635.611.81 - Principles of Network Engineering

Expanded Course Description

Prerequisites: No specific requirements – if in ISE students should have completed the appropriate Foundations courses.   Basic familiarity with networking concepts and TCP/IP is suggested.

Course Structure

The course content is divided into modules. Course Modules can be accessed by clicking “Modules” on the left menu. A module will have several sections including the overview, content, readings, discussions, and assignments. Students are encouraged to preview all sections of the module before starting. During the typical Spring and Fall semesters modules run for a period of seven (7) days; exceptions are noted on the Course Outline page. Students should regularly check the Calendar and Announcements for assignment due dates.

Course Topics

- Introduction & Basic Concepts
- Data, Signals, & Transmission
- Data Encoding
- Data Communications Errors & Link Control
- Multiplexing, Switching, & Telephony
- Local Area Networking
- Wireless Networking
- Wide-Area Networking & Cellular Systems
- The Network Layer & The Internet Protocol (IP)
- The Transport Layer
- The Application Layer - Part I
- The Application Layer - Part II
- Network Security
- Network Management

Course Goals

To develop a working knowledge of the fundamental concepts, terminology, and operational systems used in the field of network engineering. This includes mastering basic material in data communications, telecommunications systems, and networking as well asstudying representative operational systems and equipment. The course is meant to be a standalone introduction to the field for technical staff in related fields (e.g. – software engineers) that can also serve as a prerequisite springboard to more advancednetworking classes for students that wish to pursue network engineering courses in greater depth.

Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs)

• Understand the history and development of information systems
• Understand the business drivers and requirements for information systems
• Apply the 10 System Concepts for information systems to examine the broad range of technologies that support modern day information systems
• Understand the broad range of technologies that support modern day information systems
• Understand the role of the systems engineer and their impact on the development and operation of information systems
• Understand real world examples of successes and failures in information systems
• Apply systems engineering skills and techniques to the real world

Textbooks

NO REQUIRED TEXTBOOK - required reading materials can be found in Canvas.

Other Materials & Online Resources

Optional Texts

Forouzan, Behrouz. Data Communications and Networking, 6th Edition.McGraw-Hill Science/Engineering/Math (2021).

ISBN-10: 0078022096

Textbook information for this course is available online through the appropriate bookstore website: For online courses, search the MBS website at http://ep.jhu.edu/bookstore. It does not matter to me if it new, used, or the electronic subscription as long as you can review the material and meet the course objectives (be wary of international editions; they may not include all the material the US edition does and I don’t have a way to verify all these variants).

Students wishing a more mathematical treatment of the subject area may want to examine the following text:

Stallings, William E., Data & Computer Communications, 9th Edition. Pearson (2011)

ISBN-10: 0131392050
ISBN-13: 9780131392052

Required Software

Free Software (or equivalent for packet capture and analysis): Wireshark (requires administrator access to install) – downloadable from www.wireshark.org.

Student Coursework Requirements

It is expected that each class will take approximately 5–8 hours per week to complete. Here is an approximate breakdown: reading the assigned sections of the texts (approximately 2–3 hours per week) as well as some outside reading, listening to the audio annotated slide presentations (approximately 1–2 hours per week), and writing discussion posts and homework assignments (approximately 2-3 hours per week).

This course will consist of four primary student requirements:

Preparation and Participation (Class Discussions) (20% of Final Grade Calculation)

For each module a set of discussion questions will be posted that explore various aspects of the material discussed in the material and the textbook. The student is to choose one of the questions and post a response to the question as well as post at least two follow-up replies to other student’s original posts. You may reply to any students who posted that week, not just students that answered the same discussion question that you did.

Post your initial response to the discussion questions by the evening of day 4 (Thursday in a normal semester) for that module week. You must post the follow-up responses before the end of the Module (Midnight Sunday in a normal semester). Posting an initial response to the discussion question and two follow-up replies to other student's initial posts by established deadlines are part one of your grade for class discussions (i.e., Timeliness). All responses to initial discussion postings are due by the last day of each module in order to be included in that module’s discussion grade.

Part two of your grade for class discussion is the quality of your interaction (i.e., responding to classmate postings with thoughtful responses) with at least two classmates (i.e., Critical Thinking). Just posting your response to a discussion question is not sufficient; I want you to interact with your classmatesand dig deeper into the material. Be detailed in your postings and in your responses to your classmates' postings, including citations where appropriate. Feel free to agree or disagree with your classmates; debate and discussion is an important tool for any engineer interacting with their colleagues. Please ensure that your postings are civil and constructive.

I will monitor class discussions and will respond to some of the discussions as discussions are posted. In some instances, I may summarize the overall discussions and post the summary for the class if the dialogue uncovered important information for the class to understand.

Evaluation of preparation and participation is based on contribution to discussions. Preparation and participation are evaluated by the following grading elements:

1. Timeliness (40%)
2. Critical Thinking (60%)

In a normal course offering there will usually be twelve (12) discussions provided. The discussion questions are graded as follows, with the best ten (10) grades counting equally toward the overall class discussion score:

100–90 = A—Timeliness [frequently participates; more than required postings; early in discussion; throughout the discussion]; Critical Thinking [rich in content; full of thoughts, insight, and analysis, suggests new alternatives and line(s) of thinking that are unique and innovative].

89–80 = B—Timeliness [regularly participates; more than the required postings; some not in time for others to read and respond but before the deadlines]; Critical Thinking [substantial information; thought, insight, and analysis has taken place]. Note that the grade of 80 is the baseline for a discussion module grade that meets the basic requirements.

79–70 = C—Timeliness [infrequently participates; does not meet the required postings or at/after the deadline]; Critical Thinking[minimal analysis; information is thin & commonplace].

Module Assessments (25% of Final Grade Calculation)

Module assessments will include a variety of question types (matching, multiple choice, etc.), problems, and short answer/essay questions administered in Canvas as untimed assessments. The assessment will be available during the entire module and the student can work at it up until the final deadline at the end of the module. Multiple submissions are allowed and the highest grade out of all the submissions will the counted. As with the class discussions, the best ten (10) assessment grades will count equally toward the overall assessment grade.

All module assessments are due according to the dates in the assessment and the course Calendar. In situations where those are not in synch follow the due date in the assessment itself.

Late submissions will be reduced by 5% for each day late (no exceptions without prior coordination with and approval by the instructor).

True/false, multiple choice, and matching question types will be automatically scored in Canvas and points will be awarded as stated in the problem. Fill-in-the-blank questions will be automatically scored by Canvas but will be manually reviewed by the instructors. In some cases, partial credit will be given when answers are close but not technically correct and rationale for the answer given is provided.

Short Answer questions cannot be automatically scored by Canvas and are evaluated by the following grading elements:

1. Each part of question is answered (20%)
2. Technical accuracy of the answer (60%)
3. Rationale for answer is provided (20%)

100–90 = A—All parts of question are addressed; excellent technical accuracy and analysis with appropriate rationale/justification.

89–80 = B—All parts of the question are addressed; adequate technical accuracy and analysis; some rationale/justification is provided but may be incomplete or partially incorrect.

79–70=C—Majority of parts of the question are addressed; answer is only partially correct; justification for answer unclear or incomplete.

<70=F—Some parts of the question are addressed; answer is incorrect and does not include any reasonable rationale.

Research Paper (35% of Final Grade Calculation – 10% for the Initial Review and 25% for the Final Submission)

A research paper on a telecommunications or network engineering topic is a key component of the class. This is an opportunity to choose a topic of interest in the field and research it in depth. Students should select a communications technology (e.g. – Mesh Networking, Fibre Channel, Storage Area Networks, Security of TCP/IP based protocols, error correction techniques in satellite networks, etc.) and where appropriate to the paper objective try to include the following:

• Explain details of the technology (What is it? What needs does it solve?)
• Explain role of technology in communications (Why is it important?)
• Compare to competing technologies (How does it perform?)
• Assess maturity & future of the technology (Where has it been and where is it going?)

The body of the paper should be between 12 to 15 pages (1.15/1.5 line spacing) and use a 12- point font. There is no mandatory format, but the paper should look consistent, professional, and include all the features appropriate for a graduate research paper (Title page, clear introduction and conclusion, page numbers, and citations as needed).

This paper is to be researched and written through the semester. Topics for approval should be submitted to the instructors by e-mail prior to the 4th week of class. On the 7th week of class students are expected to post an “initial review” submission consisting of (at least) the following:

• A draft of the abstract or introduction to the paper (approximately one page)
• An outline of the paper with enough detail to give a clear overview of the entire paper
• A rough draft of the preliminary conclusion(s) you believe are appropriate given your current level of research
• A set of scholarly references (minimum six) that will likely be used as direct or indirect references (excludes Wikipedia and the course textbook)

The submission will be posted in the Module 7 research paper forum by the end of that Module. You are to review and critique two other submissions; as they are posted you can choose which ones you want to review by responding in the forum specifying that you are reviewing the submission. One a submission has two reviewers you will have to choose another submission (in other words -- first come first served…).

Both the completion of your submission and the review of two others due by the end of Module 8 will count equally towards the initial review grade. Late submissions will incur a 5% per day deduction unless approved in advance by the instructor.

100–90 = A: All elements in initial submission completed as outlined by the deadline. Two reviews submitted within the deadline consisting of high quality feedback and suggestions for the author.

89–80 = B: Initial review submitted but with one component rough or missing. Two reviews submitted that have useful feedback and suggestions for the author.

79–70=C: Very rough initial review with multiple items missing. Only one review submitted or reviews submitted that do not provide substantive/useful feedback or comments.

69 and Below = F: No initial submission and/or no reviews submitted. Submission or reviews submitted of such poor quality that they cannot be reviewed or provide no substantive/useful feedback.

The final submission of the research paper is due at the end of Module 13, with a 5% deduction for every day late (without prior arrangement by the instructor). The final submission is evaluated by the following grading elements:

1. Technical Content (60%)
2. Paper Organization (15%)
3. Paper Presentation (15%)
4. References (10%)

The research paper will be graded as follows:

100–90 = A: Superior submission in all aspects. High quality technical analysis of the subject with excellent support, discussion, and justification at a level appropriate for a competent engineer. Excellent organization of paper, with an introduction, and logical flow to a concise well-written conclusion. Presentation of the paper is superior, including a title, table of contents, section headings, and minimal to no grammatical or spelling errors.Numerous scholarly citations appropriate to the subject with consistent format and complete information.

89–80 = B: Good submission in all aspects. Acceptable technical analysis of the subject with adequate discussion and justification of major points. Good organization of paper that is generally easy to follow and proceeds logically through the material.Presentation of paper is acceptable, may be missing minor elements like section headings or have minor spelling/grammar errors.An acceptable number of references are provided.

79–70=C: Paper has major flaws and is not representative of a quality graduate level submission. Major gaps in technical analysis and coverage of the subject; may have minor technical inaccuracies. Organization is lacking, with major breaks in logic and flow. Presentation is below average, with missing elements and spelling/grammar errors that make paper difficult to read. The number of citations is unacceptable or incomplete.

69 and Below = F: paper has major technical inaccuracies, plagiarized portions, and/or entire missing sections. Presentation or organization errors are so egregious that paper is judged to be entirely unacceptable for submission.

Final Exam (20% of Final Grade Calculation)

The Final exam will be available for students to take during the week of Module 14. Students will have one week to complete the exams; the due date will be posted on the course calendar. The exam is closed book and closed notes with the exception of two 8.5” x 11” pages of notes with items of the student’s choice.The exam will be a three (3) hour long timed test administered via Canvas.

Canvas will automatically score true/false, multiple choice, and matching questions; points will be awarded as stated in the problem. Fill-in-the-blank questions will be automatically scored by Canvas but will be manually reviewed by the instructors. In some cases partial credit will be given when answers are close but not technically correct.

Short Answer questions and/or problems cannot be automatically scored by Canvas and are evaluated by the following grading elements:

1. Each part of question is answered (20%)
2. Technical accuracy of the answer (60%)
3. Rationale for answer is provided – for a problem the work is clearly shown (20%)

The overall exam grade will be based on the cumulative points scored over all sections. The grading scale is:

100-90 points = A
89-80 points = B
79-70 points = C
69 and Below = F

Grading Policy

Student assignments of all types are due according to the dates in the Calendar. I will strive to post grades within one week after assignment due dates if not sooner.

With the exception of the research paper, I generally do not directly grade spelling and grammar. However, egregious violations of the rules of the English language that make it difficult or impossible to determine the correct answer will impact your grade. Consistently poor performance in either spelling or grammar is taken as an indication of poor written communication ability that may detract from your grade.

The course uses the plus/minus grading scale. If you want details on the scale please see the current JHU EP Academic Catalog.The overall course grading scale and grade components are below:

Final grades will be determined by the following weighting:

Academic Policies

Deadlines for Adding, Dropping and Withdrawing from Courses

Students may add a course up to one week after the start of the term for that particular course. Students may drop courses according to the drop deadlines outlined in the EP academic calendar (https://ep.jhu.edu/student-services/academic-calendar/). Between the 6th week of the class and prior to the final withdrawal deadline, a student may withdraw from a course with a W on their academic record. A record of the course will remain on the academic record with a W appearing in the grade column to indicate that the student registered and withdrew from the course.

Academic Misconduct Policy

All students are required to read, know, and comply with the Johns Hopkins University Krieger School of Arts and Sciences (KSAS) / Whiting School of Engineering (WSE) Procedures for Handling Allegations of Misconduct by Full-Time and Part-Time Graduate Students.

This policy prohibits academic misconduct, including but not limited to the following: cheating or facilitating cheating; plagiarism; reuse of assignments; unauthorized collaboration; alteration of graded assignments; and unfair competition. Course materials (old assignments, texts, or examinations, etc.) should not be shared unless authorized by the course instructor. Any questions related to this policy should be directed to EP’s academic integrity officer at ep-academic-integrity@jhu.edu.

Students with Disabilities - Accommodations and Accessibility

Johns Hopkins University values diversity and inclusion. We are committed to providing welcoming, equitable, and accessible educational experiences for all students. Students with disabilities (including those with psychological conditions, medical conditions and temporary disabilities) can request accommodations for this course by providing an Accommodation Letter issued by Student Disability Services (SDS). Please request accommodations for this course as early as possible to provide time for effective communication and arrangements.

For further information or to start the process of requesting accommodations, please contact Student Disability Services at Engineering for Professionals, ep-disability-svcs@jhu.edu.

Student Conduct Code

The fundamental purpose of the JHU regulation of student conduct is to promote and to protect the health, safety, welfare, property, and rights of all members of the University community as well as to promote the orderly operation of the University and to safeguard its property and facilities. As members of the University community, students accept certain responsibilities which support the educational mission and create an environment in which all students are afforded the same opportunity to succeed academically. 

For a full description of the code please visit the following website: https://studentaffairs.jhu.edu/policies-guidelines/student-code/

Classroom Climate

JHU is committed to creating a classroom environment that values the diversity of experiences and perspectives that all students bring. Everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and respect. Fostering an inclusive climate is important. Research and experience show that students who interact with peers who are different from themselves learn new things and experience tangible educational outcomes. At no time in this learning process should someone be singled out or treated unequally on the basis of any seen or unseen part of their identity. 
 
If you have concerns in this course about harassment, discrimination, or any unequal treatment, or if you seek accommodations or resources, please reach out to the course instructor directly. Reporting will never impact your course grade. You may also share concerns with your program chair, the Assistant Dean for Diversity and Inclusion, or the Office of Institutional Equity. In handling reports, people will protect your privacy as much as possible, but faculty and staff are required to officially report information for some cases (e.g. sexual harassment).

Course Auditing

When a student enrolls in an EP course with “audit” status, the student must reach an understanding with the instructor as to what is required to earn the “audit.” If the student does not meet those expectations, the instructor must notify the EP Registration Team [EP-Registration@exchange.johnshopkins.edu] in order for the student to be retroactively dropped or withdrawn from the course (depending on when the "audit" was requested and in accordance with EP registration deadlines). All lecture content will remain accessible to auditing students, but access to all other course material is left to the discretion of the instructor.