CSC 102: How the Internet Works (Spring 2010)

(Section 02)

Catalog Description

An introduction to the structure, design, and operation of the Internet, including the electronic and physical structure of networks; how email and Web browsers work; domain names; mail and file transfer protocols; encoding and compression of both text and graphics; http and HTML; the design of Web pages; and the operation of search engines. Both history and societal implications are explored.
Prerequisites: Basic familiarity with word processing and email.

Syllabus Link

Details

• Dates: Starts Tue 26Jan, ends Thu 11Mar, just before Spring Break (2nd-half semester course CSC105 immediately follows on the 23rd; requires separate registration)
• Times: TuTh 9:00-10:20AM
• Location: Seelye 212
• Instructor: Joseph O'Rourke
• Texbook (Required): None!
• Texbook (Recommended only): How The Internet Works, 8th Edition; Que Press; ISBN: 0789736268
• O'Rourke Office Hours & Schedule
• Grading:
  • Attendance & Participation: 10%
  • Homework Assignments: 50%
  • Quizzes: 20%
  • Either a short Paper plus presentation, or a Take-Home Exam: 20% (approx. two assignments)
  See also Grading Numerology.
• S/U Grading Option: I encourage you to consider the S/U grading option to relieve stress and just learn. The Registrar's web site says the deadline to change grading option is Fri, February 26th.
• Assignments Schedule: Quizzes and assignments posted a week in advance, always due the following Thursday @midnight.
  • Assignments: Linked from Syllabus
  • Generous Late Policy
  • Quizzes: In Moodle for this class.
  • Assignment and Quiz Rules

Teaching Assistants

• Xiao Huang <xhuang@smith.edu>
• Katie Park <spark2@smith.edu>
• Also: Alex Cheng & Faith Unterseher are tutors for all CS classes

TAs Schedule