Computer Science 401 - Theoretical Foundations

Spring
2013
01
4.00
Lyle McGeoch

MWF 10:00AM-10:50AM

Amherst College
COSC-401-01-1213S
SMUD 006
lamcgeoch@amherst.edu

This course covers basic mathematical concepts that are essential in computer science, and then uses them to teach the theory of formal languages and machine models of languages. The notion of computability will be introduced in order to discuss undecidable problems. The topics covered include: regular, context-free and context-sensitive languages, finite state automata, Turing machines, decidability, and computational complexity. Offered in alternate years.

Requisite: None, although analytical aptitude is essential. Spring semester.  Professor L. McGeoch.

Permission is required for interchange registration during the add/drop period only.