UNIVERSITY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
Computer Science/Math 3320
THEORY OF COMPUTING
January 2026
Title:   Theory of Computing
     
Instructor:   Cezar Câmpeanu
     
Email:   ccampeanu < at > upei < dot > ca
     
Office:   CASS 408
     
Tel:   (902)566-0485
     
Textbook:   TBA
     
Course web site:   Go To: http://www.smcs.upei.ca/~ccampeanu,
or
http://www.upei.ca/smcs,
and follow the links: Faculty Members, Cezar Câmpeanu, Personal Website. Then follow Teaching, and MCS3320 under Winter 2026
     
Recommended reading:   Handbook of Formal Languages Vols. 1 - 3 Rozenberg, Grzegorz; Salomaa, Arto (Eds.) 1997, LXVIII, 2051 p. 272 illus., Hardcover ISBN: 3-540-61486-9
     
General description:   This course introduces automata theory, formal languages and computability. Topics include: finite automata, regular expressions, context-free and context-sensitive languages, Turing machines, recursive functions, recursive and recursively-enumerable sets, and unsolvable and intractable problems.
     
PREREQUISITE:   CS2920 and Math 2420
     
Essential to review:   Set theory, Mathematical Logic, including boolean algebras, Induction, Arithmetic/Number Theory (mainly Modular Arithmetic). Trying to bypass MATH 2420 may have as a result failing MCS3320.
     
Time and Location:   M/W/F 8:30-9:20
     
Office Hours:   TBA or by appointment (please send email-)
     
    This course is taking place on the traditional and unceded territory of the Lnu Epekwitk (Island Mi'kmaq), a district of Mi'kma'ki, the Mi'kmaq Nation.
     
    This course is committed to the principle of academic integrity. Submitted work is expected to reflect an individual effort. Copying or cheating on assignments or tests will be dealt with harshly. Students should read Academic Regulation 20 in the UPEI Calendar at page 113 (http://files.upei.ca/calendar.pdf(not updated to academic year 2025-2026 yet!) or online Academic Integrity).
     
    The following link will help you to maintain academic integrity and avoid plagiarism https://library.upei.ca/ai/home.
     
    You are expected to write your own code, your own proofs, your own examples, and so on. Unless explicitly specified in the assignment's text, the submitted work should be all yours.
     
    For some/all assignments/moodle resources and exams you may have to earn one or more academic integrity badges.
     
Grading scheme:
Assignments Midterm Examination Final Examination
30% 30% 40%
   
Course Resources:
  1. Assignments
  2. Handouts
  3. Assignment Policy
  4. Moodle Login
  5. Grail
  6. Tentative Schedule
   
Important Notices: Please, check course web site periodically for updates. For any problems concerning the MCS3320 pages, please contact me.
   
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Last modified:Wednesday September 10, 2025 at 11:55 pm ADT
Cezar Câmpeanu