| Course Code | COMP9020 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Course Title | Foundations of Computer Science | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Convenor | Michael Thielscher | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Admin | Michael Schofield | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Contact Email | cs9020@cse.unsw.edu.au | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Units of Credit | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Course Website | http://www.cse.unsw.edu.au/~cs9020 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Handbook Entry | http://www.handbook.unsw.edu.au/postgraduate/courses/current/COMP9020.html |
The scope is: Mathematical methods for designing correct and efficient programs; Mathematics for algorithm analysis; Logic for proving and verification.
The actual content is taken from a list of topics that constitute the basis of the tool box of every serious practitioner of computing: Introduction to set and relation theory; Propositional logic and boolean algebras; Induction, recursion and recurrence relations; Order of growth of functions; Structured counting (combinatorics); Discrete probability; Graph theory; Trees for algorithmic applications.
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After successfully completing this course, students will be able to demonstrate an increased level of mathematical maturity to assist with the fundamental problem of finding, formulating, and proving properties of programs.
Online quizzes, mid-term assessment and final exam will ensure that students have acquired this level of mathematical maturity.
This course contributes to the development of the following graduate capabilities:
| Graduate Capability | Acquired in |
| Scholars capable of independent and collaborative enquiry, rigorous in their analysis, critique and reflection, and able to innovate by applying their knowledge and skills to the solution of novel as well as routine problems | lectures, in-class exercises, problem sets, quizzes |
| Professionals capable of ethical, self-directed practice and independent lifelong learning | problem sets, quizzes |
| Global citizens who are culturally adept and capable of respecting diversity and acting in a socially just and responsible way | interaction with your lecturer and fellow students |
Lectures will include exercises where we examine the practice of formulating and proving mathematical properties of relevance to Computer Science. Problem sets and quizzes aim to deepen analysis and understanding via additional examples and problems.
The Student Code of Conduct ( Information , Policy ) sets out what the University expects from students as members of the UNSW community. As well as the learning, teaching and research environment, the University aims to provide an environment that enables students to achieve their full potential and to provide an experience consistent with the University's values and guiding principles. A condition of enrolment is that students inform themselves of the University's rules and policies affecting them, and conduct themselves accordingly.
In particular, students have the responsibility to observe standards of equity and respect in dealing with every member of the University community. This applies to all activities on UNSW premises and all external activities related to study and research. This includes behaviour in person as well as behaviour on social media, for example Facebook groups set up for the purpose of discussing UNSW courses or course work. Behaviour that is considered in breach of the Student Code Policy as discriminatory, sexually inappropriate, bullying, harassing, invading another one's privacy or causing any person to fear for their personal safety is serious misconduct and can lead to severe penalties, including suspension or exclusion from UNSW.
If you have any concerns, you may raise them with your lecturer, or approach the School Ethics Officer , a Grievance Officer , or one of the
Plagiarism is defined as using the words or ideas of others and presenting them as your own. UNSW and CSE treat plagiarism as academic misconduct, which means that it carries penalties as severe as being excluded from further study at UNSW. There are several on-line sources to help you understand what plagiarism is and how it is dealt with at UNSW:
Make sure that you read and understand these. Ignorance is not accepted as an excuse for plagiarism. In particular, you are also responsible that your assignment files are not accessible by anyone but you by setting the correct permissions in your CSE directory and code repository, if using. Note also that plagiarism includes paying or asking another person to do a piece of work for you and then submitting it as your own work.
UNSW has an ongoing commitment to fostering a culture of learning informed by academic integrity. All UNSW staff and students have a responsibility to adhere to this principle of academic integrity. Plagiarism undermines academic integrity and is not tolerated at UNSW. Plagiarism at UNSW is defined as using the words or ideas of others and passing them off as your own.
You should also read the following page which describes your rights and responsibilities in the CSE context:
| Item | Topics | Due | Marks |
| Online Quizzes | All topics | Weeks 3-6, 8-10 | 14% |
| Online Mid-term Test | All topics from week 1-5 | Week 6 | 26% |
| Online Final Exam | All topics | Exam period | 60% |
Each of the 7 weekly assessments is worth 2 marks (7 * 2 = 14).
Your overall score in the course will be the maximum of:
In other words: if you do better in the final exam, then the weekly quizzes and/or your mid-term assessment will be ignored.
To pass the course, your overall score must be 50 or higher and your mark for the final exam must be 25 or higher. If you meet both conditions, your overall score will be your mark for this course.
| Week | Lectures | Assessments |
| 1 | Numbers, Sets, Formal Languages | – |
| 2 | Logic, Proofs, Boolean Algebra | Quiz |
| 3 | Functions and Relations | Quiz |
| 4 | Equivalence and Order Relations | Quiz |
| 5 | Graphs and Trees | Quiz |
| 6 | – | Mid-term online test |
| 7 | Induction, Recursion, Order of Growth | Quiz |
| 8 | Structured Counting | Quiz |
| 9 | Discrete Probability | Quiz |
| 10 | Expected Values, Course Review | – |
The primary textbook associated with this course is
This has been the recommended textbook for the course for many years. The following comprehensive lecture notes, which are from a similar course at MIT, provide supplementary material:
This course is being continuously improved and we will conduct a survey through UNSW's myExperience process at the end of session to obtain feedback on the quality of the various course components. Your participation in the survey will be greatly appreciated. Students are also encouraged to provide informal feedback during the session, and to notify the lecturer-in-charge of any problems as soon as they arise.
Student feedback from last offerings indicated that students were very satisfied with all aspects of the course. Some students suggested that we could propose optional additional exercises from the recommended textbook each week. We will endeavour to provide you with these in this offering.
Resource created Friday 03 February 2023, 12:33:12 PM, last modified Saturday 11 February 2023, 10:21:40 AM.