2150 Course Information

Announcement:

CS 2150 is the 4th course in the algorithm course sequence in the CS department. Freshman/sophomores start with our required introductory algorithms and data structures course CS 0445, then take our sophomore/junior level required course on algorithms CS 1501 (both 0445 and 1501 are primarily implementation based), and then maybe take the elective junior/senior level algorithm design course CS 1510 (which is also numbered 2012 for masters students), which is the prereq to CS 2150. Here are some questions to help you find the appropriate entry point into this sequence for you:

Do you know (understand the design and analysis, and could implement without undue effort) most of the 25 essential algorithms for software engineers? If not, then the appropriate entry point for you would be no later than CS 1501.
Have you taken an algorithms course where you had to design and analyze your own algorithms (e.g. design dynamic programming algorithms for novel problems) and received a grade of B or better? If not, then the appropriate entry point for you would be no later than CS 1510/2012.

In Spring 2023 a large number of students registered for CS 2150 in spite of not having anywhere close to the algorithmic background necessary to be able to gain some reasonable benefit from the course. Having so many students who were so ill prepared resulted in discussions during lecture that were frustrating for both the instructor and for reasonably prepared students (and presumably also for the poorly prepared students). Thus I have instituted a requirement for instructor approval to register for CS 2150 starting in Spring 2024. If you want instructor approval, shoot me an email requesting it, with some background information (see below).

If you are a student in the CS, ISP or OR PhD programs, or have taken CS 1510/2012 with a grade of B or better, that is all the information I need.
For other students, I need some evidence that you have sufficient algorithmic background to be able to gain some benefit from the course, that is, you have taken a course roughly equivalent to CS 1510/2012 where you design and analyze your own algorithms. Ideally evidence that means a copy of your final exam and/or homework assignments, and a transcript showing a grade of B or better. Syllabi by themselves are generally of little use in evaluating the level of a course. A self assessment that you are prepared carries little to no weight as historical evidence suggests that this is an almost completely useless predictor.

For information on how to register once you get permission see: https://courses.sci.pitt.edu/permission
If I don't respond in say 3 business days, your email is probably buried so deep in my email stack that it is effectively lost. So please don't hesitate to followup with a second email in those situations.