STUDENT WARNING: This course syllabus is from a previous semester archive and serves only as a preparatory
reference. Please use this syllabus as a reference only until the professor opens the classroom and you have access
to the updated course syllabus. Please do NOT purchase any books or start any work based on this syllabus; this
syllabus may NOT be the one that your individual instructor uses for a course that has not yet started. If you need
to verify course textbooks, please refer to the online course description through your student portal. This syllabus
is proprietary material of APUS.
School: Science and Technology
Course Number: ELEN420
Course Name: Communication Systems
Credit Hours: 3
Length of Course: 16 weeks
Prerequisite: ELEN310 Signals & Systems, MATH227
Calculus III, MATH240 Differential Equations
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Instructor Information
Evaluation Procedures
Course Description
Grading Scale
Course Scope
Course Outline
Course Objectives
Policies
Course Delivery Method
Online Library
Course Materials
Selected Bibliography
INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION
Instructor:
Email:
Office Hours:
Table of Contents
COURSE DESCRIPTION (CATALOG)
ELEN420 – Communication Systems
The course covers statistical communication theory including amplitude, frequency, and pulse
code modulation; description of random process by auto-correlation and power spectral density
functions, sources and properties of electrical noise and its effect on communication systems, the
effects of modulation, detection and filtering on signal information content, and bandwidth and
signal-to-noise ratio. Topics include: a review of signals and systems, power spectral density,
1
STUDENT WARNING: This course syllabus is from a previous semester archive and serves only as a preparatory
reference. Please use this syllabus as a reference only until the professor opens the classroom and you have access
to the updated course syllabus. Please do NOT purchase any books or start any work based on this syllabus; this
syllabus may NOT be the one that your individual instructor uses for a course that has not yet started. If you need
to verify course textbooks, please refer to the online course description through your student portal. This syllabus
is proprietary material of APUS.
amplitude modulation, angle modulation, pulse modulation, a review of probability and random
variables, and an introduction to digital transmission systems.
Prerequisites: MATH227 Calculus III, MATH240 Differential Equations, ELEN310 Signals and
Systems
.
.
Table of Contents
COURSE SCOPE
The course covers the fundamentals of communication signals, and techniques to transmit and
receive signals in a communication system. The course starts with the theory of signals in time
and frequency domains, and the transmission of such signals through communication channels. It
then introduces the various types of modulations and demodulations. The concept of sampling
and the conversion of analog signals into digital signals is then presented. The principles of digital
data transmission are then presented. Fundamentals of probability theory and random signals
and noise are covered. The spread spectrum techniques and their application to real-life
communication systems are described. The course concludes with the performance analysis of
signal transmission in noisy channels, and the principles of statistical communications.
Students will perform a set of Matlab projects to strengthen understanding of communication
concepts.
Table of Contents
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
After completing the course, the student should be able to accomplish these Learning Objectives
(LO):
LO-1.
LO-2.
LO-3.
LO-4.
LO-5.
LO-6.
LO-7.
Discuss the characteristics of signals in time and frequency domains.
Evaluate different modulation and demodulation techniques.
Explain sampling and signal conversion from analog to digital.
Analyze the characteristics of digital data transmission.
Apply probability and random processes to communication signals and systems.
Analyze the performance of signal transmission in channels corrupted with noise.
Describe spread spectrum techniques and their use in practical systems.
Table of Contents
COURSE DELIVERY METHOD
This engineering course, delivered via distance learning, will enable students to complete their
academic work in a flexible manner, completely online. Course materials and access to an online
learning management system will be made available to each student. Assigned faculty will support the
students throughout this sixteen-week course.
2
STUDENT WARNING: This course syllabus is from a previous semester archive and serves only as a preparatory
reference. Please use this syllabus as a reference only until the professor opens the classroom and you have access
to the updated course syllabus. Please do NOT purchase any books or start any work based on this syllabus; this
syllabus may NOT be the one that your individual instructor uses for a course that has not yet started. If you need
to verify course textbooks, please refer to the online course description through your student portal. This syllabus
is proprietary material of APUS.
The nature of an online course requires a significant amount of independent work. The student will be
provided with structure, resources, guidance and instructor experience for learning the course
material. The student, however, is responsible for managing time, completing: assignments, readings,
and making inquiries as needed to complete the course successfully. This requires dedication and
diligence on the part of the student.
It is imperative for the student to check Messages and Announcements for each week’s work.
Additional readings, Internet-work and assignments will be posted online at the beginning of each
week. Assignment due dates will be posted with assignment directions. All assignments will have due
dates of a week or more, therefore, no extensions or last-minute exceptions are anticipated. The
student is expected to complete all work on time. Online assignments are due by 11:59 PM Eastern
time on the due date for the assignment. This includes Forum questions and activities, examinations,
and individual assignments submitted for review or grading by the instructor.
Each student is responsible for the following:






Completely reading the syllabus. Should questions arise about the syllabus or the course
that are not covered or should the student need clarification, please contact the instructor via
the Messages tool, or in the weekly forum.
Reading Messages, emails and class announcements for important updates and course
information each week.
Reading the assignments in a timely manner to ensure all questions concerning all
assignments and the lab activities are specifically addressed.
Completing assignments on time. Students will deliver completed assignments in the mode
specified by the instructor. The details for each of these can be found in this syllabus and the
Weekly Announcements.
Completing all the Matlab activities on time and submit the deliverables according to the
instructor’s instructions.
Submitting all assignments, completing the Forum activities and completing the quizzes on
time. These are the graded submissions. Students should complete these during the time
periods assigned for each of them. These should be submitted by 11:59 PM Eastern Time of
the due date announced by the professor.
Table of Contents
COURSE MATERIALS
Textbook:
Author
Book Title
Lathi
Modern Digital and Analog
Communication Systems (4th
Edition)
Publisher
ISBN
Oxford Press
Table of Contents
3
STUDENT WARNING: This course syllabus is from a previous semester archive and serves only as a preparatory
reference. Please use this syllabus as a reference only until the professor opens the classroom and you have access
to the updated course syllabus. Please do NOT purchase any books or start any work based on this syllabus; this
syllabus may NOT be the one that your individual instructor uses for a course that has not yet started. If you need
to verify course textbooks, please refer to the online course description through your student portal. This syllabus
is proprietary material of APUS.
EVALUATION PROCEDURES
Instructor announcements: Weekly announcements will appear on Monday of each week in the
online classroom. The announcement will discuss the assignments for the week along with any
other pertinent information for the week.
This is an upper level course; all students’ work is to be presented as such in terms of quality and
content. The grading system will be based on your participation in the forums (24% of your total
grade), twelve assignments (30% of your grade), four Matlab projects (30% of your grade) and 8
quizzes (16% of your grade).
Reading Assignments: Please refer to the Course Outline section of this syllabus for the weekly
reading assignments.
Week 1 Self-introductions: During Week 1 forum, each student must post a self-introduction
(bio) to the class. This self-introduction is a requirement by the University, and is due by midnight of Sunday of Week 1. Your response must be 250-300 words (a requirement) and include
the following information.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Your name
Your university major or program
Where you are in the program of study
Your academic goals, to include why you are taking this class
Information that you would like to share about yourself
Weekly Forums: There will be sixteen weekly forums (1.5% each), counting 24% of the final
grade. The forums will consist of specific questions to be answered, broad questions to be
discussed, or polls for students to post their questions on the topics covered in that week. In each
forum, a student is required to contribute an initial post (1%), and at least replies to classmates
(0.5%).
Weekly Assignments: There will be twelve weekly assignments (2.5% each) during the course
worth a total of 30% of the total grade. Each assignment will typically cover one chapter in the
textbook. For all problems requiring mathematical calculations, all work must be shown.
Quizzes: There will be eight timed quizzes (2% each), counting 16% of the final grade. Quizzes
will be open book, and open note. Quizzes will be timed, and non-proctored. Students must
complete each quiz within its time limit.
Matlab projects: There will be four project-assignments using Matlab (7.5% each), counting 30%
of the final grade.
Late Assignments: Students are expected to submit classroom assignments by the posted due
date and to complete the course according to the published class schedule. As adults, students,
and working professionals, I understand you must manage competing demands on your time.
The policy for late exams is ten percentage points deducted for each day late. After five days
late, no credit will be given. No assignments will be accepted after the end of the course unless a
student has an approved extension (see extension policy). Should you need additional time to
complete an assignment please contact me before the due date so we can discuss the situation
and determine an acceptable resolution. Routine late submission of assignments will adversely
affect your final course grade.
4
STUDENT WARNING: This course syllabus is from a previous semester archive and serves only as a preparatory
reference. Please use this syllabus as a reference only until the professor opens the classroom and you have access
to the updated course syllabus. Please do NOT purchase any books or start any work based on this syllabus; this
syllabus may NOT be the one that your individual instructor uses for a course that has not yet started. If you need
to verify course textbooks, please refer to the online course description through your student portal. This syllabus
is proprietary material of APUS.
There is no extra credit or redo's allowed on work once submitted, and no extra credit or make-up
assignments (unless pre-arranged with the instructor).
The points earned on the graded course assignments will determine the course grade. The final
grade in the course will be based on total points. Grades will be assigned based on the following
composite scores:
Assignments (twelve, 2.5 points each)
Forums (fourteen, 2 points each)
Quizzes (eight, 2 points each)
Matlab Projects (four, 6.5 points each)
Points
Possible
30
28
16
26
% of Final
Grade
30%
28%
16%
26%
TOTAL
100 Points
100%
Grade Instruments
Students’ course grades will be posted as soon as the instructor receives and evaluates the last
assignment. Official grades will continue to be issued by the University on the grade report form.
Instructors have 7 days from the end of the semester to submit their grades to the University.
GRADING SCALE:
Please see the Student Handbook to reference the University’s grading scale. Table of Contents
5
STUDENT WARNING: This course syllabus is from a previous semester archive and serves only as a preparatory
reference. Please use this syllabus as a reference only until the professor opens the classroom and you have access
to the updated course syllabus. Please do NOT purchase any books or start any work based on this syllabus; this
syllabus may NOT be the one that your individual instructor uses for a course that has not yet started. If you need
to verify course textbooks, please refer to the online course description through your student portal. This syllabus
is proprietary material of APUS.
Week
Topic(s)
Learning
Objective(s)
Readings
Assignment(s)
1
Introduction to communication
systems and signals
LO1
Chapter 1
Week 1 forum
Week 1 assignment
2
Signals and signal space
LO1
Chapter 2
(pp. 20-34)
Week 2 forum
Week 2 assignment
Week 2 quiz
3
Signals and systems
LO1
Chapter 2
Week 3 forum
Week 3 Matlab
project
(pp. 34-69)
4
Analysis and Transmission of
Signals
LO4
Chapter 3
(pp. 91-123)
Week 4 forum
Week 4 assignment
Week 4 quiz
5
Analysis and Transmission of
Signals
LO4
Chapter 3 (pp. Week 5 forum
123-155)
Week 5 assignment
6
Amplitude Modulations and
Demodulations
LO2
Chapter 4 (pp. Week 6 forum
178-210)
Week 6 quiz
Week 6 Matlab
project
7
Amplitude Modulations and
Demodulations
LO2
Chapter 4
(pp. 210-230)
Week 7 forum
Week 7 assignment
8
Angle Modulation and
Demodulation
LO2
Chapter 5
(pp. 252-284)
Week 8 forum
Week 8 assignment
Week 8 quiz
9
Angle Modulation and
Demodulation
LO2
Chapter 5 (pp. Week 9 forum
284-292)
Week 9 Matlab
project
10
Sampling and Analog-to-Digital
Conversion
LO3
Chapter 6 (pp. Week 10 forum
302-340)
Week 10 assignment
Week 10 quiz
11
Sampling and Analog-to-Digital
Conversion
LO3
Chapter 6
(340-361)
Week 11 forum
Week 11 assignment
12
Principles of Digital Data
Transmission
LO4, LO5,
LO6
Chapter 7
(pp. 377-408)
Week 12 forum
Week 12 quiz
Week 12 assignment
13
Principles of Digital Data
Transmission
LO4, LO5,
LO6
Chapter 7
(pp. 409-437)
Week 13 forum
Week 13 assignment
14
Fundamentals of Probability
Theory and Random Processes
LO5, LO6
Chapter 8
(pp. 447-481;
497-502)
Week 14 quiz
Week 14 Matlab
project
15
Spread Spectrum
Communications
LO7
Chapter 12
(pp. 714-730)
Week 15 forum
Week 15 assignment
16
Spread Spectrum
Communications
LO7
Chapter 12
(pp. 730-751)
Week 16 assignment
Week 16 quiz
6
STUDENT WARNING: This course syllabus is from a previous semester archive and serves only as a preparatory
reference. Please use this syllabus as a reference only until the professor opens the classroom and you have access
to the updated course syllabus. Please do NOT purchase any books or start any work based on this syllabus; this
syllabus may NOT be the one that your individual instructor uses for a course that has not yet started. If you need
to verify course textbooks, please refer to the online course description through your student portal. This syllabus
is proprietary material of APUS.
POLICIES:
Please see the Student Handbook to reference all University policies. Quick links to frequently
asked question about policies are listed below.
Drop/Withdrawal Policy
Plagiarism Policy
Extension Process and Policy
Disability Accommodations
Late Assignments
Students are expected to submit classroom assignments by the posted due date and to complete
the course according to the published class schedule. As adults, students, and working
professionals I understand you must manage competing demands on your time. Should you need
additional time to complete an assignment please contact me before the due date so we can
discuss the situation and determine an acceptable resolution. Routine submission of late
assignments is unacceptable and may result in points deducted from your final course grade.
Netiquette
Online universities promote the advancement of knowledge through positive and constructive
debate – both inside and outside the classroom. Forums on the Internet, however, can
occasionally degenerate into needless insults and “flaming.” Such activity and the loss of good
manners are not acceptable in a university setting – basic academic rules of good behavior and
proper “Netiquette” must persist. Remember that you are in a place for the rewards and
excitement of learning which does not include descent to personal attacks or student attempts to
stifle the Forum of others.


Technology Limitations: While you should feel free to explore the full-range of creative
composition in your formal papers, keep e-mail layouts simple. The Sakai classroom
may not fully support MIME or HTML encoded messages, which means that bold
face, italics, underlining, and a variety of color-coding or other visual effects will not
translate in your e-mail messages.
Humor Note: Despite the best of intentions, jokes and especially satire can easily get
lost or taken seriously. If you feel the need for humor, you may wish to add
“emoticons” to help alert your readers: ;-), : ), 
Disclaimer Statement
Course content may vary from the outline to meet the needs of this particular class.
Table of Contents
ONLINE LIBRARY
The Online Library is available to enrolled students and faculty from inside the electronic
campus. This is your starting point for access to online books, subscription periodicals, and
Web resources that are designed to support your classes and generally not available through
search engines on the open Web. In addition, the Online Library provides access to special
learning resources, which the University has contracted to assist with your studies. Questions
can be directed to librarian@apus.edu.
 Charles Town Library and Inter Library Loan: The University maintains a special library
with a limited number of supporting volumes, collection of our professors’ publication, and
services to search and borrow research books and articles from other libraries.
7
STUDENT WARNING: This course syllabus is from a previous semester archive and serves only as a preparatory
reference. Please use this syllabus as a reference only until the professor opens the classroom and you have access
to the updated course syllabus. Please do NOT purchase any books or start any work based on this syllabus; this
syllabus may NOT be the one that your individual instructor uses for a course that has not yet started. If you need
to verify course textbooks, please refer to the online course description through your student portal. This syllabus
is proprietary material of APUS.




Electronic Books: You can use the online library to uncover and download over 50,000
titles, which have been scanned and made available in electronic format.
Electronic Journals: The University provides access to over 12,000 journals, which are
available in electronic form and only through limited subscription services.
EE Program Guide: Electronic resources and search capabilities are found in the
program guide. The site http://apus.campusguides.com/BSEE includes links to specific
journals, articles and book titles, as well as video and web resources.
Tutor.com: AMU and APU Civilian & Coast Guard students are eligible for 10 free hours
of tutoring provided by APUS. Tutor.com connects you with a professional tutor online
24/7 to provide help with assignments, studying, test prep, resume writing, and more.
Tutor.com is tutoring the way it was meant to be. You get expert tutoring whenever you
need help, and you work one-to-one with your tutor in your online classroom on your
specific problem until it is done.
Request a Library Guide for your course (http://apus.libguides.com/index.php)
The AMU/APU Library Guides provide access to collections of trusted sites on the Open Web
and licensed resources on the Deep Web. The following are specially tailored for academic
research at APUS:

Program Portals contain topical and methodological resources to help launch general
research in the degree program. To locate, search by department name, or navigate
by school.
 Course Lib-Guides narrow the focus to relevant resources for the corresponding
course. To locate, search by class code (e.g., SOCI111), or class name.
If a guide you need is not available yet, please email the APUS Library: librarian@apus.edu.
Table of Contents
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
There are numerous online resources to help you in better understanding the objectives outlined
in this course. Please see the APUS Online Library, which has several circuit theory related
textbooks available online.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
Carlson, B. A., Crilly, P., Communication Systems, 5th edition, McGraw-Hill, 2010
Haykin, S., Communication systems, 5th edition, John Wiley, 2009
Haykin, S., Digital Communication Systems, John Wiley, 2013
Proakis, J. C., Salehi, M., Fundamentals of Communication systems, 2nd edition, Prentice
Hall, 2014
Proakis, J. C., Salehi, M., Bauch, G., Contemporary Communication Systems Using Matlab,
3rd edition, Cengage, 2013
Mesiya, M. F., Contemporary Communication Systems, McGraw Hill, 2013
Couch, L. W., Digital and Analog Communication Systems, 8th edition, Prentice Hall, 2013
Mathworks. The Student Edition of Matlab.
Roberts, M.J., Signals and Systems: Analysis Using Transform Methods and Matlab, 2nd
edition, McGraw Hill, 2012
Chaparro, L., Signals and Systems Using Matlab, Elsevier Science, 2010
Hahn, B., Valentine, D., Essential Matlab for Engineers and Scientists, Elsevier Science,
2009
8
STUDENT WARNING: This course syllabus is from a previous semester archive and serves only as a preparatory
reference. Please use this syllabus as a reference only until the professor opens the classroom and you have access
to the updated course syllabus. Please do NOT purchase any books or start any work based on this syllabus; this
syllabus may NOT be the one that your individual instructor uses for a course that has not yet started. If you need
to verify course textbooks, please refer to the online course description through your student portal. This syllabus
is proprietary material of APUS.
Table of Contents
9