Studies key concepts, systems, and algorithms to reliably communicate data. Lecture topics cover three modules: bits, signals and packets. The bits module covers information, entropy, data compression algorithms, and error correction with block and convolutional codes. The signals module covers modeling of physical channels and noise, signal design, filtering and detection, modulation, and multiplexing. The packets module includes switching and queuing principles, multimedia networking, network management and advanced state of the art network architectures.