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)
---------------------------------------- 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.