Syllabus

Data Communications / Networking - COMP 311

9:45 – 11:00 TR, Science 90

Spring 2004

Instructor: Frank McCown

Contact: 279-4434, HU Box 10764, fmccown@harding.edu (Home: 279-9332)

Home Page: http://www.harding.edu/fmccown (Syllabus, Outline, Calendar, Quizzes, useful links)

Office Hours: Lee 120-A: 10:45 – 11:45, 3 – 5 MWF and 4 – 5 TR or by appointment

Required Text: Communications Networks 2^nd Edition by Alberto Leon-Garcia and Indra Widjaja
Optional Text: Windows Sockets Network Programming by Bob Quinn and David Shute

Course Description

Topics include: network topology, local area networks, wide area networks, layered protocols, network management, and available network hardware and software. Some C++ programming using Windows sockets will be incorporated. Prerequisite: COMP 245 and 268.

Exams

Three regular exams (each worth 100 points) will be given in class as well as a final comprehensive exam (150 points) covering the entire course and, in more detail, the information presented since the 3^rd exam.

If for any reason you are not able to take an exam, you must notify me before the exam (or as soon as physically possible). Failure to do so will result in a zero for the exam. A message on my voice mail is preferred. If an official school function takes you out of class on an exam date, it is your responsibility to make arrangements one week prior to the exam as to when you will take the exam. Usually it will be given early, not late.

Programming Projects

Several programming projects (written in C++ using the Winsock library) will be assigned. A few weeks will normally be given to complete each project.

Quizzes and Assignments

Quizzes over reading assignments will be worth 10 points each. Other 10 point assignments will be given as homework and averaged into the quiz scores. The lowest quiz/assignment score will be dropped when computing the average. All quizzes will be taken on WebCT at http://webct.harding.edu before the class period on which the quiz is due. Even if you are absent from class, you are still required to take the quiz.

Grades

Standard letter grades: A = 90-100%, B = 80-89% C = 70-79%, D = 60-69%, F = 0-59%

Final grades will be computed using these weights:

Projects: 15%

Quizzes and Assignments: 20%

Exams: 45%

Final Exam: 20%

A maximum of 10% will be taken off each day (including weekends) an assignment is late, up to 50%. Those with excused absences are expected to turn in assignments as soon as you are physically capable of doing so.

Important: Keep all of your programs homework, etc. so if a grade gets marked down incorrectly, the mistake will be easily

resolved.

* It is important that you check your Harding e-mail regularly (everyday) because I occasionally give hints or corrections to homework assignments via e-mail.

Assessment

Harding University, since its charter in 1924, has been strongly committed to providing the best resources and environment for the teaching-learning process. The board, administration, faculty, and staff are wholeheartedly committed to full compliance with all criteria of the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The university values continuous, rigorous assessment at every level for its potential to improve student learning and achievement and for its centrality in fulfilling the stated mission of Harding.  Thus, a comprehensive assessment program has been developed that includes both the Academic units and the Administrative and Educational Support (AES) units. Specifically, all academic units will be assessed in reference to the following Expanded Statement of Institutional Purpose: The University provides programs that enable students to acquire essential knowledge, skills, and dispositions in their academic disciplines for successful careers, advanced studies, and servant leadership.
 
Near the completion of your major in the department of Computer Science & Computer Engineering, you will be assessed by a comprehensive examination covering core courses in your major. COMP 311 is one of these core courses. This examination will influence your final grade in the senior capstone course.
 
Assessment of the knowledge, skills, and dispositions of each student for the purpose of assigning a letter grade at the completion of this course will be based on the projects, quizzes, homework assignments, and exams that were described previously in this syllabus.

Comments

I expect every one of you to hold to the highest standard of personal conduct and integrity... that means you will not cheat on tests or programs. Cheating may result in you being dropped from the class with an F. That doesn’t mean you can’t help others with their programs and assignments; everyone will at some time struggle and need assistance from fellow students. But simply giving someone your source code to copy isn’t going to help the person learn and will hurt them in the long run.

Warning: students who “work together” on a programming assignment (working on one program and each making a copy) are in danger of having one grade divided between them. Most assignments in this course are individual assignments. Come by during office hours (or we’ll arrange a time) for assistance on programs.

If you ever need assistance in this class or anything else, please don’t hesitate to come by my office or give me a call. If it’s an emergency and you really need help in the evening, feel free to call me at home, only please do not call after curfew.

Students with Disabilities

It is the policy for Harding University to accommodate students with disabilities, pursuant to federal and state law. Therefore, any student with a documented disability condition (e.g., physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.) who needs to arrange reasonable accommodations must contact the instructor and Student Support Services at the beginning of the semester. SSS is located in Room 109 of the Lee Academic Center (279-4028).