Algebraic Foundations of Computer Science

Course Information

Discipline Sheet: FLT_AFCS_RO, FLT_AFCS_EN

Course Goal: Algebraic Foundations of Computer Science (AFCS) is a course for undergraduate students, especially for the first year of study. The course presents basic algebra elements necessary to understand fundamental computer science areas. Concrete applications follow each course chapter in one or more fields such as variable-length codes, data compression, error detection and correction codes, cryptography and information security, etc.

Students interested in deepening AFCS for a career focused on coding theory, cryptography, or related areas can contact me directly. Our department offers a master’s program, Information Security, whose director is the instructor of this course. There is also the possibility of pursuing doctoral studies in cryptography and information security (please see the Students section on this site).

Prerequisites: No special prior math knowledge is required, except for those acquired in high school.

Textbook: The course is based entirely on

F.L. Țiplea: Algebraic Foundations of Computer Science, second edition, “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University Publishing House, 605 pages, 2021.

Each lecture has explicit references to textbook pages or additional reading recommendations. It is highly recommended that you purchase the textbook from the “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University Publishing House in Iasi (no shipping fees).

Lectures, office hours, exam sessions:

• Teaching weeks: Feb 26 – May 5 and May 13 – June 9, 2024;
• Partial evaluation week: April 15 – 21, 2024;
• Lectures: Monday, 8:00 – 10:00 (series En) in C309, 10:00 – 12:00 (series A) in C2, and 10:00 — 12:00 (series B) in C112;
• Office hours: Monday, 14:00 – 15:00 in C301;
• Examination session: June 10 – June 30, 2024;
• Re-examination session: July 1 – July 7, 2024.

Grading:

• The final grade is based on the scores obtained in the ongoing evaluation and the final exam;
• The ongoing evaluation consists of one written test in the 8th week of the didactic activity. Its score is measured on a scale from 0 to 100;
• The final exam takes place in the examination session. Its score is measured on a scale from 0 to 100;
• The course is passed if the ongoing evaluation and final exam scores are at least 45. If this requirement is met, the final score is computed as the average of the two scores. The final grade is then obtained by converting the final score (division by 10 and usual rounding).

Course Staff

Course Holder and Instructor: Prof.dr. Ferucio Laurențiu ȚIPLEA, Department of Computer Science, “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iași, Romania, e-mail: ferucio dot tiplea at uaic dot ro or fltiplea at gmail dot com.

Associate instructor: Lect.dr. Sorin Iftene, Department of Computer Science, “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iași, Romania.

Course assistants: Lect.dr. Sorin Iftene, Lect.dr. Cătălin Bîrjoveanu, Lect.dr. Anca-Maria Nica, Asist.Prof.drd. Alexandru Ioniță, Drd. Simona Lăzărescu, and Msc. Manuela Horduna.

Syllabus