Foundations of Computer Science, CSCI 2200, RPI, Spring 2023
As a computer scientist, your goal will be to choose or design, then implement, efficient algorithms that accomplish the goals for which they were designed. The aim of FOCS is to give you the tools necessary to establish certainty about your algorithms: that they do what they claim to.
As such, this course introduces the fundamental mathematics used in computer science for the purpose of ensuring such certainty: discrete mathematics and the theory of computation.
- Discrete mathematics
- This is the study of objects that can be counted—including proofs, sums and recurrences, graphs, counting, and probability—this toolbox is essential for showing algorithms do as we claim.
- Theory of Computation
- This branch of CS helps delineate what kinds of problems can even be hoped to be solved, and how efficiently. Understanding this helps you to avoid tilting at windmills.
See the course syllabus for more details.
Course Logistics
Lectures: Tue/Fri 10:00am-11:50am ET in Darrin 308
Course Discussions: Piazza
Instructor: Alex Gittens (gittea)
TAs: Sharmishtha Dutta (duttas), Ryan Kaplan (kaplar2), Dhruva Narayan (narayd), Akshat Runwal (runwaa), Yue Zhou (zhouy35)
Undergraduate mentors: Nathan Agpalo (agpaln), Griffin Bates (batesg2), Afsana Bhuiyan (bhuiya), Charles Chae (chaec), Logan Carter (cartel4), Junseob Kim (kimj43), Yanshen Ren (reny5), Samyuth Sagi (sagis2), Espie Taylor (taylos7), Max Zhang (zhangm21)
Course Coordinator: Shianne Hulbert (hulbes)
If you need testing accomodations (e.g. a shift or extension in your test time), please contact Shianne. She will also be sending emails to ensure that you are informed about your test time accomodations near to the tests and quizzes.
Office Hours:| Mon 10am-11am ET | AE 127 | Dhruva Narayan |
| Tue 8:30am-9:30am ET | Lally 316 | Alex Gittens |
| Tue 12pm-1pm ET | AE 118 | Sharmishtha Dutta |
| Wed 12pm-1pm ET | JEC 4309 | Yue Zhou |
| Thu 11am-noon ET | AE 118 | Akshat Runwal |
| Thu 2pm-3pm ET | Lally 316 | Alex Gittens |
| Fri 2pm-3pm ET | AE 118 | Ryan Kaplan |
| Sunday 2pm-6pm ET | AE 118 | Rotating: one TA and two mentors |
| Wed 10:00am-10:50am ET | Eaton 215 | Dhruva Narayan |
| Wed 11am-11:50am ET | Eaton 215 | Yue Zhou |
| Wed 1pm-1:50pm ET | Eaton 215 | Ryan Kaplan |
| Wed 2pm-2:50pm ET | Eaton 215 | Sharmishtha Dutta |
| Wed 4pm-4:50pm | Pitts 4206 | Akshat Runwal |
Course Details
- Course Syllabus
- Important Dates
- Readings
- Homeworks and Exams
- HOMEWORK SUBMISSION LINK (pdf only, 10MB limit)
- Solutions to DMC Pop Quizzes and Exercises
- DMC Problems
Announcements: It is the student's responsibility to be aware of and understand all announcements made in the lectures.