Instructor: Neil Sigmon
Phone: 540-831-5340
Email: npsigmon@radford.edu
Homepage:
http://www.radford.edu/npsigmon
Course Homepage: http://www.radford.edu/~npsigmon/courses/govschool/cryptgovhome.html
Textbook: Printed Notes
Class Meeting Times: Monday-Friday 8:30-11:30 a.m. in Carroll 239
Grading
Policy: 80 % Hand written
Homework, Computer Assignments
20 % Research Project*
* This
part of your grade will require you to research
a type of cryptosystem, preferably in groups of 2-3, and do a joint
presentation
describing the history of your cipher and the method it uses for
encrypting and
decrypting messages.
Grade
Scale:
90-100 A
80-89 B
70-79 C
60-69 D
<
60 F
Course
Description
The
purpose of this course is to introduce students to cryptography,
the
science of secret message writing. Students will have the opportunity
to use
mathematical concepts to execute historical and modern cryptographical
algorithms.
Course
Objectives
Upon
completing the course, the student will be able to:
1. Appreciate the historical significance of
cryptography.
2. Employ
basic
concepts of algebra, number theory, statistics, and linear algebra to
execute
and crack both historical and modern cryptographic algorithms.
3. Understand the modern importance of
cryptography
and its use in everyday life.
4. To gain
a
better appreciation of the mathematical concepts mentioned in item 2
due to
their extensive use in cryptography.