Fall 2008
CSC 332
CSC 415/515 is an introduction to key concepts and applications of artificial intelligence. While conventional artificial intelligence focuses upon knowledge representation and expert systems, this course will center upon finding solutions for search, optimization, and constraint satisfaction problems such as may commonly arise in application areas as signal and object detection, pattern recognition, and classification, scheduling, system control, and reasoning under uncertainty A variety of techniques will be studied including both conventional search and optimization methods as well as biologically inspired computing using neural networks, genetic algorithms, particle swarms, or fuzzy logic. The course meets for three lecture hours per week. Additional meetings may be required for group work, laboratory exercise demonstrations, or programming projects.
A central goal of this course is to provide the student with practical experience with the algorithms and techniques for deriving human-like behavior from machines. Accordingly, students will be required to participate in group programming projects that entail the design, development, implementation, and testing of software to solve a wide variety of problems. These may include route planning, sensor signal processing, image processing, or control. Students will be expected to:
M. Tim Jones, Artificial Intelligence: A Systems Approach, Infinity Science Press, Hingham, MA 02043. ISBN 978-0-9778582-3-1
Professor Gene A. Tagliarini
CIS 2038
tagliarinig@uncw.edu
(910) 962-7572
M and W, 9:30-11:30 AM
Other office hours may be arranged by appointment.
Your final grade will be determined based upon your performance on the mid-term and final examinations as well as the programming projects, a written report of findings, and a presentation of findings. The tests will be weighted 30% (2 tests* 15% each = 30% total), the projects will be weighted 36% (6 typically programming exercises * 6% each) of the final grade, and the report and presentation of findings 34%. Note: even though the typical program weights (6%) seem slight, they are essential to preparing the final report; hence, their cumulative effects influence 70% (36% programs + 34% final report) of the final grade. Graduate students will be required to complete additional programming assignments and test questions.
The tests will be given according to the following schedule:
Test Date
Mid-term Wednesday, 24 September 2008
Final Exam Friday, 12 December 2008, 3:00 – 6:00 PM
Your final grade will be determined according to the following scale:
Final average Grade
90-100 A
80-89.999 B
70-79.999 C
60-69.999 D
less than 60 F
In addition to an exceptional performance on the intermediate tests and final exam, a final grade of "A" will require that the student's programming projects correctly provide all specified functionality, and that his/her final report and presentation constitute an exemplary description of the student’s experimental findings.
The instructor reserves the right, solely at his own discretion, to curve grades.
Incomplete grades are
given only very rarely and only when the student is
The instructor MUST be
able to certify all three of these
factors to the chair before assigning a grade of "I".
Event Date
Last day to drop (without a grade) Wednesday, 27 August 2008
Last day to withdraw with W (undergraduate) Thursday, 9 October 2008
Last day to withdraw with W (graduate) Tuesday, 11 November 2008
A tentative schedule is available online. At the discretion of the instructor, the reading schedule may be adapted to include additional selections. You should explore the content of the text(s) as needed to supplement class discussions. Please express leadership by taking the initiative to read about areas if interest without waiting for specific reading assignments to cover a topic that attracts your attention. There will not be time in class to discuss all of the required reading, so you should plan for some independent study. (In addition, you should allocate time for office hours visits as appropriate.) If you have questions regarding topics in the text, please e-mail your questions to the instructor, ask during class, visit during office hours or make alternative meeting arrangements.
Demonstrations or laboratory documentation of functioning programs are due on the dates shown in the schedule. Late penalties of 25%, 50%, and 100% apply for assignments delivered up to 24 hours late, more than 24 but less than 48 hours late, and more than 48 hours late, respectively.
Regular attendance and vigorous participation in class are expected but not required. However, if you desire the "benefit of the doubt" in any matter related to your grade in the class, you will routinely be present, ask relevant questions, and cooperate with the instructor as well as the course objectives. Each student is personally responsible for material covered during each class meeting.
If you have a disability and need reasonable accommodation in this course, you should inform the instructor of this fact in writing within the first week of class or as soon as possible. If you have not already done so, you must register with the Office of Disability Services in Westside Hall (ext. 3746) and obtain a copy of your Accommodation Letter. You should then meet with your instructor to make mutually agreeable arrangements based on the recommendations of the Accommodation Letter.