CS 420 Intro to Theory of Computation
Fall 2016 Syllabus
Class time & room:
Class website:
Instructor:
TTh 2PM-3:15PM (CS420-2, M01-0209), 4PM-5:15PM (CS420-1, M03-0617)
http://www.cs.umb.edu/~duc/www/teaching/cs420/
Prof. Duc A. Tran ([email protected], S-3-176, office hours: TThu 5:30PM-7PM;
email is the best way to reach me)
Topics
CS 420 is an introductory course covering the key concepts and theorems of the theory of computation. It is
intended for upper-level undergraduate students. The tentative list of topics is as follows:
• Automata and Language Theory
o Finite automata, regular expressions, push-down automata, context free grammars, pumping
lemmas.
• Computability Theory
o Turing machines, Church-Turing thesis, decidability, halting problem, reducibility.
• Complexity Theory
o Time complexity (measuring complexity, P, NP, NP-completeness)
Prerequisites
•
•
CS320 Discrete Mathematics
Important note: You need a good understanding of the mathematical concepts of theorem and proof.
Textbook
• Introduction to Theory of Computation by Michael Sipser, 3rd edition.
Grading
•
•
•
•
•
The final grade will be given primarily based on the scores on three tests and a final exam. All the
tests and final exam are closed-“everything”, no book, no note, no calculator, no
computing/communication device allowed during the exam; just bring your pencil/pen.
o Test 1 (20% of final grade): Cover topics up to the last lecture before Test 1.
o Test 2 (25% of final grade): Cover topics after Test 1 to the last lecture before Test 2.
o Test 3 (25% of final grade): Cover topics after Test 2 to the last lecture before Test 3.
o Final (30% of final grade): Cumulative, cover all topics from the beginning of the class.
There is no homework, but the problem sets for the 3 tests will be taken from the textbook, and so you
should see the importance of doing as many exercises in the textbook as possible. You should visit
my office if you need my help with these exercises and of course other class-related matters.
The final exam may or may not take problems/questions from the textbook.
No exam makeup is allowed unless the student presents a justifiable reason for missing the scheduled
exam (e.g., notes from doctor in case of illness).
Attendance policy: Phone/tablet/laptop is NOT allowed during class session.
Note: Letter grades are assigned at the end of the course following the guideline below
Threshold (%)
Letter grade (undergrad students)
Letter grade (graduate students)
93
A
A
90
AA-
87
B+
B+
83
B
B
80
BB-
77
C+
C+
73
C
C
70
CC-
67
D+
F
63
D
F
60 <60
D- F
F
F
Important Dates
Sep 6 (Tue)
Sep 22 (Thu)
Oct 13 (Thu)
Nov 17 (Thu)
Dec 13 (Tue)
Dec 16-22 is final exam week. Exact date to be seen on wiser
Class begins
Test 1
Test 2
Test 3
Last class
Final Exam
Accommodations
Section 504 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 offers guidelines for curriculum modifications and
adaptations for students with documented disabilities. If applicable, students may obtain adaptation
recommendations from the Ross Center for Disability Services, M-1-401, (617-287-7430). The student must
present these recommendations and discuss them with each professor within a reasonable period, preferably by
the end of Drop/Add period.
Student Conduct
Students are required to adhere to the University Policy on Academic Standards and Cheating, to the University
Statement on Plagiarism and the Documentation of Written Work, and to the Code of Student Conduct as
delineated in the catalog of Undergraduate Programs, pp. 44-45, and 48-52. The Code is available online at:
http://www.umb.edu/student_services/student_rights/code_conduct.html
Additional information
My emails to the class will be sent from the WISER system so make sure that your email address is set up
correctly with WISER. You should visit the website regularly for other information including latest
announcements about the class.