Instructor: France Bélanger

	
Office:     CIS2054                  Email: belanger@groucho.bsn.usf.edu
Phone:     974-6765 (Office)     Web: http://www.bsn.usf.edu/~belanger
               xxx-xxxx (Home)       Department: Phone 974-5524  FAX: 974-6749

Class Hours:     09:30-11:30 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays  CIS 2084			
		
Office Hours:    11:30-12:30 p.m. Tuesdays;  08:30-09:30 a.m. Thursdays
                       Also by appointment. Students are encouraged to use electronic mail.

Required Text:
Stamper, David A. (1994), Business Data Communications, Benjamin/Cummings Publishing.

Course Objective:
This course will provide an introduction to the fundamentals of data communications and computer networks. It is designed to meet two key objectives: f1) to provide a conceptual foundation for the study of data communications using the open systems interc onnect (OSI) model for layered architecture (it is crucial for you to understand the language and concepts of data communications if you intend to work or study in an information systems environment); 2) to allow the student to research and explore leadin g edge distributed applications, products, or services that are being used in today's business and home environments. Both technical and managerial aspects of data communications will be covered. The first half of the course will emphasize the concepts a nd principles, while in the second half, emphasis shifts towards managerial issues.

Course approach:
In order to meet the course objectives, an integrative teaching format will be used consisting of in-class lectures and discussions, and two group projects. You are expected to attend class and participate in discussions, and to ask questions. You will obtain substantive information from the assigned textbook and class lectures. There will be some overlap, but some of the material will be covered only in the lectures. You are responsible for all the material covered, and you are expected to integrate t he material.

If time and schedules permit, guest speakers with substantial data communications background may be invited to speak to the class. In such cases, scheduled lecture material will be altered. I welcome suggestions and recommendations (constructive criticisms) as we move along in the semester. Please send me electronic messages as often as you want.

Availability of Class Material:
I will try to provide on-line access to this syllabus and other related class material such as copies of my outlines, projects and class notes when possible. Please note that this will offer you an alternative to access the same material that will be dis tributed in class. You will find the material via the World Wide Web in the CIS computer labs at the address: http://www.bsn.usf.edu/~belanger/teachcom.html.

Grading Policy:

The course grade will be based on the following components:
	1.  Mid-term Exam		20 %
	2.  Final Exam 			25 %
	3.  Technology Reports (Group)	20 %
	4.  Case Study (Group)		25 %
	5.  Class Participation		10 %

Examinations:
The exams will be closed book and closed notes. They will cover class discussions, assigned readings, and any supplemental material. You are expected to take the exam at the scheduled date and time. Examinations are typically of the multiple choice and s hort answer format.

Technology Report (Group Project #1):
You will be assigned to groups of 4-5 people for the purpose of research on a state-of-the-art technology for distributed applications, products, or services. Your group will collect relevant articles, prepare a technology report and present their findin gs to the class in a short 10 minute presentation. Your group will be assigned a "remote mentor" with whom you must agree on your precise topic and who must "sign in" on your work. More details will be handed out later in the semester. This is intended to be a moderate scope project with 2-5 hours per week of work outside of your regular course activities for the duration of the project.

Case Study (Group Project # 2):
A case study will be assigned to you later in the semester. Your responsibility will be to prepare a consultants' report on the topic. More details will follow. You will select your own groups for this project, which will be in the second half of the se mester. Groups can be comprised of one to four persons.

Participation:
At the end of the semester, the instructor will evaluate each student's participation in class activities and assign a grade.

Regrade Policy:
All tests and projects may be submitted for re-evaluation of the grade by the instructor. To request a regrade, you must submit a written request within one week of the date the test or project was returned. The written request must include a cover shee t that explains (1) the specific test questions or aspects of the project that you want re-evaluated, and (2) why the original grade is in error or should be reconsidered.

Tentative Outline:

DATE           CHAPTER         TOPIC

May 14                                 Introduction and Course Overview
May 16          Intro                Telecommunications Industry and the OSI Model

May 21          1                     Physical Aspects of Data Communications: Media
May 23                                 (Continued)

May 28          2                     More Physical Aspects of Data Communications	
May 30          3                     Introduction to Networks

June  4          11 (354-366)    The Internet and the World Wide Web
June  6          8                     Data Communications Hardware

June 11         9 & 10              Wide Area Networks
June 13                                 Data Link Protocols

June 18         ---                    Mid Term Exam
June 20         4 & 5                LAN Hardware & Topologies

June 25         ---                    Group Project # 1 Presentations
June 27         6 & 7                LAN Software & Considerations

July  2           12 & 15            Interconnectivity & Enterprise Networking Issues
July  4           ---                    Holiday

July  9           ---                   Guest Speaker - Impacts of the Telecommunications Bill 
July 11          13 & 14            Network Management

July 16                                 Review
July 18                                 Final Exam and Group Project #2 Due Date

Any changes to this schedule will be announced in class.

Recommendations:

1. You are expected to write both projects with proper grammar and spelling. While it is not the focus of the course, points could be taken off for extreme cases of poor writing.
2. It is advised to keep up with the required readings on a weekly basis. Make notes on items you don't understand -- then, ask questions!
3. Set up time each week to integrate what you have learned from the text and from the lectures. If there is a conceptual gap in your mind, ask questions. Exam questions are easier to answer if you have integrated the material.
4. All university policies regarding cheating, plagiarism, nonattendance, and illnesses will be strictly applied. Please read your handbook regarding these policies.
5. Start your projects as soon as they are handed out.

Academic Policies

1. Academic dishonesty of any type will result in a grade of "F" for the course. Please see text below from the USF policy on academic dishonesty.
2. Examinations: If you must miss an examination, you must notify the instructor before the exam, discuss the reason for missing the exam, and make arrangements for a makeup exam. Makeup examinations are always completely different tests.
3. All assignments are due at the beginning of class on the date established

Honor Code:
The policy of the University of South Florida on academic dishonesty states:

Each individual is expected to earn his or her degree on the basis of personal effort. Consequently, any form of cheating on examinations or plagiarism on assigned papers constitutes unacceptable deceit and dishonesty. This cannot be tolerated in the Un iversity community and will be punishable, according to the seriousness of the offense, in conformity with this rule.

Cheating is defined as follows: (a) the unauthorized granting or receiving of aid during the prescribed period of a course-graded exercise: students may not consult written materials such as notes or books, many not look at the paper of another student, n or consult orally with any other student taking the same test; (b) asking another person to take an examination in his or her place; (c) taking an examination for or in place of another student; (d) stealing visual concepts, such as drawings, sketches, di agrams, musical programs and scores, graphs, maps, etc. and presenting them as one's own; (e) stealing, borrowing, buying, or disseminating tests, answer keys or other examination material except as officially authorized, research papers, creative papers, speeches, etc.; (f) stealing or copying of computer programs and presenting them as one's own.