COURSE SYLLABUS

Course Number: Tcom 141

Title: Data Communications and Networking
Department/Program: ECCE
School: SOSE
Semester: First
School Year: 2005-2006 Instructor: ____
1. Course Description
This introductory course examines the analytical aspects of data communications and
computer networking. Topics cover protocol concepts and performance analysis that arise in
data link layer, MAC sublayer, and network layer. This includes Ethernet, FDDI, token ring,
and token bus. Data communication and networking elements including terminals, modems,
terminal control units, multiplexers, concentrators, and front-end processors are also
discussed. Other topics include common carrier services like ATM, ISDN, B-ISDN, PABX,
X.25, Frame Relay, CLEC, LEC, xDSL, wireless protocols, mobile systems, and other
integrated services plus the architectural layers of OSI and TCP/IP.
2. Course Objectives
At the end of the course, the students will be able to:
1. Understand and explain a Data Communications System and its components.
2. Describe the different transmission media used in a data communications system.
3. Identify the different types of network topologies and protocols.
4. Enumerate the layers of the OSI model and TCP/IP. Explain the function(s) of each layer.
5. Identify the different types of network devices and their functions within a network
6. Understand common carrier services and identify some of these.
3. Course Outline and Timeframe
1. Overview of Data Communications
Week 1
2. Terminal Devices, Modems, Interfaces, Service Units
Week 2
3. Transmission Modes and Media
Weeks 3-4
Long Test No. 1
4. Local Area Network/Wide Area Network
Weeks 5-8
4.1 Network topologies, Contention Protocols
4.2 OSI Model
4.3 Ethernet,Token ring,Token bus
Long Test No. 2
4.4 FDDI
Weeks 9-10
4.5 Network Devices
4.6 TCP/IP
Long Test No. 3
5. Common Carrier Services
Weeks 11-12
5.1 WAN Technologies
5.2 X.25 and Frame Relay, ISDN and B-ISDN
5.3 ATM
Long Test No. 4
5.4 xDSL
Weeks 13-14
5.5 Wireless Protocols (WIFI, Wimax)
5.6 Cellular Mobile Systems
Final Exam
4. Required Readings
1. Shay, William, Understanding Data Communications and Networks (2nd Edition),
Brooks/Cole Publishing Company, 1998
2. Held, Gilbert, Understanding Data Communications (5th Edition), Sams Publishing,
1996

3. Stallings, William, ISDN and Broadband ISDN with Frame Relay and ATM (4th
Edition), Prentice Hall International, Inc., 1999
5. Suggested Readings
1. Halsall, Fred, Data Communications, Computer Networks and Open Systems (3rd
Edition), Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, 1992
2. Bertsekas, Dimitri and Gallager, Robert, Data Networks (2nd Edition), Prentice Hall,
1992
6. Course Requirements
Final Grade:
1 Major Exam (Finals)
20%
4 Long Tests
40%
Written Reports/Research Work 15%
Oral Report
15%
Recitations, Short quizzes
10%
7. Grading System
A
92-up
C+
76-80+
F
below 60
B+
87-91+
C
70-75+
B
81-86+
D
60-69+
For the final exam, those with a class standing averaging an "A or B+" are exempted. They also
have the option of taking the final exam in case they want to further increase their grade.
8. Classroom Policies
1. All lecture notes will either be uploaded to the web or a copy will be given to the
class beadle in advance. Students must read the topics ahead of class time. Students
will be responsible for printing their own copies of the lecture notes.
2. Attendance will be checked. Those who are not in class when this is done are
considered absent. Maximum allowed number of cuts for this course is 9. Students
will be responsible for assigned works and lectures missed in class during absence.
3. Late class work submitted will be deducted 10% (of the total points) per day of nonsubmission.
4. For the oral report, a written copy of the report must be submitted in Word format.
The group is required to prepare a Powerpoint presentation that will be used in class
for the oral presentation and submit a softcopy of said report and powerpoint file at
least two (2) days before the scheduled date of reporting. Be sure that the softcopy is
virus-free, otherwise no credit will be given for this particular coursework.
I. Consultation Hours (Room 316 PLDT-CTC Building)
M-W-F 2:30 4:30 p.m.
T-Th
By appointment
10. Academic Integrity / Dishonesty

Consistent with Section 15 item 2 of the Education Act of 1982 on Students

Responsibilities, students are expected to uphold the academic integrity of the
University, endeavor to achieve academic excellence and abide by the rules and
regulations governing their academic responsibilities and moral integrity. Academic
dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating, plagiarizing, having 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.
Those who are caught committing acts of academic dishonesty will automatically get a
zero for that particular course work.