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Integrated Curriculum and Laboratory Development of an Undergraduate Telecommunications and Computer Networking Program Abstract

This paper describes the ongoing development of the integrated telecom curriculum and laboratories. The current laboratory includes a general networking lab and a network security lab. Eventually, we want to offer an enriched curriculum supported by an integrated network environment where traditional telephone network, VOIP, data network and backbone fiber optic network coexist with data, voice and video traffic. Our goal for the lab is to allow students to see an integrated telecommunication system, rather than many isolated parts. We will discuss the current curriculum and laboratory approach and present a prototype of an integrated advanced undergraduate telecommunications and computer networking laboratory.

Introduction

The current growth in telecommunications indicates that, in the near future, not only data, but audio and video services will be integrated and there will be a growing market for bundled services. This industry trend requires broader technical expertise at all levels to develop applications, support the new technologies and maintain the competitive edge required for success in the global environment. Having recognized these needs, Southeast Missouri State University developed a new Telecommunications and Computer Networking (TCN) option to educate and train the necessary workforce for supporting these initiatives.

The Department of Industrial & Engineering Technology at Southeast Missouri State University started the TCN option under the BSIT (BS Industrial Technology) degree in fall 2005 as a major, expanding on an earlier electronic curriculum. The TCN option is a new, unique and multidisciplinary program that offers a variety of courses to give students a broad yet solid background in the area of study. It is unique in that it not only tries to offer students foundation and principles of system design and development from the engineering perspective but also try to expose them extensively to new emerging technologies and equipments through its integrated curriculum and laboratories.

The current TCN curriculum covers digital circuit design, telecommunications and fiber optics, computer networking, network routing and switching, network design and maintenance, system analysis and design, wireless communications and networks, server techniques, and network security. Considering that standard engineering courses focus on the technical aspects, but under- address the challenges in system design and configuration, maintenance and troubleshooting, and pure technical schools do not equip students with enough theoretical background, we created a curriculum to balance both theoretical and technical requirements.

Ma & Nickerson [1] found that hands-on laboratories adhered to goals of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology[2] and gave students a conceptual understanding of engineering, as well as, design, social and professional skills. Survey results from Etkina & Murthy [3] indicate

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Wu, S., & Athinarayanan, R., & Hou, X., & Scott, S. (2008, June), Integrated Curriculum And Laboratory Development Of An Undergraduate Telecommunications And Computer Networking Program Paper presented at 2008 Annual Conference & Exposition, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 10.18260/1-2--4082