Project Challenge Spring 2009
Cryptography through the Ages
Instructor: Christino Tamon
Meetings: Science Center 334 (Internet Teaching Lab), 9am-12pm
Dates: January 17,24,31 and February 7,14
Description
Cryptography is the science of designing and breaking secret codes.
This course will describe the progress of cryptography through the ages, from the time
of the Roman empire, through the modern day techniques of the digital revolution, and
to the future ideas based on quantum physics. The course will focus on the basic underlying
ideas of cryptography and their simple implementation using computer programs. A fair amount
of the course material will involve computer programming in a suitable programming language.
Some basic knowledge of mathematics and programming would be helpful but is not necessary.
Objectives and Outcomes:
The main objective is to convey the basic ideas behind cryptography from its classical beginnings,
to the current modern-day applications, and with a brief glimpse to its future. A secondary objective
is to show how mathematics and computer science can play an important role in our lives through cryptography.
The expected learning outcomes include the understanding of the basic concepts behind computer applications
that require cryptography and also of the basic software programs used in cryptography (for example,
C, C++, Java, or some other modern programming languages).
Tentative Schedule
Recommended Reading
- Simon Singh, "The Code Book," Anchor, 1999.
- David Kahn, "The Codebreakers," revised edition, Scribner, 1996.
- Bruce Schneier, "Applied Cryptography," 2nd edition, John Wiley & Sons, 1986.
