S y l l a b u s

COURSE PLACEMENT

Courses in Computer Information Technology (designated CMIT) may be applied as appropriate (according to individual program requirements) toward the general education requirement in computing;

• the general education requirement in computing;

• a major in Computer Information Technology, Computer Information Science, Information Management or Computer Studies;

• a minor in Computer Studies; and

• electives.

This course is worth 2 semester hours of credit. There is no prerequisite for this course, although a general working knowledge of computers (Windows) is expected.

TEXTS

Palmer, Michael J.. Network+ Certification Study Guide, 2nd Ed.,

McGraw-Hill/Osborne: 2002. ( ISBN: 0-07-213181-0)

COURSE DESCRIPTION

UMUC-Europe Catalog Description

(Designed to prepare students to take the Network+ Certification Exam from Comp TIA.) An introduction to networking technologies for individual workstations, local area networks, wide area networks, and the Internet, with emphasis on security and protocols. A general knowledge of networking, including Microsoft operating systems, such as Windows 2000. Students may receive credit only once under this course number.

An introduction to the use of computer networks to interconnect microcomputers, and to the current hardware, software, and communications means, standards and protocols that make networking possible. 

This course includes practical, hands-on experience with networks. Sample practice examinations and shareware will be made available. Bring your own storage media if you wish to receive available software.

COURSE GOALS and OBJECTIVES

After successfully completing this seminar, students should be able to:

· Identify the components of a network and determine the type of network design most appropriate for a given site.

·Identify the different media used in network communications, distinguish among them, and determine how to use them to connect servers and clients in a network.

·Differentiate among networking standards, protocols, and access methods and determine which is most appropriate for a given network.

· Recognize the primary network architectures, identify their major characteristics, and determine which is most appropriate for a proposed network.

·Identify the primary functions of network operating systems and distinguish between a centralized computing environment and a client/server environment.

· Determine how to implement and support the major networking components, including the server, operating system, and clients.

· Propose a system for adequately securing data on a given network and protecting the system's components.

· Distinguish between LANs and wide-area networks (WANs) and identify the components used to expand a LAN into a WAN.

· Determine how to implement modems in the larger LAN/WAN environment.

· Identify the major periods in the history of networking technologies

· Identify strategic LAN support tools and resources and determine how to use them in troubleshooting basic network problems.

SESSION  SCHEDULE

This course will meet for 4 days on consecutive weekends (29/30 March & 05/06 April). The meeting times will be from 0900 hrs until 1700 hrs each day. A 30-minute lunch period is calculated into each session day.

ASSIGNMENTS

The pre-class reading assignments for CMIT265M is as follows:

COURSE PROJECT

As is consistent with most courses, an outside writing project will be assigned on the second meeting day (30 March), and will be due at the end of the course, on DAY 4. See the Assignment section for more details. 

GRADING

Plagiarism will result in academic failure for the written portion of the assignment.  Make sure you understand and respect copyrighted material.

Grades will be based on the following factors:
 

Percentage of Overall Grade		Comments
Participation	25%	Discussions, questions, experiences, labs, etc.
Assignments/Projects	25%	1 external project assigned on Day 2; Due on Day 4
Final examination	50%	Comprehensive covering texts, labs, lectures

Grading Scale

• A = 90 - 100
• B = 80 - 89.9
• C = 70 - 79.9
• D = 60 - 69.9 (marginal)
• F(a) =  0 - 59.9 (academic failure)
• F(n) < 8 hrs present

          PENALTIES FOR LATENESS: Written assignments not in by due date: 10% /day
 

Participation

Each class session will contain a question and answer sesson where students will have an opportunity to contribute both questions and answers. Students are expected to participate in the discussions and laboratory exercises as part of their participation grade.

EXAMS

There will be one end-of-course examination. The exam is likely to include a mix of multiple choice questions, problems (depending on the subject matter), fill-in-the blanks, and  one or two essay questions.

Every student will need to take a final examination. Arrangements should be made early to schedule availability for this timed examination.  Your examination will be given on DAY 4. It is your responsibility to inform the instructor, prior to the examination period, if you are unable to partake during the scheduled time period.

Make-Up Exams

Students are expected to take the final examination on DAY 4 as scheduled, unless a documented excuse is provided. Students are also expected to notify the faculty member in advance if one is not able to attend a portion of the 4-day session.
 

PROTOCOLS AND POLICIES

If you know you're going to be on a business trip, field duty or some other documented excuse for not being able to be present at the scheduled meeting times, please coordinate this with your instructor to avoid late submission penalties.  Late assignments diminish your assigned grade by 10% for each late day. Assignments are always due at the end of the meeting Day. 

Because you are all adults, I consider each of you a course resource  as well as a student.  Your participation improves the course  tremendously.  Much educational research has shown that the larger a part you play in your own education, the more you learn and the faster you learn it.

We will have a WebTycho environment available for you to review handouts, ask questions, discuss assignments while we are not in class. In order to partake, you must complete the online registration form for WebTycho; the link will be provided by your instructor. You are expected to adhere to the general rules of online etiquette. To prepare to use the online conference you should read the Core Rules of Netiquette.

Any "to be graded" assignment can be  submitted early into the WebTycho environment. Please Do not submit homework to my e-mail address.

This is a very broad course in which the textbook is our main reference book.  The majority of networking essentials knowledge will be learned through readings, lab exercises and questions.  I expect you to have read the assigned chapters from our textbooks and be prepared to discuss  selected questions.  You will be responsible for all chapters as assigned.  In addition, you are responsible for all  supplemental reading assignments assgined by the instructor.

Because we have different e-mail systems, I would like to ask you all to use your real name at  the end of your messages when sending a CMIT265M message to me.  Initially, this will serve two purposes, one it will help me to identify the author and secondly it will serve as an end-of-message marker to help identify that a message has been received in its entirety. ALL private e-mail messages sent to me should include the prefix "CMIT265M:" in the subject line for a timely and proper response.

Any submissions into WebTycho will need to be in HTML or plain text, whereby the former is strongly recommended. Please DO NOT submit wordprocessing documents (e.g., MS-Word, WordPro) unless specifically requested by me.

The need for additional policies and requirements may arise during the course.  If the need arises, a new policy and/or requirement may be formulated such that this policy or requirement will be as valid as any written in this syllabus.  Please familiarize yourself with the current University of Maryland University College European Division Catalog, as this publication will serve as our guideline for academic policies and standards not otherwise mentioned within this document.  A current catalog may be obtained either from your local Field Representative or viewed at http://www.ed.umuc.edu/visit/pubs/catalog/ugrad.pdf (Acrobat Reader required). 

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

All UMUC students are responsible for adhering to the UMUC policy regarding academic integrity. Obtaining or giving aid on an examination is considered academic dishonesty and will result in appropriate academic action.

Integrity in teaching and learning is a fundamental principle of a university. UMUC believes that all members of the university community share the responsibility for academic integrity, as expressed in the University System of Maryland policy "Faculty, Student, and Institutional Rights and Responsibilities for Academic Integrity." Details are available from the Office of the Dean, School of Undergraduate Studies.

Plagiarism is the presentation of another person's idea or product as one's own. Plagiarism includes (but is not limited to) copying verbatim all or part of another person's work; using phrases, charts, figures, illustrations, computer programs, or mathematical or scientific solutions without citing the source; paraphrasing ideas, conclusions, or research without citing the source; and using all or part of a literary plot, poem, film, musical score, or other artistic product without attributing the work to its creator.

Students can avoid unintentional plagiarism by carefully following accepted scholarly practices. Notes taken for papers and research projects should accurately record sources of material to be cited, quoted, paraphrased, or summarized, and papers should acknowledge those sources in footnotes.

UMUC's policy on Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism can be found in the current copy of the Undergraduate Catalog or is available from the Office of the Dean, School of Undergraduate Studies.

NEED FOR ASSISTANCE

If you have any condition, such as a physical or learning disability, which will make it difficult for you to carry out the work as I have outlined it, or which will require academic accommodations, please make your "need for assistance" known as soon as possible. Students with disabilities are advised to contact the office of Disabled Student Services (http://www.umuc.edu/studserv/dss.html). Under privacy laws, students are not required to tell their professors about their disability. A student with a disability need only notify the DSS office. That office will, in turn, notify the instructor about whatever accommodations that student requires.

Return to top of page