CSE 461: Computer Networks Autumn 2026 · University of Washington

CSE 461: Introduction to Computer Communication Networks

Announcements

  • Exam dates are set: the midterm is in class on Monday, November 9, and the final is Thursday, December 17, 9:00–10:20 a.m. See Exams.
  • Quiz sections start Thursday, October 8. There was no section on October 1.
  • Welcome to CSE 461! Start forming project groups of 1–2 people on Ed.

Activities

All course activities take place in person. Rooms are listed in the UW Autumn 2026 time schedule for CSE (requires UW NetID sign-in).

Weekly meeting times
Meeting Days Time
Lecture (A) Monday, Wednesday, Friday 12:30–1:20 p.m.
Section AA Thursday 1:30–2:20 p.m.
Section AB Thursday 2:30–3:20 p.m.
Section AC Thursday 3:30–4:20 p.m.

Sections meet every Thursday starting October 8.

Office hours are held in person throughout the week. See the Office Hours page for times and locations.

Staff

See the Staff page for contact information and short bios.

Key dates

First lecture
First quiz section
Midterm, in class (12:30–1:20 p.m.)
No class (Veterans Day)
No section or lecture (Thanksgiving and Native American Heritage Day)
Last day of instruction
Final exam, 9:00–10:20 a.m.

Lectures, sections, office hours, and homework and project deadlines are all on the Schedule calendar.

Lecture slides

Slides are adapted from David Wetherall and posted right before each lecture.

  1. Introduction (PDF, 3.5 MB; )
  2. Network Components and Protocols (PDF, 0.5 MB; )
  3. Physical Layer (PDF, 1.8 MB; )
  4. Link Layer (PDF, 2.5 MB; )

If a slide deck doesn't work with your screen reader or other assistive technology, email the staff and we'll send an accessible version.