Introduction
to Cryptography
Instructor: Neil Sigmon
Phone: 831-5340
Office: Whitt
226
Email: npsigmon@radford.edu
Homepage: http://www.radford.edu/npsigmon
Course Homepage: http://www.radford.edu/npsigmon/courses/cryptography/crypthome132.html
Office Hrs: 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Tuesday,
Thursday (Other
times by appointment)
Office Hrs Zoom Link: https://radford.zoom.us/j/8709794059
Textbook: Cryptology Classical and Modern, 2nd
Edition, Klima and Sigmon. We will cover sections from Chapters 1, 2, 3, 6,
7, 9, and 11
Class
Meeting Times: Tuesday, Thursday 3:30
a.m. - 4:45 p.m. in Peters C143. This course counts 3
Test Dates: To be announced (There will be two major tests and a
final exam).
Final Exam
Date: Thursday, December 9th at 12:30 p.m. in
Peters C143.
Grading
Policy: 44 % 2 Major Tests
22 % Final Exam
20 % Hand written Homework, Computer
Assignments
7 %
Term Paper*
7 % D2L
Cryptography Discussion Participation**
* The term paper will be a short paper (4 pages)
describing a person or cryptographic method pertaining to cryptology. I will
give you a handout later this semester showing possible topics. I must approve
the topic you choose. The paper should be typewritten (using Microsoft Word, for
example) using 1.5 line spacing and should have good grammatical structure with
references clearly stated. Do not plagiarize! The term paper will be due on Thursday, November 18th.
** For this part of the grade, you will be required to
participate in Desire2Learn (D2L) discussion groups. This discussion will include you
communicating with your classmates in groups (preferably using the wireless
capabilities of your laptop) in a secret manner using some of the cryptographic
techniques we study in class. You will have the opportunity to encrypt and
decrypt your own messages and to break messages sent by others.
Grade Scale: 90-100 A
87-89 B+
80-86 B
77-79 C+
70-76 C
67-69 D+
60-66 D
<
60 F
A
“-”
grade will be awarded at the discretion of the instructor
Prerequisite: High School Algebra, Honors Academy
membership or permission of instructor.
“Makeup”
Test Policy: Approval for making up a
missed test should be given prior to the scheduled test. The makeup test
must be taken within one week following the scheduled test.
Documentation is required for all make-ups. Except for extraordinary
circumstances, approval for a makeup test will not be granted if the scheduled
test has already been given.
Late Homework Policy: Late hand written homework will be accepted but only
limited credit will be given. I consider late homework to be homework turned in
later than 5:00 p.m. of the day the assignment is due. The maximum number of points
a student can receive for a late homework is ten points lower than the minimum
grade of all students who have turned in the assignment on time. For example,
if an assigned homework is worth 80 points and the lowest score of the on-time
assignments is 60/80, the maximum grade a student can receive for the
assignment is 50/80. No exceptions to this policy will be granted
except for extreme circumstances that require official university documentation
or a predetermined arrangement between the student and myself that is done prior
to the assignment due date. Late assignments must be turned in within one
class day of the assignment due date to obtain any credit.
Attendance
Policy: Attendance is a requirement in this class. If you miss a
class, you are responsible for making up any missed work. Attendance will be
taken each class period. Attendance means RESPONSIBILITY
– I look much more favorably on students who have good attendance habits.
Laptop/Cell
Phone/Electronic Device Policy: No cell phones, computers, or other electronic devices are
to be used in this class when these devices are not being used in a way that is
conducive for learning what is being taught in class during a particular day or
time. Determining what is conducive will be left up to the instructor's
discretion. The instructor retains the right to ask a student to leave class if
they exhibit this or any other behavior that is a distraction to
learning for other students in the class.
Catalog Course Description: An
introduction to the application of mathematical ideas for Honors students.
Topics vary. This course can be taken more than once with different topics.
This course has been approved for credit in the Mathematical Sciences of the
Core Curriculum.
Student Goals
and Objectives of the Course: Students should gain a deeper understanding
and appreciation for mathematics and its applications, and some skill in
addressing the particular types of quantitative issues included in the course. Math 132 concentrates on applications.
Applications likely to be treated—cryptology is an example—are those which are
interesting to many people, can be profitably approached using only elementary
mathematics, and reward careful study with deepened understanding and
appreciation of the power and beauty of mathematics.
Students will be able
to use the tools of mathematics and quantitative reasoning to conceptualize and
solve problems. Students will be able to:
a. identify and interpret relationships among numeric, symbolic, and graphical
information
b. generate mathematical models using numeric, symbolic, and graphical
information for use in
real-world applications
c. solve problems using numeric, symbolic, and graphical information
Disability
Policy: Students seeking academic
accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act must register with the
Center for Accessibility Services (CAS) to determine eligibility. Students
qualified for academic accommodations will receive accommodation letters and
should meet with each course professor during office hours, to review and
discuss accommodations. To begin the registration process, complete a
Student Registration Form and submit documentation to PO Box 6902, Radford,
Virginia 24142, or deliver to the Russell Hall, Room 325, by fax to 540-831-6525, or by
email to cas@radford.edu (See documentation guidelines). For more
information, visit the Center for Accessibility Services (CAS) website or call 540-831-6350.
Radford University Mask Policy: To help prevent the spread of Covid 19, all students
are supposed to wear a face mask in class. In case you forget your mask, I will
try to have a few extra on hand that can be used.
Honor Code: By accepting
admission to Radford University, each student makes a commitment to understand,
support, and abide by the University Honor Code without compromise or
exception. Violations of the University Honor Code include (but are not limited
to): lying, stealing and unauthorized possession of property, cheating,
multiple submission, and plagiarism. This class will be conducted in strict
observation of the honor code. Refer to your Student Handbook for a complete
copy of the University Honor Code.