Computer Science Course Descriptions for Spring of 2001

CMPSCI 102: Computers and Society (R2)

Professor: Spinelli

There are three principal components to this course: 1) what computers are, 2) how they are used in society, and 3) how their use affects society. In the first part we explore the origin of computers and the historical, economic, and scientific forces that brought them into existence. We also study the essential hardware components that make up a computer and we learn the basic software methods of programming using the JavaScript language. In the second part, usage of computers by business in the office and in factory automation, by the professions such as medicine, and by artists and scientists is covered; special attention is given to the advent of the Information Super Highway, how to use it and how it can benefit individual users. Finally the economic and socio-political impact that computers are having on society and on the individual are discussed; these issues range from questions of privacy to the impact of robots in the factory, to the use of computers in political action. The primary aim of the course is to impart sufficient computer literacy to enable the student to 1) write simple, but non-trivial programs, 2) make use of and benefit from available computer facilities, and 3) understand why computers have become such a powerful force in the modern society. Pre-Registration not available to majors and pre-majors. 3 credits.

CMPSCI 102: Computers and Society (R2)

Professor: Spinelli

There are three principal components to this course: 1) what computers are, 2) how they are used in society, and 3) how their use affects society. In the first part we explore the origin of computers and the historical, economic, and scientific forces that brought them into existence. We also study the essential hardware components that make up a computer and we learn the basic software methods of programming using the JavaScript language. In the second part, usage of computers by business in the office and in factory automation, by the professions such as medicine, and by artists and scientists is covered; special attention is given to the advent of the Information Super Highway, how to use it and how it can benefit individual users. Finally the economic and socio-political impact that computers are having on society and on the individual are discussed; these issues range from questions of privacy to the impact of robots in the factory, to the use of computers in political action. The primary aim of the course is to impart sufficient computer literacy to enable the student to 1) write simple, but non-trivial programs, 2) make use of and benefit from available computer facilities, and 3) understand why computers have become such a powerful forcein the modern society. Pre-Registration not available to majors and pre-majors. 3 credits.

CMPSCI 105: Computer Literacy (R2)

Professor: Verts

Microcomputers are now used widely not only in academia but in all areas of modern life. For this reason it's important that all students understand how computers work and how computers can be used as a problem-solving tool. The focus of this course is on computer applications. The course stresses the ways in which computers can help you solve problems efficiently and effectively. The course provides a broad introduction to hardware and software aspects of microcomputers. Then four application areas are discussed: word processing, spreadsheets, databases and telecommunications (access to the Internet). The course uses the university's microcomputer labs, and weekly 90 minute lab sessions are an integral part of the course. Students who are more interested in computer programming should take CMPSCI 121 or 187. Prerequisites: reasonable high school math skills. Typing ability is also an important asset for the course. Previous computer experience is not expected. Pre-registration is not available to majors and pre-majors. 3 credits.

CMPSCI 105C: Computer Literacy (R2)

Professor: Verts

CMPSCI 105V: Computer Literacy (R2)

Professor: Verts

CMPSCI 105X: Computer Literacy (R2)

Professor: Verts

CMPSCI 105Z: Computer Literacy

Professor:

CMPSCI 120: Introduction to Problem Solving with the Internet

Professor: Lehnert

The Internet is a goldmine of information and software resources for those who know how to plug in and navigate it. Originally designed by computer scientists for computer scientists, the net is now a driving force behind life in the information age and a new global economy. This course will provide non-CMPSCI majors with timely skills needed to tap the net. We will cover Web browser features, e-mail management, Web page design, software downloads, strategies for finding information and virtual communities, and public key cryptography. In addition, we will survey key social and political topics that are relevant to the Internet, such as copyright laws, First Amendment issues, privacy in a digital world, and the culture of the Internet. Prerequisites: some hands-on experience with PCs or MACs or UNIX (programming experience is NOT required). CMPSCI majors and pre-majors may not pre-register. 3 credits.

CMPSCI 120H: Introduction to Problem Solving with the Internet

Professor: Lehnert

See Description CMPSCI 120. Honors students will use the tools of the Internet to perform in-depth research on several topics, some selected by the students and some jointly with the professor. Students will keep a journal of web sites visited during their research, along with notes concerning their contents and applicability to the topics being researched. Project reports will be presented in class by the students, as well as submitted to the professor (along with the research journal). Project topics relate to the Internet and computing, and include but are not limited to the interactions of the Internet with the law and law enforcement, the First Amendment, national and international commerce, digital libraries, political institutions, effects of the Internet on countries in various parts of the world, the notion of the "global village", etc. Prerequisites: some hands-on experience with PCs or MACs or UNIX (programming experience is NOT required). CMPSCI majors and pre-majors may not pre-register. 3 credits.

CMPSCI 121: Introduction to Problem Solving with Computers (R2)

Professor: Lehnert

An introductory course in problem solving and computer programming using the programming language Java. The course focuses on the fundamental concepts of problem solving and the techniques associated with the development of algorithms and their implementation as computer programs. This course or its equivalent is required for all additional courses in CMPSCI. Three hours of lecture/recitation per week. About 6 programming problems are assigned. In addition there are assigned homework problems, a midterm exam and a final. No computer science prerequisite, although high school algebra and basic math skills (e.g. R1) are assumed and previous experience with computers and even with programming in some language is useful. Use of computer is required. 3 credits.

CMPSCI 145: Representing, Storing, and Retrieving Information

Professor: Verts

An introductory course in the use of data in computer systems, intended to become a core course for the proposed Information Technology certificate. Formats for representing text, sound, images, etc., as strings of bits. Basic information theory, use and limitations of file compression. Structured databases and how to use them. Information retrieval in heterogenous environments such as the Web. XML as a language for defining new formats for representing data. Prerequisites: "Basic computer literacy", i.e., user-level familiarity with a modern operating system and some experience with application programs. Tier I math skills. Recommended for First Year and Sophomore Non-Majors. 3 credits.

CMPSCI 187: Programming with Data Structures (R2)

Professor: Jonsson, Hanson

The course introduces and develops methods for designing and implementing abstract data types, using the Java programming language. The main focus is on how to build and encapsulate data objects and their associated operations. Specific topics includelinked structures, recursive structures and algorithms, binary trees, balanced trees, and hash tables. There will be weekly assignments, consisting of programming and written exercises, a midterm, and a final exam. Prerequisites: CMPSCI 121 (or equivalent-not necessarily in Java) and Basic Math Skills (R1). Basic Java language concepts are introduced quickly. Prior experience with an object-oriented language is very helpful; if unsure of background, contact instructor. 4 credits.

CMPSCI 187D: Programming with Data Structures

Professor: Hanson

CMPSCI 192S: Seminar - Undergraduate Colloquium

Professor: Wileden

Presentations from a variety of computer science faculty, students, and staff, targeted to first-year and second-year undergraduates but open to all. Topics may include introductions to areas of research or any other topics of general interest. Registered students must attend at least eight of the ten sessions and write 1-2 page reaction papers on three of them. 1 credit (may be repeated for credit).

CMPSCI 196A: Independent Study - TA for CMPSCI 120 Problem Solving with the Internet

Professor: Lehnert

To support CMPSCI 120 students in the Edlab. Planned activities include three hours/week in person plus email and help grading student assignments. Reliability, availability, and weekly reports are the criteria for evaluation. 3 credits.

CMPSCI 201: Architecture and Assembly Language (E)

Professor: Graham

Lecture, discussion, lab. The architecture and machine-level operations of modern computers at the logic, component, and system levels. Topics include integer, scaled, and floating point binary arithmetic; Boolean algebra and logic gates; control, arithmetic-logic, and pipeline units; addressing modes; cache, primary, and virtual memory; system buses; input-output and interrupts. Simple assembly language for a modern embedded processor is used to explore how common computational tasks are accomplished by a computer. Two lectures, one discussion, and one lab session per week. Laboratory exercises, homework exercises, two midterm exams, a final exam, several in-class quizzes and exercises. Prerequisite: CMPSCI 187, ECE 242, or equivalent. 4 credits.

CMPSCI 250: Introduction to Computation (E)

Professor: Barrington

Lecture, discussion. Basic concepts of discrete mathematics useful to computer science: set theory, strings and formal languages, propositional and predicate calculus, relations and functions, basic number theory. Induction and recursion: interplay of inductive definition, inductive proof, and recursive algorithms. Elementary combinatorics. Basic graph theory. Finite-state machines, regular languages, nondeterministic finite automata, Kleene's Theorem. Problem sets, 2-3 midterm exams, timed final. Corequisite: MATH 132/136 or equivalent. Prerequisite: CMPSCI 187 or equivalent. 4 credits.

CMPSCI 287: Programming Language Paradigms

Professor: Moll

Lecture, discussion, programming projects, lab. Programming language paradigms provide a basic philosophy to support the construction of reliable large-scale systems. This course discusses four such paradigms. In the functional paradigm, software is constructed in such a way as to minimize the use of side-effects, thereby simplifying the conceptual structure of programs and making them easier to analyze and understand. The logic paradigm supports the development of software in which the concept of relation (e.g. a relation between people) is more important than the concept of function. In the imperative paradigm we are concerned with principled ways in which software that is state-dependent can be constructed. Finally, in the object-oriented paradigm we are concerned with combining data with code to create "objects" which exhibit behavior. Prerequisite: CMPSCI 187. Corequisites: CMPSCI 250 and MATH 132. 4 credits.

CMPSCI 305: Social Issues in Computing

Professor: Moll, Constantine

Designed to satisfy the Junior Year writing requirement, CMPSCI 305 introduces the student to technical writing and editing, scientific journalism and the social essay. The course combines practical, scientific writing as found in industry and businesswith explorative essays that focus attention upon the technological and humanistic concerns inherent in society. Ten written assignments-two longer papers, eight shorter ones and one oral presentation. 3 credits.

CMPSCI 311: Introduction to Algorithms

Professor: Rissland

This course will introduce you to algorithms in a variety of areas of interest, such as sorting, searching, string-processing, and graph algorithms. You will learn to study the performance of various algorithms within a formal, mathematical framework. There will be a few programming assignments as well to help you relate the empirical performance of an algorthim to theoretical predictions. Mathematical experience (as provided by CMPSCI 250) is required. You should also be able to program in Pascalor C (or some other closely related language). 4 credits.

CMPSCI 320: Introduction to Software Engineering

Professor: Osterweil

In this course, students learn and gain practical experience with software engineering principles and techniques. The practical experience centers on a semester-long team project in which a software development project is carried through all the stagesof the software life cycle. Topics in this course include requirements analysis, specification, design, abstraction, programming style, testing, maintenance, and software project management. Particular emphasis is placed on designing and developing maintainable software and on the use of object-oriented techniques throughout the software lifecycle. Use of computer required. Two exams, several homeworks, major term project. Prerequisite: CMPSCI 287. 4 credits.

CMPSCI 377: Operating Systems

Professor: Andras Moritz

In this course we examine the important problems in operating system design and implementation. The operating system provides a well-known, convenient, and efficient interface between user programs and the bare hardware of the computer on which they run. The operating system is responsible for allowing resources (e.g., disks, networks, and processors) to be shared, providing common services needed by many different programs (e.g., file service, the ability to start or stop processes, and access to the printer), and protecting individual programs from one another. The course will start with a brief historical perspective of the evolution of operating systems over the last fifty years, and then cover the major components of most operating systems. This discussion will cover the tradeoffs that can be made between performance and functionality during the design and implementation of an operating system. Particular emphasis will be given to three major OS subsystems: process management (processes, threads, CPU scheduling, synchronization, and deadlock), memory management (segmentation, paging, swapping), file systems, and operating system support for distributed systems. Assignments: 3 labs in Java, 3 exams, 6 or more written homeworks. Prerequisites: CMPSCI 187, CMPSCI 201. 4 credits.

CMPSCI 383: Artificial Intelligence

Professor: Barto

Introduction to techniques for building intelligent machines. This course will consider a progression of intelligent machines, or "agents", each more sophisticated in its capabilities than its predecessor. Beginning with simple stimulus-response agents, we will discuss elements of computer vision, machine learning and evolutionary computation. Then we will progress to machines that can solve problems and plan using state-space representations and heuristic search methods, that can represent knowledge and reason logically, and that can cope with uncertainty. We conclude with a look at systems consisting of multiple intelligent agents. Prerequisites: CMPSCI 250, CMPSCI 287. 3 credits.

CMPSCI 391F: Seminar - HTML for Poets

Professor: Spinelli

An exploration of the Hyper Text Markup Language and its philosophical implications for Society in the New Millennium. Java Script will also be discussed. Students cannot receive credit for both this course and CMPSCI 591x Seminar-HTML for Poets. 3 credits.

CMPSCI 396A: Independent Study - Debugging and Consulting

Professor: Spinelli

In this course we teach students how to consult on topics involving E-mail, e.g., Pine or Goldmail or Mail; Operating Systems such as Unix; Editors such as Pico; one computer language: JavaScript; and most of HTML. Necessary skills on how to debug Home Pages written in HTML and simple but non trivial programs written in JavaScript are also acquired. Consultants are required to attend all weekly meetings [mandatory], consult with CMPSCI 102 students to review basic concepts and help debug programs [2hrs minimum weekly at a terminal]. Consultants are also required to grade programming assignments [6 for each student]. In general each consultant will be responsible for no less than 6 students. May not be repeated for credit more than twice. 3 credits.

CMPSCI 396B: Independent Study - TA for CMPSCI 391F Seminar - HTML for Poets

Professor: Spinelli

In the CMPSCI 391F seminar "HTML for Poets" we cover HTML in the first half, and Javascript during the second half. HTML, Javascript, and Java, form an extremely powerful trio of platform independent languages that allow practically anyone to propagateideas, create business and retrieve massive amounts of information from the World Wide Web through the creation of Web sites and the use of Web browsers. Throughout the seminar HTML and Javascript are taught as tools to implement elements of design to realize web sites whose content needs to be communicated in a professional and appealing way. Possible political and philosophical consequences are also discussed. Students are required to use HTML and Javascript constructs learned in the seminar to create/improve a Web page of their own. Students are also required to review a professional Web site each week and analyze its content, form, appeal and tools used in its construction. A final project is also required. A large number of working examplesare posted on the Web for student perusal. TAs for the Seminar must know and be able to explain the following material: Intro: Overview of the World Wide Web, Browsers and Servers. Basic HTML: Distributing Information with HTML, building blocks of HTML, creating an HTML document, linking HTML documents, graphics and Images. Advanced HTML: Client-side Imagemaps, Tables and Math, Frames, Embedded objects, Sound, MIDI, Animation, Forms and CGI scripts, Dynamic documents. Javascript: Javascript as an event driven, object-based, scripting language. Javascript versus Java. Events and event handlers. Programming basics: Variables, identifiers, types, scope of variables. Expressions, operators: arithmetic, string, logical, assignment, comparison. Statements: variable declaration, comments, conditional statements, loops, object manipulation, Functions. Objects: Objects, classes, inheritance. Objects built in Javascript: navigator, location, buttons, reset, select, submit, text and more. Arrays:built in Arrays, creating Arrays and filling them with data. Methods, properties and functions: math methods, string methods, date, window methods, blur, focus, select and more. Knowledge of Unix and mail filters is also required. 3 credits.

CMPSCI 401: Formal Language Theory

Professor: Adler

The mathematical classification of computational problems as solvable or unsolvable, and as easy or difficult. Review of finite state machines and regular languages. Introduction to context-free languages and pushdown automata. General models of computation, provably unsolvable problems. Resource-bounded computation, the classes P and NP, further topics in complexity theory such as space complexity. Problem sets, midterm, final, some group activities. Prerequisites: CMPSCI 250 and 311 or permission of instructor. 3 credits.

CMPSCI 453: Computer Networks

Professor: Levine, Shapiro

This course provides an introduction to fundamental concepts in the design and implementation of computer communication networks, their protocols, and applications. Topics to be covered include: layered network architectures, applications, network programming interfaces (e.g., sockets), transport, congestion, routing, and data link protocols, local area networks, emerging high-speed networks, network management, and network security. Examples will be drawn primarily from the Internet (e.g., TCP, UDP, and IP) protocol suite. There will be written assignments, programming assignments (in C), one midterm, and a final exam. Prerequisites: A rudimentary understanding of computer architecture and operating systems, while not required, would be helpful. 3 credits.

CMPSCI 496A: Independent Study - System Building Research

Professor: ** Section Deleted

This course is a set up for a very small number of undergraduates to work cooperatively on an existing systems building research project, Amherst Distributed Reality. ADR is an open-source, java-based API for supporting collaborative virtual environments and related group-communication applications. Students will help build one of the core networking architecture, authoring tools, VRML worlds, or new applications based on the API. There are also roles involving software engineering and technical writing. Familiarity with object-oriented programming, threads, network programming, and java are pre-requisites. Students will be evaluated on their contribution to the system code, homework assignments, write-ups, and short presentations to the group. 3credits.

CMPSCI 496B: Independent Study - Undergraduate Research in Computer Networks

Professor: Levine

This course is the second semester of an undergraduate research course. Students in this study will work together on a research team to investigate the effectiveness of using caches to reduce the bandwidth used by peer-to-peer distributed file sytems.The students will complete this course with a final report and submit their results to a computer research conference. 3 credits.

CMPSCI 515: Introduction to Computer and Network Security

Professor: Levine

This course provides an introduction to the principles and practice of system and network security. A focus on both fundamentals and practical information will be stressed. The three key topics of this course are cryptography, system security, and network security. Subtopics include number theory, ciphers, hashes, key exchange, security services (integrity, availability, confidentiality, etc.), security attacks, vulnerabilities, exploits, countermeasures, and applications of security techniques for new services. Students will make extensiveuse of a lab for experimenting with security attacks and countermeasures. Grades will be determined by class participation, lab work, homework, and exams. Prerequisites include 377 and 453 (or 591E) and a familiarity with Unix. Co-taught with Chris Misra and Jake Cunningham of OIT. 3 credits.

CMPSCI 520: Software Engineering: Synthesis and Development

Professor: Osterweil

Software Engineering I: This course introduces students to the principal activities involved in developing high-quality software systems. The course stresses the use of defined, systematic processes in the creation of carefully defined and engineered software products. Among the topics covered are requirements analysis, software architecture, formal specification methods, process definition, software design methods, and test planning. Issues specific to the development of software by teams and groups will also be addressed. Students will be required to read selected papers from the literature and complete homework projects. This course focuses on synthesis activities and complements CMPSCI 521, which focuses on software analysis techniques. Students are encouraged to take both courses but may take either course independently. Students who sign up for 620 will be expected to do more comprehensive projects than those who sign up for 520. Prerequisites: CMPSCI 320 or consent of instructor. 3credits.

CMPSCI 520X: Software Engineering: Synthesis and Development

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CMPSCI 521X: Software Engineering: Analysis and Evaluation

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CMPSCI 530: Programming Languages

Professor: Wileden

This course uses a detailed examination of the Java and ML programming languages as a basis for studying fundamental principles underlying the design and implementation of modern programming languages. We address a wide range of programming language concepts and issues from both a practical and a theoretical perspective. Some attention is given to such traditional topics as control constructs, type systems and type checking, since these are the foundations for all subsequent developments. The bulk of the course, however, is devoted to more contemporary language features such as object orientation, modularity, polymorphism and concurrency. Our study of both traditional topics and contemporary features is driven by first exploring their realization in Java and ML, then comparing and contrasting with the realizations found in other modern languages such as C++, C#, Ada 95, CLOS and Modula-3. In addition, we consider some emerging concepts and directions for programming languages such as orthogonal persistence, reflection, interoperability and open implementation. While the predominant paradigm for contemporary programming languages -- the imperative, object-oriented paradigm -- is our primary focus, and the functional paradigm is our secondary focus, other paradigms such as the logic programming paradigm are also discussed. Homework problems, programming exercises and projects reinforce the material covered in lectures and readings. Prerequisites: CMPSCI 287, 320 and 377. Corequisite: CMPSCI401. Honors module when requested. 3 credits.

CMPSCI 530X: Programming Languages

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CMPSCI 551: Three-Dimensional Animation and Digital Editing

Professor: Woolf

This seminar is dedicated to the production of high quality 3-dimensional computer animation using graphics technology. For example, color 3-D objects are defined and manipulated, digitized images created and altered, and photo-realistic effects and animated sequences produced. Techniques are used to bend and twist shapes around objects or lines, to provide a variety of light and texture, and to trace over images including digitized pictures. The course is directed at production of an informative and approachable video of a ten minute 3-dimensional animated piece. Using computer-generated graphical analogies as well as cartoon caricature, the video is designed to educate and entertain. 3 credits.

CMPSCI 552: Interactive Multimedia Production

Professor: Woolf

This course explores the potential of high quality interactive authoring tools to develop presentation and training systems. Programming languages within professional presentation and editing packages will be used to create systems capable of presenting graphics, animation, text, sound and music, based on the users requests. Students will learn how to define and manipulate classical techniques such as storyboarding, staging, and interactivity. The course will concentrate on state-of-the-art multimedia composition and presentation techniques and developing small individual projects. Prerequisite: CMPSCI 551 (591x) - 3D Computer Animation and Digital Editing. Permission of the instructor required; contact: Beverly Woolf 545-4265. 3 credits.

CMPSCI 553: Interactive Web Animation

Professor: Woolf

This course teaches basic animation for the Web, interactivity, color theory, design, action scripting, and transitions. Students maintain their own web sites and submit projects every 2 weeks in Flash. Individual as well as, a final project are required. Knowledge of basic Web development, e.g., HTML, Java Script. Prerequisite: CMPSCI 391F; CMPSCI 551 and CMPSCI 552 preferred. Permission of instructor is required. 3 credits.

CMPSCI 554: Multimedia Production Management

Professor: Woolf

This course involves developing a large group 3D animation, beginning with a storyboard, developing models, lighting, background, sound and music. It involves team management, group dynamics, and production techniques. The final project will be demonstrated on the last day of class, to over 100 people. Prerequisite: CMPSCI 551. Permission of instructor is required. 3 credits.

CMPSCI 575: Combinatorics and Graph Theory

Professor: Moll

This course is a basic introduction to combinatorics and graph theory for advanced undergraduates in computer science, mathematics and related fields. Topics covered include: elements of graph theory; Euler and Hamiltonian circuits; graph coloring; matching; basic counting methods; generating functions; recurrences; inclusion-exclusion; and Polya's theory of counting. Prerequisites: mathematical maturity; calculus; linear algebra; strong performance in some discrete mathematics class, such as CMPSCI250 or MATH 455. Modern Algebra - MATH 411 - is helpful but not required. 3 credits.

CMPSCI 589: Machine Learning

Professor: Utgoff

This course introduces methods that permit machines to learn. These methods make it possible to build programs that acquire the ability to perform tasks of interest. The course starts with fundamental notions of capturing and exploiting regularity. A variety of single-step prediction methods are presented, including decision tree induction, cover generation, candidate elimination, Bayesian learning, least-mean-squares fitting, instance-based learning, neural networks, and inductive logic programming.Computational learning theory and learnability are introduced. Then the course introduces multi-step methods and their application to problem solving tasks. A variety of multi-step prediction methods are presented, including reinforcement learning, apprentice learning, condition-action rule learning, macro learning, and explanation-based learning. Required work consists of readings from the text and the literature, written homeworks and programs, and a final exam. Prerequisite: CMPSCI 383. The graduate version; CMPSCI 689 has greater homework requirements. 3 credits.

CMPSCI 591F: Seminar - Software Engineering Management Practicum

Professor: ** Section Deleted

The purpose of this course is to provide students with practical experience in the management of software development projects. Students in this course will gain this experience by serving as software development team technical managers for teams of software engineering students in CMPSCI 320. As software development team managers, the students in CMPSCI 591F will be responsible for: supervising and managing the work of teams of CMPSCI 320 students; interfacing with the other CMPSCI 591F students managing other teams in the course; interfacing with the course instructor, course TA, and course customer. CMPSCI 591F students will be assigned readings in software engineering project management to provide a theoretical basis for their work in this course. But the majority of work in the course will be related to the actual management of assigned development teams. As team managers, CMPSCI 591F students will set goals and schedules for their teams, track and report team progress, negotiate with leaders of other teams and the course customer, and evaluate the work of members of their teams. CMPSCI 591F course assignments may include: written team goals, plans and schedules; periodic reports on team progress; documentation of agreements reached with other team leaders and customers; evaluations of the applicability of theoretical papers to the work of this course. This course will meet at the same times and places as CMPSCI 320, namely Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11:15-12:30 in LGRC A205, and Mondays 4:40-5:30 in LGRC A203. Additional meetings with team members and other students in CMPSCI 591F are also expected to be arranged by mutual agreement. Enrollment in this course is only by permission of the instructor, and is restricted to students who have previously taken CMPSCI 320, and received a grade of A or AB. 3 credits.

CMPSCI 591O: Seminar - Character Animation

Professor: Woolf

This class focuses exclusively on character animation techniques. The goal is to attain proficiency in modeling, texturing and animation. Modeling topics include character modeling and bones, designing joints and creating chains with constraints for easy animation, facial modelling and lip sync, designing faces with economical splinage to simplify facial animation, breaking down voice tracks into phonemes and animating facial and body language to match the track. Animation topics include action andpose, timing, overlap, pacing, and simulating and exaggerating physical laws. Student will create their own final project or work in a small team. Prerequisites: CMPSCI 551 (591x)--3D Animation and Digital Editing or equivalent experience and a personal computer. 3 credits.

CMPSCI 591T: Seminar - Introduction to Algorithmics

Professor: Rosenberg

This course will introduce the methodology and "culture" of algorithmic reasoning and techniques of analysis. The specific topics to be covered and the method of covering them will be geared to the needs of the enrollees. 3 credits.

CMPSCI 596A: Independent Study - TA for CMPSCI 551 3D Animation

Professor: Woolf

TAs are responsible for developing student assignments weekly and for group grading assignments every two weeks. They typically give one lecture per semester and also spend 6 hours/week in the Animation Lab assisting students. TAs setup and maintain hardware and software needed for lectures - 3 or 4 commercial graphics packages. TAs take a lead role in the final course production, a group effort of 6-8 weeks work. Each TA manages 4-5 students organized in groups for 1) character animation, 2) lighting, 3) special effects, 4) surfaces, and 5) editing. The TA creates weekly tasks for each student in his/her group and makes sure that the work is complete and passed along to the next group on time. 3 credits.

CMPSCI 596B: Independent Study - TA for CMPSCI 552 Interactive Multimedia Production

Professor: Woolf

TAs are responsible for developing student assignments weekly and for group grading of assignments every two weeks. They typically give one lecture per semester, plus spend 6 hours/week in the Animation Lab assisting students. Setup/maintain hardware and software needed for lectures - 1 or 2 commercial graphics packages in addition to Director. Also setup and maintain an internet site into which students put their class assignments. Work with students on individual Director final projects; maintaincommuniction between 12-15 students, intstructors and TAs. 3 credits.

CMPSCI 596C: Independent Study - TA for CMPSCI 591O Seminar-Character Animation

Professor: Woolf

TAs are responsible for providing assistance to the instructor and students of CMPSCI 591O Seminar-Character Animation. Activities will include critiquing students work and providing useful feedback. Grading the class projects and homework assignments, and spending at least 6 hours each week in the laboratory to help the students with their daily work for the class. Evaluation will be done by the instructor based upon the quality of assistance to the students, attendance at the lectures and hours spent in the animation laboratory. Grading will also be based on advanced projects by the student and presented at the end of the semester. 3 credits.

CMPSCI 601: Computation Theory

Professor: Immerman

An in-depth introduction to the main models and concepts of the mathematical theory of computation, including: Computability: What problems can be solved in principle? How might you prove that a problem can't be solved? Complexity: What problems can be solved within given resource constraints? How do constraints on different resources (e.g., time, space, or parallel time) relate? Logic: What are the best ways to formally specify a problem, and how do these specifications relate to the difficulty of the problem? Text: Papadimitriou, "Computational Complexity". Prerequisites: Undergraduate-level courses in discrete mathematics (e.g., CMPSCI 250) and analysis of algorithms (e.g., CMPSCI 311 or better yet 611), plus additional mathematical maturity (e.g., CMPSCI 611, A's in 250 or 311, or other mathematical background). Previous background in formal languages (e.g., CMPSCI 401) is quite desirable. Course requirements: eight problem sets, timed midterm and final. Also open to qualified undergraduates. 3 credits.

CMPSCI 601X: Computation Theory

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CMPSCI 603: Robotics

Professor: Grupen

In addtion to traditions rooted in mechanics and dynamics, geometrical reasoning, and artificial intelligence, the study of robot systems is growing to include many issues traditionally part of the computing sciences; distributed and adaptive control, architecture, software engineering, real-time systems, information processing and learning. In robotics, processing and its relationship to mechanical function are dependent on the target platform and the world in which it is situated. Designing an embedded computational system for sensory and motor processes requires that designers appreciate and understand all of these disciplines. This course is concerned with the design and analysis of adaptive, closed-loop physical systems. The focus will be sensory and motor systems that interpret and manipulate their environments. Toward this end, we will study mechanisms (kinematics and dynamics), actuators, sensors (with a focus on active vision), signal processing, associative memory, feedback control theory, supervised and unsupervised learning, and task planning. Interesting examples of integrated sensory, motor, and computational systems can be found in nature, so occassionally we will relate the subject matter to biological systems. Students willexperiment with system identification and control, image processing, path planning, and learning on simulated platforms to reinforce the material presented in class. 3 credits.

CMPSCI 620: Advanced Software Engineering: Synthesis and Development

Professor: Osterweil

Software Engineering I: This course introduces students to the principal activities involved in developing high-quality software systems. The course stresses the use of defined, systematic processes in the creation of carefully defined and engineered software products. Among the topics covered are requirements analysis, software architecture, formal specification methods, process definition, software design methods, and test planning. Issues specific to the development of software by teams and groups will also be addressed. Students will be required to read selected papers from the literature and complete homework projects. This course focuses on synthesis activities and complements CMPSCI 521, which focuses on software analysis techniques. Students are encouraged to take both courses but may take either course independently. Students who sign up for 620 will be expected to do more comprehensive projects, that emphasize critical and analytic thinking, than those who sign up for 520. 3credits.

CMPSCI 620X: Advanced Software Engineering: Synthesis and Development

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CMPSCI 621X: Advanced Software Engineering: Analysis and Evaluation

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CMPSCI 630: Programming Languages

Professor: Wileden

This course uses a detailed examination of the Java and ML programming languages as a basis for studying fundamental principles underlying the design and implementation of modern programming languages. We address a wide range of programming language concepts and issues from both a practical and a theoretical perspective. Some attention is given to such traditional topics as control constructs, type systems and type checking, since these are the foundations for all subsequent developments. The bulk of the course, however, is devoted to more contemporary language features such as object orientation, modularity, polymorphism and concurrency. Our study of both traditional topics and contemporary features is driven by first exploring their realization in Java and ML, then comparing and contrasting with the realizations found in other modern languages such as C++, C#, Ada 95, CLOS and Modula-3. In addition, we consider some emerging concepts and directions for programming languages such as orthogonal persistence, reflection, interoperability and open implementation. While the predominant paradigm for contemporary programming languages -- the imperative, object-oriented paradigm -- is our primary focus, and the functional paradigm is our secondary focus, other paradigms such as the logic programming paradigm are also discussed. Homework problems, programming exercises and projects reinforce the material covered in lectures and readings. Prerequisites: Graduate standing or permission of instructor. 3 credits.

CMPSCI 630X: Programming Languages

Professor:

CMPSCI 646: Information Retrieval

Professor: Croft

The course will cover basic and advanced techniques for text-based information systems. Topics covered include retrieval models, indexing and text representation, browsing and query formulation, routing, distributed information retrieval, and integration with database systems. The course will include implementation of major elements of an information retrieval system. Prerequisite: CMPSCI 445 or equivalent. 3 credits.

CMPSCI 677: Operating Systems

Professor: Ramamritham

This course provides an in-depth examination of principles of distributed operating systems. Covered topics include processes and threads, concurrent programming, distributed interprocess communication, distributed process scheduling, shared virtual memory, distributed file systems. In-depth examples will be taken from current operating systems such as UNIX and MACH. Some coverage of operating system principles for multiprocessors will also be included. Prerequisites: The student should be able to easily program in a high-level language such as C, have had a course on data structures, be familiar with elements of computer architecture and have had previous exposure to the operating system concepts of processes, virtual memory, and scheduling. A previous course on uniprocessor operating systems (e.g., CMPSCI 377) will be helpful but not required. 3 credits.

CMPSCI 677X: Operating Systems

Professor:

CMPSCI 689: Machine Learning

Professor: Utgoff

This course introduces methods that permit machines to learn. These methods make it possible to build programs that acquire the ability to perform tasks of interest. The course starts with fundamental notions of capturing and exploiting regularity. A variety of single-step prediction methods are presented, including decision tree induction, cover generation, candidate elimination, Bayesian learning, least-mean-squares fitting, instance-based learning, neural networks, and inductive logic programming.Computational learning theory and learnability are introduced. Then the course introduces multi-step methods and their application to problem solving tasks. A variety of multi-step prediction methods are presented, including reinforcement learning, apprentice learning, condition-action rule learning, macro learning, and explanation-based learning. Required work consists of readings from the text and the literature, written homeworks and programs, and a final exam. Prerequisite: CMPSCI 383. The homework requirements are greater than those of CMPSCI 589. 3 credits.

CMPSCI 691S: Seminar - Wireless Networking

Professor: Towsley

Course will survey topics in wireless networks. Topics covered include applications and requirements, physical layer, link control,ad hoc networking, 802.11, Bluetooth, TCP over wirelewss, security. Course will be seminar style with students making presentations from a reading list. Students taking it for one credit are required to give a presentation and participate in class discussions. Students taking it for three credits must do a project in addition to fulfilling the above requirements. 1 or 3credits.

CMPSCI 691T: Seminar - Cyberlaw

Professor: Rissland, Katsh

Cyberlaw--the law of computers--is an area of exploding interest and emerging legal problems. In this seminar, we will explore several selected topics in this fast-moving area. We will begin with discussion of selected topics in constitutional law concerning the First Amendment (e.g., free speech) and the Fourth Amendment (e.g., warrantless search and seizure). Next, we will sample some of the on-going controversies in cyberlaw, such as the problem of applying traditional intellectual property law to software and trademark law to domain names. We will also explore the current debate on cryptography and look at the new online processes for resolving disputes. Each topic will involve reading of primary sources, such as appellate case opinions, aswell as commentaries on them, such as articles from the computer science, legal, and popular media. Each participant will be responsible for working up one topic in depth for presentation and discussion. We will enlist the expertise of participants toinform our discussions. For instance, a participant well-versed in the area of computer networks might discuss problems of security and privacy in the context of a networked environment, or a participant well-versed in constitutional law might discuss the broad doctrines of current First Amendment law and their relevance in the context of the internet. Permission of the instructor is required. For graduate students or advanced undergraduates. 3 credits.

CMPSCI 691W: Seminar - Introduction to Wearable Computing

Professor: Fagg

With computing devices becoming smaller and smaller, it is now (almost) possible for an an individual to don such a device as easily as one does a hat or a jacket. It is clear that these technologies will enable us to ultimately extend the desktop resources (including memory, computation, and communication) to almost anywhere we travel. More importantly, this constant access, augmented by a battery of body-mounted sensors, will enable our computers to be sensitive to the activities in which we are engaged, and thus allow the computer to participate in a collaborative and active manner as we perform our tasks. Realizing this dream requires the synthesis of many areas of computer science, computer engineering, and psychology. These areas include: operating systems, human-computer interaction, embedded systems, robotics, computer networks, software architectures, computer security, artificial intelligence, machine learning, information retrieval and computer architectures. This course will combine seminar-style reading/discussion of the relevant literature with hands-on work with wearable computers. Grades will be based upon presentation of papers, participation in the lecture, several programming-oriented homework assignments, and a semester-long project (software-oriented, but the potential exists for a hardware component). Topics will include: Context sensing and proactive behavior, Augmented reality, Software organization techniques, Wearable interfaces and connections to distributed sensor networks, Machine learning for context sensing and proactive presentation of information, Audio interfaces, Ad hoc networks, Affective computing. Prerequisites: a background in embedded systems/robotics/vision, machine learning, operating systems,and various "practical" dimensions (perl, C, unix/linux, java, digital electronics) is ideal. Permission of the instructor is sufficient. 3 credits.

CMPSCI 711: Parallel Algorithms and Architectures

Professor: ** Section Deleted

A study of parallel algorithms and architectures, emphasizing theoretical formulations and developments. Two classes of algorithmic problems will be studied. In the realm of "application-oriented algorithms", the development will flow from idealized shared-memory algorithmic paradigms that ignore communication costs, to distributed-memory emulations of shared memory, to distributed-memory algorithmic paradigms. Concepts will be illustrated via important applications such as sorting. In the realm of"systems-oriented algorithms", discussions will center on problems such as task scheduling, load balancing, message routing, and latency hiding. Sources will include research and survey articles, and Leighton's recent book. Each student will take detailed lecture notes on some topic, for distribution to the class. Additionally, each student will prepare an in-depth report on a topic selected in consultation with the instructor. Prerequisite: CMPSCI 611 or equivalent, or consent of the instructor.3 credits.

CMPSCI 754: Multimedia Systems

Professor: Shenoy

An advanced course covering both theoretical and practical issues in designing multimedia systems. Topics to be covered include introduction to multimedia systems, digital video compression techniques, operating system support for digital audio and video, as well as network and transport protocols for multimedia. An emphasis will be placed on current design issues and research topics. The course assumes familiarity with concepts in computer networks and operating system design. Students will be gradedon the basis of exams, homeworks and a semester-long project. 3 credits.

CMPSCI 791G: Seminar - Aerial Image Interpretation

Professor: Schultz, Riseman, Hanson

The class will cover topics on aerial image interpretation and analysis. The focus will be on methods for generating large scale, high-resolution mosaics from small format digital cameras, classification, and three-dimensional reconstruction. The class will be project orientated. In addition to readings, each student will prepare a report on a specific application or theoretical topic. The reports will reflect the topics covered in class, as well as the student's research interests. The class is open to students enrolled in a graduate degree program, or by permission of the instructor. 3 credits.

CMPSCI 791S: Seminar - TBA

Professor: ** Section Deleted

Description not on file. 3 credits.

CMPSCI 791T: Seminar - Language Models for Information Retrieval

Professor: Croft

Discussion of papers that present statistical models of text retreival, summarization, categorization and question answering. 3 credits.

CMPSCI 791U: Seminar - Advanced Reinforcement Learning

Professor: Barto

The study of reinforcement learning is a very active subfield of artificial intelligence. This seminar will examine the state-of-the-art in this field. Topics include: recent advances in core theory, exploiting structure in Markov Decision Processes, dynamic Bayes networks, partially observable problems, policy gradient methods, function approximation, alternate definitions of return, game playing, advanced methods for exploitation/exploration tradeoff, methods for integrating prior knowledge, abstraction and hierarchies, multi-criterion and multiagent reinforcement learning, biological connections. It will be assumed that students have mastered the core elements of reinforcement learning through successful completion of CMPSCI 687 (or earlier versions of this course). Prerequisite: CMPSCI 687 or equivalent. 3 credits.

CMPSCI 791V: Seminar - Readings on Architectural Simulators

Professor: McKinley, Moss

We will read selected papers from the literature on the design, implementation, performance, and accuracy of architectural simulators, primarily for the purpose of predicting performance (not of logic verification). We are concerned with developing understanding of criteria for choosing or building different kinds of simulators for projects in architecture and language implementation. Participants will present a fair share of papers and be graded on their presesntation and participation. 1 or 3 credits.

CMPSCI 891S: Theory of Computation

Professor: Immerman

Lectures on various topics in the theory of computation by CMPSCI theory faculty, possible guest speakers, and seminar students. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Graduate standing in CMPSCI or permission of the instructor. 1 credit.

CMPSCI H01: Honors Colloquium for CMPSCI 201

Professor: Graham

We select one or more of the course topics and explore them in more depth than is possible in the regular CMPSCI classes. Readings are assigned and discussed in once-a-week meetings. Students are assigned projects using an Intel I86 based computer, such as the IBM PC, that require application of concepts discussed in the weekly meetings and in the CMPSCI 201 lectures. Grades are based on written reports, participation in discussions, and the application of concepts in the projects. 1 credit.

CMPSCI H02: Honors Colloquium for CMPSCI 320

Professor: Osterweil

In this course, students learn and gain practical experience with software engineering principles and techniques. The practical experience centers on a semester-long team project in which a software development project is carried through all the stagesof the software life cycle. Honors students will be expected to assume responsibility for some of the more complex aspects of the project as well as to study more advanced concepts. 1 credit.

CMPSCI H03: Honors Colloquium for CMPSCI 530

Professor: Wileden

The Honors section will meet with the instructor one hour per week to conduct additional readings in the area of programming languages. Programming projects are also possible if student interest allows. 1 credit.

CMPSCI H04: Honors Colloquium for CMPSCI 250

Professor: Barrington

The Honors students for CMPSCI 250 will read most of Hofstadter's book _Godel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid_. We will consider connections between the book and the content of CMPSCI 250, particularly formal logic and number theory. Students will solve problems using Hofstadter's formalism and write short essays on his ideas. Students may be asked to prepare short oral presentations on a topic related to the book. There will be one hour-long class meeting per week, at a time to be arranged. The seminar will be one credit, with a grade independent of the CMPSCI 250 grade. Concurrent registration in 250 is required, but if space permits we may admit students who have _previously_ taken 250. 1 credit.

Last automatic generation: 8/4/2005 at 12:06:34 PM