Home Page for CMSC651 Analysis of Algorithms, Fall 2012

CMSC651 Analysis of Algorithms, Fall 2012

Instructor: Aravind Srinivasan
Class Venue and Time: CSI 2120, TuTh 11-12:15

Administrative Details

Instructor: Aravind Srinivasan
Office: AVW 3263, Phone: 301-405-2695
Instructor's office Hours: Thu 2-4 PM in AVW 3263, or by appointment (please email Aravind)
Grader: Catalin Tiseanu (ctiseanu AT gmail)
Course Time and Location: Tue, Thu 11-12:15, CSIC 2120
Course Webpage: http://www.cs.umd.edu/class/fall2012/cmsc651/index.html

Acknowledgment. I thank Chandra Chekuri, Jeff Erickson, Sariel Har-Peled, and Samir Khuller for sharing their course resources with me.

Course Goals

Our primary goals are as follows:

Use the standard class-format to teach the basics of algorithms.
Expose the students (in the HWs and in class) to different models such as parallel, multi-core, online, and distributed computing, large data-sets & streaming data, and MapReduce-like programming models.
Foster independent and group-based learning via a semester-long reading and problem-solving project.
Encourage participation and the airing of ideas: 5% of the class credit will be for introducing oneself and having a technical discussion during office hours.

Topics, Schedule, and Online Resources

Please click here for a lecture-by-lecture schedule and online resources (notes and videos).

Grading, Homework, and Exams

The grading will be as follows -- students will form groups of typical size three for the first two items below:

Homework based on class material: 30%
Homework based on Hopcroft-Kannan book: 15%
Free discussion is strongly encouraged; students will receive 5% credit for coming to Aravind's office hours before the end of October to discuss class-related material.
Take-home mid-term: 20%

Will be given out Oct 22, due in class on Oct 25.
Will cover all topics covered up to (and including) the class on Oct 18th, as well as Chapter 2 of Hopcroft-Kannan.

In-class final exam, 8-10AM on Dec 13th in our classroom: 30%
- Covers all topics covered in class for the whole semester; material from Hopcroft-Kannan is not included.
- Update: For the final exam, you can bring your own notes plus all papers/notes posted in the class page or emailed to you. No other material will be allowed.
- Aravind will hold additional office hours 11AM-12 noon and 1-2PM on Dec 12th.

Homework 1, due at the beginning of class on Sept 18.
Homework 2, due at the beginning of class on Sept 27.
Homework 3, due at the beginning of class on Oct 9.
Homework 4, due at the beginning of class on Oct 18.
Mid-term exam, due by 11:59PM on Oct 25.
Homework 5: deadline extended to 10AM on Nov 19.
Homework based on Hopcroft-Kannan, due at the beginning of class on Dec 6.
Homework 6, due at the beginning of class on Dec 11.

Course Evaluation

Students are strongly encouraged to complete their course evaluations; please do so at the CourseEvalUM website.

Excused Absences

See the university's policy on medically-necessitated absence from class. The "Major Scheduled Grading Events" for this course are the mid-term and final exams; students claiming an excused absence from these events must apply in writing and furnish documentary support (such as from a health-care professional who treated the student) for any assertion that the absence qualifies as an excused absence. The support should explicitly indicate the dates or times the student was incapacitated due to illness. Self-documentation of illness is not itself sufficient support to excuse the absence. An instructor is not under obligation to offer a substitute assignment or to give a student a make-up assessment unless the failure to perform was due to an excused absence.

Academic Accommodations for Disabilities

Any student eligible for and requesting reasonable academic accommodations due to a disability is requested to provide, to the instructor in office hours, a letter of accommodation from the Office of Disability Support Services (DSS) within the first two weeks of the semester.

Academic Integrity

The University of Maryland, College Park has a nationally recognized Code of Academic Integrity, administered by the Student Honor Council. This Code sets standards for academic integrity at Maryland for all undergraduate and graduate students. As a student you are responsible for upholding these standards for this course. It is very important for you to be aware of the consequences of cheating, fabrication, facilitation, and plagiarism. For more information on the Code of Academic Integrity or the Student Honor Council, please visit http://www.studentconduct.umd.edu.

To further exhibit your commitment to academic integrity, remember to sign the Honor Pledge on all examinations and assignments: "I pledge on my honor that I have not given or received any unauthorized assistance on this examination (assignment)."

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