Medgar Evers College (CUNY)
Department of Physical, Environmental and Computer Science
PHS 221 Telecommunications Systems3 lecture hours; 3 credits
Instructor:

Course Description:
The course gives an overview of the technologies used in telecommunications and covers voice, data and the Internet. Topics include historical development, methods of transmitting data, audio, video, and pictorial information; use of computers in transmission, coding and decoding; technical aspects of cable, telephone, radio, television, satellite and fiber optics; storage and retrieval of data; synchronous and asynchronous transmission, modems, interfaces, analog and digital switching; computer networks; LANs, MANs, WANs; Internet Services, mobile telephones, PCS networks, and a discussion of telecommunications management.

Prerequisite: PHY 114 or CS 151 or CIS 223.

Evaluation:
1. Assignments:  Students are expected to complete all assignments and submit them promptly.

2. Attendance:  Students are expected to attend all lecture, workshop and laboratory sessions. No more than four (2) absences are allowed. According to College policy, more than four (2) unexcused absences may result in the student being dropped from the class with a grade of WU.

3. Exams:  There will be three (3) in-class examinations. However, only two (2) exams will be counted. There will be no make-up exams.

4. Quizzes: Quizzes are given to measure student comprehension of homework, reading and possibly, workshop assignments. They are administered when assignments are expected to have been completed and are otherwise unannounced. There will be no make–up for quizzes.

5. Final Examination: The final examination will cover the entire semester's work. There will be no exemption from the final.

6. Final grade will be determined as follows:
Quizzes based on Homework, Labs, Reading & Workshop Assignments.......10%
Exams (two exams count).................................…….60%
Final Examination.......................................…….30%
Total …….100%

7. Grading Symbols:
Percentages will be converted to letter grades according to the standards given in the Medgar Evers College catalogue. All grading symbols will be used according to policies stated in the catalogue.

8. Required Textbook(s):
Introduction to Telecommunications: Voice, Data, and the Internet, Second Edition, By Marion Cole, published by Prentice‑Hall, Inc.

COURSE OUTLINE

Weeks 1-4:
Introduction to Telecommunications
Telecommunications Legislative History
Telecommunications PSTN Technology (1876 – Present)
Customer–Provided Equipment: Telephones, Keysystems, PBXS, and Personal Computers.
EXAM #1

Weeks 5-9
Multiplexing
The Medium
Analog and Digital Signals
Data Communications
ISDN and ADSL.
EXAM #2

Weeks 10-14
Data Networking Via LANs
Wide Area Networks
Internet Services
Mobile Telephones and Personal Communication Systems
Telecommunications Management.
EXAM #3

Week 15 FINAL EXAMINATION

The instructor may make reasonable changes in the syllabus without further notice.