Computer Science 3600:
Algorithm Design and Analysis
(Winter 2027)

http://www.cs.mun.ca/~harold/Courses/CS3600/

Instructor	Office	Office Hours	Lectures
Todd Wareham harold@mun.ca	EN-2034 (709) 864-4601	TBA	Tue, 9:00-10:15 am, Thu, 9:00-10:15 am, EN-2040

Lecture Outline (Tentative)

• Basic Concepts (Problems; Algorithms; Asymptotic Worst-Case Time Complexity) (3 lectures) [Chapters 1-3, Cormen et al (2009)]
• Algorithm Design Techniques (Combinatorial solution-space trees (Brute force search / Backtracking / Branch and Bound); Divide-and-Conquer; Dynamic Programming; Greedy Algorithms; Exploiting Data Structures) (9 lectures) [Chapters 4, 6, and 15-16, Cormen et al (2009)]
• Graph Algorithms (Graph Traversal (Breadth-First); Minimum Spanning Trees; Shortest Paths) (6 lectures) [Chapters 22-25, Cormen et al (2009)]
• Computational Complexity Theory (Reductions; Hardness and Completeness; Classes P and NP; Heuristics (Hill Climbing / Genetic Algorithms); Randomized Algorithms; Cost-approximation Algorithms; Parameterized Algorithms) (4 lectures) [Chapters 34 and 35, Cormen et al (2009)]

My lectures and course materials, including course notes, tests, outlines and similar content are protected by copyright. I am the exclusive owner of the copyright in the materials I create. Smart glasses are not permitted to be worn or used in this class. You may take notes for your own use, but you may not record, reproduce or distribute lecture content, including through smart glasses, without my express written consent. Similarly, you own the copyright in your original work. If I wish to share your work, I will seek your written permission."

Evaluation Scheme

• There will be no supplementary exams. Marks for missed in-class exams (with appropriate documentation) will be averaged over the remaining exams at the instructor's discretion.
• Students must pass the final exam to pass the course.

Recommended Readings

• Aho, A.V., Hopcroft, J.E., and Ullman, J.D. (1974) The Design and Analysis of Computer Algorithms. Addison-Wesley.
• Brassard, G. and Bratley, P. (1996) Fundamentals of Algorithms. Prentice-Hall.
• Cormen, T.H., Leiserson, C.E., Rivest, R.L., and Stein, C. (2009) Introduction to Algorithms. Third Edition. The MIT Press; Cambridge, MA.
• Downey, R. and Fellows, M.R. (1999) Parameterized Complexity. Springer-Verlag; Berlin.
• Garey, M.R. and Johnson, D.S. (1979) Computers and Intractability: A Guide to the Theory of NP-Completeness. W.H. Freeman; San Francisco, CA.
• Horowitz, E. and Sahni, S. (1978) Fundamentals of Computer Algorithms. Computer Science Press; Rockville, MD.
• Johnsonbaugh, R. and Schaefer, M. (2003) Algorithms. Pearson Education; Upper Saddle River, NJ.
• Levitin, A. (2002) Introduction to the Design and Analysis of Algorithms. Addison-Wesley.
• Papadimitriou, C.H. (1994) Computational Complexity. Addison-Wesley.
• Papadimitriou, C.H. and Steiglitz, K. (1982) Combinatorial Optimization: Algorithms and Complexity. Prentice-Hall.
• Skiena, S. (2008) The Algorithm Design Manual. Second Edition. Springer-Verlag; Berlin.

• Memorial University of Newfoundland is committed to supporting inclusive education based on the principles of equity, accessibility, and collaboration. Accommodations are provided within the scope of the University Policies for the Accommodations of Students with Disabilities ( www.mun.ca/policy/site/policy.php?id=239). Students who may need an academic accommodation are asked to initiate the request with the Glenn Roy Blundon Centre at the earliest opportunity ( https://www.mun.ca/student/about-us/units-and-contacts/accessibility-services---the-blundon-centre/).
• Students are expected to adhere to those principles which constitute proper academic conduct. A student has the responsibility to know which actions, as described under Academic Offences in the University Regulations, could be construed as dishonest and improper. Students found guilty of an academic offence may be subject to a number of penalties commensurate with the offence including reprimand, reduction of grade, probation, suspension or expulsion from the University. For more information regarding this policy, students should refer to the University Regulations for Academic Misconduct (Section 6.12) in the University Calendar.

Created: October 21, 2026
Last Modified: October 21, 2026