Course Syllabi

Course Title and Code COE 351 - Computer Networks

Semester Spring 2020

 Course Identification and General Information:

Department Computer Engineering Course Level 7

Contact Hours 2 theory classes per week of 75 minutes each Credit Hours 3

Web Address http://lms.qu.edu.sa

Class Location: Sun/Tuesdays, Mon/Wednesdays, 8.00 AM – 9.30 AM (Room 202/301 – CoC Building)

 Course Instructor/Coordinator’s Name: Dr. Mohammad Tanvir Parvez ([email protected]).

Office Hours: Mondays to Wednesdays (9.30 AM – 11.00 AM, Room SF202) or by appointment

 Textbook Title, Author, and Year:

 Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach Featuring the Internet. By James F. Kurose, Keith W. Ross. 6 th edition,
Addison-Wesley, 2012, ISBN-13: 978-0132856201.

 Other Supplemental Materials:

 Data and Computer Communications, William Stallings, 10/E, 2013, ISBN-13: 978-0133506488.
 Computer Networks, Andrew S. Tanenbaum and David J. Wetherall, 5/E, 2010, ISBN-13: 978-0132126953.

 Specific Course Information:

o Catalog Description: This course provides an introduction to fundamental concepts in the design and
implementation of computer communication networks. It covers topics related to network architectures, OSI and
TCP/IP layers and protocols, design of LANs and WANs, transmission media, multiplexing, switching, framing, error
detection and correction, flow control, routing, congestion control, TCP/IP, DNS, email, and World Wide Web. Our
approach is top-down meaning that we will look at a computer network first from an application developer’s
perspective down towards the more detailed hardware level.
o Pre-requisites: CS222
o Co-Requisites: COE 352
o Required, Elective, or Selected Elective: Required.

 Course Learning Outcomes: Summary of the main learning outcomes for enrolled students.
1. When asked, in writing, students will be able to identify different layers of network reference model and the
functions of each layer based on standard model of network layers.
2. When asked, in writing, students will be able to classify various network protocols and algorithms based on their
functionalities.
3. When asked, in writing, students will be able to summarize various application layer protocols using protocol rules.
4. When asked, in writing, students will be able to illustrate data transferring process in TCP using network scenarios.
5. When asked, in writing, students will be able to explain how a network can detect and correct transmission errors
using rules of protocols.

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6. When asked, in writing, students will be able to execute the routing algorithms for network scenarios using step by
step simulation.
7. When asked, in writing, students will be able to interpret Internet protocol addressing and sub netting by designing
networks.

 ABET Student Outcomes Addressed by the Course:

This course provides the following outcomes with the following relationship:

Computer Engineering Student Outcomes Evaluation Status

1. an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying

Evaluated
principles of engineering, science, and mathematics

2. an ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs
with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, Evaluated
environmental, and economic factors

3. an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences Evaluated

4. an ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations

and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions Not Evaluated
in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts

5. an ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide

leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, Not Evaluated
and meet objectives

6. an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret

Not Evaluated
data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions

7. an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning
Not Evaluated
strategies.

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 CLO to ABET Performance Indicators Mapping and Assessments
CLOs Covered ABET Performance Assessment Process and Target
Indicators Performance (average CLO
achievement threshold – assessed
from grades, self-assessment and
faculty scores)
1. When asked, in writing, students 1.4 Select appropriate techniques Through written exams.
will be able to identify different and tools for a specific engineering
layers of network reference task and compares results with Target Performance: Advance (>
model and the functions of results from alternative tools or 90%)
each layer based on standard techniques.
model of network layers.
2. When asked, in writing, students 2.3 Produce appropriate Through written exams.
will be able to classify various software/hardware models for
network protocols and engineering problems. Target Performance: Advance (>
algorithms based on their 85%)
functionalities.
3. When asked, in writing, students 1.4 Select appropriate techniques Through written exams.
will be able to summarize and tools for a specific engineering
various application layer task and compares results with Target Performance: Advance (>
protocols using protocol rules. results from alternative tools or 85%)
techniques.

4. When asked, in writing, students 1.3 Apply principles from Through written exams.
will be able to illustrate data mathematics and science to
transferring process in TCP using achieve problem solutions. Target Performance: Proficient (>
network scenarios. 70%)

5. When asked, in writing, students 2.4 Describe the effects of factors Through written exams.
will be able to explain how a from public health, safety, welfare,
network can detect and correct global, cultural, environmental, Target Performance: Proficient (>
transmission errors using rules of and/or socio-economic in 70%)
protocols. engineering design.
6. When asked, in writing, students 1.3 Apply principles from Through written exams and home
will be able to execute the mathematics and science to works.
routing algorithms for network achieve problem solutions.
scenarios using step by step Target Performance: Proficient (>
simulation. 70%)

7. When asked, in writing, students 1.2 Problem solution is appropriate Through home works.
will be able to interpret Internet and within reasonable constraints.
protocol addressing and sub Target Performance: Proficient (>
netting by designing networks. 70%)

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 Outcome Assessment:
1. Direct Assessment
☒ Midterm Written Exam I (15 Points)
☒ Midterm Written Exam II (15 Points)
☒ Final Written Exam (40 Points)
☒ Practice in the Lab
☒ Integrative Projects (20 Points)
☒ Quizzes (5 points)
☒ Homework (5 points)
☒ Written Reports (Included in Integrative Projects)
☒ Professional skills (Team Work & ethics …) (Included in Integrative Projects)
☒ Participation in Lecture (Included in HW)

2. Indirect Assessment
☒ Post-Course Questionnaire

 Course Outline:
General Topic # of Weeks Contact Hours

 Overview of computer networks and Internet 2 6

 Application Layer Protocols(principles and various protocols) 3 9

 Transport Layer (services and principles, multiplexing and de-

3 9
multiplexing, TCP/UDP, congestion control)

 Network Layer (routers and routing algorithms) 3 9

 Data Link Layer (MAC, LAN, Ethernet, PPP) 3 9

 Mid-Term Exams I & II. 1 3
 Total contact hours and credits per semester): 15 45

 Grading Policy:
Mark Distribution: Grading Scale:
Mid Terms Exams (Two) – 30% A+ (95% or more)
Home Works and assignments – 10% A (90% - 94%)
Presentations – 5% B+ (85% - 89%)
Quizzes – 10% B (80% - 84%)
Class participation – 5% C+ (75% - 79%)
Final Exam – 40% C (70% - 74%)
D+ (65% - 69%)
D (60% - 64%)
F (less than 60%)

Assessment Descriptions: The students will be given two written midterm exams (each having 15% of total marks), in
addition to 4 quizzes (out of which, best 2 will be counted). Students in groups (2/3 members/group) will be given
some recent topics in networking to research on and then present their research in class (5% of the total grade).

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 Some home-work assignments will cover the core concepts of the course (10% of the grade). Final exam (40% of
the total grade) will be a written exam.

Attendance Policy: The policy for missing classes is same as the policy followed in QU. Excuses must be submitted within
one week of missing the class. Later arrival in the quiz or exam will not be excused.
Ethical Responsibilities: All assignments and programming exercises must be done by the student himself. A student
can discuss/consult or refer to any other person or resources, however, the final work must be his own and not
copied as is from others. Any copied assignment will receive a zero grade.

Late Submission Policy: Any assignments submitted late will lose 25% of the assigned grades for each day of delay.

Policy for Missed Exam: Missed quizzes cannot be repeated, as best 3 out of 5 quizzes will count towards final grade.
Mid-term/final exam may be retaken for students having valid medical excuses.

 Course Schedule:
Topics and/or Target Representative Assessments
Weeks Reference
Activities CLO(s) Questions
Introduction to CLO # 1 Section 1.1 to What is the difference
1 Internet, network 1.3 between a host and an
edges and cores end system?
Delay, loss, CLO # 2 Section 1.4, What are the five layers in
2 throughput, protocol 1.5 the Internet protocol
layers stack?
Principles of network CLO # 2, 3 Section 2.1, What is the difference
2,2 between network
3 applications, Web
architecture and
and HTTP
application architecture?
CLO # 2, 3 Section 2.4, From a user’s perspective, Quiz 1
2.5 what is the difference
between the download-
4 Electronic mails, DNS and delete
mode and the download-
and-keep mode in POP3?
CLO # 2, 3 Section 2.6 What is an overlay
network? Does it include
Peep to Peer
5 routers? What are the
applications
edges in the overlay
network?
CLO # 4 Section 3.1 – Describe why an Quiz 2
Transport layer 3.3 application developer
6 services, multiplexing, might choose to run an
UDP application over UDP
rather than TCP.
CLO # 5 Section 3.4 In our rdt protocols, why
Principles of reliable
7 did we need to introduce
data transfer
sequence numbers?
CLO # 4, Section 3.5 – True or False? The size of Mid 1
TCP, congestion CLO # 5 3.7 the TCP rwnd never
8 changes throughout the
control
duration of the
connection.

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 CLO # 4, Section 4.2, Describe how packet loss
Virtual circuit and
9 CLO # 6, 4.4 can occur at input ports.
datagrams, IP
CLO # 7
CLO # 2, Section 4.5 Is it necessary that every Presentations
CLO # 6 autonomous system use
10 Routing algorithms the same intra-AS routing
algorithm? Why or why
not?
CLO # 2, Section 4.6 Why are different inter-AS Quiz 3
11 Routing in the Internet CLO # 6 and intra-AS protocols
used in the Internet?
CLO # 5 Section 5.2 If all the links in the Internet Presentations
were to provide reliable
Error detection and delivery service, would the
12 TCP reliable delivery
correction
service be redundant?
Why or why not?
CLO # 7 Section 5.3 In CSMA/CD, after the fifth Mid 2
collision, what is the
13 MAC probability that a node
chooses K = 4?
CLO # 7 Section 5.4 How big is the MAC
14 Ethernet, switches
address space?
15 Review Presentations

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