Instructor: Dr. Shaun D. Ramsey 
Email: sramsey2@washcoll.edu  (preferred contact method)
Phone: (410)810-7485 
Office: DUNN N102
Office Hours: Tu 1:30-2:20, W 2:30-3:30, F 11:30-12:20
  (or by drop-in / appointment)

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CSI 350 - Theory of Computation
Fall 2016
Website: http://shaunramsey.com/350
350-10 Classroom/Meetings: DUNN N103 10:30am
Text: Introducing the Theory of Computation by Wayne Goddard

Tentative Exam Dates: 9/23, 10/21, 11/18, final during finals week
Grade Breakdown: 
    Exam 1:		25%
    Exam 2:		25%
    Exam 3:		25%
     Final: 		25%


Overview and Advising: Theory of computation is the study in the
 fundamentals of computer science. A computer scientist should
 understand the notions of tractable, intractable and complexity
 before attempting to tackle any problem. By first examining simple
 languages and building up to higher and more complex languages, we
 develop a method of understanding complexity. By the end of the
 course, one should be able to identify different languages (and prove
 their classifications) and understand the limits of computability and
 complexity.


Suggestions: Get into a group and make sure to hack away at all the
 problem sets. That's where a lot of the true learning in the course
 will happen. Come to extra problem solving sessions that I hold!
 Solving problems is the best way to learn!


General Schedule:
 Week 1 FAs, REs,
 Week 2 NFAs, Properties/Closure
 Week 3 GNFA*, PL
 Week 4 PL, Review, Exam
 Week 5 CFG, PDA
 Week 6 Properties
 Week 7 CNF, PL
 Week 8 Review, Exam
 Week 9 TMs, Variations
Week 10 Properties, r and r.e.
Week 11 Diagonlization, Halting Problem
Week 12 Review, Exam
Week 13 Reduction
Week 14 P, NP, PSPACE, NPSPACE


Attendance: Attendance is mandatory in this course. On your sixth
absence, you automatically fail the course. As a matter of courtesy,
you are expected to notify Dr.  Ramsey before class describing the
reason of your absence. You must be present on the day of an exam or
you will receive a 0. There is no distinction between excused and
unexcused absences. It is quite likely that I will email you to
discuss the reasons you have missed the class, but it is ultimately
your duty to keep track of your absences and to contact me. Missing a
class may result in missed classwork and/or quizzes. There are no
make-up quizzes or classwork. It is your responsibility to obtain
assigned homework, announcements and class notes from a
classmate. Coming late to class will also count against you. In this
case, every two late arrivals (lates) count as an absence. Thus you
fail the course with 12 lates or 6 absences or any mix of the two that
add up to 6. Examples are: 2 lates and 5 absences, 4 lates and 4
absences, 6 lates and 3 absences, and so on.

Grading: Late assignments will be assessed a value of 0. 

Accommodations: If you have an accommodation that has been reported to
the college, please let me know as soon as possible so I can work to
meet your accommodation. You must notify me of any necessary
accommodation at least two weeks prior to the requirement.

Academic Honesty: You are always subject to the Honor Code of
Washington College.  Always sign the honor code on materials that you
hand in (including homework and exams). All work must be your own.
Exams: The final exam will be administered during its scheduled slot
during final exam week. An absence on the day of the exam will result
in a grade of 0. Except in cases of very extreme emergency, exams must
be taken on the day the exam is given. Before a make-up test is
scheduled, documentation of the extreme emergency must be
given. Make-up exams for tests missed due to an extreme emergency will
be arranged for a time that is mutually convenient for the student and
Dr. Ramsey.