CSC582B: Tools for Research on Combinatorial Problems
Course Dates
CRN(s): Section A01 CRN: 10865
Term: Fall 2016
Classes Start: 2016-09-07
Classes End: 2016-12-02
Cross-listed With
Cross-Listed Course(s): CSC482B
Scheduled Meeting Times (M=Mon, T=Tue, W=Wed, R=Thu, F=Fri)
Section: Location: Days of week: Hours of day: Instructor:
A01ELL 060TWF09:30-10:20Wendy Myrvold
Instructor(s)

Name: Wendy Myrvold
Office: ECS 552
Phone: (250) 472-5783
Email: wendym at cs dot uvic dot ca
Office Hours: TBD

Course Web Pages:

For public course materials: http://webhome.cs.uvic.ca/~wendym/582.html

Course Connex Site:

For private course materials and for electronic assignment submission:
https://connex.csc.uvic.ca/x/GViO8r

Textbooks
Required: Combinatorial Algorithms: Generation, Enumeration and Search
by Donald L. Kreher and Douglas R. Stinson
CRC Press, 1998.
Topics

The aim of this class is to present some research computing skills that can facilitate progress on combinatorial research problems.The first topic is generating classes of combinatorial objects (such as graphs or Latin squares) including tactics for avoiding repeats of objects that are isomorphic to each other. Exploring small combinatorial objects can lead to discovery of counterexamples to existing conjectures and can lead to the formulation of new conjectures that are more likely to be correct. The course also presents approaches for developing practical algorithms for hard problems on combinatorial objects (design theory problems and graphs) including tactics for exploiting symmetry.

Course Objectives

To present the standard definitions for various combinatorial objects including permutations, graphs and Latin squares.

To teach algorithms and algorithm design tactics for:

  • generating small combinatorial objects,
  • defining and computing a canonical form for a class of objects,
  • exploiting symmetry in a problem,
  • distributing combinatorial algorithms to multiple machines, and
  • estimation of the time taken for large computations.

To introduce students to tactics for doing original research, preparing a talk for a conference, and presentation standards for writing journal papers in this area.

Assignments

There will be 5 equally weighted assignments that count for 50% for CSC 482B and 40% for CSC 582B.

Please see the course web page for up to date deadlines for assignments. The projected deadlines are:

  • Assignment #1: due Friday Sept. 23.
  • Assignment #2: due Friday Oct. 7.
  • Assignment #3: due Friday Oct. 21.
  • Assignment #4: due Friday Nov. 18.
  • Assignment #5: due Friday Dec. 2.
Research Project

The goal of the project is to provide an opportunity for students to conduct original research. Students can choose from a list of possible project topics.
The projects will all involve both theoretical and programming components.

The submissions for the project include:

  • A project proposal worth 5%.
  • A research proposal worth 5%.
  • Slides for the research proposal worth 5%.

Please see the course web page for up to date deadlines for project submissions. The projected deadlines are:

  • Project proposal: due Wednesday Oct. 26.
  • Research proposal: due Tuesday Nov. 8.
  • Slides for Research proposal: due Tuesday Nov. 22.

The final project submission will consist of:

  • programs and results (worth 15% for CSC 482B and 25% for CSC 582B),
  • a written report on the research (worth 10%),
  • slides for a presentation of the research (worth 10%).

The final project submission will be due at 12:59 pm on Thursday Dec. 15.

There will be higher expectations for the CSC 582B project.

Late Submissions

Assignments and Project Submissions (except for the final project submission) can be handed in up to 4 days late with a 10% penalty for each day past the deadline.
The final project submission must be handed in on time (exceptions will only be made for valid excuses with appropriate documentation).

Course Policies on Collaboration

Assignments:
Students are encouraged to work in study groups. However, final assignment submissions should be generated independently. You are expected to solve the problems yourself. Copying solutions from others, the web, or any other source will be considered a serious academic offense and may result in failure of the course.

Programming:
All code submitted must be your original work. If you use code taken from the internet, an API, other students, previous model solutions or other sources and submit it as your own work you will not get credit for that code. Further if your source is not acknowledged, you are subject to disciplinary action according to the department policies for plagiarism.

Research:
Students are encouraged to come see the professor to ask questions about their research projects, and to get mentorship and guidance for their research. Collaborations with other researchers or students is not permitted.

Grading
Component Weight CSC 482B Weight CSC 582B
Assignments 50% 40%
Research project 50% 60%
Course Mark Appeals

If there has been an error in marking any of your course work, please resubmit your work with a description of the error. Appeals can be done at any time, but you are encouraged to
ask for a regrade within 7 days of receiving the marked work.

Grading System

The University of Victoria follows a percentage grading system in which the instructor will submit grades in percentages. The University will use the following Senate approved standardized grading scale to assign letter grades. Both the percentage mark and the letter grade will be recorded on the academic record and transcripts.

F D C C+ B- B B+ A- A A+
0-49 50-59 60-64 65-69 70-72 73-76 77-79 80-84 85-89 90-100
Grades Description
A+ Exceptional work. Technically flawless and original work demonstrating insight, understanding and independent application or extension of course expectations; often publishable.
A Outstanding work. Demonstrates a very high level of integration of material demonstrating insight, understanding and independent application or extension of course expectations.
A- Excellent work. Represents a high level of integration, comprehensiveness and complexity, as well as a mastery level of relevant techniques/concepts.
B+ Very good work. Represents a satisfactory level of integration, comprehensiveness and complexity; demonstrates a sound level of analysis with no major weakness.
B Acceptable work that fulfills the expectations of the course. Represents a satisfactory level of integration of key concepts/procedures. However, comprehensiveness or technical skills may be lacking.
B- , C+, C, D Unacceptable work revealing some deficiencies in knowledge, understanding or techniquesy. Represents an unacceptable level of integration, comprehensiveness and complexity. Mastery of some relevant techniques or concepts lacking.
F Failing grade. Unsatisfactory performance. Wrote final examination and completed course requirements.
Posting of Grades

Typically marks for assignments, examinations, and provisional final grades, are made available through conneX, or CourseSpaces where each student will be able to view only their own grades. Sometimes numerical marks/grades may be posted publicly to the entire class. In that case, full student numbers or names will not be included with the posted information.

Course Experience Survey (CES)

I value your feedback on this course. Towards the end of term you will have the opportunity to complete a confidential course experience survey (CES) regarding your learning experience. The survey is vital to providing feedback to me regarding the course and my teaching, as well as to help the department improve the overall program for students in the future. When it is time for you to complete the survey, you will receive an email inviting you to do so. If you do not receive an email invitation, you can go directly to the CES site

You will need to use your UVic NetLink ID to access the survey, which can be done on your laptop, tablet or mobile device. I will remind you closer to the time, but please be thinking about this important activity, especially the following three questions, during the course.

  • What strengths did your instructor demonstrate that helped you learn in this course?
  • Please provide specific suggestions as to how the instructor could have helped you learn more effectively.
  • Please provide specific suggestions as to how this course could be improved.
Csc Student Groups

The Computer Science Course Union (https://www.csc.uvic.ca/Program_Information/Undergraduate_Studies/CSCU.htm) serves all students who are either in a computer science program or taking a class in computer science. Please sign yourself up on their mailing list if you would like to be informed about their social events and services.

The Engineering Students' Society (ESS) serves all students registered in an Engineering degree program, including Software Engineering (BSEng). For information on ESS activities, events and services navigate to http://www.engr.uvic.ca/~ess .

Course Policies And Guidelines

Late Assignments: No late assignments will be accepted unless prior arrangements have been made with the instructor at least 48 hours before the assignment due date.
Coursework Mark Appeals: All marks must be appealed within 7 days of the mark being posted.
Attendance: We expect students attend all lectures and labs. It is entirely the students' responsibility to recover any information or announcements presented in lectures from which they were absent.
Electronic devices in labs and lectures: No unauthorized audio or video recording of lectures is permitted.
Electronic devices in midterms and exams: Calculators are only permitted for examinations and tests if explicitly authorized and the type of calculator permitted may be restricted. No other electronic devices (e.g. cell phones, pagers, PDA, etc.) may be used during examinations or tests unless explicitly authorized.
Plagiarism: Submitted work may be checked using plagiarism detection software. Cheating, plagiarism and other forms of academic fraud are taken very seriously by both the University and the Department. You should consult http://web.uvic.ca/calendar/FACS/UnIn/UARe/PoAcI.html for the UVic policy on academic integrity. Note that the university policy includes the statement that "A largely or fully plagiarized assignment should result in a grade of F for the course".

The Faculty of Engineering Standards for Professional Behaviour are at http://www.uvic.ca/shared/shared%5fengineering/docs/professional-behaviour.pdf
The department guidelines concerning fraud are at http://www.csc.uvic.ca/courseinfo/policies/fraud.html
Department Policies: A list of department policies regarding all courses may be found at http://www.csc.uvic.ca/courseinfo/policies/index.html

Equality

This course aims to provide equal opportunities and access for all students to enjoy the benefits and privileges of the class and its curriculum and to meet the syllabus requirements. Reasonable and appropriate accommodation will be made available to students with documented disabilities (physical, mental, learning) in order to give them the opportunity to successfully meet the essential requirements of the course. The accommodation will not alter academic standards or learning outcomes, although the student may be allowed to demonstrate knowledge and skills in a different way. It is not necessary for you to reveal your disability and/or confidential medical information to the course instructor. If you believe that you may require accommodation, the course instructor can provide you with information about confidential resources on campus that can assist you in arranging for appropriate accommodation. Alternatively, you may want to contact the Resource Centre for Students with a Disability located in the Campus Services Building.

The University of Victoria is committed to promoting, providing, and protecting a positive, and supportive and safe learning and working environment for all its members.