• Course Number: 01:198:452
  • Course Type: Undergraduate
  • Semester 1: Spring
  • Credits: 3
  • Description:

    To provide a rigorous mathematical framework for two general areas: that of language description and that of computation; to examine the relation between the two and to consider practical applications from Computer Science and Linguistics.  Computability theory and complexity theory are also introduced.  Students who plan to pursue a graduate degree incomputer science are strongly encouraged to take 01:198:452.

  • Prerequisite Information:

    01:198:344.

    - A grade below a "C" in a prerequisite course will not satisfy that prerequisite requirement.

  • Course Links: 01:198:344 - Design and Analysis of Computer Algorithms
  • Topics:

    Regular languages and automata
           Context-free languages and Pushdown Automata
           Turing Machines and Decidability
           Hierarchies and properties of language families
           Computational Complexity Theory

  • Expected Work: weekly homework
  • Exams: 1 midterm and a final exam
  • Learning Goals:

    Computer Science majors ...

    • will be prepared to contribute to a rapidly changing field by acquiring a thorough grounding in the core principles and foundations of computer science (e.g., techniques of program design, creation, and testing; key aspects of computer hardware; algorithmic principles).
    • will acquire a deeper understanding on (elective) topics of more specialized interest, and be able to critically review, assess, and communicate current developments in the field.
    • will be prepared for the next step in their careers, for example, by having done a research project (for those headed to graduate school), a programming project (for those going into the software industry), or some sort of business plan (for those going into startups).