COURSE INFORMATION Course Title: COMPUTER NETWORKS

Code	Course Type	Regular Semester	Theory	Practice	Lab	Credits	ECTS
CEN 361	B	4	2	0	2	3	5

Academic staff member responsible for the design of the course syllabus (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature)	NA
Main Course Lecturer (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature) and Office Hours:	M.Sc. Ernaso Kërbizi ekerbizi@epoka.edu.al , Thursday
Second Course Lecturer(s) (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature) and Office Hours:	M.Sc. Henri Haxhiu hhaxhiu@epoka.edu.al
Teaching Assistant(s) and Office Hours:	NA
Language:	English
Compulsory/Elective:	Compulsory
Study program: (the study for which this course is offered)	Bachelor in Business Informatics (3 years)
Classroom and Meeting Time:	E-214 Classroom at 08:45
Code of Ethics:	Code of Ethics of EPOKA University Regulation of EPOKA University "On Student Discipline"
Attendance Requirement:	80%
Course Description:	OSI reference model, Internet and TCP/IP. Application layer protocols: HTTP, FTP, SMTP, POP3, and DNS. Socket programming, transport layer services, flow and congestion control, network layer and IP protocol, addressing, routing, data link layer protocols, local area networks.
Course Objectives:	1) To provide students with a theoretical and practical base on principles, architecture, and protocol knowledge of Computer Networks and Internet. 2) Prepare students for easy transfer from academia into practical network supporting tasks in a given networking oriented jobs. 3) Get hands on experiences by learning basic network computing techniques

BASIC CONCEPTS OF THE COURSE

1	Ability to identify, formulate, and solve basic network related problems.
2	Knowledge of contemporary issues in computer networks.
3	Ability to use techniques, skills, and modern networking tools.

COURSE OUTLINE

Week	Topics
1	Introduction to Computer Networks and Internet. ( A brief introduction to main concepts of computer networks, like protocols, layers, physical media , networking devices etc)
2	The network core and edge. Delay, loss, and throughput in packet-switched networks. (What is the network edge, what are the most common devices of it, how is it connected to the network core. What is a network access, what are the main devices of the network core, how the routing process is forwarded in a network. Packet-switching vs. circuit-switching networks. Concepts and exercises about delay in a communication, transmission delay, propagation delay, nodal processing, queueing and throughput.
3	Principles of Data Communication, Networking Devices. Types of Networks Models OSI, TCP/IP. (What are the most important principles of Network Communication, comparison of TCP/IP vs. OSI model, what are the network layers used for each model, types of different networks and their usage, Routers, Switches and other networking devices)
4	Application layer: principles of network applications. (How the Application layer works, important protocols in this layer, principles of network applications..)
5	The Web and HTTP. FTP, Electronic mail. DNS and peer-to-peer applications. (How the Internet works, details about Hypertext Transfer Protocol, File Transfer Protocol , Simple Mail Transfer Protocol, peer-to-peer applications vs. client/server applications)
6	Transport-layer services. Principles of reliable data transfer. (What is the purpose of the transport layer, main protocols used in the transport layer, TCP vs. UDP, differences between them. What are the basic principles of a reliable transport protocol))
7	Midterm
8	TCP. Principles of congestion control. (Principles of the TCP protocol, ARP, ICMP. Concepts of lost packets, out of order packets, corrupted packets, TCP handshaking, principles of congestion control etc.)
9	Network layer: forwarding and routing. Virtual circuits and datagram networks. (What is the role of the Network layer, devices working in it, forwarding vs. routing. Differences between Circuits and Datagram networks)
10	What is inside a router? IP Protocol. (What is a router, what is its role in a network, main interfaces of a router. How a router looks from inside, operating system of a router. Different types of routers )
11	Routing algorithms. Broadcast and multicast. (What is a routing algorithm, why are they needed, most important routing algorithms, like OSPF, RIP, BGF etc. Static vs. dynamic routing protocols, link state vs. distance vector algorithms etc. Multicasting vs. unicasting vs. broadcasting in a network))
12	Link layer. Error-detection and correction techniques. (Main concepts of the data link layer, devices working in the link layer, switching techniques,. Data stream multiplexing, data frame detection, and correction protocols.)
13	Wireless and mobile networks. (What is a wireless connection, different types of wireless devices, Wi-Fi technologies used, WLAN , WWAN etc. Types and categories of Mobile Connections.)
14	RTP protocol for real time transmission.( What is a Real time Transport Protocol, where it is used, VoIP , audio and video streaming etc.)

Prerequisite(s):	CEN 109 MTH 207 CEN 215
Textbook(s):	Kurose and Ross, Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach, Pearson, 7th edition
Additional Literature:	Computer Networks 5th By Andrew S. Tanenbaum
Laboratory Work:	Yes
Computer Usage:	Yes
Others:	No

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES

1	Ability to identify, formulate, and solve basic network related problems.
2	Knowledge of contemporary issues in computer networks.
3	Ability to use techniques, skills, and modern networking tools.

COURSE CONTRIBUTION TO... PROGRAM COMPETENCIES (Blank : no contribution, 1: least contribution ... 5: highest contribution)

No	Program Competencies	Cont.
Bachelor in Business Informatics (3 years) Program
1	Identify activities, tasks, and skills in management, marketing, accounting, finance, and economics.	5
2	Apply key theories to practical problems within the global business context.	5
3	Demonstrate ethical, social, and legal responsibilities in organizations.	4
4	Develop an open minded-attitude through continuous learning and team-work.	4
5	Integrate different skills and approaches to be used in decision making and data management.	3
6	Combine computer skills with managerial skills, in the analysis of large amounts of data.	2
7	Provide solutions to complex information technology problems.	2
8	Recognize, analyze, and suggest various types of information-communication systems/services that are encountered in everyday life and in the business world.	2

COURSE EVALUATION METHOD

Method	Quantity	Percentage
Homework	2	3
Midterm Exam(s)	1	30
Laboratory	8	3
Final Exam	1	40
	Total Percent:	100%

ECTS (ALLOCATED BASED ON STUDENT WORKLOAD)

Activities	Quantity	Duration(Hours)	Total Workload(Hours)
Course Duration (Including the exam week: 16x Total course hours)	16	2	32
Hours for off-the-classroom study (Pre-study, practice)	12	2	24
Mid-terms	1	21	21
Assignments	2	3	6
Final examination	1	22	22
Other	4	5	20
Total Work Load:			125
Total Work Load/25(h):			5
ECTS Credit of the Course:			5

CONCLUDING REMARKS BY THE COURSE LECTURER

To provide students with a theoretical and practical base on principles, architecture, and protocol knowledge of Computer Networks and Internet. 2) Prepare students for easy transfer from academia into practical network supporting tasks in a given networking oriented jobs. 3) Get hands on experiences by learning basic network computing techniques