CMSC 858K --- Introduction to Cryptography (graduate level)
Spring 2007
Course Outline
This course will be an introductory graduate-level course in theoretical cryptography with a
focus on definitions, foundations, and rigorous proofs of security.
The first 2/3 of the course (roughly) will focus on core topics in modern cryptography including: private-key encryption, message authentication, basic number theory, public-key encryption, and digital signatures.
The remaining 1/3 of the course will focus on advanced topics to be determined.
No previous knowledge of cryptography will be assumed.
However, I do assume mathematical maturity and a certain level of comfort with proofs.
There is no assigned textbook for the course. To get a feel for the type of material that will be covered, it may help to look at the lecture notes for my undergraduate crypto course or my advanced graduate crypto course. This course will be roughly on the level of the latter course, but the topics covered will be more along the lines of what was taught in the former course.
As relevant, I will hand out (in class) sections of the book Introduction to Modern Cryptography that I am writing with Yehuda Lindell. While the material we cover will be slightly more advanced at times, the selections from the book should still prove helpful. I will greatly appreciate any feedback about the book, not just typos (though those are welcome too) but also comments about the organization of the book, additional topics you would like to see covered, and requests for further clarification.
General Information
- Instructor: Jonathan Katz (jkatz AT cs). Office: 3225 AV Williams. Office hours: by appointment.
- Teaching Assistant: none
- The class meets Tuesday and Thursday from 11:00 - 12:15 in CSIC 3118.
- Grading will be based on a midterm exam, a final exam, attendance and class participation, and periodic homework assignments.
- Homeworks
- You may collaborate on the homeworks with other students, but every student must write up and understand their own solutions. Also, you should list everyone you work with on your homework submission.
- You may consult outside references, but you must reference any source you consult. Also, you must write up the solution yourself and understand the answer.
- The midterm will be March 15 (the Thursday before spring break), in class. It will cover all the material
up through and including the lecture on March 1.
Homeworks