP: Datagram Transport Service
• TCP: Reliable Transport Service
• Internet Routing and Routing Protocols
• Protocols and Layering
• Network Security

Student learning outcomes

• Explain the different layers of the TCP/IP protocol stack and the 7-layer OSI model and how the layers work together to provide network communication.
• Implement a working network client program and a working network server program which are able to communicate with each other using Socket API.
• Explain the difference in the web protocols, and how email and FTP clients and servers communicate. Explain the DNS architecture and how domain name resolution works.
• Explain how analog sine waves are used to encode digital network signals and how different modulation techniques are used to provide signal compression.
• Explain the differences in transmission media, including electrical transmission, light transmission, and electromagnetic transmission.
• Employ error detection and correction algorithms to detect and correct errors that occur in network transmission.
• Explain how several network signals can be multiplexed onto the same transmission medium and the differences in different multiplexing technologies.
• Explain the differences in different types of Internet access technologies.
• Explain how data is routed through the Internet.
• Explain the differences in different types of Internet access technologies.
• Demonstrate how to address the issues related to network security

Textbook

Grading

The course is graded using a combination of a group project (20%), Homeworks (10%), weekly quizzes (10%), a midterm exam (30%), and a final exam (30%). Letter grades are as follows: 94 or higher is an A; 90 or higher is an A-; 87 or higher is a B+; 83 or higher is a B; 80 or higher is a B-; 77 or higher is a C+; 73 or higher is a C; 70 or higher is a C-; 67 or higher is a D+; 63 or higher is a D; 60 or higher is a D-; and lower than 60 is an F.

Grade meanings