Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2025 - CMPT 371 D100

Data Communications and Networking (3)

Class Number: 5509

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 3 – Dec 2, 2025: Mon, 2:30–4:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

    Sep 3 – Dec 2, 2025: Wed, 2:30–3:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    CMPT 225 and (MATH 151 or MATH 150), with a minimum grade of C-. MATH 154 or MATH 157 with a grade of at least B+ may be substituted for MATH 151 (MATH 150).

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Data communication fundamentals (data types, rates, and transmission media). Network architectures for local and wide areas. Communications protocols suitable for various architectures. ISO protocols and internetworking. Performance analysis under various loadings and channel error rates.

COURSE DETAILS:

Communication networks play a central role in our everyday connected life. This course is an introduction to the basic concepts, principles, and technologies for understanding communication networks. The course will cover the preliminaries of networks and the Internet, and will provide students the foundation to further study networks. Students must have access to a computer with stable internet connection. Some components of the course require real-time participation during the scheduled lecture and/or exam times.

Topics

  • Introduction to Networks: Basic Principles, Architecture, and Reference Models
  • Application Layer: Principles, Hypertext Transfer Protocol, Mail, Domain Name System, Peer-to-Peer Networks, Multimedia, Content Distribution Networks
  • Transport Layer: Reliable Transport, Connection, Congestion, Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and User Datagram Protocol (UDP)
  • Network Layer: Data Plane, Control Plane, Internet Protocol (IP), Forwarding, Routing, Software Defined Networking (SDN)
  • Data Link Layer: Concepts, Media Access, Local Area Networks (LAN)
  • Advanced Topics

Grading

  • Assignments & Mini Project 30%
  • Quizzes & Interactive Sessions 15%
  • Midterm 20%
  • Final 35%

NOTES:

Students must attain an overall passing grade (50%) on the weighted average of exams (Midterm and Final) in the course in order to obtain a clear pass (C- or better).

Further details will be discussed on the first day of classes.

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach (8th Edition)
James F. Kurose, Keith W. Ross
Pearson, 2021
https://gaia.cs.umass.edu/kurose_ross/index.php
ISBN: 9781292405469

RECOMMENDED READING:

Computer Networks: A Systems Approach
Larry Peterson, Bruce Davie, Morgan Kaufmann
https://book.systemsapproach.org

(Access Via SFU Libr) 
ISBN: 9780123850591

The Real Internet Architecture
Pamela Zave and Jennifer Rexford
https://cna.scholar.princeton.edu/
ISBN: 9780691255804

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Department Undergraduate Notes:

The following are default policies in the School of Computing Science. Please check your course syllabus whether the instructor has chosen a different policy for your class, otherwise the following policies apply.
 
  • Students must attain an overall passing grade on the weighted average of exams in the course in order to get a C- or higher.
  • All student requests for accommodations for their religious practices must be made in writing by the end of the first week of classes, or no later than one week after a student adds a course. After considering a request, an instructor may provide a concession or may decline to do so. Students requiring accommodations as a result of a disability can contact the Centre for Accessible Learning (caladmin@sfu.ca).

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.

To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit: 


RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.