Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Course Details: CIS 179 - Data Communication Concepts I

Professor: Robert C Kobus, MA²
Computer Information Systems - Cybersecurity
Portland Community College Sylvania Campus
Office: SY, TCB 312
Pronouns preferred: he/him/his

Welcome to CIS 179!

I am delighted to be your professor for CIS179 - Data Communication Concepts I!

This course provides the foundational knowledge necessary to understand how data moves across networks. In our digitally connected world, the ability to design, troubleshoot, and secure a network is an essential skill for any IT professional. This course explores the fundamental components of data communications and networking, including hardware, connectivity, signaling, network topologies, communication protocols, and the critical TCP/IP protocol suite.

Through my guidance, you will learn the following:

• Foundational Concepts: You will explore hardware, connectivity, signaling, addressing, network topologies, communication protocols, network design, switching, management, security, and standards with a strong emphasis on the TCP/IP protocol suite.

• Practical Application: You will learn how to design moderately complex networks and troubleshoot simple data communication problems using appropriate architectures and hardware. This includes hands-on lab assignments that simulate real-world business scenarios.

• Professional Communication: You will develop the vocabulary and skills necessary to discuss networking issues effectively with peers and other professionals.

I am happy to help you achieve the course goals and guide you on your networking journey. However, learning data communications requires time and commitment. You will be learning a complex language of protocols and systems, and therefore, you will be required to keep up with the assignments. Expect to spend a significant amount of time each week to complete labs, readings, and course content. As this is a cybersecurity course, particular emphasis is given to security considerations in network design and management.

Course Prerequisites: CIS 120 or CIS 121 or EET 111 or MT 111 or instructor permission.

Course Format & Expectations

This is a fully online course with no Zoom meetings to attend. The content is hosted on D2L (Brightspace). You are expected to submit assignments each week. It is important to keep up with each assignment.

Consistently meeting deadlines demonstrates professionalism, reliability, and respect for academic requirements. Completing assignments on time is important because it helps you learn and reinforce the concepts of the course. It also helps you develop good study habits and time management skills, which will serve you well in the future.

Textbook: The text for this class, Business Data Communications and IT Infrastructures, 2nd edition, is available directly from the PCC bookstore. (The textbook can also be purchased directly from RedShelf or VitalSource).

• Paperback ISBN: 978-1-943153-12-1

• eTextbooks ISBN: 978-1-943153-11-4

Course Outcomes

On completion of the course, you will be able to:

1. Communicate Effectively: Use data communication vocabulary appropriately when discussing issues with other networking professionals.

2. Troubleshoot Problems: Troubleshoot simple business network design errors.

3. Design Networks: Design simple business local, metropolitan and wide area networks using appropriate architectures, hardware and security.

How You Will Be Assessed

You will demonstrate your mastery of the material through a combination of activities designed to build practical skills:

• Communicate Effectively with Networking Professionals: You will participate in discussions with the instructor and other students and prepare a research report using professional literature.

• Select Appropriate Solutions: In written and lab work, you will analyze a business problem and provide appropriate networking and data communication solutions.

• Explain Processes: You will use proper data communication vocabulary to explain how data communication processes work, such as signaling and TCP/IP protocols.

• Prepare Internetworking Designs: You will prepare logical and physical network drawings for fairly simple networks, specifying network and link types, plus costs.

Course Content (Themes, Concepts, Issues, and Skills)

To achieve the course outcomes, we will cover the following key areas:

• Foundations of Networking: Network topologies, media, and access methods.

• Hardware & Connectivity: Connectivity devices (routers, switches, hubs).

• Protocols & Architecture: Communication protocols, with emphasis on the TCP/IP protocol suite, and network architectures.

• WAN & Telecommunication Concepts: Wide area network communication types, signaling, and telecommunications.

• Network Design & Management: Network design principles, switching, and management.

• Security & Standards: Network security fundamentals and industry standards.

My Teaching Philosophy

As an educator, I strongly believe that all students, regardless of their circumstances or the socio-economic adversity they face, have the right to accessible and equitable education. Moreover, I view my students holistically and consider their academic, professional, and personal needs so that they are empowered to succeed.

This, in turn, guides my pedagogy, from course design to delivery, such that I aim to help guide my students to become proficient in Data Communications and IT Infrastructures. This approach manifests itself through a direct commitment to wide-ranging, trust-based accommodations in my syllabus.

Your commitment to work hard and learn the materials is vital; communication from me to you and you to me is essential; and if you require accommodations, then please reach out to me!

I look forward to working with you this term!

Sincerely,

Robert C Kobus, MA²