Semester Two 2012 Cryptography and Coding Theory This course
deals with the mathematical ideas underlying modern
cryptography, including algebra, number theory and probability
theory. Cryptography is the science of making and breaking
secret codes: encryption is what keeps our credit card details
safe when we send them over the internet. We will study the
mathematics behind some of the main encryption systems in
current use. Coding theory comprises a second half of the
course. It provides the theory and methods for coding
information so that it can be transmitted over a noisy channel
and be accurately decoded by the receiver. Cryptography and
coding theory draw on ideas from algebra, geometry, number
theory and probability theory. The course is aimed at students
majoring in computer science or mathematics. It follows on from
MATH220 (Discrete Mathematics and Cryptography); it is good
preparation for or a good complement to COSC332 (Data and
Network Security), COSC413 (Advanced Topics in Algorithms) and
COSC43