15-251 Great Theoretical Ideas in Computer Science

15-251 - COURSE PROFILE

Course Level:
Undergraduate		Units: 12Special Permission Required: No
(if yes, please see Notes below)
Frequency Offered: Generally offered every spring and fall - confirm course offerings for upcoming semesters by accessing the university Schedule of Classes
Course Relevance (who should take this course?): 
Key Topics:Background Knowledge:Assessment Structure:
  • Algorithms
  • Computability
  • Computational complexity
  • Finite automata
  • Turing machines
  • Graph theory
  • Boolean circuit complexity
  • P, NP, NP-completeness
  • Probability theory
  • Randomized computation
  • Cryptography

Most Recent Syllabus Available:
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~15251/policy.html

In particular, we expect the students to have taken an introductory computer science course that goes beyond basic computer programming and covers algorithmic thinking. On the mathematics side, we expect the students to have experience reasoning abstractly and be comfortable with writing formal proofs.

Sample Assignment: not provided

Sample class notes: not provided

Standard Grading:
  • Homework 30%
  • Midterm 1 20%
  • Midterm 2 20%
  • Final 25%
  • Participation 5%
Alternative Grading for a maximum letter grade of C:
  • Homework 30% (lowest 4 homeworks half-weighted)
  • Higher Midterm 30%
  • Final 35 %
  • Participation 5 %
To pass the course with a letter grade of C or higher, one of your exam scores must be at least 70%.

Sample Exam: not provided

Sample Lecture Recording: not applicable

Course Objectives:
  • Define mathematically the notions of computation, computational problem, and algorithm.
  • Express, analyze and compare the computability and computational complexity of problems.
  • Use mathematical tools from set theory, combinatorics, graph theory, probability theory, and number theory in the study of computability, computational complexity, and some of the real-world applications of computational concepts.
  • State and explain the important and well-known open problems in the theory of computation.
  • Write clearly presented proofs that meet rigorous standards of correctness and conventional guidelines on style.
  • Identify and critique proofs that are logically flawed and/or do no meet the expected standards of clarity.
  • Cooperate with other people in order to solve challenging and rigorous problems related to the study of computer science.

Course Website: http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~15251/

Learning Resources:Pre-reqs, Cross list, Related: Notes: 
  • Recorded Lectures
  • Slides
  • Course Notes
  • Piazza
  • Optional Textbooks
  • Prerequisites Required: (15-122 or 15-150) and (21-127 or 21-128 or 15-151)
  • Minimum Grades in Prereqs: C 
  • Corequisites: None
  • Prerequisite for: 15-300, 15-312, 15-354, 15-355, 15-359, 15-414, 15-451,15-453, 15-455
  • Anti-requisites:
  • Cross-Listed: 
  • Substitutes: 15-123 for 15-122, 15-212 for 15-150, 21-127 for 15-151, 21-128 for 21-127, 15-151 for 21-127
  • Related Courses: None
  • Reservations: 

 Department Website: College Website: Updated October 2017
https://www.csd.cs.cmu.edu/ https://www.cs.cmu.edu/Back to Course Profile List