FYSE 112: Designing and Breaking Codes: The Art of Secure Communication (Fall 2026)

Contact Information

  • Unofficial Course Name: Cryptography
  • Instructor: Michael Levet (He/Him/His)
    • Contact: lastnamefirstinitial (at) cofc (dot) edu
    • Office: Harbor Walk East 312
    • Location:
      • HWEA 301: 9:55-11:10 (Tuesday/Thursday)
    • Office Hours (Tentative):
      • Monday 9:30-10:30 AM; Wednesday 10-11 AM (Zoom)
      • By appointment
  • Syllabus
  • Microsoft Forms and Google Drive: (You must be signed in to your CofC account to access these forms.)

Announcements

  • 8/30:
    • We will have a Quiz on Modular Arithmetic on 9/3.
    • We will have a Quiz on the Affine Cipher on 9/10.
    • As usual, the worksheets from class serve as the study guides for the respective quizzes.
  • 8/26:
    • I have uploaded the presentation dates to the Google Drive. Please check that my records match yours. Let me know if anything is incorrect. Note that if you did not select a presentation date, then I assigned one for you.
    • I have created an assignment on OAKS called Presentation Grades. This will house the grade for your Presentation. I will update it as more parts of your Presentation become due/are completed. Right now, it includes your grade for selecting your Presentation Date. All other parts are listed as TBD.
  • 8/24:
    • We will have a quiz on the Caesar Cipher, on 8/27. The worksheet from class is a good study guide.
    • I have extended the Syllabus Quiz to 8/25 at 8 PM. There will be no further extensions after this.
    • If you have not already selected a presentation date (see below under 8/12), you have until 8/25 at 8 PM to do so.
    • After 8/25, I will record 0's for the Syllabus Quiz and Presentation Date, if these have not been completed.
  • 8/19:
    • Please upload evidence of your first Professional Development activity to OAKS by 9/15 at 8 PM.
    • The in-class writing portion for the first Professional Development activity will take place in class on 9/17.
      • You can bring in one 3 inch x 5 inch notecard, with handwritten notes (written by you).
      • You will have the entire 75 minute period to write a reflection. This will be handwritten.
    • Midterm 1 will be on 9/24. The exact content it will be covered will be determined later (with reasonable notice), based on what we end up covering.
  • 8/12:
    • The Syllabus Quiz will go online on 8/17. It will be due on 8/24 at 8 PM to OAKS.
    • You are welcome to have a four-function calculator for this course, to use on quizzes and exams. Scientific and graphing calculators (e.g., TI-83, TI-84, TI-89), will not be permitted on quizzes and exams. If there is any confusion, it is your responsibility to ask the instructor at least a week ahead of an assessment.
    • I will not have extra calculators on-hand for quizzes and exams.
    • Please fill out this Day One survey. It is optional, and is intended to help me get to know you all and plan the course.
    • Please select your 10-minute Current Events Presentation date here, by 8/24 at 8 PM.
    • After the 8/24 deadline, your presentation date will not be rescheduled, except in extenuating circumstances. In such cases, you must discuss with me as soon as possible.
    • Please upload a PDF to OAKS containing a link to your news article, together with a brief 1-2 paragraph summary (typed) of what you wish to present. The summary should be written by you, and not generative AI. Please use proper spelling and grammar. This is due by 8/31 at 8 PM.
  • 8/11: Website created.