Availabilities:

Location Domestic International
Coffs Harbour Session 2 Session 2
Gold Coast Session 2 Session 2
Online Session 2,  3 Session 2

Unit Summary

Unit type

UG Coursework Unit

Credit points

12

AQF level

7

Level of learning

Introductory

Former School/College

Former School of Business and Tourism

Unit aim

The abundance of networked systems supporting the needs of industry and meeting the objectives of business information systems means computing students must have an understanding of the hardware and software technology which drives data exchange both within and between such systems. The proliferation and rapid evolution of communications technologies means students must be capable of designing systems which take advantage of technologies capable of best meeting the diverse needs of users of information technologies. This unit will give students the skills to analyse the needs and specify network requirements.

Unit content

Topic 1 Basic concepts
Topic 2 Fundamental concepts: The application layer (TCP/IP model, Layer 5)
Topic 3 Fundamental concepts: The physical layer (TCP/IP model, Layer 1)
Topic 4 Network design 
Topic 5 Network technology 1: Wired and wireless local area networks
Topic 6 Network technology 2: Backbone networks 
Topic 7 Network technology 3: Wide area networks
Topic 8 Fundamental concepts: The data link layer (TCP/IP model, Layer 2)
Topic 9 Fundamental concepts: The network and transport layers (TCP/IP model, Layers 3 & 4)
Topic 10 Network security

Learning outcomes

Unit Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes. The unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes are also the basis of evaluating prior learning.

GA1: , GA2: , GA3: , GA4: , GA5: , GA6: , GA7:
On completion of this unit, students should be able to: GA1 GA2 GA3 GA4 GA5 GA6 GA7
1 describe in detail the layers in the TCP/IP network model
2 describe the principles of network and data communication fundamentals
3 explain the network components
4 describe the need of network and data security
5 describe the impact of communications technologies on business factors
6 describe the process of network planning and design.

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

  1. describe in detail the layers in the TCP/IP network model
    • GA1:
    • GA4:
    • GA5:
  2. describe the principles of network and data communication fundamentals
    • GA1:
    • GA4:
    • GA5:
  3. explain the network components
    • GA1:
    • GA4:
    • GA5:
  4. describe the need of network and data security
    • GA1:
    • GA4:
    • GA5:
  5. describe the impact of communications technologies on business factors
    • GA1:
    • GA4:
    • GA5:
  6. describe the process of network planning and design.
    • GA1:
    • GA2:
    • GA4:
    • GA5:

Prescribed texts

  • Electronic version of the prescribed textbook is also available at a much cheaper price: Fitzgerald, J, Dennis, A & Durcikova, A , 2015, Business Data Communications and Networking, 12th edn, John Wiley & Sons, USA. ISBN: 978-1-118-89168-1.

  • Electronic version of the prescribed textbook is also available at a much cheaper price: Fitzgerald, J, Dennis, A & Durcikova, A , 2015, Business Data Communications and Networking, 12th edn, John Wiley & Sons, USA. ISBN: 978-1-118-89168-1.
Prescribed texts may change in future teaching periods.