CptS/EE 455 Introduction to Computer Networks 
Spring 2002
(this document is on-line at http://www.eecs.wsu.edu/~hauser/teaching/CS455/Syllabus.html)

Course Objectives

Concepts and implementation of computer networks: applications, architecture, protocol layers and protocols, internetworking and addressing, case studies.

This course has a significant hands-on programming component, but it is not a programming class per se. The programming projects are designed to both develop your skill in programming with networks and stretch your understanding of how networks work.

Course Mechanics

Instructor: Carl Hauser, EME 53, 5-6470, mailto:hauser@eecs.wsu.edu
Office Hours: Monday and Wednesday 4-5PM or make an appointment by e-mail

Teaching Assistant:  Kshamta Jerath, Sloan 315 mailto:kjerath@eecs.wsu.edu    
TA's Office Hours: Tu and Th 11:00-12:00

Class Meeting Time and Location: MWF 10:10-11:00 Sloan 175

Required Text Book: Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach Featuring the Internet, James F. Kurose and Keith W. Ross, Addison-Wesley, 1999. 
Optional Text Book: The Pocket Guide to TCP/IP Sockets (C Version), Donahoo and Calvert, Morgan Kaufmann, 2001. 

Prerequisite: at least two of CptS 223, CptS 224, CptS 360.The more the better. Good knowledge of programming in C, C++ or Java. Note: If you don't have the required prerequisite, you should talk to me before the 2nd class meeting to assess whether it is a good idea for you to stay in the course.

Class Web Page: http://www.eecs.wsu.edu/~hauser/teaching/CS455
Class Mailing List: cs455@eecs.wsu.edu. It's important to be on the mailing list -- clarifications about projects and homework and other announcements may be sent to the list between class sessions.

The Bridge: We are going to try using The Bridge, a product of WSU's Center for Teaching and Learning Technology (CTLT), to organize group work in this class. You will need a WSU Net ID to use this system. You will be automatically enrolled.

Lab space: Computers in the SNIF Lab, ETRL 301 are available for your use in programming assignments and projects. Your EECS computer account name is required in order to set up the lab computers for your access. If you don't have an EECS unix account you will need to get one and pass it along to the class TA so she can set it up in the lab. (Information about EECS accounts). You will also need to visit the EECS Help Desk in Sloan 358 to get the door access code for the lab.

Requirements

You are responsible for all material presented in the lectures. Repeated absence from lectures may lead to dismissal from class. Your participation in this class is vital to its success. I expect you to own your degree of success in this class. And, I expect you to contribute to the success of others. Examples:

1. If a lecture point is unclear, ask a question, either in class, during office hours or by e-mail. You are probably not alone in your confusion. I enjoy engaging in technical conversations with students with the goal of helping them create an accurate understanding of course material. Participating in such conversations is very favorable for your class participation grade. I hate talking about grades and how you can get a better one. 
2. If another student is confused, help him or her out.
3. If I am systematically doing something that inhibits your learning, tell me.

As mentioned above we will be using a system called The Bridge to facilitate a great deal of group work in this class. When group work is called for, I expect everyone to pull their share of the load. I may ask each member of a group to assess the other members' contribution to the final result.

Exams, Quizzes, Projects and Grading

The following is tentative and may be fine-tuned during the semester. 

• Two midterms: the midterms are in-class, closed book/notes/neighbor - 20%
• Comprehensive final exam: 8AM Tuesday May 7, closed book/notes/neighbor - 15%
• Three unannounced quizzes: I will not give make-ups for the quizzes but I will drop the lowest quiz score in computing your final grade - 10%
• Four programming projects - 40% -- some will be group work
• Four or five homework sets - 15% -- all will be group work

I will not give extra credit: you must keep up with the material from the beginning.

Work Calendar

Tentative dates. Each assignment will specify its official due date.

There is no class on Jan 21, Feb 18, and March 18-22. 

Subject Calendar

Policies and Expectations

1. I expect you to demonstrate critical thinking across the spectrum of course work. Adaptations of the WSU Critical Thinking Rubric will be used in grading several of the projects and homework.
2. I expect you to cooperate with other students and to pull your share in group projects. Respect that different people in your group may have different ways of learning and different strengths. Seek ways of taking advantage of those differences.
3. I expect you to engage in active learning: speak up when you don't understand, question assumptions, relate course material to your experience outside class, seek out additional experience and reading related to the class.
4. I expect you to promptly review feedback you receive from me, the TA, or other students; to actively clarify the feedback if the material is still unclear; and to incorporate the feedback in your future work.
5. I expect you to spend adequate time on the course. Adequate time includes getting enough rest so that time you spend on course tasks is well-spent time. Adequate time includes proofreading and reviewing your assignments before you hand them in.
6. I expect you to have high expectations of yourself: set goals for yourself and try to do your very best. Consciously think about the balance between what you do to earn a grade and what you do to learn. (If I'm doing something that puts these in opposition to each other please let me know.)
7. You are expected to know and observe the WSU Academic Integrity Standards. Copying of other students' work, plagiarism of published sources and other forms of academic dishonesty will result in zero credit on the assignment for all students involved and a lower grade in the class. A second offense (across the University) will result in an automatic F in the course and exposes the violator to University sanctions up to and including expulsion. All offenses will be reported to Student Affairs.
8. I will supply a folder in which to keep your work. Please make sure that you collect all your graded work in the folder and bring it with you to class or to any appointments you have with me. I may ask you to turn in the folder from time to time for my review and I will expect you to use it to check the final grade sheet just prior to the end of the term.
9. Reasonable accommodations are available for students who have a documented disability. Please notify me during the first week of class of any accommodations needed for the course. Late notification may cause the requested accommodations to be unavailable. All accommodations must be approved through the Disability Resource Center (DRC) in Administration Annex room 205, 335-1566, mailto:drc@mail.wsu.edu.
   

Advice

1. Don't wait until the last minute to do homework or projects. The lab gets busy, computers break down, people get sick. These are not sufficient excuses for an extension.
2. Save early; save often!
3. Come see me or the TA if you are confused. Don't wait for office hours -- send email.
4. Come see me and the TA anyway. We'd like to know more about you.
5. If you have trouble with spelling and grammar, get and use and word processor that has spelling and grammar flagging.