Course Syllabus

MIT 5330 Computer Networks and Data Communications

Spring 2004 Thursdays 6:00 pm – 8:50 pm

Location: COMP 322

Instructor: Dr. Rolfe Sassenfeld

Office: COMP 227A

Phone: 747-5033

E-mail: rolfe@utep.edu

Office Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays 3:30pm to5:00pm, immediately after class, or by appointment.

Text: ‘Computer Networks and Internets’ by Douglas Comer, 4^th Edition 2004.

Course Web Page: http://sassenfeld.cs.utep.edu/mit5330/index.htm

Teaching Assistant: Raj Kandathi, rkkandathi@utep.edu

Course Description:

This course will be an introduction to data communications theory and technology. Covered topics include: multiplexing, switching, network topologies, internetworking, address resolution, protocol layering, routing methods, data security, network design, and distributed systems.

Course Materials:

Class presentations will be made using PowerPoint presentations. Be sure to carefully take notes during class. To allow for any corrections, lecture slides will be made available on the course website within 2 days after the lecture. If you choose to print slides in the UTEP computer labs, please reduce the amount of paper required by printing duplex using 6 slides per sheet (black and white). Do not rely solely on the lecture slides for studying purposes. You should also rely on your own written class notes. Information will be presented in class that may not be in the lecture slides. Therefore, you are again strongly advised to take notes and ask questions during the lecture. All supplemental course materials will be made available on the course web page.

Course Policies:

Attendance: Lecture attendance is not mandatory. However, the student should understand that their probability of success in the course improves greatly by attending class regularly. This class meets only once a week, thus missing one lecture is equivalent to missing an entire week of class. It is the student’s responsibility to keep up to date with any notes and assignments given in class. Exams are scheduled in advance and it is a requirement to take the exam at the scheduled date and time.

Tardiness: You should make every attempt to be in class on time. Arriving late will invariably disrupt the class. If you come to class late, enter quietly and take the first available seat. Be sure to review the section entitled “Late Assignment Policy” listed below.

Cell phones and pagers: Cell phones and pagers must be turned off or set on ‘silent ring’ prior to entering the classroom. Please do not answer phone calls in class.

Code of Conduct: Students are expected to conduct themselves in a professional and courteous manner, as prescribed by the Standards of Conduct provided at: http://www.utep.edu/catalogs/1998g/slife/gen1.htm Students may discuss programming exercises in a general way with other students, but unless otherwise noted, the solutions must be done independently. Graded work should be unmistakably your own. You may not transcribe or copy a solution taken from another person, book, or other source (e.g., a web page). Professors are required to – and will – report academic dishonesty and any other violation of the Standards of Conduct to the Dean of Students.

Disabilities: If you feel you may have a disability that requires accommodation, contact the Disabled Student Services Office at 747-5148, go to Room 106 E Union, or e-mail dss@utep.edu.

Grading: Grading will be based upon a weighted average of homework assignments, group work, quizzes, in class exams, and a comprehensive final exam. Unannounced quizzes may be given at the beginning or during any class. No makeup will be given for missed quizzes. Exams are scheduled in advance and it is a requirement to take the exam at the scheduled date and time. Missed exams will only be allowed for students with medical reason that prevents their attendance (written notification from doctor required), military duties (notification to be provided in advance) and for other compassionate reasons. Business related activities, car problems, and over sleeping are not considered compassionate reasons. To avoid unforeseen problems, plan on arriving at the University extra early on exam days.

Late Assignment Policy: Homework and other assignments are to be turned in promptly before the beginning of class on the due date. Deadlines are strictly adhered to, therefore late work will be assessed a 50% penalty if not turned within the first 10 minutes of class. Assignments that are more than 1 week late will not be accepted and will receive a grade of 0. There is no penalty for submitting assignments prior to their due date. Electronic submission of homework is acceptable and preferable whenever possible. Homework submitted electronically should be sent directly to the teaching assistant’s email address. Assignment must arrive electronically before the start of class otherwise the late penalty will be assessed. To avoid this, electronic submissions should be sent well in advance of the due date and time.

Final grades will be determined on the following basis:

Quizzes: 10%

Group work: 10%

Homework: 15%

2 In Class Exams: 40% (20% each)

Final Exam: 25%

Letter grades will be assigned according to the following scale:

90 – 100 % A

80 – 89 % B

70 – 79 % C

60 – 69 % D

59 or below F

Important Class Dates:

1/15/04	First Day of Class
2/12/04	Exam #1
3/8/04	Last Day to drop class with an automatic W
3/11/04	Exam #2
3/15/04 – 3/19/04	Spring Break / No Class
4/29/04	Last Day of Class / Final Exam