IST 220: Networking and Telecommunications

University Park

Spring 2009

Syllabus

Class Time

MW 8am -- 9:30am

Class Room

206 IST Building

Web page

http://ist.psu.edu/s2/ist220

 

Instructor

Professor Peng Liu

Office

301F IST Building

Office Hours

Wednesday: 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm or by appointment

Phone / Fax

(814) 863-0641 / 865-6426

E-mail

pliu@ist.psu.edu

 

 

TA

Cathy Li

Office

328 IST Building

Office Hours

The lab hours

E-mail

fli@ist.psu.edu

 

Course Overview:
 

IST 220 is an introductory course to digital networking and telecommunications and their applications in information systems. It is a required core course for both the two-year and four-year IST degrees. Its objective is to provide the students with a basic understanding of the working of computer and telecommunication networks and the ability to apply this knowledge to specific applications and situations. The course will cover the following topics:

  • Overview of networking and telecommunications
  • Telecommunications history
  • Industry standards, topologies and protocols   
  • Telecommunications transmission media
  • Local and long-distance data communication
  • Error characteristics, detection, and correction
  • Local and wide area networking
  • Internetworking Technology
  • Internet TCP/IP protocol suite
  • The OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) models
  • Network management
  • Network security and recovery
  • Network applications
  • The selection of telecommunications and networking systems

While the course is about digital technology and how it works, it is not a training course in particular equipment and/or applications. While there will be demonstrations of relevant technologies, the course is not equipment intensive and will not involve special technology needs beyond the normal access to computers, the Internet and web.

The prerequisite for the course is IST110: Introduction to Information Sciences and Technology.

 

Course Objectives:

The objectives of this course are two-fold:

(1) To provide students with a basic understanding of networking and telecommunications.

(2) To develop the students’ ability in applying networking and telecommunication knowledge to specific applications and situations, such as the Internet, intranet, and e-commerce.

 

Course Materials:

Required Textbook:

  • D. E. Comer, Computer Networks and Internets, Prentice Hall, 2009 (5th Edition), ISBN 0-13-606127-3.

Other Materials:

  • C. M. White, Data Communications and Computer Networks: A Business User's Approach. 1st Edition, Course Technology, Inc., 2000, ISBN 0-619-015292.
  • A. S. Tanenbaum, Computer Networks, 3rd Edition, Prentice-Hall, 1996.
  • L. L. Peterson, B. S. Davie, Computer Networks: A Systems Approach, 2nd Edition, Morgan Kaufman, 2000.

Examinations and Assignments:

This course will have:

  • 3 Closed Book Exams. Each exam will take 90 minutes. Each exam will include three types of questions: multiple choices, true or false, and short answers. A tentative schedule for these exams can be found in the Course Schedule.  
  • 3 Home-works. Each homework includes several questions. Each question is of three possible types: multiple choices, true or false, and short answers. The release and due dates for these homeworks are marked in the Course Schedule.
  • 4 Group Hands-On Projects. Each group is asked to finish 4 hands-on networking projects in the IST networking teaching lab in 202 IST Building. More details about the term projects can be found in the Project webpage.

 

Grading:

Examination 1

17%

Examination 2

17%

Examination 3

20%

Home-works

18%

Group Projects

24%

 

Attendance

4%

 

Total

100%

 

Grading Scale
Grades will be assigned based on the following scale:

Grade

Percentage

A

93% to 100%

A-

90% to 92.9%

B+

87% to 89.9%

B

83% to 86.9%

B-

80% to 82.9%

C+

77% to 79.9%

C

70% to 76.9%

D

60% to 69.9%

F

less than 60%

 

Course Policies:

Classes, Exams, and Assignments:

·         Homework: Email submissions will NOT be accepted. They will be discarded when received. Hard copy homework submissions are required.   

·         Exams: There will be NO make-up examinations unless an official excuse (document) is submitted and pre-approved by the instructor. The exams are NOT accumulative.

·         Projects: Each project includes a report. The submission of each report has a due day (see the Course Schedule). Email submissions will NOT be accepted. They will be discarded when received. Hard copy homework submissions are required.  

·         Late Policy: Starting right after the required submission date of any homework or project report, 20% of the grade will be deducted per day up to two days. NO points will be given to submissions more than two days late. A documented chronic condition which could affect this policy must be immediately brought to the attention of the instructor.   

·         Attendance: Attendance of students to all classes is required. 7% of the total grade will be based on attendance. 

·         Readings: Some sections in the textbook will be assigned as reading materials. Students are expected to read the materials that will be discussed in the class before the class meeting.

       Academic Integrity: 

·         According to the Penn State Principles and University Code of Conduct: Academic integrity is a basic guiding principle for all academic activity at Penn State University, allowing the pursuit of scholarly activity in an open, honest, and responsible manner.  In according with the University’s Code of Conduct, you must not engage in or tolerate academic dishonesty.  This includes, but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, fabrication of information or citations, facilitating acts of academic dishonesty by others, unauthorized possession of examinations, submitting work of another person, or work previously used without informing the instructor, or tampering with the academic work of other students.

·         Any violation of academic integrity will be investigated, and where warranted, punitive action will be taken.  For every incident when a penalty of any kind is assessed, a report must be filed.  This form is used for both undergraduate and graduate courses.  This report must be signed by both the instructor and the student, and then submitted to the senior associate dean, Joe Lambert.

           Affirmative Action & Sexual Harassment: 

·         The Pennsylvania State University is committed to a policy that all persons shall have equal access to programs, facilities, admission, and employment without regard to personal characteristics not related to ability, performance, or qualifications as determined by University policy or by Commonwealth or Federal authorities.  Penn State does not discriminate against any person because of age, ancestry, color, disability or handicap, national origin, race, religious creed, gender, sexual orientation, or veteran status.  Direct all inquiries to the Affirmative Action Office, 211 Willard Building.

          Americans with Disabilities Act:

·         IST welcomes persons with disabilities to all of its classes, programs, and events.  If you need accommodations, or have questions about access to buildings where IST activities are held, please contact us in advance of your participation or visit.  If you need assistance during a class, program, or event, please contact the member of our staff or faculty in charge.

          An Invitation to Students with Learning Disabilities: 

·         It is Penn State’s policy to not discriminate against qualified students with documented disabilities in its educational programs.  If you have a disability-related need for modifications in your testing or learning situation, your instructor should be notified during the first week of classes so that your needs can be accommodated.  You will be asked to present documentation from the Office of Disability Services (located in 116 Bouclé Building, 863-1807) that describes the nature of your disability and the recommended remedy.  You may refer to the Nondiscrimination Policy in the Student Guide to University Policies and Rules.

Selected Web Links:

Here is a selected list of web pages/sites related to Networking and Telecommunications.

Project Links:

 

External Links:

 

Penn State Library Links

       http://www.libraries.psu.edu/itech/ist/ist_library_resources_home.htm

 

Penn State Campus Links

The End