Syllabus for 2025FA_COMP_SCI_340-0_SEC1 Introduction to Networking
Course Syllabus
This course introduces the basics of networking, ranging from sending bits over wires to the Web and distributed computing. We focus on the networking ground between these two extremes, particularly focusing on the engineering of the Internet. Topics include packet switching and routing, flow control, congestion control and quality-of-service, Internet protocols, security, software-defined networking, and the design of network services.
COMMUNICATION CHANNELS
There are several communication channels set up for this class:
We will use the course website to post announcements related to the course and Canvas to post assignments. You should check these regularly for schedule changes, clarifications, and corrections to assignments, and other course-related announcements.
We will use Piazza for class discussion. The system is highly catered to getting you help fast and efficiently from classmates, the TA, and the instructors. Rather than emailing questions to the teaching staff, we encourage you to post your questions on Piazza (https://aqualab.cs.northwestern.edu/courses/cs-340-f25/)
There is always email for questions that would be inappropriate to post on the newsgroup/discussionboard. When using email to contact the staff please start your subject line with "cS340: helpful-comment" to ensure a prompt response.
COURSE ORGANIZATION
The course is organized as a series of lectures and paper discussions, four projects, a midterm, and a final exam.
Lectures-A set of lectures on the core of the material.
Readings-Textbook and paper reading in preparation for (not substitution of) the lecture.
Homework assignments-A set of assignments meant as reader enforcers.
Wireshark Labs-A set of labs to let you see network protocols in action.
Projects - Three programming projects to give you a better understanding of the subject matter.
A midterm and final exam (cumulative).
GRADING
I use a criterion-referenced method to assign your grade; in other words, your grade will be based on how well you do relative to predetermined performance levels, instead of in comparison with the rest of the class. Thus, if a test has 100 possible points, anyone with a score of 90 or greater will get an A (9093: A-), those with scores of 80 or greater will get a B, those with scores of 70 or greater will get a C, and so on. Notice that this means that if everyone works hard and gets >93, everyone gets an A.
Total scores (between 0 and 100) will be determined, roughly, as follows:
Projects 35%
Midterm Exam 20%
Final Exam 25%
Homework Assignments and Wireshark Labs 15% (7% HW +8% Labs)
Participation (in class and Piazza) 5%