Course Description


This course serves as a general introduction for students to acquire a foundation in current network technologies for local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), and the Internet. The course provides an introduction to the hardware, software, terminology, components, design, and connections of a network, as well as the topologies and protocols for LANs. It covers LAN-user concepts and the basic functions of system administration and operation.

Skill Expectations

CIOS 245 Networking and Communications is an advanced class. Students should have skills equivalent to CIOS 110 Microcomputer Operating Systems and CIOS 210 Hardware and Software Configuration and Troubleshooting before taking this class.

The following skills will be required to complete the course successfully:

  • Working knowledge of software and hardware in stand-alone personal computers.
  • Working knowledge of the operation and support of stand-alone personal computers, which includes but is not limited to:
    • Installing application software.
    • Customizing the operating system's configuration files.
  • Ability to describe, diagnose, and repaire,
    • common operating system problems,
    • hardware related computes problems, and
    • software related computer problems.
  • Ability to take apart and put together the parts of a computer.
  • Ability to search for and access technical support information through the Internet

Course Content

  • Network Orientation
  • Connecting Network Components
  • How a Network Functions
  • Network Architectures
  • Network Operations
  • Network Administration and Support
  • Larger Networks
  • Solving Network Problems

Course Objectives

At the completion of this course, with appropriate study, the student will be able to:

  1. Identify the components of a LAN and determine the type of network design most appropriate for a given site.
  2. Identify the different media used in network communications, distinguish between them, and determine how to use them to connect servers and workstations in a network.
  3. Distinguish between the different networking standards, protocols, and access methods, and determine which would be most appropriate for a given LAN.
  4. Recognize the primary network architectures, identify their major characteristics, and determine which would be the most appropriate for a proposed LAN.
  5. Identify the primary functions of network operating systems and distinguish between a centralized computing environment and a client/server environment.
  6. Determine how to implement and support the major networking components (including the server, operating system, and clients), and propose a system for adequately securing data on a given LAN and protecting the system's components.
  7. Distinguish between LANs and WANs, identify the components used to expand a LAN into a WAN, and determine how to implement an appropriate modem in the larger LAN/WAN environment.
  8. Identify strategic LAN support tools and resources, and determine how to use these in troubleshooting basic network problems.
  9. Identify the components of the Internet.

Student responsibilities will include:

  • Readings from textbooks, journals, magazines, white papers, and online Internet materials.
  • Writing assignments such as written responses to discussion questions.
  • Classroom participation such as classroom discussions and hands on labs.