Computer Science 575/Math 513

Combinatorics and Graph Theory

Fall 2002


Course Administration


This is an introductory course in graph theory and combinatorics. The course has a lecture format. It meets twice a week. Combinatorics and Graph Theory is distinguished by the incredible number and variety of very interesting problems, and these problems are constitute the basis of the course.


Instructor: Robert Moll, CS BLDG 236, 545-4315, email: moll@cs.umass.edu

Office hours: M 1:30-2:15; W 2:45-3; TH 2:30 3:30; F 2-3

Meeting: Elab 304, TuTh 1-2:15 (notice room change from original schedule book)

Textbook: Applied Combinatorics, Alan Tucker, Wiley, 4rd edition. Other texts on reserve

Grading: 50% homework problems; 15% midterm; 35% final. In addition,  you must pass the final to pass the class. Collaborative solutions are allowed for homework problems marked "c". You are expected to work problems not marked "c" on your own. Homework problems are due in class on collection day. By and large late homework will not be accepted.


Last Updated: Tuesday, September 10, 2002
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We are now identifying knowledge units in the Computer Science*5ccurriculum, supported by a NSF grant [Kurose & Adrion, 99]. Composable multi-level (KUs) are being*4bdeveloped and disseminated for advanced undergraduate computer science courses. This work provides*5cus an example of how to identify KUs and how to teach courses with electronic modules based on KUs.*N2.5.,Arial)B )T"Tools to Improve Classroom Culture(; fIn addition, to our software development research, we will introduce several activities to improve the(pclassroom culture.+^51) Nuts and Bolts Workshops. (c>American male students seem to be more comfortable than female(istudents as tinkerers and manipulators of detail. This seems to be broadly true in the culture as whole -*5nmen are more likely to fix their cars, change their oil, sheet-rock their living rooms. We believe it is also*5]true in computing: Male students spend more time "playing around" with UNIX than their female*5lcounterparts. 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Since we want mentors to be of the same ethnicity/sex as the mentee and there are simply*5enot enough mentors to make a significant impact, we will use a distributed mentoring system, in which*4_minorities and women mentors from other departments will be available to introductory students.+K5(Prior Work to Improve Classroom Culture.*5YThe Minority Engineering Program, (MEP), a 27 year old program at UMass has graduated 300(ktraditionally underrepresented minority student in the field of engineering. This program recruits, retains*4aand graduates students through an academinc support environment, including high school recruiting*5hprogram, two day high school events and four week summer residential programs. It also brings a job fair*5fto campus. The program support workshops, technical networking forum and above all a place fort people*4Lof similar ethnicity to gather with other to share their views and feelings.+K5`The MEP program has a critical mass of underrepresented undergraduate students who now engage in(ftutoring activities. We will add to this a strong peer mentoring systems for two introductory computer*4gscience and engineering courses. Peer mentoring has a crucial role to play in supporting minorities, as*5bexemplified by support from experienced members of the same or different ethnic group. Some of the*5hgoals in mentoring are to provide information, support and guidance. At the introductory IT course level*5\most of this support has to do with teaching the programming principles and methodology. The*4finformation can be done by email. The trust and support part which develops the relationship has to be*5hdone in person. We will teach the students to be mentors, in part by having them research general issues*5iin IT and identify the opportunities for career growth and personal development in IT. Five undergraduate*4dmentors will be hired to collectively cover the courses. Computers in the MEP office already provide*5Zaccess to the OWL system, tutors us them and thus can work with all our academic software.+K5]Several issues around mentoring will be explored. Who should mentor? How many mentors can one(7gclassroom support? What is a critical mass for peer mentoring?. Many underrepresented minorities have a*4ksense of cultural isolation in non-minority institutions. 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Instructor: Robert Moll, LGRC 257, 545-4315, email: moll@cs.umass.edu

Office hours: M 1:30-2:15; W 2:15-3; TH 4-5; F 1:30-3

Meeting: LGRt 117, TuTh 1-2:15

Textbook: Applied Combinatorics, Alan Tucker, Wiley, 3rd edition. Other texts on reserve PhysSci Lib

Grading: 60% homework problems; 15% midterm; 25% final. Collaborative solutions are allowed for homework problems marked "c". You are expected to work problems not marked "c" on your own. Homework problems are due in class on collection day. By and large late homework will not be accepted.

Syllabus

Homeworks


Last Updated: January 29, 2001
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