Course information


  • Description: Introduction to the design and analysis of efficient algorithms. Topics include models of computation, efficient sorting and searching, algorithms for algebraic problems, graph algorithms, dynamic programming, probabilistic methods, approximation algorithms, and NP-completeness.
  • Credits: 3.0
  • Prerequisites: COMS W3139 and W3203 or equivalent.
  • For: Undergraduate, Masters, Professional, PhD
  • Instructor
    • Name: Prof. Cliff Stein
      • Office: 346 Mudd
      • Phone: 212-854-5238
      • Email: cliff@ieor.columbia.edu
      • Office hours: T 4:00-5:30, and by appointment.
  • Teaching Assistants:
    • Name: Le Chang
      • Office: 122A Mudd
      • Email: lc2879@columbia.edu
      • Office hours: T 1-3, F 1-3
    • Name: Aaron Bernstein
      • Office: 122A Mudd
      • Email: ab3417@columbia.edu
      • Office hours: M 1:15-2:15, W 1:15-2:15
    • Name: Yi-Hsiu Chen
      • Office: 122A Mudd
      • Email: yc2796@columbia.edu
      • Office hours: W 10-12, M 3-5
    • Name: Kewei Ge
      • Office: 122A Mudd
      • Email: kg2481@columbia.edu
      • Office hours: W 3-4, Th 10:30-11:30
    • Name: Yiting Zhang
      • Office: 122A Mudd
      • Email: yz2497@columbia.edu
      • Office hours: Th 3-5
  • Time: T Th 11:40-12:55
  • Location: 501 Northwest Corner Building
  • Textbook: Introduction to Algorithms (Third Edition), by Thomas H. Cormen, Charles E. Leiserson, Ronald L. Rivest, and Cliff Stein.
  • Exams: There will be one take-home midterm, and an in-class final exam. The exams must be done entirely by yourselves. The midterm may be followed up by an oral defense of the work.
  • Grading:
    • Homeworks: 30% (Details on homework grading are here.)
    • Midterm exam: 35%
    • Final exam : 35%
  • Getting help: You can get help in the course by:
    • Visiting the instructor or TAs in their office hours
    • Using Piazza This term we will be using Piazza for class discussion. The system is highly catered to getting you help fast and efficiently from classmates, the TA, and myself. Rather than emailing questions to the teaching staff, I encourage you to post your questions on Piazza. Find our class page at: https://piazza.com/columbia/fall2013/csor4231/home
  • Students with Disabilites:
    We encourage students with disabilities, including invisible disabilities such as chronic diseases and learning disabilities, to discuss with the instructor any appropriate accommodations that we might make on their behalf.

Announcements


  • No class on Thusday, September 5.

Materials