Basics of layered protocol architectures; data link layer: error control and flow control; MAC sub-layer: TDM/FDM and random-access multiplexing; network layer: packet switching, circuit switching and virtual circuits; analysis of various techniques for networking functions (matlab) including basic queueing theory; simulations using R programming; TCP/IP. Cross-listed as CS 7457 and ECE 7457; Pre-requisites: Course in probability and statistics, and basic programming skills