Math 348 - Cryptography

Spring 2018

 

Instructor: Shubhangi Saraf

Email:   shubhangi.saraf@rutgers.edu

Timing:  TF 12 pm- 1:20 am 

Location:  BE 250 (Livingston Campus)

Office hours:  Wednesday 2 pm – 3 pm (Hill 426, Busch Campus)

 

Prerequisites: Linear Algebra (Math 250) and one of Math 300, 356, or 477, or permission of department.

General Information:  This is an upper level mathematics course. It is directed at students in mathematics, electrical engineering, or computer science who have strong interest in mathematics and want to learn about the exciting applications of algebra and number theory to cryptography and cryptanalysis.  The course will have two midterm exams, a final term paper assignment, and homework assignments (each comprising roughly 25% of the grade).

Description: This course is an introduction to modern cryptography. The course begins with a description of the evolution of cryptography and cryptanalysis from ancient times through World War II. We then turn to some of the amazing discoveries of public key crypto systems in the 1970s that completely revolutionized cryptography and we develop and discuss the mathematical tools that are used. We will also go on to discuss some of the more advanced topics such as digital signatures, one way functions, pseudorandom generators and zero-knowledge proofs. 

Recommended Text: Introduction to Cryptography with Coding Theory (Second Edition) by Wade Trappe and Lawrence C. Washington

Other Resources:

We will also be using Wesley Pegden's course notes

Another great resource: Jeffrey Hoffstein, Jill Pipher, and Joseph Silverman, An introduction to Mathematical Cryptography, Springer-Verlag, ISBN 9781441926746.  Rutgers has an electronic site license for this book that is currently available here.

Lecture Notes by Brandon Bate available here

The Code Book: The Science of Secrecy from Ancient Egypt to Quantum Cryptography by Simon Singh

 

Homework 1 (due Feb 2)

Homework 2 (due Feb 16)

Homework 3 (due March 2)

Homework 4 (due March 30)

Homework 5 (due April 20)

 

MIDTERM 1: Scheduled for Feb 23 (in class)

 

MIDTERM 2: Scheduled for April 13 (in class)