Module: Networks & Internet

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Networks & Internet
Module Code	CSC1010 (ITS: CA169)
Faculty	Engineering & Computing	School	Computing
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5

Description

This module aims to equip students with the basic knowledge of how local area networks and the Internet work and how they interact. To give them an appreciation of the interaction of the main protocols and the helper protocols combine to provide a hierarchy of communications services.

Learning Outcomes

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2. Describe the infrastructure of the Internet, its organisation and how typical Web applications work, how they use services hidden from the user to provide functionality for applications such as web browsing, email, instant messaging, internet gaming and online shopping.
5. 1
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7. Distinguish between different LAN technologies and environments, including the characteristics of the equipment and protocols used to provide connectivity and services in a shared environment.
10. 2
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12. Be able to construct a simple Computer Communications Protocol to provide error free links catering for latency and error detection and correction.
15. 3
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17. Have an appreciation of the Internet, its core protocols and the services provided.
20. 4
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22. Explain the role of switching, forwarding and routing in the Internet.
25. 5
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27. Describe and justify the Client-server model for software applications
30. 6
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32. Develop simple communications applications using the Socket interface.
35. 7
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37. Appreciate the risks associated with security on a computer network and have a bosic knowledge of the tools available to examine the security status of an internet connected machine.
40. 8

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	24	No Description
Assignment Completion	10	Lab-based assignments to give students hands-on experience on how network models (i.e., OSI and TCP/IP) and protocols such as HTTP, DNS, TCP are used in today's networks.
Assignment Completion	10	A project that enables students to be placed in a professionally relevant scenario where they take on the role of network administrators for a mid-sized organisation to build and configure its network using Packet Tracer with most of the essential services.
Tutorial	10	This will cover how to use Packet Tracer to showcase how protocols interact in the TCP/IP protocol suite.
Independent Study	48	No Description
Online activity	23	No Description
Total Workload: 125

Section Breakdown
CRN	20128	Part of Term	Semester 2
Coursework	50%	Examination Weight	50%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	N
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Mohammed Amine Togou	Module Teacher	Andrew Mccarren, Denise Freir, Michael Scriney

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Assignment	Lab-based assignments (15%), Quiz (10%), and project (25%)	50%	n/a
Formal Examination	End-of-Semester Final Examination	50%	End-of-Semester

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Indicative Reading List

Books:

Behrouz A. Forouzan: 2007, Data Communications and Networking, Huga Media, 1172, 0-07-296775-7
Stevens, Addison Wesley: 0, Core Essential Computer Networks , Tannenbaum, Prentice Hall Supplementary Data Communications, Supplementary Computer Networks and Open Systems , Halsall, Addison Wesley TCP/IP Illustrated ,,

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None