CMPS 211 Syllabus | Last revised: June 2025

CMPS 211: Computer Networks

Syllabus

Program Bachelor of Science

Prerequisite(S) / Co-Requisites None
Semester Fall 2025
Day, Time, Location Monday, 9 am - 11:50 am, CyberLab
Instructor / Email Dr. Micheline Al Harrack/ [email protected]
Office Hours Before and after class and by appointment
Credit Hours 3 semester credits hours (45 contact hours)

Course Description
This course focuses on an introduction to the design and analysis of computer communication
networks. Topics include application layer protocols, Internet protocols, network interfaces, local and
wide area networks, wireless networks, bridging and routing, and networking frameworks (i.e., the
Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) and Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)
models). This course prepares students with the knowledge fundamental to a career as a network
administrator.

Learning Objectives
Upon completion of the course, students will:
1. Define the tasks of the OSI Model’s seven-layer protocols and TCP/IP Model’s four-layer
protocols. PLO# 1 (IT), PLO# 2 (SWE)
2. Understand how the Internet and end-devices communicate on the network. PLO# 1 (IT), PLO#
2 (SWE)
3. Define types of networks. PLO# 1 (IT), PLO# 2 (SWE)
4. Differentiate the functionality of network components, including switch, IP address, and MAC
address. PLO# 2 (IT), PLO# 3 (SWE)
5. Explain the processes of routings and switching. PLO# 1 (IT), PLO# 2 (SWE)
6. Understand DHCP, SSH, and Telnet. PLO# 1 (IT), PLO# 2 (SWE)
7. Perform simple networking commands for process verifications and configurations. PLO# 3 (IT),
PLO# 3 (SWE)

Instructional Materials and References

Required Textbook:
Computer Networks, Edition 6 A Systems Approach
By Larry L. Peterson and Bruce S. Davie Publication Date: 15 Mar 2021

Recommended Textbook: Computer Networking: a Top-Down Approach (9th ed.)

J.F. Kurose, K.W. Ross, Pearson, 2026

Library References:
BAU collaborates with Barbaros Online Library. It can be accessed at any time by any Internet
connected device (PC, laptop, tablet, smartphone) or from any of the Computer Lab from
 CMPS 211 Syllabus | Last revised: June 2025

8:00am to 9:00pm every day. The Barbaros Online Library provides access to articles from thousands of
periodicals, many of them peer-reviewed journals, and over 350,000 E-Books and over 100 major
periodical and report databases. For research assistance you can contact the BAU Librarian by emailing
[email protected]

In addition, you are encouraged to use online resources and obtain a library/research card at any
of the following institutions:

Library of Congress (loc.gov): >38 million printed materials, FREE for public use, 18 minutes from
BAU! Access hundreds of research databases online within the LOC.
DC Public Library (dclibrary.org): 27 locations; residents of VA and MD able to get cards
Montgomery County Public Libraries (montgomerycountymd.gov/library): 24 locations
Prince George’s County Public Libraries (pgcmls.info): 19 locations
Arlington Public Library (library.arlingtonva.us): 8 locations
Finally, you may use libraries at neighboring universities such as George Washington, Howard,
Georgetown, Catholic, and UDC; however, you should note that you are not able to check books
out from these libraries.

Instructional methods
Writing will be integrated into the life of this course. You will receive comments, direction, and support
as you work on strengthening your writing skills. Your writing will be evaluated and returned in a timely
fashion, allowing you to incorporate my comments into your future work. You will be able to draft,
revise, and resubmit a minimum of two papers.”
• basis of grade determination;
• bibliographic and other resources
• other course policies related to integrity of credit

Information Literacy - Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) Requirement

The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)

“Accreditation has mandated the incorporation of Information Literacy into the college curriculum.
Information Literacy, as defined by the American Library Association, is the set of abilities that enables
individuals to recognize when information is needed and then to locate, evaluate, and use it effectively.
To this end, the library faculty developed guidelines that specify which components of Information
Literacy should be infused into specific curricula by course level.”

Assessment Criteria and Methods of Evaluating Students

Class Activities 15%

Homework/Assignment 15%
Project 10%
Midterm Exam 20%
Final Exam 20%
Quizzes 20%

Information Literacy Requirement

 CMPS 211 Syllabus | Last revised: June 2025

At BAU, all courses require one assignment related to Information Literacy, which will be shown in the
topical outline.

Assignment Submission Guidelines

Each assignment turned in must adhere to APA formatting and include the following on a title page:
 Your Name
 School Name
 Course Name and Number
 Date
 Session Number (see below)
 Assignment Reference (e.g. HW1)
 Page Numbers on each page

Assignments should be submitted via BAUHUB by the specified deadline for each assignment.
Assignments should not be emailed to the instructor’s email unless directed to do so. If submission is
still available after the deadline, a daily late penalty of 2% will be automatically assigned to late
submissions. If assignments are locked, no further submission of assignments is possible.

Plagiarism
Academic Integrity is vital to the academic environment at BAU. Evaluation of each student's level of
knowledge, understanding, and ability to synthesize and integrate materials requires tangible
assessment via reports, examinations, and homework. Any willful misrepresentation of the relation
between the work being evaluated and the student's actual state of knowledge is an act of academic
dishonesty.

Plagiarism can take several different forms, including the following:

 Using the exact language of someone else without the use of quotation marks and without
giving proper credit to the author.
 Rearranging another's ideas or material and presenting them as though they are one's original
work without giving appropriate acknowledgment.
 Submitting a document written by someone else as one's own work.

All assignments submitted for credit must be your original work. This includes text, ideas, images and
other graphics, and sounds. When you use anything — be it text, ideas, images and other graphics, or
sounds — created by someone else, you must appropriately cite the original source and provide full
reference documentation.

Instructors use plagiarism detection programs, and in case of any attempted plagiarism or use of
generative Ai, students will face the following:
1st Offense: The student will receive a zero (0) on the assignment.
2nd Offense: The student will fail the class.

BAU Grading System

Letter Grade Number Grade GPA Letter Number GPA

Grade Grade
A 93-100 4.0 C+ 77-79 2.3
A- 90-92 3.7 C 73-76 2.0
B+ 87-89 3.3 C- 70-72 1.7
B 83-86 3.0 D+ 67-69 1.3
B- 80-82 2.7 D 60-66 1.0
F 0-59 0.0
 CMPS 211 Syllabus | Last revised: June 2025

Inclement Weather Policy

Students can learn if BAU is closed or opening late due to snow, ice, or other bad weather by checking:
1) the BAU website at www.bau.edu 2) calling BAU at +1 (844) 922-8228; or (3) by checking local news
channels.

Student Code of Conduct

Students are expected to embrace the Code of Conduct from their start date at BAU until their
graduation date. The University has put forth the following Code of Conduct to guide students through
their years of academic and personal growth:
 Commitment to academic integrity and inquiry: students are honest and strive for academic
excellence, and continually express intellectual curiosity.
 Commitment to personal integrity and growth: always behaving according to the moral
principles that you believe in, and willingness to learn from different views and opinions.
 Commitment to creating a community based on respect and support for others.
 Commitment to inclusion of others and respect for diversity in all its forms: the belief that all
people deserve to be treated equally, listened to, and given equal participation both in and
outside of the classroom, regardless of:
 their ideas and opinions, including religious or political beliefs and philosophies;
 their personal identity and origin, including their race, ethnicity, ability, gender or sexual
identity, age, social class, immigration status, or nationality; and
 their own experiences as human beings, such as their academic and personal experiences,
although they may be different from the experiences of others.

BAU expects students commit to the Code of Conduct, to create a positive education environment for all
community members. Students who do not adhere to the Code of Conduct may face disciplinary actions
(See Academic Catalog)

Attendance Policy

Attendance at BAU is mandatory. There are only three acceptable reasons for absence from class or lab:
(1) serious illness of the student, (2) a family emergency, or, (3) any legal obligation that occurs at the
same time as class. Non-emergency appointments and non-emergency travel do not count as excused
absences. In cases of illness, the student must submit a doctor’s or clinic note explaining the reason for
the absence to the Registrar or the Academic Advisor. Explanations for excused absences must be
received no later than one week after the last missed class. Students are requested to e-mail instructors
regarding absences prior to the class session to be missed.

The violation of integrity offense will become part of the student’s official record. Students who
continue to falsify medical notes will face expulsion from the University and notification will be sent to
SEVIS (for international students with an I20) for violating academic integrity expectations. Explanations
for excused absences must be received no later than one week after the last missed class. Students are
requested to e-mail instructors regarding absences prior to the class session to be missed.
 CMPS 211 Syllabus | Last revised: June 2025

Use of Cell Phones & Electronics Policy

All cell phones and electronic devices must be turned off in class. Electronic devices such as computers
and tablets may be used with permission of the instructor.

Additional Information on BAU Policies can be consulted in the Academic Catalog.

 CMPS 211 Syllabus | Last revised: June 2025

Weekly Outline
Below is the Weekly Outline.
*Outline is subject to change. Changes will be posted on BAU Hub.

Week # Topic Major Activities & Assignments Learning

Objectives
PLO# 1
1 Introduction Read Ch. 1 (IT), PLO#
2 (SWE)
PLO# 1
Foundations: Architecture –
2 Read Ch. 2 (IT), PLO#
Software – Performance
2 (SWE)
Direct Links: Multi Access PLO# 1
3 networks – Wireless – Encoding – Class Activity – Quiz (IT), PLO#
Reliable Transmission 2 (SWE)
PLO# 1
Internetworking: Switching – IP-
4 Read Ch. 3 (IT), PLO#
Routing – Implementation
2 (SWE)
Advanced Internetworking: IPv6- PLO# 1
5 Multicast – Multiprotocol – Read Ch. 4- Class Activity – Quiz (IT), PLO#
Mobile IP 2 (SWE)
Advanced Internetworking: PLO# 1
6 Network Data Plane – Network Read Ch 5. – Class Activity (IT), PLO#
Control Plane 2 (SWE)
PLO# 1
7 Midterm Exam (IT), PLO#
2 (SWE)
PLO# 1
End to End Protocols: UDP –
8 Read Ch. 6 – Class Activity (IT), PLO#
TCP – RPC – RTP
2 (SWE)
PLO# 1
Congestion Control: Allocating
9 Read Ch. 7 - Quiz (IT), PLO#
resources – Queuing
2 (SWE)
PLO# 1
End-to-End Data: Presentation
10 Read Ch. 8 – Class Activity (IT), PLO#
formatting- Multimedia Data
2 (SWE)
PLO# 3
Network Security: Cryptography (IT), PLO#
11 Class Activity
– Keys – Authentication Protocols 3 (SWE)

PLO# 3
(IT), PLO#
12 Network Security – Continued Read Ch. 9 - Quiz
3 (SWE)

13 Applications: Traditional & Class Activity PLO# 1

multimedia applications – (IT), PLO#
 CMPS 211 Syllabus | Last revised: June 2025

Infrastructure Applications – 2 (SWE)

Overlay networks
PLO# 1
(IT), PLO#
14 Project Presentation
2 (SWE),
PLO # 3
PLO# 1
(IT), PLO#
15 Final Exam
2 (SWE),
PLO # 3

Syllabus subject to change. Updated version will be posted in the HUB.