COMP_SCI 340
Introduction to Computer Networking

Northwestern University, Winter 2025

Keep an eye on course websites

To facilitate this course, we use three important websites to get everyone notified and involved.

  • Offical Course Website
    • syllabus, schedule, assignment (homework/project) descriptions, etc.
  • Canvas
    • announcements, grading, assignment (homework/project) submissions.
  • Piazza
    • Q&A, discussions

Please be aware of their individual functions and make sure to refresh them frequently to avoid missing any important content. We also recommend turning on notifications in Canvas and Piazza.

Location & Time

  • Location: Tech Institute Lecture Room 2 (Room Finder)
  • Time: TuTh 12:30 PM - 1:50 PM
  • Final Exam: Mon 3/17/2025 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Teaching Staff (Click here for details)

  • Instructor
    • Aleksandar Kuzmanovic
  • Teaching Assistants
    • Sen Lin
    • Nathan Greiner
  • Peer Mentors
    • Anna Cai
    • Will Cho
    • Oscar Dong
    • Eagan Notokusumo
    • Minxin Shi
    • Franklin Zhao

Grading

  • 50% – 3 Projects (Python)
    • Done in pairs (or individually)
  • 20% – 4 Homework assignments
    • Short written answers
    • Based on reading, lectures, and experimentation with Wireshark
  • 10% – Midterm exam
  • 15% – Final exam (cumulative)
    • Exams are similar to homework assignments
    • Exams are open book & open notes
    • Plan to print all the lecture slides.
  • 5% – Participation
    • Class time discussion

Overview

This course provides an introduction to fundamental concepts in the design and implementation of computer communication networks, their protocols, and applications. Topics to be covered include: overview of network architectures, applications (HTTP, Email, BitTorrent), network programming interfaces (e.g., sockets), transport (TCP, UDP), flow control, congestion control, IP, routing, IPv6, multicast, data link protocols, error-detection/correction, multiple access, LAN, Ethernet, wireless networks, and network security. Examples will be drawn primarily from the Internet protocol suite (e.g., HTTP, TCP, and IP). Over the course of the quarter, students will build a web server, reliable transport (like TCP), and implement routing algorithms.

Piazza

If you would like to ask a question asynchronously, please post your question on Piazza so that all of the teaching staff can respond:
https://piazza.com/northwestern/winter2025/cs340

This also allows other students to learn from your questions and to offer answers.

To join Piazza:

  1. Go to Course Search
  2. Make sure the Selected Term is “Winter 2025”
  3. Search for “CS 340”
  4. Select to join as student
  5. Click “Join Classes”

Textbooks

Pair Work

Projects may be done in paris (2 people) or individually. Groups of three are NOT allowed. But you can switch your partner for different projects.

Both students in a pair must understand how all of their code works. Please find a teammate and join one of the student groups on Canvas. Feel free to use Canvas discussion to find partner.

Late Policy

Any assignment may be turned in up to two days late, with a 10 percentage point deduction per late day. In rare circumstances, the instructor may cancel this policy for particular assignments, so please pay attention to the course announcements.

Academic Integrity

Students in this course are required to comply with the policies found in the booklet, “Academic Integrity at Northwestern University: A Basic Guide”. All papers submitted for credit in this course must be submitted electronically unless otherwise instructed by the professor. Your written work may be tested for plagiarized content. For details regarding academic integrity at Northwestern or to download the guide, please visit: Northwestern Academic Integrity Policy

Any form of cheating, including improper use of content generated by artificial intelligence, constitutes a violation of Northwestern’s academic integrity policy.

Accessibility

Northwestern University is committed to providing a supportive environment for students with disabilities. Should you anticipate or experience disability-related barriers in the academic setting, please contact AccessibleNU to move forward with the university’s established accommodation process. If you already have established accommodations with AccessibleNU, please let your instructor know as soon as possible, preferably within the first two weeks of the term, so we they can work with you to implement your disability accommodations. Disability information, including academic accommodations, is confidential under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.

Exceptions to Class Modality

For courses noted as only occurring in-person, individual students will not be granted permission to attend remotely except as the result of an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accommodation as determined by AccessibleNU. Should public health recommendations prevent in-person classes from being held on a given day, the instructor or the university will notify students.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

This course strives to be an inclusive learning community, respecting those of differing backgrounds and beliefs. As a community, we aim to be respectful to all students in this class, regardless of race, ethnicity, socio-economic status, religion, gender identity or sexual orientation.

Prohibition of Recording of Class Sessions by Students

Unauthorized student recording of classroom or other academic activities (including advising sessions or office hours) is prohibited. Unauthorized recording is unethical and may also be a violation of University policy and state law. Students requesting the use of assistive technology as an accommodation should contact AccessibleNU. Unauthorized use of classroom recordings - including distributing or posting them - is also prohibited. Under the University’s Copyright Policy, faculty own the copyright to instructional materials - including those resources created specifically for the purposes of instruction, such as syllabi, lectures and lecture notes, and presentations. Students cannot copy, reproduce, display, or distribute these materials. Students who engage in unauthorized recording, unauthorized use of a recording, or unauthorized distribution of instructional materials will be referred to the appropriate University office for follow-up.

Support for Wellness and Mental Health

Northwestern University is committed to supporting the wellness of our students. Student Affairs has multiple resources to support student wellness and mental health. If you are feeling distressed or overwhelmed, please reach out for help. Students can access confidential resources through the Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), Religious and Spiritual Life (RSL) and the Center for Awareness, Response and Education (CARE). Northwestern also participates in TimelyCare, a virtual mental health platform that provides counseling, health coaching and 24/7 on-demand services at no cost. Additional information on these resources and eligibility can be found here:

Religious Observance Statement

Northwestern is committed to fostering an academic community respectful of and welcoming to persons of differing backgrounds. To that end, the policy on academic accommodations for religious observance stipulates that students will not be penalized for class absences for religious observance. Students for whom a religious observance conflicts with a class meeting, exam, or assignment deadline, should consult with their instructor by the end of the second week of the term. Note for undergraduates: if observance of a religious observance conflicts with a common midterm (i.e., a midterm scheduled outside of the regular class meeting time) or final exam, you should submit an accommodation request to the Office of the Provost’s religious accommodation request form.