Introduction to Data Communications and Networks

Obviously technologies related to data communication and computer networking may be the fastest growing in engineering and in society. People use the Internet more and more every day for learning, research, online shopping, airline reservations, checking the latest news and weather, and so on. Simply, today?s business world could not function without data communications and computer networks. This module provides an introduction of the broad field of data communications and computer networks including principles, design approaches and standards.

This module is designed to give you an initial foundation of computer systems and understanding of how computers are used in a networked environment. This includes data communication and computer networking technologies as well as computer structure and the internetworked environment. It helps students to understand the basics of data communications and networking in general and the protocols used. The approach concentrates on the fundamental principles, from an engineering point of view, on which students can build more substantial computing studies throughout their course and afterwards.