MX in Computer Networks
All candidates for the MX in Computer Networks must satisfy the overall requirements of KFUPM in addition to the following:
a) The general requirements for the professional Master are as follow:
- A Grade-Point Average (GPA) of 2.5 or higher on a scale of 4.00
- Completion of TOFEL with a minimum score of 525 (PBT), 194 (CBT) or 70 (IBT). IELTS is also acceptable with a minimum of 6.0. (TOEFL is not required for Students who graduated from KFUPM)
- At least two letters of recommendation
b) The technical backgrounds needed for Admission are:
- B.SC degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or Control and Instrumentation System Engineering, or related fields.
- Basic knowledge in Programming.
- Basics of mathematics and Probability and Statistics.
Satisfying the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee admission into the program, as final admission is subject to an evaluation of the entire application, and the personal interview. Based on the assessment of the applicant file and the personal interview, the admission committee might offer conditional acceptance for students who need to take deficiency courses.
The MX in Computer Networks consists of 9 core courses from different disciplines.
Core Courses
| Sr. | Course Code and Title |
| 1 | COE 540: Computer Networks |
| 2 | COE 543 Mobile Computing and Wireless Networks |
| 3 | COE 546: Computer Network Design
|
| 4 | SEC 521: Network Security |
| 5 | COE 547: Network Management |
| 6 | COE 550: Introduction to Internet of Things |
| 7 | ICS 571: Client Server Programming |
| 8 | COE 557: Emerging Advanced Networks |
| 9 | COE 619: Project |
Course Description
COE 540: Computer Networks (3-0-3) Review of Computer networks layering concepts and quality of service requirements. Physical Layer, Data Link Layer; ARQ Strategies; Analysis of ARQ Strategies. Multi-access communication. Network Layer. Routing in Data Networks. Flow and Congestion Control. Transport Layer. Application Layer: peer-to-peer networking, Content Distribution networks. Studying a number of classic and current papers on these subjects. Case studies. Prerequisite: Graduate Standing |
COE 543: Mobile Computing and Wireless Networks (3-0-3) Introduction to radio frequency propagation models. Physical layer for advanced mobile systems. Cellular configurations and interference mitigation and coordination methods. Multiple access techniques for wireless networks. Wireless network architecture. Mobility solutions for mobile networks (Mobile-IP, Session Initiation Protocol, mobile-Stream Control Transport Protocol, etc.). Quality of service, reliability, and security in mobile computing environment. 5th generation wireless networks. Case studies including Wireless Personal Area Networks (e.g. Bluetooth, Zigbee, etc.), Wireless Local Area Networks (e.g. 802.11n, 802.11ac, etc.) Wireless Metropolitan and Wide Area Networks (e.g. WiMAX-2, LTE/LTE-Advanced, 5G, etc.). Prerequisite: Graduate Standing |
COE 546: Computer Network Design (3-0-3) Introduction to different types of computer networks: LANs, VLANs, InterVLAN Routing, ISL/802.1Q Trunking and WANs. STP and, PVST protocols, in addition to ACL (Standard and Extended). Subnetting and Interior and Exterior for Routing for IPv4 and IPv6. Multicasting, Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP) and Multicast Listener Discovery (MLD) protocols, Software Defined Networking (SDN). Reliability. Data in support of network design. Packet tracer simulator/emulator or other simulation tools will be used heavily. Prerequisite Graduate Standing |
SEC 521: Network Security (3-0-3) Network infrastructure security issues, including perimeter security defenses, firewalls, virtual private networks, intrusion detection systems, wireless security, and network security auditing tools. Secure network applications. Network security protocols include SSL, SSL/TLS, SSH, Kerberos, IPSec, and IKE. Network threats and countermeasures. Network auditing and scanning. VoIP Security. Remote exploitation and penetration techniques. Network support for securing critical infrastructure. Design and development of software-defined network security modules and tools based on hands-on experiences and state-of-the-art technologies. Prerequisite: Graduating Standing |
COE 547: Network Management (3-0-3) Overview of network management. Network management standards and models. Network management system design. Network configuration management. Network management protocols: SNMP and RMON. Network management tools and systems. Network management applications. SNMPv3 security engine. SNMPv3 access control. SNMPv3 authentication and encryption protocols. Security management. Prerequisite: Graduate Standing |
COE 550: Introduction to the Internet of Things IoT systems design and architecture: elements of IoT system, potentials, constraints, and applications. IoT access technologies. IoT networking protocols such as 6LoWPAN. IoT application layer protocols such as MQTT and CoAP, Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN) such as ZigBee. Low Power Wide Area Networks (LPWAN) such as LoRaWAN. IoT network architecture: cloud, fog, and edge layers. Prerequisite: Graduate Standing |
ICS 571: Client-Server Programming Client-Server Architectures. Software Architectures for Clients and Servers. Network, Operating System, and Programming Languages Support for Client-Server Applications. Standard interfaces and API. Topics to be chosen from TCP/IP, sockets, client/server programming, and internet protocols (FTP, SMTP, HTTP). Hands-on homework assignments and course projects. Prerequisite: Graduate Standing |
COE 557: Emerging Networks Technologies Recent advanced emerging technologies in computer networks, such as software-defined networking (SDN) and network functions virtualization (NFV), information-centric networking, smart grid communications, new wireless generations (6G and beyond), security aspects of new emerging technologies, etc. Students will search the literature for the state of the art of the most significant emerging technologies, explore new ideas through simulation projects and finally present their findings. Prerequisite: COE 540 |
COE 619: Project A graduate student will arrange with a faculty member to conduct an industrial project related to their field of study in a professional master's degree. Subsequently, the students shall acquire skills and gain experience in developing and running actual industry-based projects. This project culminates in the writing of a technical report, and an oral technical presentation in front of a board of professors and industry experts. Prerequisite: Graduate Standing |
Degree Plan
Course #
| Title | LT | LB | CR |
First Semester
|
| COE | 540 | Computer Networks | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| COE | 550 | Introduction to the Internet of Things | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| | 6 | 0 | 6 |
Second Semester
|
| COE | 546 | Computer Network Design | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| COE | 547 | Network Management | 3
| 0 | 3 |
| 6 | 0 | 6 |
Third Semester
|
| COE | 543 | Mobile Computing and Wireless Networks | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| SEC | 521 | Network Security | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| COE | 619 | Project | 0 | 0 | IP
|
| | 6 | 0 | 6 |
Fourth Semester
|
ICS
| 571
| Client-Server Programming
| 3
| 0
| 3 |
| COE | 557 | Emerging Advanced Networks | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| COE | 619 | Project | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| | 6 | 0 | 12 |
Total Credit Hours
| 30 |
Degree Plan-MX-Computer Networks-Two Years.pdf
