UCCS CS 4220 Computer Networks

Fall 2026; M/W 1:40 PM - 2:55 PM (001); Cybersecurity A-107

General Information

Instructor

Dr. Xi Tan
E-mail: xtan4@uccs.edu
Homepage: https://mintancy.github.io/
Office hours: M/W 3:15 PM - 4:30 PM or by appointment. Student hours can be held in person, or via Teams.
Loc: Cybersecurity Center, 120J

Teaching Assistant

Ning Zhang
E-mail: nzhang2@uccs.edu
Office hours: TBD

Overview

CS 4220 focuses on the basic network and protocol concepts and principles with practical hands-on exercises on network management, network programming, and network planning through the use of industry simulators. Topics include: Internet protocols and routing, local area networks, basic TCP/IP programming, congestion control, packet switching and routing, quality-of-service, and network management. Prer., CS 2060, CS 2150 or MATH 2150; College of Engineering students only.

Tentative Schedule

Date Topic Notes
Week-1 Class-1 8/24 Introduction Read Chap 1.
Week-1 Class-2 8/26 Application Layer I (chap 2)
Week-2 Class-1 8/31 Application Layer II (chap 2)
Week-2 Class-2 9/02 Application Layer III (chap 2)
Week-3 Class-1 9/07 === Labor Day Observed No class ===
Week-3 Class-2 9/09 Transport Layer I (chap 3)
Week-4 Class-1 9/14 Transport Layer II (chap 3) HW-1 Release
Week-4 Class-2 9/16 Transport Layer III (chap 3)
Week-5 Class-1 9/21 Transport Layer IV (chap 3)
Week-5 Class-2 9/23 Transport Layer V (chap 3) Lab 1 Webserver Due (Details)
Week-6 Class-1 9/28 Network Data Plane I (chap 4)
Week-6 Class-2 9/30 Network Data Plane II (chap 4) HW-2 Release
Week-7 Class-1 10/05 Network Data Plane III (chap 4)
Week-7 Class-2 10/07 Network Control Plane I (chap 5)
Week-8 Class-1 10/12 *** Midterm Review *** Lab 2 ICMP Pinger Lab Due (Details)
Week-8 Class-2 10/14 *** Midterm Exam ***
Week-9 Class-1 10/19 Network Control Plane II (chap 5)
Week-9 Class-2 10/21 Network Control Plane III (chap 5)
Week-10 Class-1 10/26 Link Layer and LANs I (chap 6)
Week-10 Class-2 10/28 Link Layer and LANs II (chap 6) HW-3 Release
Week-11 Class-1 11/02 Link Layer and LANs III (chap 6) Lab 3 Ethernet Frames and ARP Due (Details)
Week-11 Class-2 11/04 Link Layer and LANs IV (chap 6)
Week-12 Class-1 11/09 Physical Layer I (chap 7)
Week-12 Class-2 11/11 Physical Layer II (chap 7)
Week-13 Class-1 11/16 Physical Layer III (chap 7) HW-4 Release
Week-13 Class-2 11/18 Network Security I (chap 8)
Week-14 Class-1 11/23 === Fall Break No class ===
Week-14 Class-2 11/25 === Fall Break No class ===
Week-15 Class-1 11/30 Network Security II (chap 8) Lab 4: 5G Radio Due (Details)
Week-15 Class-2 12/02 *** Final Exam Review ***
Week-16 Class-1 12/07 === Reading Day / No class ===
Final Exam 12/14 *** Final Exam *** 12:40 PM - 2:40 PM, Cybersecurity A-107

Resources

Required textbook:

Course Structure

We will have
  1. Lectures.
  2. Four non-grade homework assignments but five pop-up quizzes.
  3. Four hands-on labs picked from Programming Assignments and Wireshark Labs.
All materials will be updated to Canvas later.

Disclaimer

  • All information in this syllabus is subject to change at the discretion of the instructor.
  • Much of the resources were borrowed from Prof. Xiaobo "Charles" Zhou and Jim Kurose, partial of the copyright belongs to Pearson Education, Inc.
  • Labs: Wireshark Labs