MATHS 390 Codes, Ciphers, and Cryptography

Time: Thursday 3:20 pm – 5:00 pm
Location: RB 118
Textbook: The Code Book by Simon Singh
Prerequisites:  None (This is an Honors Colloquium.)

Instructor: Dr. Michael A. Karls
Office: RB 470
email: mkarls@bsu.edu
Homepage: http://www.bsu.edu/web/mkarls/
Phone: 285-8656 (my office) or 285-8640 (math dept. office)
Hours: MF 4 – 4:50 pm, or by appointment

Course Description:  The primary objective of this course is to provide an introduction to the subject of cryptography.  Throughout recorded history, the fates of empires have been determined by the ability to disguise a message.  Starting with ancient Egypt and working up to the present day and beyond, we will look at the evolution of codes and ciphers and their impact on history and the world today.  Topics will include deciphering the Rosetta Stone, the death of Mary Queen of Scots, the Navajo Code Talkers of World War II, the key to securing Internet commerce, and Quantum Cryptography.  We will also look at some of the mathematical techniques used to create and break ciphers. In the text, the material we will cover is in Chapters 1 - 8.  Additional material from other sources will be added as needed.

Course Grade: Course grade will be based on the percentage of points earned out of a total of 600 possible points made up of the following:

• Homework and labs:  300 points
• Class Participation: 100 points
• Final Project: 100 points
• Comprehensive Final Exam: 100 points

Grading Scale: A: 93-100%, A-: 90-92%, B+: 87-89%, B: 83-86%, B-: 80-82%, C+: 77-79%, C: 73-76%, C-: 70-72%, D+: 67-69%, D: 63-66%, D-: 60-62%, F: 0-59%

Final Exam Date and Time: Friday, December 19, 2008, 2:15 pm – 4:15 pm

Attendance Policy: I expect you to attend this class every period that it meets. You are responsible for missed material.

Additional Notes:

• The Final Exam is take-home.
• Part of the Final Project involves a class presentation.

• I expect you to try all the homework and lab problems that I assign. I will collect selected homework or lab problems throughout the semester.  Please keep your homework and lab work in a notebook (loose-leaf paper in a three-ring binder).  Besides accuracy and completeness of answers, I will look for neatness and clarity of your work. 

Withdrawals:  The course withdrawal period ends Tuesday, October 28.  Before this date, students can elect to receive a “W” for the course by completing and submitting the proper form.  The instructor’s permission is not required.  For details, see page 19 of the current Undergraduate Catalog. 

Ball State University Disabled Student Development Statement: "If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, if you have emergency medical information to share with me, or if you need special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible.  My office location and hours are listed above."