Caldwell College Course Syllabus	Instructor: Arnold Toffler Phone: (973) 618 3459 Office: 4-250 FAX: (973) 783-3469 email: Atoffler@caldwell.edu Computer Information Systems/Business Division
Caldwell College 9 Ryerson Ave Caldwell, NJ 07006	Office hours: T 3:00 – 4:00 PM, R 10:00 AM – 12:00, F 10:00 – 11:00 AM or by appointment CS115 - 004 Class Hours: T.R 1:30 – 2:45 PM

CS320 – Data Communications and Networks

Learning the Way Computers Communicate

Course Objectives

1. Learn the basic Concepts of Data Communications

2. Learn about different networks and network components

3. Learn the basic concepts in managing computer networks

4. Learn to configure routers and other network components

The course is designed to teach more advanced students the essentials of data and voice communications networks. Students learn how voice and data communications works in current private, commercial and public networks. Students will work with local area network equipment and servers that connect to the internet. The course objective is for the student to achieve a level of familiarity in implementing and maintaining local area networks, internet connections and commercial communications services.

Required Text Books and Materials

1. White, Curt M., Data Communications and Computer Networks, Fourth Edition, Course Technology, 2002. ISBN: 1-4188-3610-9

In addition, you will need two 3.5 inch high density diskettes formatted for IBM compatible computers, a CD-RW disc or a flash drive. Several work assignments will be on computer files that may be handed in on diskettes or emailed to the Instructor. While these will be handed back after grading, the student may need additional diskettes to continue working on assignments. These should be saved on a separate disk. In addition, students will put assignment files on specified servers and retrieve course information on servers. Additional instructions will be provided.

I also recommend that you have a notebook or loose-leaf binder to take notes and insert class presentation materials.

Examination and Project Assignment Schedule

The course requires the completion of seven assignments. Assignments will be presented in class and will be posted on both Professor Toffler’s web site and on the course Blackboard site. You will be required to develop several web sites. These assignments will be emailed to you, posted on Professor Toffler’s web site and on the course Blackboard site at least two weeks before the due date.

Assignments may be submitted using one of the following methods:

1. Using Blackboard’s “Digital Drop Box”
2. Put on specified CIS servers
3. Using email to send your assignment to the Professor
4. Submitted in class, sent (Postal Mail) or Delivered to the Professor’s mail box (or office) on a floppy diskette, compatible CD-ROMS , zip disks or flash drive. (These will be given back to you after the project is graded.)

You must submit your completed assignment (computer files) to Professor Toffler (atoffler@caldwell.edu) by 5 PM (17:00) on the due date. Be sure to clearly print your name on the CD or diskette, etc. If the assignment is submitted after the due date, points will be deducted from the grade. The grade for assignments submitted late will be decreased by ten points for every week or part of week that it is late. No assignment will be accepted two weeks after the due date. If this occurs, the assignment grade will be zero. In addition, there will be a midterm exam and a final exam (5/13/2008, 2:30 PM). All assignment and test grades will be numeric. The final grade will be a letter grade based upon Caldwell College guidelines.

Assignment	Percent of Grade	Due Date
Class Assignments	60%
Mid-Term Exam	15%	3/15/2008
Final Exam	25%	5/13/2008

Course Schedule

It is important to complete the assignments and reading. The assignments and exams will be based upon the reading materials. It is the responsibility of each student to learn the material before attempting the assignments.

Class materials, including assignments and class presentations will be on Professor Toffler’s web site and Blackboard site. It is linked to the faculty listing on the Caldwell College web site or directly accessible as http://faculty.caldwell.edu/atoffler/.

Questions regarding the course materials can be emailed to Professor Toffler. In addition, students may call the Professor or meet during office hours. Students may arrange appointments at other times if the designated office hours are inconvenient.

Course Week	Date (Week)	Assignment
Week 1	1/14/2008	Chapter 1 Introduction to Computer Networks and Data Communications
Week 2	1/21/2008	Chapter 1 (cont.) Introduction to Computer Networks and Data Communications
Week 3	1/28/2008	Chapter 2 Fundamentals of Data and Signals
Week 4	2/4/2008	Chapter 3 The Media: Conducted and Wireless
Week 5	2/11/2008	Chapter 4 Making Connections
Week 6	2/18/2008	Chapter 5 Multiplexing: Sharing a Medium
Week 7	2/25/2008	Chapter 6 Errors, Error Detection, and Error Control
Week 8	3/3/2008	Chapter 7 Local Area Networks: The Basics
Week 9	3/10/2008	Mid-term Exam (3/15) Chapter 8 Local Area Networks: Internetworking
Week 10	3/17/2008	Chapter 8 (cont.) Local Area Networks: Internetworking
Week 11	3/31/2008	Chapter 9 Local Area Networks: Software and Support Systems
Week 12	4/7/2008	Chapter 10 Introduction to Metropolitan Area Networks and Wide Area Networks
Week 13	4/14/2008	Chapter 11 The Internet
Week 14	4/21/2008	Chapter 12 Telecommunications Systems
Week 15	4/28/2008	Chapter 13 Network Security
Week 16	5/5/2008	Chapter 14 Network Design and Management
Week 17	5/13/2008	Final Exam (2:30 PM)

Policies and Additional Information

All Caldwell College policies and procedures regarding class attendance, behavior, academic integrity, including all remedies and penalties will be followed exactly. These policies and procedures are well documented in the catalogues and other documents. Please consult with me if you have any questions.

Please read and follow all rules as set forth in the "Academic Integrity Policy."

All tests will be closed book. Tests are constructed primarily from a pool of questions supplied by the textbook publisher and questions that the instructor devises. Questions are selected based on the importance of the topic and the amount of class time spent on the material. If you miss a test, you will be required to take a make-up test. Questions for the make-up test may be more difficult than the ones selected for the scheduled test. The grade for assignments submitted late will be decreased by ten points for every week or part of week that it is late and will be accepted for two weeks following the due date.

If you are absent, you are responsible for all class notes and projects that you have missed. If you are absent more than five times for any reason besides extended illness during the semester, your grade will be reduced by one complete letter grade. Any extended illness must be verified with the Assistant Dean’s office.

Each Computer Lab has a schedule of hours posted on the door or in the room. Please feel free to use computers in any lab during the scheduled hours.

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