Johns Hopkins University
Whiting School of Engineering
Part-Time Programs in Engineering and Applied Science

Foundations of Networking and Telecommunications

635.411

Class Home Page

Course Description

A comprehensive presentation is given of data and computer-to-computer (C2C) communications. The course covers voice, data, image, and video communications fundamentals. It provides the basics of communications techniques, applications technology, and C2C networking including circuit-switched, packet-switched, and local/wide area systems. The course covers the basics of LAN and WAN network requirements and examines communications protocols and implementations. It addresses evolving proprietary and "open" communications standards.

The content of this course is intended to be approximately 80% technical and 20% business.

Intended Audience

This course is a core course for students in the Information Systems and Technology Master's Program. It is open to students in other JHU/GCW Master's Degree programs, with the exception of students in the MS Computer Science Program.

Prerequisites for the course are the same as the prerequisites for the IST Master's Program. Students should be familiar with networking and the Internet from a user's perspective.

Syllabus

  1. Introduction
  2. Basic Concepts/Voice and Video
  3. Data: Coding and Signals
  4. Data Communications and Traffic Engineering
  5. Network Protocols
  6. Midterm Exam
  7. Multiplexing and Switching
  8. Public Switched Telephone Network
  9. Local and Regional Networks
  10. Wide Area Networks
  11. Enterprise Networks
  12. Wireless Networks
  13. Network Management and Security
  14. Final Exam

Homework

Homework consists of assigned readings each week, and a group term paper. Teams of three to five students (depending on class size) will prepare a 30-page paper on a subject assigned by the instructor. This paper will require a systems view (technical, business, society) of a topic relevant to the course. Portions of the paper will be due no later than the following classes:
Outline and Research Sources listWeek 5
First DraftWeek 10
Final PaperWeek 13

Along with the final paper, each team member will submit (in a sealed envelope) their evaluation of the contributions of all other team members. This will help to ensure that all team members contribute fully to the development of the term paper.

Grading

Grading will be based on the following model:

Instructor

The course instructor is Lloyd Taylor.


Return to Offical Course Home Page
Return to Part-Time Engineering
Return to Whiting School of Engineering
Return to JHUniverse