Course Syllabus
Contact Information
Course Details
By taking this course, you will learn about current techniques that enable machines to learn and adapt their behavior over time and to new situations. You will take a small step into creating intelligent machines for the future by choosing and completing a team-based semester-long machine learning project. You will also gain experience at teamwork and at presenting your work professionally through the project and homework.
Course Prerequisites
- CS 2413 (Data Structures)
- CS 2813 or MATH 2513 (Discrete Mathematics)
- MATH 4753 or ISE 3293 or MATH 4743 (A course on Statistics)
- MATH 3333 (Linear Algebra)
- MATH 3113 or MATH 3413 (further mathematical maturity which can be exhibited by ODEs or another advanced mathematical course).
Course Materials
Required materials:
- Elements of Statistical Learning by Hastie, Tibshirani, and Friedman. This is available online for free. Download the latest edition, which is the 12th printing. http://web.stanford.edu/~hastie/ElemStatLearn/
- Reinforcement Learning by Sutton and Barto. This one is also available online for free. Download the latest (2nd) edition of the book. http://incompleteideas.net/book/the-book-2nd.html.
Optional Materials: There are several optional books that are listed on the class website.
https://www.cs.ou.edu/~diochnos/teaching/CS4033-5033/2022S/index.php.
Other books of interest:
Domingos in The Master Algorithm: How the Quest for the Ultimate Learn- ing Machine Will Remake Our World [1], has a very nice (high-level) description, sometimes accompanied by historical anecdotes, on different aspects of machine learning. Valiant’s book Probably Approximately Correct: Nature’s Algorithms for Learning and Prospering in a Complex World [6] provides a good narrative for connections that we discuss between evolution and learning. Finally, an unfortunate side of the ever-increasing influence that machine learning algorithms have in our daily lives is dis- cussed in Weapons of math destruction: How big data increases inequality and threatens democracy, by Cathy O’ Neil [4]. Along these lines the book by Michael Kearns and Aaron Roth, titled The Ethical Algorithm: The Science of Socially Aware Algorithm Design [3], is also highly recommended.
Grades
Breakdown
| Activity | Description | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Semester-Long Project | 50% | |
| Homework | There will be 6 homework assignments | 50% |
| Total | 100% |
Grade Policy
| Percentage | Grade |
|---|---|
| ≥ 90% | A |
| ≥ 80% | B |
| ≥ 70% | C |
| ≥ 60% | D |
| ≥ Otherwise | F |
Grades may be curved at the end of the semester, but grade thresholds will never be higher than those shown above.
Grade Questions: To maintain fairness in grading, the items should be brought to the person who graded it. To maintain fairness, all disagreements about the grading of projects should be brought to our attention within one week of when the item was returned.
Online Grade Summary: Canvas has a grade book that I will use to store all of your grades. It is your responsibility to verify that the grades on Canvas are correct. If an error is found, bring the document to me and I will correct Canvas.
Borderline Grades: Borderline final grades will be decided by your class participation which means that being an active participant in class can push you over a grade boundary.
Final Examination: Because this class contains a semester-long project, there will be no final examination.
Due Dates: To be fair to everyone and to minimize disruption to class, homeworks and projects are due at midnight on the day listed in the schedule.
Projects: Your final project will be due the last week of classes. Per university policy, you may turn this project in prior to pre-finals week if you have completed the project.
Late Work Policy
You can postpone once your homework submission by 24 hours without any penalty. After the first time that you have a late submission, a 10% (of the maximum possible grade) penalty will be applied for every day that is late – the maximum delay can be 3 days (including the first time that you have a late submission).
We will be using an electronic system (Canvas) for the students’ submissions and therefore it is your responsibility to turn in your homework on time. You are allowed to upload multiple copies of your work, so always make sure that you have submitted something.
Project Code
Your project code and write-ups must be written exclusively by you. Use of any downloaded code or code taken from a book (whether documented or undocumented) is considered academic misconduct and will be treated as such. Exceptions from this policy (such as a project that builds on an existing open-source project) may be granted but you MUST speak with me first.
University Academic Policies and Student Support
Course Catalog
Search the OU Course Catalog.
Student Handbook
Please familiarize yourself with the OU Student Handbook.
Online Library
Access digital materials and other resources at OU Libraries.
Academic Misconduct
In addition to the course conduct policies outlined by your professor in the Course Syllabus in the online classroom, please review the Graduate Student Handbook.
It is the responsibility of each student to be familiar with the definitions, policies, and procedures concerning academic misconduct. The Student Code is available from the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, and is contained in the Student's Guide to Academic Integrity.
This site also defines misconduct, provides examples of prohibited conduct, and explains the sanctions available for those found guilty of misconduct.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the most common form of academic misconduct at OU. There is basically no college-level assignment that can be satisfactorily completed by copying. OU's basic assumption about writing is that all written assignments show the student's own understanding in the student's own words. That means all writing assignments, in class or out, are assumed to be composed entirely of words generated (not simply found) by the student, except where words written by someone else are specifically marked as such with proper citation. Including other people's words in your paper is helpful when you do it honestly and correctly. When you don't, it's plagiarism.
For more information about plagiarism, watch this video and then take this short course offered by University Libraries.
Diversity Statement
The University of Oklahoma is committed to achieving a diverse, equitable, and inclusive university community by embracing each person's unique contributions, background and perspective. The University of Oklahoma recognizes that fostering an inclusive environment for all, with particular attention to the needs of historically marginalized populations, is vital to the pursuit of excellence in all aspects of our institutional mission. This enhances the OU experience for all students, faculty and staff and for the communities we engage.
Land Acknowledgement
Long before the University of Oklahoma was established, the land on which the University now resides was the traditional home of the “Hasinais” Caddo Nation and “Kirikirʔi:s” Wichita & Affiliated Tribes.
We acknowledge this territory once also served as a hunting ground, trade exchange point, and migration route for the Apache, Comanche, Kiowa and Osage nations.
Today, 39 tribal nations dwell in the state of Oklahoma as a result of settler and colonial policies that were designed to assimilate Native people.
The University of Oklahoma recognizes the historical connection our university has with its indigenous community. We acknowledge, honor and respect the diverse Indigenous peoples connected to this land. We fully recognize, support and advocate for the sovereign rights of all of Oklahoma’s 39 tribal nations. This acknowledgment is aligned with our university’s core value of creating a diverse and inclusive community. It is an institutional responsibility to recognize and acknowledge the people, culture and history that make up our entire OU Community.
Non-Discrimination Policy
The University does not discriminate or permit discrimination by any member of its community against any individual based on the individual’s race, color, religion, political beliefs, national origin, age (40 or older), sex, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity, gender expression, disability, or veteran status in matters of admissions, employment, financial aid, housing, services in educational programs or activities, or health care services that the University operates or provides. For more information, please contact the Institutional Equity Office.
Reasonable Accommodation for Disabilities
The University of Oklahoma is committed to providing reasonable accommodation for all students with disabilities. Students with disabilities who require accommodations in this course should contact their professor as early in the semester as possible.
Students with disabilities must be registered with the Accessibility and Disability Resource Center prior to receiving accommodations in this course.
If you have a disability and you would like to make a request for reasonable accommodation, please see the Graduate Student Handbook or get in touch with the Accessibility and Disability Resource Center.
Adjustments for Pregnancy/Childbirth Related Issues
Should you need modifications or adjustments to your course requirements because of documented pregnancy-related or childbirth-related issues, please contact me as soon as possible to discuss your options. Generally, modifications will be made where medically necessary and similar in scope to accommodations based on temporary disability. Learn more about the rights of pregnant and parenting students by consulting the FAQ sheets provided by the Institutional Equity Office.
Title IX Resources
For any concerns regarding gender-based discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, stalking, or intimate partner violence, the University offers a variety of resources, including advocates on-call 24/7, counseling services, mutual no contact orders, scheduling adjustments and disciplinary sanctions against the perpetrator. Please contact the Title IX Office at 405-325-2215 (8–5, M–F) or OU Advocates at 405-615-0013 (24/7) to learn more or to report an incident. Also, please be advised that a professor/GA/TA is required to report instances of sexual harassment, sexual assault, or discrimination to the Sexual Misconduct Office.
Religious Holidays
It is the policy of the University to excuse absences of students that result from religious observances and to provide without penalty for the rescheduling of examinations and additional required classwork that may fall on religious holidays. It is the responsibility of the student to make alternate arrangements with the instructor at least one week prior to the actual date of the religious holiday.
Student Grievances
In addition to any policies outlined related to submitting an informal or formal grievance by your professor in the Course Syllabus in the online classroom, please review the Graduate Student Handbook for more information about the process of submitting a formal grievance.
Copyright Policy
It is illegal to download, upload, reproduce, or distribute any copyrighted material, in any form and in any fashion, without permission from the copyright holder or their authorized agent. The University of Oklahoma expects all members of its community to comply fully with federal copyright laws. If such laws appear to have been violated by any user, the university reserves the right (1) to terminate that user's access to some or all of the university's computer systems and information resources and (2) to take additional disciplinary actions as deemed necessary or appropriate. Repeat offenders will be sanctioned and their privileges terminated.
Registration and Withdrawal
If you choose to withdraw from this course, you must complete the appropriate University form and turn the form in before the deadline. If you stop attending the course and doing the coursework without doing the required paperwork, your grade will be calculated with missed homework and examination grades entered as zero. This could result in receiving a grade of F in the course. Deadlines are shown in the Academic Calendar, which is available from the Office of the Registrar.
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|