MIS302A- Data Communications

Syllabus – Fall2023

MIS 302 A Fall 2023

Data Communications
Syllabus

Cristian Balan 8/29/23 MIS302A

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Quick Reference
Contact Information.........................................................................................................................2
Office Hours..................................................................................................................................... 2
Required Text:.................................................................................................................................. 2
Course Overview:.............................................................................................................................2
Course Learning Objectives:............................................................................................................ 3
Grading:........................................................................................................................................... 4
Homework:...................................................................................................................................... 5
Preparation:..................................................................................................................................... 5
Exams:..............................................................................................................................................5
Cases/Group Assignments:.............................................................................................................. 5
Quizzes:............................................................................................................................................5
Individual Project:............................................................................................................................6
Labs:.................................................................................................................................................6
Attendance & Participation:............................................................................................................ 6
Academic Integrity...........................................................................................................................7
Ausable/SBE/CS 0109 Computer Lab:.............................................................................................7
Teaching Assistants and help with computer projects.....................................................................7
Other Class Policies..........................................................................................................................8
SBE Code of Professional Behavior................................................................................................ 10
COVID-19 Addendum.....................................................................................................................11
Tentative Schedule:........................................................................................................................13

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Contact Information

Instructor: Cristian Balan

Office: Ausable 211 (2nd floor)
Phone: 518-565-0480 (personal cell OK to text message)
E-mail: [email protected] MAIN MODE OF COMMUNICATION

Section A: Tue, Thur 5:00PM-6:15PM Classroom: Ausable 109 (MIS Lab)

Office Hours:

Mon 3:30PM-4:30PM
Tue 2:30PM-3:30PM
Wed 3:30PM-4:30PM

Required Text:

Cengage Unlimited $124.99– we will use the following book to start the semester:

CompTIA Network+ Guide to Networks

by Jill West, 9th Edition | Copyright 2022
Completely updated with a proven problem-solving approach, West's
NETWORK+ GUIDE TO NETWORKS, 9E prepares readers for success
on the new CompTIA's Network+ N10-008 certification exam and a
rewarding career installing, configuring and troubleshooting computer
networks.

The Brightspace course is linked to the Cengage MindTap activities. You will need a
Cengage account registered using your SUNY Plattsburgh email address.

In addition, we will use content and activities from the Cisco Networking Academy ($0)

https://www.netacad.com/ - Networking Essentials Course - you will receive and

invitation at your official SUNY Plattsburgh email to register for this external resources.

Course Overview:

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This course will provide an introduction to data communications and networking, with an
emphasis on current technologies. The objective of the course is to make the students
capable of putting in perspective the role of data communications in information systems,
and understand how these technologies are / will be affecting the world of MIS in
particular, and business in general. The approach though not overly technical, will try to
introduce a lot of engineering concepts related to communications and networking. At
the successful completion of this course, the student should have an overall picture of the
field of data communications and networking, a good understanding of the terminology
used, and a conceptual understanding of the technologies involved

For students pursuing a career in MIS, IT, and Cybersecurity this course will teach you
how to connect devices at the physical, network and transport layer. While students are
not expected to terminate fiber or CAT5 cable at the physical layer, it is important to
understand the requirements and know how to configure systems so they communicate on
a modern network. Understanding switching, routing and protocols associated with these
devices are important concepts that students can build upon in future courses in
Cybersecurity, IT and MIS.

Course Learning Objectives:

LO1: Role of computer networks in business

Understand the role of computer networks in business.

LO2: Familiarity with Business Data Networks

Become familiar with the various kinds of networks that support organizational and
inter-organizational communication and information systems.

LO3: Vocabulary and Terminology

Become familiar with the terms and terminology used in business data communication.

LO5: Ethics
Students will be able to recognize and critically assess the ethics of data communication
and use in a business environment.

LO6: Information Systems Analysis

Become familiar with issues involved in designing and implementing communication
networks in organizations.

Relationship of Course Objectives to SBE Program Learning Goals/Objectives

The School of Business and Economics at SUNY Plattsburgh has identified learning
goals/objectives that all graduates should have mastered upon graduation. These
goals/objectives have been incorporated into this course with emphasis as represented in
the table below.

SBE Program Learning Goals (PLG)

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Upon graduation our students will have mastered:

1. Business Knowledge
2. Applied Learning and Teamwork
3. Oral and Written Communication Skills
4. Global Awareness
5. Applying Technology to Decision Making

Heavy Moderate Minor

School Program Competencies/Objectives None
Coverage Coverage Coverage
Business Knowledge X
Applied learning X
Teamwork X
Communication Skills – Oral X
Communication Skills – Written X
Global Awareness X
Technology – utilize spreadsheets, word
X
processing, and database applications
Technology – problem solving/decision
X
making application in specialized fields

Grading:

Exam 1, 2, and 3 40%

Individual Project and Presentation 10%
Attendance and Participation 10%
Assignments
Chapter Quizzes 10%
Cengage Labs 20%
In-class labs 10%

Total 100%

Letter Grade:

95 - 100 A 74 – 76 C
90 - 94 A- 70 – 73 C-
87 - 89 B+ 65 – 69 D+
84 - 86 B 60- 64 D
80 - 83 B- Below 60 F

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77 - 79 C+

Homework:

Homework assignments will be given to reinforce current topics and must be completed
individually, unless specifically assigned to a group. Homework assignments are due at
the beginning of the class period of the due date. Late assignments will not be accepted
and will result in zero points.

Preparation:

Please make sure that you come to class prepared. Readings will be assigned on a regular
basis, and you may be called upon to participate in discussions. You should also be
familiar with the material covered in previous classes. Please check the evolving class
schedule on the class Moodle site on a regular basis

Exams:

The MIS exams for this course will take place in class and will be closed book and closed
notes. Three exams will be administered for this course. The two in class exams will be
held in week 5 and week 10 of the semester, while the final exam will be held during
finals week. Absence from an exam will result in zero points for that exam.

Cases/Group Assignments:

Please form a group consisting of a maximum of 3 students during the first week of class
and inform me. In case you are unable to join a group or do not inform me by the 1st of
September, I will presume you will do the group project/assignments on your own.
The group assignments will be performed and submitted as a group. Late submissions
will not be accepted. It will be expected of each group member to pull his/her weight in
the group assignments. A peer evaluation will be used to determine the extent of
contribution of each member in the group assignments. More details will be provided in
class.

Quizzes:

Quizzes will occur on a random basis and will not be announced ahead of time. When
they occur, quizzes will take place at the beginning of class time and be approximately 10
minutes in duration. Thus, arriving to class on-time will be important because all quizzes

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will be collected at the same time. If you arrive after the quiz has been collected, or are
absent on the day of the quiz, you will receive a zero for that quiz.

Individual Project:

An in depth study of a current data communication / networking topic area or technology,

to be conducted over the course of the term, is required in this course. More details will
be provided during class. You will be asked to submit a 4-5 page white paper group
report and an in-class presentation during week 13 and 14.

Labs:

There will be an in-class lab to practice concepts learned from the presentation and
reading. The students are expected to completed each step and answer questions
regarding their findings. Some labs require answering questions, while others will
require proof that the student has completed the steps. In some cases using a screenshot
of the system console will suffice as proof. Students that have difficulty and require
additional time should use the open labs hours in Au Sable 109 to complete the lab.

Attendance & Participation:

Attendance and class participation will be recorded electronically each class period.
There is a direct penalty for missing classes, as you will obviously lose out on potential
participation and discussion points. The quizzes will be conducted at random, and there
will be no makeup quizzes. Also, the exams will contain 30% of materials only covered
in classes (lectures, videos, other resources).

Any student that misses more than 20% of the class meeting times will receive a failing
grade for the course:
● For a weekly class (2 hours and 45 minutes) this amounts to more than 3 class
meetings.
● For a biweekly class (1 hour and 15 minutes 2 times per week) this amounts to 6
class meetings.

When students register for the course, they make a commitment to attend all class
meetings. If you have a job, please ensure you adjust your work schedule to attend all
classes. Work conflicts are not excused absences.

Late submission of assignment and projects

Late work is not accepted in this course as a matter of policy – the class schedule is
relatively difficult to maintain when students “fall behind” on work. Also, it is not fair
to students that submit work on time to receive the same grade as others that submit late
work. There are circumstances in which the instructor will decide to accept late work
because of special circumstances and by prior agreement with the student. Late work
will be penalized by 10 points per assignment per day that it is overdue. A simple

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calculation will show that an assignment that is graded at 100% will receive a score of
50% in the gradebook when submitted 5 days late, and 0% when submitted 10 days late.

Academic Integrity
It is expected that all students enrolled in this class support the letter and the spirit of the
Academic Honesty Policy as stated in the college catalog.

Do not copy or use someone else’s project, spreadsheet or access database. When submitting
on SimNet, the system will flag it and the instructor will not only know that you plagiarized, but
will also identify the person that gave you the file. Both parties will be prosecuted for
plagiarism according with the school policies.

Lying or misleading the instructor about your health condition or family situation to get an
extension is considered an integrity violation.

***IMPORTANT NOTICE***

The Student Academic Honesty Policy will be strictly enforced. This policy states in
part:

"Academic honesty is essential to the intellectual health of the university and the ideals of
education. SUNY Plattsburgh expects students to be honest and to conduct themselves with
integrity in all aspects of their relationship with the college (e.g., application, transfer
evaluation, academic progress review, and credit and non-credit bearing experiences, including
regular course work, independent studies, internships, practica, student teaching, and
interactions with faculty, staff, and students). Academic dishonesty adversely affects the
educational function of the college and undermines the integrity of its programs.”
“Dishonest conduct includes, but is not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, unauthorized
collaboration, forgery, and alteration of records, along with any lying, deceit, bribery, coercion,
or intimidation for the purpose of influencing a grade or for any other academic gain. Action
against a student determined to have violated the academic honesty policy can range from a
reduction of the grade on an assignment, through failure of a course, to suspension or even
dismissal from the academic program, the department, or the college.”
For more information, please go to:
http://web.plattsburgh.edu/offices/academic/provost/academichonesty

Ausable/SBE/CS 0109 Computer Lab:

The School of Business and Managing Information Systems Computer Lab will be open
to MIS302 students during the semester. The open lab hours will be published after the
start of the semester.

Teaching Assistants and help with computer projects

This semester, there are no assigned teaching assistants for this course. MIS and
Cybersecurity students are a good source of help when completing labs and assignments
in this course. Some of the TAs for MIS275 that have completed this course might be
able to provide support if they are available during open lab hours. Showing up at office
hours without first attempting the projects on your own and expecting either the

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instructor or the TAs to walk you through every step, is not how student support is
conducted – you need to first attempt the projects on your own and come in for help
when you are having difficulty with a specific step or procedure.

Please Check the Schedule posted on the lab door, the TA Schedule in Moodle, or the
instructors shared calendar.

Other Class Policies

▪ The course Moodle site is a crucial resource and will be updated on an on-going
basis. Students are responsible for checking the website for new materials and
schedule changes. As a general rule, the site should be checked at least on a daily
basis. Please do not use the Moodle messaging feature – instead email the
instructor. The instructor does not check Moodle messages.
▪ You are expected to do the assigned reading and outside work before each class
session. Being fully prepared for each class meeting is crucial to your ability to
contribute constructively to class discussions and exercises. Moreover, as you
may be called upon without advanced warning to take the lead in certain
activities, being prepared will help you avoid needless embarrassment.
▪ Late work is not accepted.

▪ Please do not come in late to the class or leave before the end of class as it is
distracting and disrespectful. Consequently, arriving late or leaving early should
be an extremely infrequent event. In the event that you do have to miss all or a
portion of a class session, it is your responsibility to find out what you missed.
▪ Ringing cell phones and beeping beepers pose an unacceptable distraction in
the classroom. These devices must be turned off at all times during class
sessions. If you feel that a potential emergency situation warrants having a cell
phone or beeper on during a class session, please check with the instructor ahead
of time.
▪ Surfing the Web or checking e-mail in class is equally distracting, and will
result in penalties including but not limited to negative class participation
points and ejection from the class.
▪ Students are expected to be knowledgeable of all university and SBE policies and
procedures that might affect their status in the class.
▪ Reasonable accommodations are available for students who have documented
special needs. All accommodations must be approved through the office of
Disability Services. Please notify me during the first week of class if any
accommodations are needed in the course.

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▪ Course participants are expected to maintain high standards of academic honesty.

Actions including, but not limited to, plagiarism, copying another student’s (or
another team’s) work (either from the current term or a prior term), and cheating
on exams, will be punished to the full extent provided for by university policies
and procedures. Please see the section on Academic Integrity above.

SBE Code of Professional Behavior

For business people, professional interaction is critical to success. The SBE seeks to help
you achieve your potential by encouraging professional behavior while in the classroom.

The following is a list of behaviors we would like for you to abide by while in our
classes.
● Be punctual for class.
● Turn off your cell phone and do not text while in class.
● Remove iPod wires from ears, and use laptops appropriately when permits (no
e-mails, Facebook, surfing, shopping, etc.).
● Do not leave a class or an exam while it is in progress (use the restroom before or
after class/exam).
● Wear professional business attire for class presentations (suits, jackets/blazer, tie,
etc.), and wear appropriate attire for the classroom.
● In online discussions, posts can easily be misinterpreted. Please read your comments
out loud before posting to get a sense for the tone.
● Be courteous to your classmates in online discussions. While you should feel free to
challenge others’ ideas, derogatory comments toward another learner are not
acceptable.
● Our Moodle site is intended strictly for the purposes of this class. Marketing of any
kind (e.g., for a learner’s, friend’s, or family member’s business) is prohibited.
● Hand assignments in on time following assignment directions and course policies as
indicated on your syllabi.
● Communicate respectfully with faculty and other learners, and send professional
e-mails, voicemails, etc. (spell name, repeat phone number, etc.).
● Contact fellow learners first for missed class materials and check your school e-mail
at least once daily.
● Be respectful of diversity. Please avoid any sarcastic or offensive comments in
relation to diversity to make our face-to-face and virtual classroom a safe and
comfortable place for people of all types of diversity.

Thank you for your compliance and we wish you much success in your professional
career.(This code is modified from the Marketing Department Code of Professional
Behavior on 4/19/2019.)

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COVID-19 Addendum

COVID-19 Addition to Faculty Syllabi for F2F & Hybrid Courses

This course, or parts of it, requires face to face interaction and on campus activities. Students
enrolled in the course are required to follow SUNY Plattsburgh Social Distancing & Face Covering
Policy https://www.plattsburgh.edu/covid-19/index.html
By registering for this course, you agree to follow the policy and all related procedures and
recommendations instituted by the college to ensure the health and safety of our campus
community. Please adhere to the following guidelines:

1. Submit your COVID-19 health screening form on a daily basis before coming to campus:
https://www.plattsburgh.edu/about/offices-divisions/administration-finance/human-resources/
health-screening-covid-19.html

2. If your daily health screen has any positive answers, do not come to class unless cleared by a
SUNY Plattsburgh Health Center official.

3. Wear an approved face covering on mouth and nose while in class.

4. Clean your personal sitting area at the start of each class.

Disinfecting supplies are provided in the classroom. Follow additional personal hygiene protocols
such as frequent hand washing and hand sanitizing.

5. Classrooms have been adapted to accommodate social distancing. Do not move chairs and
desks. Observe the six feet social distancing rule with other individuals whenever possible.

6. No food or drinks are allowed in the classrooms.

If you are unable or unwilling to adhere to these requirements, please notify your professor or
contact your academic adviser immediately for course schedule adjustment. Any changes in the
college policy will be reflected in the above guidelines.

Instructor’s Guidance:

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If the situation dictates, we will move the class to Zoom. MIS275 is tooled to be conducted on
Zoom or fully asynchronous online. All MIS275 materials are available online. During the 3rd
week of classes, we will conduct one class session on Zoom. Students will configure their
computers and install the required software to successfully participate in a Zoom class. The
instructor will make the decision to move the class to Zoom. Until that decision is made, and
communicated over email, this is a face-to-face class that requires in person mandatory
attendance. Regardless of modality, attendance and participation is required.

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Tentative Schedule:

Please note that this is a tentative schedule and is subject to change. Check the class
Brightspace course regularly for the most current version of the schedule.

Assigned Work
Week : Topic: Readings (the projects are due the following
week see Moodle for exact dates)
Syllabus
Ch 1 Quiz/2 Grp Proj
Week 1 Introduction to Data Communications Ch 1
Lab TBD

Ch 2 Quiz/ 1 Grp Proj

Week 2 Physical Layer Ch 2
Lab TBD
Ch 3 Quiz/2 Grp Proj
Week 3 Data Link Layer Ch 3
Lab TBD
Ch 4 Ch 4 Quiz/2 Grp Proj
Week 4 Network Layer
Lab TBD
Exam#1
Week 5 Transport Layer Ch 5 Ch 5 Quiz/2 Grp Proj
Lab TBD
Ch 6 Quiz/ 2 Grp Proj
Week 6 Application Layer Ch 6
Lab TBD
Ch 7 Quiz/ 2 Grp Proj
Support Services
Week 7 Ch 7 Select Topic for Final Paper
Final Paper Revealed
Lab TBD
Ch 8 Quiz/2 Grp Proj
Week 8 Routing Ch 8
Lab TBD
Ch 9 Quiz/ 2 Grp Proj
Week 9 Ch 9
Subnetting Lab TBD
Exam#2
Week 10 Wide Area Networks Ch 10 Ch 10 Quiz/2 Grp Proj
Lab TBD
Ch 11 Quiz/1 Group Proj
Final Paper Outline and
Week 11 Network Security Ch 11
Bibliography
Lab TBD
Ch 12 Quiz
Week 12 Computing Infrastructure Ch 12
Lab TBD
Ch 15 Quiz/1 Group Proj
Week 13 Wireless/Presentations Ch 15
Lab TBD
Week 14 Presentations Final Paper Due
Week 15
Exam #3
Finals
Week

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