

M-TECH in Computer Network Engineering at Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology Bhopal


Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
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About the Specialization
What is Computer Network Engineering at Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology Bhopal Bhopal?
This Computer Network Engineering program at Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology Bhopal focuses on advanced network design, security, and management. It addresses the growing need for skilled professionals in India''''s rapidly expanding digital infrastructure. The program distinguishes itself through a blend of theoretical knowledge and practical applications, preparing graduates for cutting-edge roles in network architecture and cybersecurity. The Indian market exhibits significant demand for robust and secure network solutions across various sectors.
Who Should Apply?
This program is ideal for engineering graduates with a B.E./B.Tech in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related fields, aspiring to specialize in networking. It suits fresh graduates seeking entry into the network engineering or cybersecurity domain, working professionals looking to upskill in areas like cloud networking or IoT, and career changers aiming for roles in India''''s telecom or IT services sector. A strong foundation in basic computing and a keen interest in network technologies are beneficial prerequisites.
Why Choose This Course?
Graduates of this program can expect promising career paths in network administration, network architecture, cybersecurity analysis, and cloud network engineering within India. Entry-level salaries typically range from INR 4-7 LPA, growing significantly with experience. Roles in major IT companies, telecom operators, and government organizations offer robust growth trajectories. The curriculum also aligns with industry certifications like CCNA/CCNP, enhancing professional credibility and employability in the Indian job market, both nationally and globally.

Student Success Practices
Foundation Stage
Master Foundational Network Concepts- (Semester 1-2)
Dedicate significant time to understanding core networking concepts, operating systems, and basic programming. Actively participate in labs to gain hands-on experience with network devices and simulation tools. Regularly solve problems from textbooks and online platforms to solidify understanding, focusing on practical implementation.
Tools & Resources
Cisco Packet Tracer, Wireshark, online courses (Coursera, Udemy) on networking basics, GeeksforGeeks for OS concepts
Career Connection
Strong fundamentals are crucial for cracking technical interviews for network engineer or system administrator roles and building a robust career base in the dynamic IT industry.
Develop Strong Programming and Scripting Skills- (Semester 1-2)
Focus on Python and C/C++ programming languages, especially for socket programming and automation tasks. Work on small projects that involve network interaction or system-level programming. Engage in competitive programming challenges related to algorithms and data structures to enhance problem-solving.
Tools & Resources
LeetCode, HackerRank, online Python/C++ tutorials, GitHub for collaborative projects, official Python/C++ documentation
Career Connection
Essential for roles in network automation, developing custom network applications, and cybersecurity scripting, highly valued by Indian tech companies seeking innovative solutions.
Engage in Peer Learning and Technical Discussions- (Semester 1-2)
Form study groups with peers to discuss complex topics, solve problems together, and prepare for exams. Actively participate in department technical clubs or societies. Present on recent research papers or emerging technologies to improve communication and critical thinking skills.
Tools & Resources
WhatsApp groups for study coordination, Google Meet for discussions, departmental notice boards for club activities, IEEE/ACM digital libraries for research papers
Career Connection
Enhances problem-solving abilities, builds a professional network, and sharpens communication skills vital for team-based roles in the IT industry, fostering collaborative growth.
Intermediate Stage
Specialize through Electives and Mini-Projects- (Semester 3)
Carefully choose electives that align with career interests (e.g., cybersecurity, IoT, cloud computing). For each elective, undertake mini-projects to apply theoretical knowledge, either individually or in small teams. Document findings and present project outcomes to build a portfolio.
Tools & Resources
AWS/Azure free tier accounts, Raspberry Pi/Arduino for IoT projects, cybersecurity tools (Kali Linux), project management tools (Trello, Jira)
Career Connection
Develops domain-specific expertise, creates a portfolio of practical work, and helps in securing specialized internships or job roles in niche areas of computer networks.
Pursue Industry Internships and Certifications- (End of Semester 2, throughout Semester 3)
Actively seek and complete internships during summer breaks or semester breaks at relevant companies. Simultaneously, pursue industry-recognized certifications like CCNA, CompTIA Security+, or AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner to validate and enhance technical skills.
Tools & Resources
Internshala, LinkedIn, company career portals for internships, official certification guides and practice exams
Career Connection
Provides crucial industry exposure, networking opportunities, and a competitive edge in placements, often leading to pre-placement offers and a smoother career transition.
Begin Dissertation Early and Systematically- (Semester 3)
Start identifying a research problem, conducting a thorough literature review, and outlining the dissertation methodology early in Semester 3. Regularly meet with your supervisor, present progress, and incorporate feedback. Focus on a practical problem with potential industry application.
Tools & Resources
Mendeley/Zotero for referencing, LaTeX/MS Word for writing, research databases (IEEE Xplore, ACM Digital Library), MANIT''''s research guidelines
Career Connection
Develops critical research, problem-solving, and technical writing skills, which are highly valued in R&D roles and for future academic pursuits or innovation-focused positions.
Advanced Stage
Focus on Dissertation Implementation and Publication- (Semester 4)
Dedicate significant effort to the implementation and experimental validation phases of your dissertation. Aim for publishable quality research by documenting findings rigorously and attempting to present at national/international conferences or submit to reputed journals.
Tools & Resources
MATLAB/Python for simulations/analysis, relevant datasets, academic writing software, conference submission platforms
Career Connection
A strong dissertation can lead to research positions, PhD opportunities, and demonstrates high-level problem-solving and innovation capabilities to potential employers, enhancing career prospects.
Intensify Placement and Career Preparation- (Semester 4)
Actively participate in campus placement drives, mock interviews, and resume-building workshops. Network with alumni and industry professionals. Prepare for technical and HR rounds, practicing aptitude and logical reasoning. Tailor applications to specific roles in network engineering, cybersecurity, or cloud.
Tools & Resources
MANIT placement cell resources, online interview preparation platforms (InterviewBit, Glassdoor), LinkedIn for networking, company career pages
Career Connection
Directly impacts job offer success, securing desirable roles, and smooth transition from academia to the professional workforce by aligning skills with industry requirements.
Develop Leadership and Project Management Skills- (Semester 3-4)
Take on leadership roles in academic projects, group assignments, or student organizations. Learn to manage project timelines, allocate resources, and coordinate team efforts. Participate in workshops on project management or soft skills development to round out your professional profile.
Tools & Resources
Asana/Jira for project tracking, presentation software, communication platforms, university workshops on soft skills
Career Connection
Prepares for future leadership roles, demonstrates initiative, and enhances overall employability beyond just technical skills, crucial for career progression in management and team-lead positions.
Program Structure and Curriculum
Eligibility:
- B.E./B.Tech. or equivalent degree in Computer Science and Engineering/Information Technology/Computer Technology or appropriate area with a minimum of 60% marks or 6.5 CPI (for GEN/OBC/EWS) and 55% marks or 6.0 CPI (for SC/ST/PwD) categories.
Duration: 4 semesters / 2 years
Credits: 73 Credits
Assessment: Internal: 50%, External: 50%
Semester-wise Curriculum Table
Semester 1
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Subject Type | Credits | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MCN101 | Advanced Computer Networks | Core | 4 | Network Topologies and Models, Routing Protocols and Algorithms, IP Addressing and Subnetting, Transport Layer Protocols (TCP/UDP), Network Security Fundamentals |
| MCN102 | Network Security and Cryptography | Core | 4 | Classical Cryptography, Symmetric Key Ciphers (DES, AES), Asymmetric Key Ciphers (RSA), Hash Functions and Digital Signatures, Firewall Technologies and IDS |
| MCN103 | Operating System and System Programming | Core | 4 | Process Management and Scheduling, Memory Management Techniques, File System Implementation, I/O Systems and Device Drivers, Concurrency Control and Deadlocks |
| MCN111 | Advanced Wireless and Mobile Communication | Elective (Program Elective-I) | 3 | Wireless Channel Characteristics, Cellular Network Architectures (2G, 3G, 4G), Mobile IP and Handover, Ad-hoc Networks (MANETs), Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) |
| MCN112 | Advanced Database Systems | Elective (Program Elective-I) | 3 | Relational Database Design, Query Processing and Optimization, Transaction Management and Concurrency, Distributed Database Systems, NoSQL Databases and Big Data Concepts |
| MCN113 | Advanced Data Structures & Algorithms | Elective (Program Elective-I) | 3 | Asymptotic Analysis of Algorithms, Advanced Tree Structures (B-Trees, AVL Trees), Graph Algorithms (Shortest Path, MST), Dynamic Programming, Network Flow Algorithms |
| MCN104 | Network Engineering Lab-I | Lab | 2 | Network Simulation Tools (NS2/3), Packet Analysis with Wireshark, Socket Programming in C/Python, Router and Switch Configuration, Basic Firewall Implementation |
| MCN105 | Seminar-I | Project | 1 | Research Topic Identification, Literature Review Techniques, Technical Presentation Skills, Scientific Writing Fundamentals, Critical Analysis of Research Papers |
Semester 2
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Subject Type | Credits | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MCN201 | Network Programming and Scripting | Core | 4 | Socket Programming (TCP/UDP), Network APIs and Libraries, Scripting with Python for Networking, SNMP and Network Management, Web Services and RESTful APIs |
| MCN202 | Cloud Computing | Core | 4 | Cloud Computing Architectures, Virtualization Technologies, Cloud Service Models (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS), Cloud Security and Privacy, Containerization (Docker, Kubernetes) |
| MCN203 | Distributed Systems | Core | 4 | Distributed System Architectures, Inter-Process Communication (RPC, RMI), Consistency and Replication, Fault Tolerance Mechanisms, Distributed Transactions |
| MCN211 | Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems | Elective (Program Elective-II) | 3 | IDS/IPS Architectures, Signature-based Detection, Anomaly-based Detection, Honeypots and Honeynets, Integration with Firewalls and SIEM |
| MCN212 | Internet of Things (IoT) | Elective (Program Elective-II) | 3 | IoT Architectures and Paradigms, Sensing and Actuation Technologies, IoT Communication Protocols (MQTT, CoAP), IoT Platforms and Data Analytics, Security and Privacy Challenges in IoT |
| MCN213 | Machine Learning | Elective (Program Elective-II) | 3 | Supervised Learning Algorithms, Unsupervised Learning Algorithms, Neural Networks and Deep Learning Basics, Model Evaluation and Validation, Applications in Network Analytics |
| MCN204 | Network Engineering Lab-II | Lab | 2 | Cloud Platform Deployment (AWS/Azure), IoT Device Interfacing and Programming, Distributed Application Development, Network Monitoring Tools, Vulnerability Assessment Tools |
| MCN205 | Seminar-II | Project | 1 | Advanced Research Problem Formulation, Data Collection and Analysis Strategies, Scientific Research Paper Writing, Ethical Considerations in Research, Effective Oral Presentation Techniques |
Semester 3
Semester 4
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Subject Type | Credits | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MCN401 | Dissertation Part-II | Project | 16 | System Development and Implementation, Experimental Design and Validation, Result Analysis and Interpretation, Thesis Writing and Documentation, Viva Voce and Oral Defense |




