MATH324-15S2 (C) Semester Two 2015

Cryptography and Coding Theory

15 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 13 July 2015
End Date: Sunday, 15 November 2015
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Friday, 24 July 2015
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Friday, 9 October 2015

Description

This course deals with the mathematical ideas underlying modern cryptography, including algebra, number theory and probability theory.

This course deals with the mathematical ideas underlying modern coding theory and cryptography, including algebra, number theory and probability theory. Coding theory comprises the first half of the course. It provides the theory and methods for encoding information so that it can be transmitted over a noisy channel and be accurately decoded by the receiver. Cryptography comprises the second half of the course. It is the science of making and breaking secret codes: encryption is what keeps our credit card details safe when we send them over the internet. We will study the mathematics behind some of the main encryption systems in current use. Coding theory and Cryptography draw on ideas from algebra, geometry, number theory and probability theory.

The course is aimed at students majoring in computer science or mathematics. It follows on from MATH220  (Discrete Mathematics and Cryptography); it is good preparation for or a good complement  to COSC332 (Data and Network Security), COSC413 (Advanced Topics in Algorithms) and  COSC436 (Security Fundamentals). Students who do not have the appropriate background in cryptography but who wish to enroll in the course should contact the course coordinator in order to discuss their eligibility.

Learning Outcomes

  • Students successfully completing this course should:
  • Understand important ideas from classical number theory, algebra, geometry and probability theory;
  • Have become familiar with the mathematics behind some of the main encryption systems currently in use;
  • Have developed the necessary mathematical skills to analyse the efficiency and security of cryptosystems in a rigorous mathematical setting;
  • Understand the principles and theory of error-correcting codes, and the various methods for constructing them.

Prerequisites

One of MATH201, MATH203, MATH220 or MATH240, and a further 15 points from MATH201-294.

Restrictions

Course Coordinator / Lecturer

Jeanette McLeod

Lecturer

Brendan Creutz

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage 
Assignments 25%
Test 25%
Final Examination 50%


To obtain a pass (C- or better), you must both pass the course as a whole (≥50%) and obtain at least 40% in the exam.

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $699.00

International fee $3,450.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

For further information see Mathematics and Statistics .

All MATH324 Occurrences

  • MATH324-15S2 (C) Semester Two 2015
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