Computer Networking: Courses, Fees, Subjects, Syllabus, Colleges, Career Scope

Updated on Dec 13, 2024 02:18 IST
Anshuman Singh

Anshuman SinghSenior Executive - Content

What is Computer Networking? Computer networking refers to interconnecting computing devices like computers, servers, routers, switches, and network interface controllers (NICs) to facilitate data communication and resource sharing across networks. The main types of computer networks are local area networks (LANs), like wireless LANs (WLANs), covering a small geographical area, such as an office; metropolitan area networks (MANs) covering a larger area than LANs, like a city; and wide area networks (WANs) covering larger geographic areas, such as countries or continents. 

What is Computer Networking?

These computer networks are maintained and established by using various types of network topologies. Network topology is a logical or physical arrangement of connections and devices in a network. It specifies how data flows through the network and how devices are connected to each other. In computer networking, there are various types of topologies, such as bus topology, ring topology, mesh topology, star topology, daisy-chain topology, tree topology, hybrid topology, etc.

Some of the main goals of computer networking are:

  • It lets devices share hardware like printers and storage, as well as files and software.
  • Network allows devices to exchange information, which helps with things like email, messaging, and sharing files.
  • It supports client-server models, where clients (computers or devices) can access services and resources provided by servers.
  • It enables users to access and control computers from a distance, which is useful for things like remote desktop and managing systems

Why Should You Pursue Computer Networking Courses?

You should pursue computer networking courses to gain valuable skills in one of the most in-demand and rapidly growing fields in the technology industry. As of today (30/05/2024), the number of jobs available in the computer networking field is 2816. With the reliance on the Internet increasing, demand for cloud networking and interconnected systems professionals is also growing. 

Computer networking courses provide a deep understanding of network topologies, protocols, and architectures, enabling you to design, implement, and troubleshoot complex networks. While pursuing a networking course, you will learn about routers, network switches, firewalls, and other essential network hardware. Apart from that, you will also gain an understanding of important topics like IP addressing, routing, and network security that are crucial for organizations that operate across multiple locations and rely on the Internet for communication and data exchange.

Apart from all this, after completing a computer networking course and having a solid foundation in networking basics, you can work on some of the highest paying job roles in the IT industry, such as - network administrator, network engineer, or cyber security specialist.  

And, if you have completed computer networking certifications like CCNA from Cisco, your demand and career prospects will be highly boosted. 

Also Read:

Eligibility Criteria for Pursuing Computer Networking Courses 

Here is the eligibility criteria for pursuing computer networking courses:

Course Type Eligibility Criteria
Certificate/Diploma Courses 10+2 or equivalent qualification from a recognized board
Basic computer knowledge and skills
Bachelor's Degree Programs 10+2 or equivalent with Mathematics/Computer Science/Physics as one of the subjects
Minimum percentage/grades (50-60%)
Qualifying entrance exams like JEE Main, VITEEE, etc. (for some institutions)
Master's Degree Programs Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, IT, Electronics, or related field
Minimum percentage/grades (50-60%)
Qualifying entrance exams like GATE, MAT, etc. (for some institutions)
Relevant work experience (for some programs)
Professional Certifications Basic understanding of computer networks and networking concepts
Meeting the specific prerequisites set by the certification authority
Additional Criteria Minimum age requirement
English language proficiency test scores (TOEFL, IELTS, etc.) for international students
Relevant work experience for certain specialized programs

Top Computer Networking Courses

Here are some of the top computer networking courses that you can opt for:

Course

Provider

Duration

CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate)

Skillsoft

1 hour

CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate)

Rooman Technologies Pvt. Ltd

60 hours

Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) Bundle

XLNC

6 months

CCNA: Computer Networking Essentials

FutureLearn

3 weeks

CurtinX: IoT Networks and Protocols

edX

5 weeks

Computer Networking - Wired and Wireless Networks and Protocols

Alison

2 hours

Networking Foundations: Networking Basics

Linkedin Learning

2 hours

The Bits and Bytes of Computer Networking

Coursera

34 hours

Learn TCP/IP - Computer Networking fundamentals

Udemy

100 hours

Computer Networking - Local Area Networks and the OSI Model

Alison

2 hours

Computer Networking Course Fees

When it comes to computer networking courses, the fees can vary widely depending on the institution, the level of the course, and whether it's offered online or in-person. Here's an overview of typical computer networking course fees:

College Degree Programs

  • Bachelor's Degree in Computer Networking or related fields: 4 - 8 lakhs per year 
  • Master's Degree in Computer Networking or Cyber Security: 3 - 10 lakhs per year

Online Courses

  • Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) on networking basics, cyber security, etc.: INR 2,000 to INR 30,000
  • Online networking certifications like CCNA from Cisco: INR 15,000 to INR 50,000

Vendor-Specific Training

  • Cisco Networking Academy courses: INR 8,000 to  INR 50,000 
  • Microsoft Network Administration courses: INR 50,000 to INR 1.5 lakhs

Bootcamps and Intensive Programs

  • Cyber Security Bootcamps: INR 5 to 8 lakhs
  • Cloud Networking Training: INR 1 to 5 lakhs

Note: The data shows a generalized amount. 

Computer Networking Syllabus

Here’s are topics that you will mostly learn while pursuing a computer networking course:

Module

Topics

Introduction to Computer Networks

  • Definition, goals, and characteristics of computer networks
  • Need for computer networks (resource sharing, communication, internet access, client-server computing, remote access)
  • Network topologies (bus, ring, star, mesh, hybrid, tree)
  • Types of networks (LAN, WAN, MAN, PAN, CAN, SAN, EPN)
  • Network models (OSI vs TCP/IP architecture and layers)
  • Network protocols and standards (IEEE, IETF, ISO)
  • Network performance metrics (throughput, latency, jitter, packet loss)

Network Hardware and Media

  • Network interface controllers (functions, types, and specifications)
  • Routers (functions, types, routing tables, and configurations)
  • Switches (functions, types, forwarding methods, VLANs)
  • Wireless access points (functions, standards, and configurations)
  • Types of Transmission media (twisted-pair cables, coaxial cables, fiber optics, wireless media)
  • Network cables and connectors (RJ-45, BNC, F-connectors, SC/LC/ST fiber connectors)
  • Repeaters, hubs, and bridges
  • Network interface cards (NICs) and their configurations
  • Power over Ethernet (PoE)

Data Communication and Networking Models

  • Data encoding (NRZ, NRZI, Manchester, 4B/5B, 8B/10B)
  • Analog and digital signals (modulation techniques like ASK, FSK, PSK, QAM)
  • Multiplexing techniques (FDM, TDM, WDM, CDMA)
  • OSI model and its layers (functions and protocols)
  • TCP/IP model and its layers (functions and protocols)
  • Comparison of OSI and TCP/IP models
  • Error detection and correction techniques (parity, checksum, CRC)
  • Flow control mechanisms (stop-and-wait, sliding window, selective repeat)

Network Layer

  • IP addressing (IPv4 vs IPv6 addressing schemes, classful and classless addressing)
  • Subnetting and VLSM (subnet masks, calculating subnets and hosts)
  • Routing protocols (RIP, OSPF, BGP, EIGRP, and their operations)
  • NAT (types and configurations)
  • ICMP (message types and functions)
  • IPv4 and IPv6 header formats
  • IP fragmentation and reassembly
  • IP mobility and mobile IP
  • Virtual private networks (VPNs)

Transport Layer

  • TCP (connection establishment, reliable data transfer, flow control, and error control)
  • UDP (connectionless communication)
  • UDP applications (DNS, SNMP, RTP)
  • Port numbers and socket programming (client-server model)
  • Reliable data transfer mechanisms (sequence numbers, acknowledgments, timers)
  • Flow control mechanisms (sliding window, congestion control)
  • TCP congestion control algorithms (Reno, Vegas, CUBIC)
  • TCP timer management
  • TCP/IP socket programming

Application Layer

  • HTTP and WWW (web browsing, HTTP methods, and messages)
  • DNS (hierarchical domain structure, DNS resolution process, DNS record types)
  • SMTP, POP3 vs IMAP (Email protocols and their operations)
  • FTP (file transfer modes and commands)
  • DHCP (IP address allocation and lease management)
  • Remote access protocols (SSH, Telnet, RDP)
  • Peer-to-peer networks and applications
  • Multimedia protocols (RTP, RTSP, SIP)
  • Web caching and content distribution networks (CDNs)

Network Security

Wireless and Mobile Networks

  • Wireless LAN standards (IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax)
  • Cellular networks (GSM, CDMA, LTE, and their architectures)
  • Mobile IP and mobility management (handoff procedures, mobile IP protocols)
  • Wireless network security (authentication, encryption, and access control in WLANs)
  • Wireless network planning and site surveys
  • Wireless network performance and optimization
  • Bluetooth and personal area networks (PANs)
  • Microwave and satellite communications
  • Mobile ad-hoc networks (MANETs)

Advanced Topics

  • Cloud networking (cloud computing models, virtualization, and networking in the cloud)
  • Software-defined networking (SDN) (separation of control and data planes, OpenFlow protocol)
  • Network virtualization (VLANs, virtual private networks, and overlay networks)
  • Network management and monitoring (SNMP, network performance monitoring, network traffic analysis)
  • Quality of Service (QoS) (techniques and mechanisms for prioritizing network traffic)
  • High-speed networks (Gigabit Ethernet, 10 Gigabit Ethernet, Fibre Channel)
  • Network storage and storage area networks (SANs) 
  • Internet of Things (IoT) and machine-to-machine (M2M) communication
  • Network programmability and automation (APIs, SDN controllers, network orchestration)
  • Emerging networking technologies (5G, 6G, Wi-Fi 6, Li-Fi)

Best Computer Networking Colleges

Here are some of the best private and government collages that are offering computer networking courses. In the section, collages that are offering online computer networking courses are also listed. So, check them out. 

Top Private Colleges Offering Computer Networking Courses

Here are the top private colleges offering computer networking courses:

College

Fees (INR)

SRM Institute of Science and Technology

2.1 Lakhs to 11.6 Lakhs

SSN College of Engineering

50000 to 2 Lakhs

VIT Vellore

1 Lakhs to 7.8 Lakhs

BITS Pilani

9.29 Lakhs to 19.94 Lakhs

Thapar University

2.42 Lakhs to 18.36 Lakhs

Chandigarh University

2.26 Lakhs to 12.72 Lakhs

Amity University

3 Lakhs to 16.52 Lakhs

Top Government Colleges offering Computer Networking Courses

Here are the top government colleges offering computer networking courses:

Collage

Fees (INR)

IIT Bombay

1.2 Lakhs to 10 Lakhs

IIT Delhi 

3 Lakhs to 8.7 Lakhs

NIT Trichy 

30,000 to 50 Lakhs

Banaras Hindu University

10,000 to 13,000

IIT Madras

10,000 to 10 Lakhs

IIT Kharagpur

20,000 to 10 Lakhs

Top Colleges offering Online Computer Networking Courses

Here are the top colleges offering computer networking courses online:

Collage 

Fees

Amity University Online

1,65000 Lakhs to 1,70000 Lakhs 

Lovely Professional University

57,600 to 1,14,800 Lakhs

Symbiosis Centre for Distance Learning

10,000 to 29,000

University of London

8,92,546 Lakhs to 11,95,344 Lakhs

Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU)

12,000 to 18,000

Sikkim Manipal University

90,000 to 98,000

Networking, Hardware & Security professionals job profiles

Advancement in technologies has increased the demand of  computer networking professionals. Also, the wages are likely to grow by 4.5%. There are also a variety of jobs vacancies depending on the nature of designation. The demand also varies depending on the experience and qualifications.

Job

National Salary Data (INR in Lakhs)

Network Engineer

5,05,624

Sr. Network Engineer

10,19,477

Network Security Engineer

. 4,00,000

Network Specialist

6,80,000

Information Technology (IT) Consultant

14,50,000

Senior Technical Consultant

14,15,526

Technical Subject Matter Expert

14,48,276

Check out CCNA interview questions to ace the interview round

Top Recruiters in the Computer Networking Field

Below is the list of some renowned companies that recruits professionals who have completed computer networking courses:

Companies Roles Hired For
Cisco Network Engineer, Network Administrator, Network Architect, Wireless Engineer, etc.
Juniper Network Architect, Security Specialist, Technical Support Engineer, Automation Specialist, etc.
Huawei Network Analyst, Telecom Engineer, Wireless Network Engineer, IoT Specialist, etc.
Intel Corporation Network Systems Engineer, Data Center Specialist, Connectivity Solutions Engineer, Firmware Engineer, etc.
Acer India (Pvt) Ltd IT Support Engineer, Network Support Technician, Systems Analyst, Technical Operations Specialist, etc.
Dell Infrastructure Engineer, Network Consultant, Network Solutions Engineer, Cloud Networking Engineer, etc.
Casio India Company IT Networking Specialist, Systems Administrator, IT Infrastructure Analyst, Technical Support Specialist, etc.
HCL Network Support Engineer, Network Administrator, Network Operations Analyst, Cybersecurity Analyst, etc.
TCS Network Engineer, IT Operations Specialist, WAN/LAN Engineer, Systems Integration Specialist, etc.
Infosys Network Analyst, Cloud Networking Specialist, Systems Support Engineer, Wireless Technology Expert, etc.
Wipro Security Analyst, Network Operations Specialist, IT Networking Consultant, Data Center Manager, etc.
Accenture Network Security Specialist, Systems Engineer, SD-WAN Engineer, Network Optimization Specialist, etc.
Prepare for your upcoming interview with the top computer networking interview questions!

FAQs related to Computer Networking

What is computer networking?

Computer networking connects computers to share resources and information. It allows devices to communicate over wired or wireless connections, enabling data exchange and collaboration.

What are the types of computer networks?

The main types include Local Area Network (LAN), Wide Area Network (WAN), Metropolitan Area Network (MAN), and Personal Area Network (PAN). Each serves different geographical areas and purposes.

What is the purpose of a router?

A router connects multiple networks and directs data packets between them. It manages traffic, ensuring data reaches its destination efficiently and securely. 

What is the difference between TCP and UDP?

TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) is connection-oriented, ensuring reliable data transmission. Meanwhile, UDP (User Datagram Protocol) is connectionless, offering faster but less reliable data transfer.

What is an IP address?

An IP address is a unique identifier for a device on a network. It allows devices to locate and communicate with each other over the internet.

What is a subnet mask?

A subnet mask divides an IP address into network and host portions. It helps determine which part of the address identifies the network and which part identifies the device.

What is a firewall?

A firewall is a security device that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic. It protects networks from unauthorized access and threats.

What is network topology?

Network topology refers to the arrangement of different devices in a network. Common topologies include star, ring, bus, and mesh, each with unique advantages and disadvantages.

What is the OSI model?

The OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) model is a framework that standardizes communication functions in seven layers. It helps in understanding and designing network protocols.

What is a VPN?

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) creates a secure connection over the internet. It encrypts data, protecting user privacy and allowing access to restricted content.

What is network security?

Network security involves measures to protect data during transfer and prevent unauthorized access. It includes firewalls, encryption, and intrusion detection systems.

What are the benefits of networking?

Networking enhances communication, resource sharing, and collaboration. It improves efficiency, reduces costs, and enables access to information and services.

Popular Computer Networking Colleges in India

Following are the most popular Computer Networking Colleges in India. Learn more about these Computer Networking colleges (Courses, Reviews, Answers & more) by downloading the Brochure.
1.38 L - 16.72 L
1 Course
4 L
6.8 LPA
2 Courses
4.4 L - 8.61 L
10.3 LPA
3.4 L
6.41 LPA
35 K - 6.16 L
3.65 LPA
5.85 L
5.2 LPA

Popular Private Computer Networking Colleges in India

11.92 L

Networking, Hardware & Security Applications open. Apply Now

6.4 L
8.5 LPA
11.36 L
5 LPA
1.71 L
4.5 LPA
4 L
3 Courses
93 K - 2.64 L
4.5

Networking, Hardware & Security Applications open. Apply Now

Popular Computer Networking UG Courses

Following are the most popular Computer Networking UG Courses . You can explore the top Colleges offering these UG Courses by clicking the links below.

UG Courses

Popular Computer Networking PG Courses

Following are the most popular Computer Networking PG Courses . You can explore the top Colleges offering these PG Courses by clicking the links below.

PG Courses

Popular Computer Networking Specializations

Following are the most popular Computer Networking Specializations . You can explore the top Colleges offering these Specializations by clicking the links below.

Popular Specializations

Popular Exams

Following are the top exams for Computer Networking. Students interested in pursuing a career on Computer Networking, generally take these important exams.You can also download the exam guide to get more insights.

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