BA 4323 Syllabus

Business Data Communications (BA 4323-001)

Spring 2005
January 10 through April 25, 2005

Instructor: Prof. Hans-Joachim Adler, Ph.D.

Office: SM 3.227
Phone: (972)-883-4695
Email: jadler@utdallas.edu
Office hours: By Appointment
Class Hours: Monday / Wednesday 11:00 am - 12:15 pm
Room SOM 2.115

Teaching Assistant: Zhanwei Cao

Phone: 972-883-4428
Room: SM 3.228
Email: zxc017000@utdallas.edu

Text
The text for the course is Business Data Communications and Networking by Jerry
Fitzgerald and Alan Dennis. 8th Edition, 2005, John Wiley and Sons.

Course Objective
This class is designed to introduce the important field of data communications. Data
communications is the transfer of information between computerized devices. In today’s
business environment, value is increased by knowledge, as well as by the speed of
dissemination of knowledge. Understanding the principles, technologies and capabilities
of data communications is therefore more important than ever in IT organizations.
This class will help you achieve the following objectives:
• Acquire a thorough understanding of data communications and networking
requirements
• Understand communications technologies well enough to analyze and design
business data network applications
• Evaluate, select, and implement communication options within organizations
• Consider management, security, and business related issues as they relate to the
field

Grading
Exam I 25%
Exam II 25%
Exam III 25%
Homework 25%
Total 100%

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All class information will be posted on the course website on WebCT. All assignments
should be submitted via WebCT. It is therefore essential that you are familiar with
WebCT. It is also YOUR responsibility to make sure that you can access your WebCT
account.
If you are dialing into UTD to access E-mail or the World Wide Web, you may have
trouble getting connected for various reasons. Make sure that you give yourself enough
lead-time to complete assignments. Because you will almost always have access to these
systems on campus, busy modems or other technical problems are not accepted as
excuses for late assignments.
Exams
Exams will consist of True/False and multiple choice, questions. Any exam grading
disputes must be submitted in writing within two weeks of the results. Please bring a
Scantron sheet (882-E – green form) for exams. No other type of Scantron forms will be
acceptable. No make-up tests will be offered except on medical grounds.
Homework
All assignments are to be submitted via WebCT. The deadline for submitting an
assignment is 11:00 pm on the due date. No late submissions will be accepted.

Grading Policy
The grading will be based on a relative grading scheme. The student with the highest
grade in the class will be normalized to a 100%. The rest of the students will be
normalized accordingly. The following cut offs will be used to assign the final grade.

Range Grade Range Grade

96 - 100 A+ 91 - 95 A
86 - 90 A- 81 - 85 B+
76 - 80 B 71 - 75 B-
66 - 70 C+ 61 - 65 C
56 - 60 C- 51 - 55 D+
46 - 50 D 41 - 45 D-
= 40 F
Participation
While attendance is not mandatory, students are encouraged to attend all classes and to
read the assigned material. In addition to making the class more interesting, a great deal
of learning takes place when you articulate your views and ask questions in class. Thus,
class participation is very beneficial.

Schedule
The following is a tentative schedule, which I will try to follow as closely as possible.
Should any changes become necessary, I will announce it in class as well as post it on
WebCT via the bulletin board. It is YOUR responsibility to check for changes at least
once a week. I will not be held responsible if you miss any announcements regarding
changes to schedule and/or deadlines.

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Date Topic Readings

01/10/05 (Mon) General Introduction Chapter 1
01/12/05 (Wed) Introduction to Data Communications Chapter 1
01/17/05 (Mon) No Class
Introduction to Data Communications
01/19/05 (Wed) Chapter 1
(contd)
01/24/05 (Mon) Application Layer Chapter 2
01/26/05 (Wed) Application Layer (contd) Chapter 2
01/31/05 (Mon) Physical Layer Chapter 3
02/02/05 (Wed) Physical Layer (contd) Chapter 3
02/07/05 (Mon) Datalink Layer Chapter 4
Datalink Layer (contd)
02/09/05 (Wed) Chapter 4
Homework 1 Due
02/14/05 (Mon) Network and Transport Layers Chapter 5
02/16/05 (Wed) Network and Transport Layers (contd) Chapter 5
02/21/05 (Mon) Local Area Networks Chapter 6
02/23/05 (Wed) Local Area Networks (contd) Chapter 6
02/28/05 (Mon) Exam I Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6
03/02/05 (Wed) Wireless Local Area Networks Chapter 7
03/07 – 03/12/05 Spring Break
03/14/05 (Mon) Backbone Networks Chapter 8
Metropolitan & Wide Area Networks
03/16/05 (Wed) Chapter 9
Homework 2 Due
Metropolitan & Wide Area Networks
03/21/05 (Mon) Chapter 9
(contd)
03/23/05 (Wed) The Internet Chapter 10
03/28/05 (Mon) The Internet (contd) Chapter 10
03/30/05 (Wed) Network Security Chapter 11
04/04/05 (Mon) Network Security (contd) Chapter 11
04/06/05 (Wed) Exam II Chapters 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
04/11/05 (Mon) Network Design Chapter 12
04/13/05 (Wed) Network Design (contd) Chapter 12
04/18/05 (Mon) Network Management Chapter 13
Network Management (contd)
04/20/05 (Wed) Chapter 13
Homework 3 Due
04/25/05 (Mon) Exam III Chapters 12, 13

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Important Dates

Homework 1 02/09/05
Exam I 02/28/05
Homework 2 03/16/05
Exam II 04/06/05
Homework 3 04/20/05
Exam III 04/25/05

Scholastic Dishonesty
The faculty expects from its students a high level of responsibility with respect to
academic honesty. Because the value of an academic degree depends upon the absolute
integrity of the work done by the student for that degree, it is imperative that a student
maintains a high standard of individual honor in his or her scholastic work. Scholastic
dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, statements, acts or omissions related to
applications for enrollment or the award of a degree, and/or the submission as one's own
work of material that is not one's own. As a general rule, scholastic dishonesty involves
one of the following acts: cheating, plagiarism, collusion, and/or falsifying academic
records. Students suspected of academic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary
proceedings. Specifically, copying another student's computer files or buying
assignments from a 3rd party could result in a grade of F and/or expulsion from the
University.

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