CSC 233 Codes and Ciphers
Summary
This course is an introduction to the science and history of secret writing (cryptography) and how codes and ciphers can be broken (cryptanalysis). In historical settings we will encounter the main ideas and methods devised to secure communication channels. Possible topics include: substitution ciphers, transposition ciphers, the Vigenere cipher, statistical methods in cryptanalysis, public-key cryptography, and quantum cryptography.
Assignments will be available by Fridays and will be due by 11:59PM the following Wednesday. For assignments, we will be using the submission folder system in D2L; there will be a separate folder for each assignment. The folder contains the problems, and you can submit your solutions there.
The “Class information” folder contains a sample homework submission. Be sure to follow the homework formatting guidelines (on the homework).
Late submissions will not be accepted (and there will be no extensions), but the lowest homework score will be dropped. There will also be a grace period – you may hand in homework up until 8am Thursdays without penalty. Be sure to submit your homework solutions in time. You can submit partially completed work and update your submissions as often as you want (before the folder closes).
Exams for both in-class and online sections will be online (administered using the quiz tool in d2l, quizzes are timed, there is a grace period, but after that, no late submissions are accepted). The midterm exam will be in 6th week (open from 2/10-2/12, that’s Saturday-Monday). The final exam will be in 11th week, from 3/11-3/13, Monday-Wednesday.
Texts
Craig P Bauer. Secret History. Chapman and Hall/CRC. Both the first edition (from 2013) and the second edition (from 2021) are fine.
Grading
Homework, quizzes: 50%,
Midterm: 25%,
Final: 25%.
Prerequisites
LSP 120 (or MAT 130 or CSC 241 or CSC 243).
This syllabus is subject to change as necessary during the quarter. If a change occurs, it will be thoroughly addressed during class, posted under Announcements in D2L and sent via email.
Evaluations are a way for students to provide valuable feedback regarding their instructor and the course. Detailed feedback will enable the instructor to continuously tailor teaching methods and course
content to meet the learning goals of the course and the academic needs of the students. They are a requirement of the course and are key to continue to provide you with the highest quality of teaching. The
evaluations are anonymous; the instructor and administration do not track who entered what responses. A program is used to check if the student completed the evaluations, but the evaluation is completely
separate from the student’s identity. Since 100% participation is our goal, students are sent periodic reminders over three weeks. Students do not receive reminders once they complete the evaluation.
Students complete the evaluation online in CampusConnect.
This course will be subject to the university's academic integrity policy. More information can be found at http://academicintegrity.depaul.edu/ If you
have any questions be sure to consult with your professor.
All students are expected to abide by the University's Academic Integrity Policy which prohibits cheating and other misconduct in student coursework. Publicly sharing or posting online any prior or current materials from this course (including exam questions or answers), is considered to be providing unauthorized assistance prohibited by the policy. Both students who share/post and students who access or use such materials are considered to be cheating under the Policy and will be subject to sanctions for violations of Academic Integrity.
All students are required to manage their class schedules each term in accordance with the deadlines for enrolling and withdrawing as indicated in the University Academic Calendar. Information on enrollment, withdrawal, grading and incompletes can be found at http://www.cdm.depaul.edu/Current%20Students/Pages/PoliciesandProcedures.aspx.
Students who feel they may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact the instructor privately to discuss their specific needs. All discussions will remain confidential.
To ensure that you receive the most appropriate accommodation based on your needs, contact the instructor as early as possible in the quarter (preferably within the first week of class), and make sure that
you have contacted the Center for Students with Disabilities (CSD) at:
Lewis Center 1420, 25 East Jackson Blvd.
Phone number: (312)362-8002
Fax: (312)362-6544
TTY: (773)325.7296