CS 4700 — Network Fundamentals
4 semester hoursUndergraduateLectureusually offered: fall, springtypical days: T/FBostonTraditional
Introduces the fundamental concepts of network protocols and network architectures. Presents the different harmonizing functions needed for the communication and effective operation of computer networks. Provides in-depth coverage of data link control, medium access control, routing, end-to-end transport protocols, congestion and flow control, multicasting, naming, auto configuration, quality of service, and network management. Studies the abstract mechanisms and algorithms as implemented in real-world Internet protocols. Also covers the most common application protocols (e-mail, Web, and ftp).
Prerequisites
Offering history
| Term | Sections | Enrolled | Capacity | Full | Open seats/section |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 2024 | 1 | 31 | 20 | 155% | 0.0 |
| Fall 2024 | 2 | 81 | 100 | 81% | 9.5 |
| Spring 2025 | 3 | 142 | 155 | 92% | 4.3 |
| Summer A 2025 | 1 | 19 | 40 | 48% | 21.0 |
| Fall 2025 | 2 | 71 | 96 | 74% | 12.5 |
| Spring 2026 | 2 | 134 | 170 | 79% | 18.0 |
Snapshots from scheduled scrapes — not live seat availability. "Full" can exceed 100% when sections over-enroll.
Meeting times
Share of recent sections by weekday: M 28% · T 76% · W 13% · Th 19% · F 65%
Common patterns: TF (65% of sections), MR (15% of sections), MW (9% of sections), T (6% of sections), MTWR (4% of sections) — in patterns, R means Thursday
Professors
Fall
- Alden Jackson (47% of students) · reviews
- Christopher Wilson (28% of students) · reviews
- Alan Mislove (26% of students) · reviews
Spring
- Alden Jackson (46% of students) · reviews
- Christopher Wilson (30% of students) · reviews
- David Choffnes (24% of students) · reviews
Summer A
- Alden Jackson (100% of students) · reviews
Percentages are each professor's average share of the season's enrolled students in recent terms.
Unlocks
Courses that list CS 4700 in their prerequisites.
Links
Official catalog (CS course descriptions) · Student reviews on RateMyHusky · All CS courses · Plan it at numap.app