2024-2025 Catalog

CMSC 11111. Creative Coding. 100 Units.

This course is an introduction to programming, using exercises in graphic design and digital art to motivate and employ basic tools of computation (such as variables, conditional logic, and procedural abstraction). We will write code in JavaScript and related languages, and we will work with a variety of digital media, including vector graphics, raster images, animations, and web applications.

Note(s): Students who have taken CMSC 11800, STAT 11800, CMSC 12100, CMSC 15100, or CMSC 16100 are not allowed to register for CMSC 11111.
Equivalent Course(s): MADD 21111

CMSC 12100-12200-12300. Computer Science with Applications I-II-III.

This three-quarter sequence teaches computational thinking and skills to students who are majoring in the sciences, mathematics, and economics, etc. Lectures cover topics in (1) programming, such as recursion, abstract data types, and processing data; (2) computer science, such as clustering methods, event-driven simulation, and theory of computation; and to a lesser extent (3) numerical computation, such as approximating functions and their derivatives and integrals, solving systems of linear equations, and simple Monte Carlo techniques.

CMSC 14100. Introduction to Computer Science I. 100 Units.

This course is the first of a pair of courses that are designed to introduce students to computer science and will help them build computational skills, such as abstraction and decomposition, and will cover basic algorithms and data structures. Students will also be introduced to the basics of programming in Python including designing and calling functions, designing and using classes and objects, writing recursive functions, and building and traversing recursive data structures. Students will also gain basic facility with the Linux command-line and version control.

Prerequisite(s): Placement into MATH 15100 or completion of MATH 13100, or instructor’s consent, is a prerequisite for taking this course.

CMSC 14200. Introduction to Computer Science II. 100 Units.

This course is a direct continuation of CMSC 14100. Students will explore more advanced concepts in computer science and Python programming, with an emphasis on skills required to build complex software, such as object-oriented programming, advanced data structures, functions as first-class objects, testing, and debugging. The class will also introduce students to basic aspects of the software development lifecycle, with an emphasis on software design. Students will also gain further fluency in working with the Linux command-line, including some basic operating system concepts, as well as the use of version control systems for collaborative software development.

Prerequisite(s): CMSC 14100, or placement into CMSC 14200, is a prerequisite for taking this course.

CMSC 14300. Systems Programming I. 100 Units.

This course is the first in a pair of courses designed to teach students about systems programming. In this course, students will develop a deeper understanding of what a computer does when executing a program. In order to make the operations of the computer more transparent, students will study the C programming language, with special attention devoted to bit-level programming, pointers, allocation, file input and output, and memory layout. In the context of the C language, the course will revisit fundamental data structures by way of programming exercises, including strings, arrays, lists, trees, and dictionaries. Furthermore, the course will examine how memory is organized and structured in a modern machine. Students will gain basic fluency with debugging tools such as gdb and valgrind and build systems such as make.

Prerequisite(s): CMSC 14200, or placement into CMSC 14300, is a prerequisite for taking this course.

CMSC 14400. Systems Programming II. 100 Units.

This course is a direct continuation of CMSC 14300. This course covers the basics of computer systems from a programmer's perspective. Topics include machine language programming, exceptions, code optimization, performance measurement, system-level I/O, and concurrency. Students will gain further fluency with debugging tools and build systems.

Prerequisite(s): CMSC 14300, or placement into CMSC 14400, is a prerequisite for taking this course.

CMSC 15100-15200. Introduction to Computer Science I-II.

This sequence, which is recommended for all students planning to take more advanced courses in computer science, introduces computer science mostly through the study of programming in functional (Scheme) and imperative (C) programming languages. Topics include program design, control and data abstraction, recursion and induction, higher-order programming, types and polymorphism, time and space analysis, memory management, and data structures including lists, trees, and graphs. NOTE: Non-majors may use either course in this sequence to meet the general education requirement in the mathematical sciences; students who are majoring in Computer Science must use either CMSC 15100-15200 or 16100-16200 to meet requirements for the major.

CMSC 15400. Introduction to Computer Systems. 100 Units.

This course covers the basics of computer systems from a programmer's perspective. Topics include data representation, machine language programming, exceptions, code optimization, performance measurement, memory systems, and system-level I/O. Extensive programming required.

Prerequisite(s): CMSC 12100, 15100, or 16100, and CMSC 15200, 16200, or 12300.

CMSC 16100-16200. Honors Introduction to Computer Science I-II.

Both courses in this sequence meet the general education requirement in the mathematical sciences; students who are majoring in Computer Science must use either CMSC 15200 or 16200 to meet requirements for the major.

CMSC 19911. Introduction to Creative Coding. 100 Units.

This course is an introduction to programming, using exercises in graphic design and digital art to motivate and employ basic tools of computation (such as variables, conditional logic, and procedural abstraction). We will write code in JavaScript and related languages, and we will work with a variety of digital media, including vector graphics, raster images, animations, and web applications. This course is offered in the Pre-College Summer Immersion program.

CMSC 19925. Understanding AI: Risks and Opportunities for Communication and Writing. 100 Units.

Generative AI, large language models (LLMs) -- these buzzwords have been popping up in newsrooms, classrooms, and dinner tables. Questions about safety, environmental impacts, economic impacts and educational effects make people wonder how AI works, how it might change and augment the way we communicate and write, and what we should do about it. This class will give students the opportunity to: understand how AI powered applications for writing such as Gmail's Smart Compose feature and Grammarly's personalized revision suggestions work, get hands-on-experiences working with various AI-powered writing tools, speak with researchers and industry professionals to understand the design, impact, and motivation of these AI-based tools, consider historical events such as the development of the printing press and the internet to contextualize the effects of technology on human communication, and create a final project that analyzes and reflects on how technologies change the way that we communicate and write. Through these experiences, students will better understand the present AI landscape, with a focus on LLMs and their impacts on communication and writing, and form their own perspectives on the opportunities and risks of AI.

Terms Offered: Summer

CMSC 20300. Introduction to Human-Computer Interaction. 100 Units.

An introduction to the field of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), with an emphasis in understanding, designing and programming user-facing software and hardware systems. This class covers the core concepts of HCI: affordances, mental models, selection techniques (pointing, touch, menus, text entry, widgets, etc), conducting user studies (psychophysics, basic statistics, etc), rapid prototyping (3D printing, etc), and the fundamentals of 3D interfaces (optics for VR, AR, etc). We compliment the lectures with weekly programming assignments and two larger projects, in which we build/program/test user-facing interactive systems.

Prerequisite(s): CMSC 14200 or CMSC 15400 or CMSC 22000
Equivalent Course(s): CMSC 30300, MADD 25300

CMSC 20310. Introduction to Designing Interaction. 100 Units.

We are surrounded by interactive systems and designs, from the user interfaces for our computers and smartphones to home appliances, doors, and furniture. This class will introduce basic techniques, theories, and practices in designing interactive objects and systems. Specifically, it will introduce students to developing user experience-centric perspectives on critically reflecting on existing (and future) interactive designs. It also provides practices for students to ideate new design solutions and prototype them using design and engineering methods. Centered in interaction design, the class covers broad topics touching human-computer interaction, industrial design, user experience design, and communication design.

Prerequisite(s): CMSC 15200, CMSC 15400, CMSC 14200, CMSC 14300, or CMSC 14400.
Equivalent Course(s): MADD 20310

CMSC 20370. Inclusive Technology: Designing for Underserved and Marginalized Populations. 100 Units.

Creating technologies that are inclusive of people in marginalized communities involves more than having technically sophisticated algorithms, systems, and infrastructure. It involves deeply understanding various community needs and using this understanding coupled with our knowledge of how people think and behave to design user-facing interfaces that can enhance and augment human capabilities. When dealing with under-served and marginalized communities, achieving these goals requires us to think through how different constraints such as costs, access to resources, and various cognitive and physical capabilities shape what socio-technical systems can best address a particular issue. This course leverages human-computer interaction and the tools, techniques, and principles that guide research on people to introduce you to the concepts of inclusive technology design. You will learn about different underserved and marginalized communities such as children, the elderly, those needing assistive technology, and users in developing countries, and their particular needs. In addition, you will learn how to be mindful of working with populations that can easily be exploited and how to think creatively of inclusive technology solutions. You will also put your skills into practice in a semester long group project involving the creation of an interactive system for one of the user populations we study.

Prerequisite(s): CMSC 14400 or CMSC 15400 or CMSC 12300 or CMSC 22000 or CMSC 20300 or CMSC 20310
Equivalent Course(s): CMSC 30370, MADD 20370

CMSC 20380. Actuated User Interfaces and Technology. 100 Units.

The recent advancement in interactive technologies allows computer scientists, designers, and researchers to prototype and experiment with future user interfaces that can dynamically move and shape-change. This class offers hands-on experience in learning and employing actuated and shape-changing user interface technologies to build interactive user experiences. The class provides a range of basic engineering techniques to allow students to develop their own actuated user interface systems, including 3D mechanical design, digital fabrication (e.g. 3D Printing), electronics (Arduino microcontroller), and actuator control (utilizing different kinds of motors). Through multiple project-based assignments, students practice the acquired techniques to build interactive tangible experiences of their own.

Prerequisite(s): CMSC 20300 or CMSC 20310
Equivalent Course(s): MADD 20380, CMSC 30380

CMSC 20600. Introduction to Robotics. 100 Units.

The University of Chicago's CMSC 20600 Introduction to Robotics course gives students a hands-on introduction to robot programming covering topics including sensing in real-world environments, sensory-motor control, state estimation, localization, forward/inverse kinematics, vision, and reinforcement learning. This course is centered around 3 mini projects exploring central concepts to robot programming and 1 final project whose topic is chosen by the students. Each of these mini projects will involve students programming real, physical robots interacting with the real world. The use of physical robots and real-world environments is essential in order for students to 1) see the result of their programs 'come to life' in a physical environment and 2) gain experience facing and overcoming the challenges of programming robots (e.g., sensor noise, edge cases due to environment variability, physical constraints of the robot and environment).

Prerequisite(s): CMSC 14200 or CMSC 15400
Equivalent Course(s): CMSC 30600

CMSC 20630. Human-Robot Interaction: Research and Practice. 100 Units.

The field of human-robot interaction (HRI) is a new and growing field of research that explores the interface between people and robots. Applications of HRI research include developing robots to tutor elementary school students, assist human workers in manufacturing contexts, provide museum tours, interact with families within their homes, and help care for the elderly. The field of HRI is highly interdisciplinary, incorporating methods and techniques from human-computer interaction, robotics, psychology, artificial intelligence, and other fields. This course exposes students to a broad range of recent and cutting-edge research in HRI. The topics covered in this course include: nonverbal robot behavior, verbal robot behavior, social dynamics, norms and ethics, collaboration and learning, group interactions, applications, and future challenges of HRI. Course meetings will involve students in the class leading discussions about cutting-edge peer-reviewed research HRI publications. Throughout the quarter, teams of students in the course will also complete an HRI course project of their choosing where they will investigate an HRI research question of interest to them.

Prerequisite(s): CMSC 14200 or CMSC 15400
Equivalent Course(s): CMSC 30630

CMSC 20900. Computers for Learning. 100 Units.

Over time, technology has occupied an increasing role in education, with mixed results. Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) were created to bring education to those without access to universities, yet most of the students who succeed in them are those who are already successful in the current educational model. This course focuses on one intersection of technology and learning: computer games. This course covers education theory, psychology (e.g., motivation, engagement), and game design so that students can design and build an educational learning application. Labs focus on developing expertise in technology, and readings supplement lecture discussions on the human components of education.

Prerequisite(s): CMSC 14300 or CMSC 15400 or CMSC 22000
Equivalent Course(s): MADD 20900, CMSC 30900

CMSC 21010. Mathematical Foundations. 100 Units.

This course is an introduction to formal tools and techniques which can be used to better understand linguistic phenomena. A major goal of this course is to enable students to formalize and evaluate theoretical claims.

Equivalent Course(s): LING 21010, LING 31010, CMSC 31010

CMSC 21400. Creative Machines and Innovative Instrumentation. 100 Units.

An understanding of the techniques, tricks, and traps of building creative machines and innovative instrumentation is essential for a range of fields from the physical sciences to the arts. In this hands-on, practical course, you will design and build functional devices as a means to learn the systematic processes of engineering and fundamentals of design and construction. The kinds of things you will learn may include mechanical design and machining, computer-aided design, rapid prototyping, circuitry, electrical measurement methods, and other techniques for resolving real-world design problems. In collaboration with others, you will complete a mini-project and a final project, which will involve the design and fabrication of a functional scientific instrument. The course will be taught at an introductory level; no previous experience is expected. The iterative nature of the design process will require an appreciable amount of time outside of class for completing projects. The course is open to undergraduates in all majors (subject to the pre-requisites), as well as Master's and Ph.D. students.

Instructor(s): Scott Wakely (Autumn), John Carlstrom (Winter), Stephan Meyer (Spring)     Terms Offered: Autumn Spring Winter
Prerequisite(s): PHYS 12200 or PHYS 13200 or PHYS 14200; or CMSC 12100 or CMSC 12200 or CMSC 12300; or consent of instructor.
Equivalent Course(s): PSMS 31400, PHYS 21400, ASTR 31400, CHEM 21400, ASTR 21400

CMSC 21800. Data Science for Computer Scientists. 100 Units.

Data-driven models are revolutionizing science and industry. This course covers computational methods for structuring and analyzing data to facilitate decision-making. We will cover algorithms for transforming and matching data; hypothesis testing and statistical validation; and bias and error in real-world datasets. A core theme of the course is "generalization"; ensuring that the insights gleaned from data are predictive of future phenomena. The course will include bi-weekly programming assignments, a midterm examination, and a final.

Prerequisite(s): CMSC 14300 or CMSC 15400 or CMSC 22000

CMSC 22000. Introduction to Software Development. 100 Units.

Besides covering a number of topics in software engineering, with an emphasis on software design, this course focuses on imparting a number of skills and industry best practices that are valuable in the development of large software projects, such as source control techniques and workflows, issue tracking, code reviews, testing, continuous integration, working with existing codebases, integrating APIs and frameworks, generating documentation, deployment, and logging and monitoring. The course also emphasizes the importance of collaboration in real-world software development, including interpersonal collaboration and team management. The course will be organized primarily around the development of a class-wide software project, with students organized into teams. Collaboration both within and across teams will be essential to the success of the project.

Prerequisite(s): CMSC 14200

CMSC 22001. Software Construction. 100 Units.

Large software systems are difficult to build. The course discusses both the empirical aspects of software engineering and the underlying theory. Topics will include, among others, software specifications, software design, software architecture, software testing, software reliability, and software maintenance. Students will be expected to actively participate in team projects in this course.

Prerequisite(s): CMSC 15400.

CMSC 22010. Digital Fabrication. 100 Units.

Digital fabrication involves translation of a digital design into a physical object. While digital fabrication has been around for decades, only now has it become possible for individuals to take advantage of this technology through low cost 3D printers and open source tools for 3D design and modeling. In this course we will cover the foundations of 3D object design including computational geometry, the type of models that can and can't be fabricated, the uses and applications of digital fabrication, the algorithms, methods and tools for conversion of 3D models to representations that can be directly manufactured using computer controlled machines, the concepts and technology used in additive manufacturing (aka 3D printing) and the research and practical challenges of developing self-replicating machines. We will have several 3D printers available for use during the class and students will design and fabricate several parts during the course.

Prerequisite(s): CMSC 15400 and some experience with 3D modeling concepts.

CMSC 22100. Programming Languages. 100 Units.

This course is an introduction to scientific programming language design, whereby design choices are made according to rigorous and well-founded lines of reasoning. The curriculum includes the lambda calculus, type systems, formal semantics, logic and proof, and, time permitting, a light introduction to machine assisted formal reasoning. Practical exercises in writing language transformers reinforce the the theory. While this course is not a survey of different programming languages, we do examine the design decisions embodied by various popular languages in light of their underlying formal systems.

Prerequisite(s): CMSC 14300 or CMSC 14400 or CMSC 15400

CMSC 22200. Computer Architecture. 100 Units.

Computing systems have advanced rapidly and transformed every aspect of our lives for the last few decades, and innovations in computer architecture is a key enabler. Residing in the middle of the system design layers, computer architecture interacts with both the software stack (e.g., operating systems and applications) and hardware technologies (e.g., logic gates, interconnects, and memories) to enable efficient computing with unprecedented capabilities. In this course, students will learn the fundamental principles, techniques, and tradeoffs in designing the hardware/software interface and hardware components to create a computing system that meets functional, performance, energy, cost, and other specific goals. Example topics include instruction set architecture (ISA), pipelining, memory hierarchies, input/output, and multi-core designs. In addition, we will discuss advanced topics regarding recent research and trends. This course also includes hands-on labs, where students will enhance their learning by implementing a modern microprocessor in a C simulator.

Prerequisite(s): CMSC 14400 or CMSC 15400

CMSC 22240. Computer Architecture for Scientists. 100 Units.

Designed to provide an understanding of the key scientific ideas that underpin the extraordinary capabilities of today's computers, including speed (gigahertz), illusion of sequential order (relativity), dynamic locality (warping space), parallelism, keeping it cheap - and low-energy (e-field scaling), and of course their ability as universal information processing engines. These scientific "miracles" are robust, and provide a valuable longer-term understanding of computer capabilities, performance, and limits to the wealth of computer scientists practicing data science, software development, or machine learning. This course can be used towards fulfilling the Programming Languages and Systems requirement for the CS major.

Prerequisite(s): CMSC 14300 or CMSC 15400

CMSC 22300. Functional Programming. 100 Units.

Programming languages often conflate the definition of mathematical functions, which deterministically map inputs to outputs, and computations that effect changes, such as interacting with users and their machines. In this course, students will develop an enriched perspective about these two related but distinct mechanisms, by studying the statically-typed pure functional programming language Haskell. Topics include: algebraic datatypes, an elegant language for describing and manipulating domain-specific data; higher-order functions and type polymorphism, expressive mechanisms for abstracting programs; and a core set of type classes, with strong connections to category theory, that serve as a foundational and practical basis for mixing pure functions with stateful and interactive computations. In addition to small and medium sized programming assignments, the course includes a larger open-ended final project.

Prerequisite(s): CMSC 14300 or CMSC 14400 or CMSC 15200

CMSC 22400. Programming Proofs. 100 Units.

In this course, we will explore the use of proof assistants, computer programs that allow us to write, automate, and mechanically check proofs. These tools have two main uses. They allow us to prove properties of our programs, thereby guaranteeing that our code is free of software errors. They also allow us to formalize mathematics, stating and proving mathematical theorems in a manner that leaves no doubt as to their meaning or veracity. At the intersection of these two uses lies mechanized computer science, involving proofs about data structures, algorithms, programming languages and verification itself.

Prerequisite(s): (CMSC 27100 or CMSC 27130 or CMSC 37000 or CMSC 37110), and (CMSC 14100 or CMSC 15100 or CMSC 16100 or CMSC 22100 or CMSC 22300)
Note(s): This course can count toward the Programming Languages & Systems requirement for the CS Major.
Equivalent Course(s): CMSC 32400

CMSC 22450. Foundations of Programming Languages. 100 Units.

This course is an introduction to the theory of programming languages. It develops the mathematical tools for specifying and reasoning about the static and dynamic semantics of programming languages. The course covers the λ-calculus, which underpins the semantics of many real-world languages, as well as various different techniques for specifying language semantics.

Prerequisite(s): (CMSC 27100 or CMSC 27130 or CMSC 37110) or (CMSC 27200 or CMSC 27230 or CMSC 37000).
Equivalent Course(s): CMSC 32450

CMSC 22500. Type Theory. 100 Units.

Church's λ-calculus, β-reduction, the Church-Rosser theorem. Simple type theory, strong normalization. The Barendregt cube of type theories. Dependent types. The Curry-Howard Isomorphism. Formal constructive mathematics.

Prerequisite(s): (CMSC 15100 or CMSC 16100 or CMSC 22100 or CMSC 22300) and (CMSC 27100 or CMSC 27130 or MATH 28130 or CMSC 37110 or CMSC 27700 or MATH 27700)

CMSC 22600. Compilers for Computer Languages. 100 Units.

This course covers principles of modern compiler design and implementation. Topics include lexical analysis, parsing, type checking, optimization, and code generation. This is a project oriented course in which students will construct a fully working compiler, using Standard ML as the implementation language.

Prerequisite(s): CMSC 22100 or CMSC 22300

CMSC 22880. Introduction to Quantum Computing. 100 Units.

This introduction to quantum computing will cover the key principles of quantum information science and how they relate to quantum computing as well as the notation and operations used in QIS. We will then take these building blocks and linear algebra principles to build up to several quantum algorithms and complete several quantum programs using a mainstream quantum programming language.

Prerequisite(s): CMSC 14400 or CMSC 15400
Note(s): Students who have completed MENG 26400 may not enroll in CMSC 22880.

CMSC 22900. Quantum Computer Systems. 100 Units.

This course will explore the design, optimization, and verification of the software and hardware involved in practical quantum computer systems. The course will provide an introduction to quantum computation and quantum technologies, as well as classical and quantum compiler techniques to optimize computations for technologies. Verification techniques to evaluate the correctness of quantum software and hardware will also be explored.

Prerequisite(s): CMSC 14400 or CMSC 15400, and CMSC 22880 or MENG 26400 or CMSC 38410 or MATH 38410 or CMSC 38420 or MATH 38420
Equivalent Course(s): CMSC 32900

CMSC 23000. Operating Systems. 100 Units.

This course provides an introduction to basic Operating System principles and concepts that form as fundamental building blocks for many modern systems from personal devices to Internet-scale services. Basic topics include processes, threads, concurrency, synchronization, memory management, virtual memory, segmentation, paging, caching, process and I/O scheduling, file systems, storage devices. The course will also cover special topics such as journaling/transactions, SSD, RAID, virtual machines, and data-center operating systems. The course project will revolve around the implementation of a mini x86 operating system kernel.

Prerequisite(s): CMSC 14400 or CMSC 15400

CMSC 23010. Parallel Computing. 100 Units.

This course provides an introduction to the concepts of parallel programming, with an emphasis on programming multicore processors. Topics include: Processes and threads, shared memory, message passing, direct-memory access (DMA), hardware mechanisms for parallel computing, synchronization and communication, patterns of parallel programming. The course will involve a substantial programming project implementing a parallel computations.

Prerequisite(s): CMSC 14400 or CMSC 15400 and (CMSC 22200, CMSC 22240, CMSC 23000, CMSC 23300, OR CMSC 23320)

CMSC 23200. Introduction to Computer Security. 100 Units.

This course introduces the principles and practice of computer security. It aims to teach how to model threats to computer systems and how to think like a potential attacker. It presents standard cryptographic functions and protocols and gives an overview of threats and defenses for software, host systems, networks, and the Web. It also touches on some of the legal, policy, and ethical issues surrounding computer security in areas such as privacy, surveillance, and the disclosure of security vulnerabilities. The goal of this course is to provide a foundation for further study in computer security and to help better understand how to design, build, and use computer systems more securely.

Prerequisite(s): CMSC 14400 or CMSC 15400

CMSC 23206. Security, Privacy, and Consumer Protection. 100 Units.

This course will cover the principles and practice of security, privacy, and consumer protection. Topics include: basic cryptography; physical, network, endpoint, and data security; privacy (including user surveillance and tracking); attacks and defenses; and relevant concepts in usable security. The course will place fundamental security and privacy concepts in the context of past and ongoing legal, regulatory, and policy developments, including: consumer privacy, censorship, platform content moderation, data breaches, net neutrality, government surveillance, election security, vulnerability discovery and disclosure, and the fairness and accountability of automated decision making, including machine learning systems. Students will learn both technical fundamentals and how to apply these concepts to public policy outputs and recommendations.

Instructor(s): Feamster, Nicholas
Prerequisite(s): CMSC 14300 or CMSC 15400 or equivalent, and instructor consent.
Note(s): Prerequisites: CMSC 14300 or CMSC 15400 or equivalent, or graduate student. Instructor consent required.
Equivalent Course(s): CMSC 30350, CAPP 30350

CMSC 23210. Usable Security and Privacy. 100 Units.

Regardless of how secure a system is in theory, failing to consider how humans actually use the system leads to disaster in practice. This course will examine how to design for security and privacy from a user-centered perspective by combining insights from computer systems, human-computer interaction (HCI), and public policy. We will introduce core security and privacy technologies, as well as HCI techniques for conducting robust user studies. Topics will include usable authentication, user-centered web security, anonymity software, privacy notices, security warnings, and data-driven privacy tools in domains ranging from social media to the Internet of Things. Students will complete weekly problem sets, as well as conduct novel research in a group capstone project. No prior experience in security, privacy, or HCI is required.

Prerequisite(s): CMSC 12300 or CMSC 14200 or CMSC 15400
Equivalent Course(s): CMSC 33210

CMSC 23218. Surveillance Aesthetics: Provocations About Privacy and Security in the Digital Age. 100 Units.

In the modern world, individuals' activities are tracked, surveilled, and computationally modeled to both beneficial and problematic ends. Jointly with the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), this course will examine privacy and security issues at the intersection of the physical and digital worlds. Through both computer science and studio art, students will design algorithms, implement systems, and create interactive artworks that communicate, provoke, and reframe pervasive issues in modern privacy and security. The course will unpack and re-entangle computational connections and data-driven interactions between people, built space, sensors, structures, devices, and data. Synthesizing technology and aesthetics, we will communicate our findings to the broader public not only through academic avenues, but also via public art and media. The first phase of the course will involve prompts in which students design and program small-scale artworks in various contexts, including (1) data collected from web browsing; (2) mobility data; (3) data collected about consumers by major companies; and (4) raw sensor data. Students will receive detailed feedback on their work from computer scientists, artists, and curators at the Museum of Science & Industry (MSI). The course culminates in the production and presentation of a capstone interactive artwork by teams of computer scientists and artists; successful products may be considered for prototyping at the MSI.

Prerequisite(s): One of CMSC 23200, CMSC 23210, CMSC 25900, CMSC 28400, CMSC 33210, CMSC 33250, or CMSC 33251 recommended, but not required.
Note(s): Students interested in this class should complete this form to request permission to enroll: https://uchicago.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5jPT8gRDXDKQ26a
Equivalent Course(s): CMSC 33218, MADD 23218

CMSC 23220. Inventing, Engineering and Understanding Interactive Devices. 100 Units.

A physical computing class, dedicated to micro-controllers, sensors, actuators and fabrication techniques. The objective is that everyone creates their own, custom-made, functional I/O device.

Prerequisite(s): CMSC 14400 or CMSC 15400
Equivalent Course(s): MADD 23220, CMSC 33222

CMSC 23230. Engineering Interactive Electronics onto Printed Circuit Boards. 100 Units.

In this class we will engineer electronics onto Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs). We will focus on designing and laying out the circuit and PCB for our own custom-made I/O devices, such as wearable or haptic devices. In order for you to be successful in engineering a functional PCB, we will (1) review digital circuits and three microcontrollers (ATMEGA, NRF, SAMD); (2) use KICAD to build circuit schematics; (3) learn how to wire analog/digital sensors or actuators to our microcontroller, including SPI and I2C protocols; (4) use KICAD to build PCB schematics; (5) actually manufacture our designs; (6) receive in our hands our PCBs from factory; (7) finally, learn how to debug our custom-made PCBs.

Prerequisite(s): CMSC 14400 or CMSC 15400, and CMSC 23220 or CMSC 21400 or CMSC 20380 or PHYS 13300 or PHYS 14300 or PHYS 22700.
Equivalent Course(s): CMSC 33230

CMSC 23240. Emergent Interface Technologies. 100 Units.

In this class, we critically examine emergent technologies that might impact the future generations of computing interfaces, these include: physiological I/O (e.g., brain and muscle computer interfaces), tangible computing (giving shape and form to interfaces), wearable computing (I/O devices closer to the user's body), rendering new realities (e.g., virtual and augmented reality), haptics (giving computers the ability to generate touch and forces) and unusual auditory interfaces (e.g., silent speech and microphones as sensors). In this class you will: (1) learn about these new developments during the lectures, (2) read HCI papers and summarize these in short weekly assignments, and lastly, (3) start inventing the future of computing interfaces by proposing a new idea in the form of a paper abstract, which you will present at the end of the semester and have it peer-reviewed in class by your classmates.

Prerequisite(s): CMSC 15400

CMSC 23300. Networks and Distributed Systems. 100 Units.

This course focuses on the principles and techniques used in the development of networked and distributed software. Topics include programming with sockets; concurrent programming; data link layer (Ethernet, packet switching, etc.); internet and routing protocols (IP, IPv6, ARP, etc.); end-to-end protocols (UDP, TCP); and other commonly used network protocols and techniques. This is a project-oriented course in which students are required to develop software in C on a UNIX environment.

Prerequisite(s): CMSC 15400.

CMSC 23310. Advanced Distributed Systems. 100 Units.

In recent years, large distributed systems have taken a prominent role not just in scientific inquiry, but also in our daily lives. When we perform a search on Google, stream content from Netflix, place an order on Amazon, or catch up on the latest comings-and-goings on Facebook, our seemingly minute requests are processed by complex systems that sometimes include hundreds of thousands of computers, connected by both local and wide area networks. Recent papers in the field of Distributed Systems have described several solutions (such as MapReduce, BigTable, Dynamo, Cassandra, etc.) for managing large-scale data and computation. However, building and using these systems pose a number of more fundamental challenges: How do we keep the system operating correctly even when individual machines fail? How do we ensure that all the machines have a consistent view of the system's state? (And how do we ensure this in the presence of failures?) How can we determine the order of events in a system where we can't assume a single global clock? Many of these fundamental problems were identified and solved over the course of several decades, starting in the 1970s. To better appreciate the challenges of recent developments in the field of Distributed Systems, this course will guide students through seminal work in Distributed Systems from the 1970s, '80s, and '90s, leading up to a discussion of recent work in the field.

Prerequisite(s): CMSC 23300 with at least a B+, or by consent.

CMSC 23320. Foundations of Computer Networks. 100 Units.

This course focuses on the principles and techniques used in the development of networked and distributed software. Topics include programming with sockets; concurrent programming; data link layer (Ethernet, packet switching, etc.); internet and routing protocols (IP, IPv6, ARP, etc.); end-to-end protocols (UDP, TCP); and other commonly used network protocols and techniques. This is a project-oriented course in which students are required to develop software in C on a UNIX environment. This course can be used towards fulfilling the Programming Languages and Systems requirement for the CS major.

Prerequisite(s): CMSC 14400 or CMSC 15400
Note(s): This course can be used towards fulfilling the Programming Languages and Systems requirement for the CS major. Students who have taken CMSC 23300 may not take CMSC 23320.

CMSC 23360. Advanced Networks. 100 Units.

Advanced networks

Prerequisite(s): CMSC 23300 or CMSC 23320
Note(s): A more detailed course description should be available later.

CMSC 23400. Mobile Computing. 100 Units.

Mobile computing is pervasive and changing nearly every aspect of society. Sensing, actuation, and mediation capabilities of mobile devices are transforming all aspects of computing: uses, networking, interface, form, etc. This course explores new technologies driving mobile computing and their implications for systems and society. Current focus areas include new techniques to capture 3d models (depth sensors, stereo vision), drones that enable targeted, adaptive, focused sensing, and new 3d interactive applications (augmented reality, cyberphysical, and virtual reality). Labs expose students to software and hardware capabilities of mobile computing systems, and develop the capability to envision radical new applications for a large-scale course project.

Prerequisite(s): CMSC 14400 or CMSC 15400

CMSC 23500. Introduction to Database Systems. 100 Units.

This course is an introduction to database design and implementation. Topics include DBMS architecture, entity-relationship and relational models, relational algebra, concurrency control, recovery, indexing, physical data organization, and modern database systems. The lab section guides students through the implementation of a relational database management system, allowing students to see topics such as physical data organization and DBMS architecture in practice, and exercise general skills such as software systems development.

Prerequisite(s): CMSC 14400 or CMSC 15400
Equivalent Course(s): CMSC 33550

CMSC 23530. Advanced Database Systems. 100 Units.

This course focuses on advanced concepts of database systems topics and assumes foundational knowledge outlined in CMSC 23500. Topics will include distribute databases, materialized views, multi-dimensional indexes, cloud-native architectures, data versioning, and concurrency-control protocols.

Prerequisite(s): CMSC 23500

CMSC 23700. Introduction to Computer Graphics. 100 Units.

This course introduces the basic concepts and techniques used in three-dimensional computer graphics. The focus is on real-time rendering techniques, such as those found in computer games. The course places an emphasis on developing a strong foundation for 3D graphics by covering topics such as the graphics pipeline, coordinate systems, coordinate transformations, lighting, texture mapping, and basic geometric algorithms and data structures. These foundations are applied using programmable shaders to implement real-time rendering techniques, such as real-time shadows and other effects. Students are required to complete both written assignments and programming projects using C++ and the Vulkan 3D graphics library.

Prerequisite(s): CMSC 14400 or CMSC 15400
Note(s): Prior experience with basic linear algebra (matrix algebra) is recommended.
Equivalent Course(s): CMSC 33700

CMSC 23710. Scientific Visualization. 100 Units.

Scientific visualization combines computer graphics, numerical methods, and mathematical models of the physical world to create a visual framework for understanding and solving scientific problems. The mathematical and algorithmic foundations of scientific visualization (for example, scalar, vector, and tensor fields) will be explained in the context of real-world data from scientific and biomedical domains. The course is also intended for students outside computer science who are experienced with programming and computing with scientific data. Programming projects will be in C and C++.

Prerequisite(s): CMSC 14300 or CMSC 15400
Equivalent Course(s): CMSC 33710

CMSC 23740. Introduction to Real-time Graphics. 100 Units.

This course provides an introduction to Computer Graphics with a focus on real-time rendering techniques, such as those found in computer-game engines. Topics include coordinate systems and transformations; geometric modeling; the programmable graphics pipeline; shadows; level-of detail optimizations; and other rendering techniques. The course covers both the theory and practice of computer graphics. The lectures, homework assignments and exams focus on algorithms, data structures, and mathematical foundations, while the lab sessions and programming projects deal with translating theory into practice.

Prerequisite(s): CMSC 14400 or CMSC 15400. Prior experience with basic vector calculus and linear algebra is recommended.

CMSC 23900. Data Visualization. 100 Units.

Data visualizations provide a visual setting in which to explore, understand, and explain datasets. This class describes mathematical and perceptual principles, methods, and applications of "data visualization" (as it is popularly understood to refer primarily to tabulated data). A range of data types and visual encodings will be presented and evaluated. Visualizations will be primarily web-based, using D3.js, and possibly other higher-level languages and libraries.

Prerequisite(s): CMSC 12200, CMSC 14200, CMSC 15200, OR CMSC 16200

CMSC 25025. Machine Learning and Large-Scale Data Analysis. 100 Units.

This course is an introduction to machine learning and the analysis of large data sets using distributed computation and storage infrastructure. Basic machine learning methodology and relevant statistical theory will be presented in lectures. Homework exercises will give students hands-on experience with the methods on different types of data. Methods include algorithms for clustering, binary classification, and hierarchical Bayesian modeling. Data types include images, archives of scientific articles, online ad clickthrough logs, and public records of the City of Chicago. Programming will be based on Python and R, but previous exposure to these languages is not assumed.

Prerequisite(s): [CMSC 25300 or CMSC 35300 or STAT 27700 or TTIC 31020] and [STAT 24400 or STAT 24410 or STAT 24500 or STAT 24510]
Note(s): The prerequisites are under review and may change.
Equivalent Course(s): STAT 37601

CMSC 25040. Introduction to Computer Vision. 100 Units.

This course covers the fundamentals of digital image formation; image processing, detection and analysis of visual features; representation shape and recovery of 3D information from images and video; analysis of motion. We also study some prominent applications of modern computer vision such as face recognition and object and scene classification. Our emphasis is on basic principles, mathematical models, and efficient algorithms established in modern computer vision.

Prerequisite(s): CMSC 25300, CMSC 25400, CMSC 25025, STAT 24300, STAT 24500, or TTIC 31020

CMSC 25300. Mathematical Foundations of Machine Learning. 100 Units.

This course is an introduction to the mathematical foundations of machine learning that focuses on matrix methods and features real-world applications ranging from classification and clustering to denoising and data analysis. Mathematical topics covered include linear equations, regression, regularization, the singular value decomposition, and iterative algorithms. Machine learning topics include classification and regression, support vector machines, kernel methods, clustering, matrix completion, neural networks, and deep learning. Students are expected to have taken calculus and have exposure to numerical computing (e.g. Matlab, Python, Julia, R).

Prerequisite(s): CMSC 11900 or CMSC 12200 or CMSC 14100 or CMSC 15200 or CMSC 16200
Note(s): Undergraduate students are not allowed to enroll in CMSC 35300.
Equivalent Course(s): STAT 27700, CMSC 35300

CMSC 25400. Machine Learning. 100 Units.

This course introduces the foundations of machine learning and provides a systematic view of a range of machine learning algorithms. Topics covered include two parts: (1) a gentle introduction of machine learning: generalization and model selection, regression and classification, kernels, neural networks, clustering and dimensionality reduction; (2) a statistical perspective of machine learning, where we will dive into several probabilistic supervised and unsupervised models, including logistic regression, Gaussian mixture models, and generative adversarial networks.

Prerequisite(s): CMSC 25300 or CMSC 35300 or STAT 24300 or STAT 24500 or ((MATH 18600 or MATH 20250) and (CMSC 12100 or CMSC 14100 or CMSC 15100 or CMSC 16100) and (STAT 25100 or STAT 25150))
Equivalent Course(s): STAT 27725

CMSC 25422. Machine Learning for Computer Systems. 100 Units.

This course will cover topics at the intersection of machine learning and systems, with a focus on applications of machine learning to computer systems. Topics covered will include applications of machine learning models to security, performance analysis, and prediction problems in systems; data preparation, feature selection, and feature extraction; design, development, and evaluation of machine learning models and pipelines; fairness, interpretability, and explainability of machine learning models; and testing and debugging of machine learning models. The topic of machine learning for computer systems is broad. Given the expertise of the instructor, many of the examples this term will focus on applications to computer networking. Yet, many of these principles apply broadly, across computer systems. You can and should think of this course as a practical hands-on introduction to machine learning models and concepts that will allow you to apply these models in practice. We'll focus on examples from networking, but you will walk away from the course with a good understanding of how to apply machine learning models to real-world datasets, how to use machine learning to help computer systems operate better, and the practical challenges with deploying machine learning models in practice."

Instructor(s): Nick Feamster
Prerequisite(s): CMSC 14300 or CMSC 15400
Equivalent Course(s): CMSC 35422, DATA 35422, DATA 25422

CMSC 25440. Machine Learning in Medicine. 100 Units.

In this course we will study the how machine learning is used in biomedical research and in healthcare delivery. We will build and explore a range of models in areas such as infectious disease and drug resistance, cancer diagnosis and treatment, drug design, genomics analysis, patient outcome prediction, medical records interpretation and medical imaging. Students will become familiar with the types and scale of data used to train and validate models and with the approaches to build, tune and deploy machine learned models. We will use traditional machine learning methods as well as deep learning depending on the problem. The course will be fast moving and will involve weekly program assignments. We will introduce the machine learning methods as we go, but previous familiarity with machine learning will be helpful. Programming assignments will be in python and we will use Google Collaboratory and Amazon AWS for compute intensive training.

Prerequisite(s): CMSC 12200 or CMSC 15200 or CMSC 16200. Proficiency in Python is expected.

CMSC 25460. Introduction to Optimization. 100 Units.

Introduction to Optimization

Prerequisite(s): (CMSC 27200 or CMSC 27230 or CMSC 37000) and CMSC 25300

CMSC 25500. Introduction to Neural Networks. 100 Units.

This course will provide an introduction to neural networks and fundamental concepts in deep learning. It will cover the basics of training neural networks, including backpropagation, stochastic gradient descent, regularization, and data augmentation. It will explore network design principles, spanning multilayer perceptrons, convolutional and recurrent architectures, attention, memory, and generative adversarial networks. Students will gain experience applying neural networks to modern problems in computer vision, natural language processing, and reinforcement learning. Note: students can use at most one of CMSC 25500 and TTIC 31230 towards the computer science major.

Prerequisite(s): CMSC 25300 or CMSC 25400 or TTIC 31020
Note(s): Students can use at most one of CMSC 25500 and TTIC 31230 towards a CS major or CS minor.

CMSC 25610. Undergraduate Computational Linguistics. 100 Units.

This course is an introduction to topics at the intersection of computation and language. We will study computational linguistics from both scientific and engineering angles: the use of computational modeling to address scientific questions in linguistics and cognitive science, as well as the design of computational systems to solve engineering problems in natural language processing (NLP). The course will combine analysis and discussion of these approaches with training in the programming and mathematical foundations necessary to put these methods into practice. The course is designed to accommodate students both with and without prior programming experience. Our goal is for all students to leave the course able to engage with and evaluate research in cognitive/linguistic modeling and NLP, and to be able to implement intermediate-level computational models.

Equivalent Course(s): LING 28610

CMSC 25700. Natural Language Processing. 100 Units.

This course introduces the core concepts, methods, and applications of natural language processing (NLP), a key area of artificial intelligence (AI) focused on enabling machines to understand, process, and generate human language. Students will learn topics such as word vectors, neural networks for NLP, language modeling, and recent advances in large language models (LLMs). Through lectures, assignments, and a final project, students will build and evaluate NLP models using the PyTorch framework and tackle real-world tasks like text classification, machine translation, and question answering. By the end of the course, students will have a strong foundation in NLP concepts and methods, practical experience with datasets and models, and the ability to critically assess these technologies, including their ethical implications.

Prerequisite(s): CMSC 25300, CMSC 25400, or CMSC 25025
Equivalent Course(s): CMSC 35100

CMSC 25900. Ethics, Fairness, Responsibility, and Privacy in Data Science. 100 Units.

This course takes a technical approach to understanding ethical issues in the design and implementation of computer systems. Tensions often arise between a computer system's utility and its privacy-invasiveness, between its robustness and its flexibility, and between its ability to leverage existing data and existing data's tendency to encode biases. The course will demonstrate how computer systems can violate individuals' privacy and agency, impact sub-populations in disparate ways, and harm both society and the environment. It will also introduce algorithmic approaches to fairness, privacy, transparency, and explainability in machine learning systems. Through hands-on programming assignments and projects, students will design and implement computer systems that reflect both ethics and privacy by design. They will also wrestle with fundamental questions about who bears responsibility for a system's shortcomings, how to balance different stakeholders' goals, and what societal values computer systems should embed.

Prerequisite(s): CMSC 20300 or CMSC 20600 or CMSC 21800 or CMSC 22000 or CMSC 22001 or CMSC 23000 or CMSC 23200 or CMSC 23300 or CMSC 23320 or CMSC 23400 or CMSC 23500 or CMSC 23900 or CMSC 25025

CMSC 25910. Engineering for Ethics, Privacy, and Fairness in Computer Systems. 100 Units.

This course takes a technical approach to understanding ethical issues in the design and implementation of computer systems. Tensions often arise between a computer system's utility and its privacy-invasiveness, between its robustness and its flexibility, and between its ability to leverage existing data and existing data's tendency to encode biases. The course will demonstrate how computer systems can violate individuals' privacy and agency, impact sub-populations in disparate ways, and harm both society and the environment. It will also introduce algorithmic approaches to fairness, privacy, transparency, and explainability in machine learning systems. Through hands-on programming assignments and projects, students will design and implement computer systems that reflect both ethics and privacy by design. They will also wrestle with fundamental questions about who bears responsibility for a system's shortcomings, how to balance different stakeholders' goals, and what societal values computer systems should embed. Students may not take CMSC 25910 if they have taken CMSC 25900 or DATA 25900.

Prerequisite(s): CMSC 14400 or CMSC 15400.
Note(s): anti-requisites: CMSC 25900, DATA 25900

CMSC 27100. Discrete Mathematics. 100 Units.

This course emphasizes mathematical discovery and rigorous proof, which are illustrated on a refreshing variety of accessible and useful topics. Basic counting is a recurring theme and provides the most important source for sequences, which is another recurring theme. Further topics include proof by induction; recurrences and Fibonacci numbers; graph theory and trees; number theory, congruences, and Fermat's little theorem; counting, factorials, and binomial coefficients; combinatorial probability; random variables, expected value, and variance; and limits of sequences, asymptotic equality, and rates of growth.

Prerequisite(s): CMSC 14200, CMSC 15200 or CMSC 16200 or CMSC 12200), or (MATH 15910 or MATH 16300 or MATH 16310 or MATH 19900 or MATH 20300 or MATH 20310 or MATH 20400 or MATH 20410 or MATH 20700 or MATH 25400 or MATH 25500 or MATH 25700)
Note(s): This is a directed course in mathematical topics and techniques that is a prerequisite for courses such as CMSC 27200 and 27400.

CMSC 27130. Honors Discrete Mathematics. 100 Units.

We emphasize mathematical discovery and rigorous proof, which are illustrated on a refreshing variety of accessible and useful topics. Basic counting is a recurring theme. Further topics include proof by induction; number theory, congruences, and Fermat's little theorem; relations; factorials, binomial coefficients and advanced counting; combinatorial probability; random variables, expected value, and variance; graph theory and trees. Time permitting, material on recurrences, asymptotic equality, rates of growth and Markov chains may be included as well. The honors version of Discrete Mathematics covers topics at a deeper level.

Prerequisite(s): (CMSC 14200 or CMSC 15200 or CMSC 16200 or CMSC 12200) or (MATH 15910 or MATH 16300 or MATH 16310 or MATH 19900 or MATH 20300 or MATH 20310 or MATH 20400 or MATH 20410 or MATH 20700 or MATH 25400 or MATH 25500 or MATH 25700)
Equivalent Course(s): MATH 28130

CMSC 27200. Theory of Algorithms. 100 Units.

This course covers design and analysis of efficient algorithms, with emphasis on ideas rather than on implementation. Algorithmic questions include sorting and searching, graph algorithms, elementary algorithmic number theory, combinatorial optimization, randomized algorithms, as well as techniques to deal with intractability, like approximation algorithms. Design techniques include "divide-and-conquer" methods, dynamic programming, greedy algorithms, and graph search, as well as the design of efficient data structures. Methods of algorithm analysis include asymptotic notation, evaluation of recurrent inequalities, amortized analysis, analysis of probabilistic algorithms, the concepts of polynomial-time algorithms, and of NP-completeness.

Prerequisite(s): CMSC 27100 or CMSC 27130 or CMSC 37110

CMSC 27230. Honors Theory of Algorithms. 100 Units.

This course covers design and analysis of efficient algorithms, with emphasis on ideas rather than on implementation. Algorithmic questions include sorting and searching, discrete optimization, algorithmic graph theory, algorithmic number theory, and cryptography. Design techniques include divide-and-conquer methods, dynamic programming, greedy algorithms, and graph search, as well as the design of efficient data structures. Methods of algorithm analysis include asymptotic notation, evaluation of recurrent inequalities, the concepts of polynomial-time algorithms, and NP-completeness. The honors version of Theory of Algorithms covers topics at a deeper level.

Prerequisite(s): CMSC 27100 or CMSC 27130 or CMSC 37110 or consent of the instructor.

CMSC 27410. Honors Combinatorics. 100 Units.

Methods of enumeration, construction, and proof of existence of discrete structures are discussed in conjunction with the basic concepts of probability theory over a finite sample space. Enumeration techniques are applied to the calculation of probabilities, and, conversely, probabilistic arguments are used in the analysis of combinatorial structures. Other topics include basic counting, linear recurrences, generating functions, Latin squares, finite projective planes, graph theory, Ramsey theory, coloring graphs and set systems, random variables, independence, expected value, standard deviation, and Chebyshev's and Chernoff's inequalities.

Prerequisite(s): MATH 19900 or MATH 15900 or MATH 25400 or MATH 25700, or CMSC 27100 or CMSC 27130 or CMSC 37110. Experience with mathematical proofs.
Note(s): This course is offered in alternate years.
Equivalent Course(s): MATH 28410

CMSC 27500. Graph Theory. 100 Units.

This course covers the basics of the theory of finite graphs. Topics include shortest paths, spanning trees, counting techniques, matchings, Hamiltonian cycles, chromatic number, extremal graph theory, Turan's theorem, planarity, Menger's theorem, the max-flow/min-cut theorem, Ramsey theory, directed graphs, strongly connected components, directed acyclic graphs, and tournaments. Techniques studied include the probabilistic method.

Prerequisite(s): CMSC 27100, or MATH 20400 or higher.

CMSC 27502. Advanced Algorithms. 100 Units.

TBD

CMSC 27530. Honors Graph Theory. 100 Units.

This course covers the basics of the theory of finite graphs. Topics include shortest paths, spanning trees, counting techniques, matchings, Hamiltonian cycles, chromatic number, extremal graph theory, Turan's theorem, planarity, Menger's theorem, the max-flow/min-cut theorem, Ramsey theory, directed graphs, strongly connected components, directly acyclic graphs, and tournaments. Techniques studied include the probabilistic method.

Prerequisite(s): CMSC 27100, CMSC 27130, or CMSC 37110, or MATH 20400 or MATH 20800.
Equivalent Course(s): MATH 28530

CMSC 27700-27800. Mathematical Logic I-II.

Mathematical Logic I-II

CMSC 28000. Introduction to Formal Languages. 100 Units.

This course is a basic introduction to computability theory and formal languages. Topics include automata theory, regular languages, context-free languages, and Turing machines.

Prerequisite(s): CMSC 27100 or CMSC 27130 or CMSC 37110 or MATH 15900 or MATH 15910 or MATH 16300 or MATH 16310 or MATH 19900 or MATH 25500 or LING 21010
Equivalent Course(s): MATH 28000

CMSC 28100. Introduction to Complexity Theory. 100 Units.

Computability: Turing machines, Universal Turing machines and the Church-Turing thesis. Undecidability. Reducibilities. Complexity--the study of the amount of resources -- time, space, communication, randomness, etc -- needed in computations: Time and space complexity classes, nondeterministic and probabilistic computations. Complete problems. Lower bounds, and the big open problems: P vs NP, space vs. time, etc. Communication Complexity.

Prerequisite(s): CMSC 27200 or CMSC 27230 or CMSC 37000, or MATH 15900 or MATH 15910 or MATH 16300 or MATH 16310 or MATH 19900 or MATH 25500; experience with mathematical proofs.
Equivalent Course(s): MATH 28100

CMSC 28130. Honors Introduction to Complexity Theory. 100 Units.

Computability topics are discussed (e.g., the s-m-n theorem and the recursion theorem, resource-bounded computation). This course introduces complexity theory. Relationships between space and time, determinism and non-determinism, NP-completeness, and the P versus NP question are investigated.

Prerequisite(s): CMSC 27100 or CMSC 27130, or MATH 15900 or MATH 19900 or MATH 25500; experience with mathematical proofs.

CMSC 28400. Introduction to Cryptography. 100 Units.

Cryptography is the use of algorithms to protect information from adversaries. Though its origins are ancient, cryptography now underlies everyday technologies including the Internet, wifi, cell phones, payment systems, and more. This course is an introduction to the design and analysis of cryptography, primarily from a theoretical perspective. It will cover how cryptography works, how security goals are formalized and analyzed theoretically, and the relationships between various cryptographic tasks. Topics will include symmetric encryption (aka: secret-key encryption), pseudorandomness, message authentication codes, collision-resistant hashing, asymmetric encryption (aka: public-key encryption), and digital signatures. We assume some background in discrete mathematics (e.g., the basics of discrete probability, counting, and modular arithmetic) and algorithms (e.g., big-O notation). We do not assume any prior knowledge of computer security, cryptography, or advanced mathematics. Problem sets will include writing proofs and will require applying the (many) new definitions and techniques that will be introduced over the course of the quarter. There may be a small number of assignments with a programming component.

Prerequisite(s): (CMSC 12200 or CMSC 14100 or CMSC 15200 or CMSC 16200) and ((CMSC 27200 or CMSC 27230 or CMSC 37000) or ((MATH 20300 or MATH 20310 or MATH 20320 or MATH 20700) and (MATH 25400 or MATH 25700)))

CMSC 28510. Introduction to Scientific Computing. 100 Units.

Basic processes of numerical computation are examined from both an experimental and theoretical point of view. This course deals with numerical linear algebra, approximation of functions, approximate integration and differentiation, Fourier transformation, solution of nonlinear equations, and the approximate solution of initial value problems for ordinary differential equations. We concentrate on a few widely used methods in each area covered.

Prerequisite(s): A year of calculus (MATH 15300 or higher), a quarter of linear algebra (MATH 19620 or higher), and CMSC 10600 or higher; or consent of instructor

CMSC 28515. Introduction to Numerical Partial Differential Equations. 100 Units.

This course deals with finite element and finite difference methods for second-order elliptic equations (diffusion) and the associated parabolic and hyperbolic equations. Some methods for solving linear algebraic systems will be used. Scalar first-order hyperbolic equations will be considered.

Prerequisite(s): A year of calculus (MATH 15300 or higher), a quarter of linear algebra (MATH 19620 or higher), CMSC 12200 or higher, and MATH 21100 or 21200 or CMSC 28510; or by consent.

CMSC 28540. Numerical Methods. 100 Units.

This is a practical programming course focused on the basic theory and efficient implementation of a broad sampling of common numerical methods. Each topic will be introduced conceptually followed by detailed exercises focused on both prototyping (using matlab) and programming the key foundational algorithms efficiently on modern (serial and multicore) architectures. The ideal student in this course would have a strong interest in the use of computer modeling as predictive tool in a range of discplines -- for example risk management, optimized engineering design, safety analysis, etc. The numerical methods studied in this course underlie the modeling and simulation of a huge range of physical and social phenomena, and are being put to increasing use to an increasing extent in industrial applications. After successfully completing this course, a student should have the necessary foundation to quickly gain expertise in any application-specific area of computer modeling.

Prerequisite(s): CMSC 15200 or CMSC 16200. Basic apprehension of calculus and linear algebra is essential

CMSC 29700. Reading and Research in Computer Science. 100 Units.

Students do reading and research in an area of computer science under the guidance of a faculty member. A written report is typically required.

Prerequisite(s): By consent of instructor and approval of department counselor.
Note(s): Open both to students who are majoring in Computer Science and to nonmajors. Students are required to submit the College Reading and Research Course Form.

CMSC 29900. Bachelor's Thesis. 100 Units.

Open to fourth-year students.

Prerequisite(s): By consent of instructor and approval of department counselor.