Syllabus

CIS 301: Logical Foundations of Programming


Objective and Topics

The first notions of formal logic were invented over 2000 years ago as philosophers attempted to develop systematic approaches for arriving at statements that were true. By the time we approach adulthood, we will have heard many people say (or we will have said ourselves): “that seems logical”, or “you’re being illogical”. By this, we understand that (in the first case) sound reasoning principles have been used, whereas in the latter case someone may be stating a conclusion that cannot be justified by sound reasoning from an initial set of true facts. This “every day” notion of logic that manifests itself in the arguments that we make in natural language is sometimes referred to as informal logic.

In contrast, in this course, we will study concepts related formal logics. In simple terms, a formal logic consists of some syntax for stating claims (properties that are either true or false) about the world (or some other more specialized domain in which we are interested) and rules for deriving claims that are guaranteed true.

Formal logic is deeply tied to computer science, because computers are great at “blindly following rules”, and many of the issues in which we are interested in computer science can be phrased as basic claims and systems of rules. The basic gates and circuits from which computers are built, the behavior of our programs as they execute, the protocols that our computer systems used to communicate, the expert systems that provide automated assistance to doctors, pilots, etc. all can have their behaviors defined or explained using formal logics. This is extremely important because it provides the basis for automated ruled-based reasoning for these systems.

In this course, we will learn the basic elements found in a formal logic including syntax for claims and rules for making deductions. We will also learn how to judge if our rules are suitable in the sense that they only lead us to claims that match the reality of the domain we are reasoning about.

Our focus will be on formal logics for reasoning about program behavior and for programming directly in terms of logic. We will see how tools based on logic are used to reason about safety and security critical software, network security, and security protocols.

Materials

The “Logika: Programming Logics” online course-notes are the main course materials. Other references will be provided as the course unfolds.

Schedule

Time:Tuedays (T) & Thursdays (U), 9:30am - 10:45am
Place:DUE1073

Credits

3 credits

Instructor

John Hatcliff, Office: 2160 Engineering Hall, Office Hours: 10:45-11:30am Tuesday and Thursday

Graduate Teaching Assistants

  • Joydeep Mitra, Office Hours: 2.30 - 4PM, in room 2206, Friday
  • George (Bud) LaVezzi, Office Hours: 3:30 - 4:30 PM, in room 1117, Monday and Wednesday

Grading

  • Homework: 25% (your lowest homework score will be dropped (not included in your grade calculations))
  • Exam 1: 22.5%
  • Exam 2: 22.5%
  • Final Exam: 30%

Final letter grades are assigned based on the following scale: 90% to earn an A, and 80% to earn a B; 70% to earn a C, and 60% to earn a D.

Homeworks

Homeworks are due almost every week and are to be submitted through GitHub. Each student will be given a private repository that can be used to commit homework assignments. Assignments that are late will not be graded (based the git log), unless in case of documented medical or family emergencies.

Exams

Exams will be closed-book and closed notes. The final will be comprehensive, but with emphasis on the latter part of the course.

Grievances

If you think the instructor or the TAs have made an error when grading your test or your homework, you are of course very welcome to ask for clarification. But complaints about judgment calls, like how much credit to give for a partially correct solution, are not encouraged (it is like arguing balls and strikes).

Attendance Policy

In general, there will be NO make-up exams (and homework)! Special consideration will be given in only exceptional circumstances. Exceptional circumstances are generally limited to:

  • Emergencies: death in student’s immediate family, or near-death experience of the student.
  • Non-emergencies: certified excused absences for official university activities.

If you believe you qualify for exceptional treatment, you must notify the instructor prior to the date of the exam or exercise to be missed.

Statement Regarding Academic Honesty

Kansas State University has an Honor System based on personal integrity, which is presumed to be sufficient assurance in academic matters one’s work is performed honestly and without unauthorized assistance. Undergraduate and graduate students, by registration, acknowledge the jurisdiction of the Honor System. The policies and procedures of the Honor System apply to all full and part-time students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate courses on-campus, off-campus, and via distance learning. The honor system website can be reach via the following URL: http://www.ksu.edu/honor.

A component vital to the Honor System is the inclusion of the Honor Pledge which applies to all assignments, examinations, or other course work undertaken by students. The Honor Pledge is implied, whether or not it is stated: “On my honor, as a student, I have neither given nor received unauthorized aid on this academic work.” A grade of XF can result from a breach of academic honesty. The F indicates failure in the course; the X indicates the reason is an Honor Pledge violation.

Other Administrative Issues

  • Incompletenes: An incomplete (I) final grade will be given only by prior arrangement in exceptional circumstances conforming to departmental policy in which the bulk of course work has been completed in passing fashion.
  • Drop Policy: It is your responsibility to drop the course if you are enrolled but decide not to complete the course — there are no “automatic” drops due to nonattendance. The University allows a retake of a course with removal of the prior grade, at most once per course, for a maximum of five courses.
  • Students with Disabilities: If you have any physical or learning disability which will make it difficult for you to carry out the work as I have outlined in this syllabus or which will require academic accommodations, please notify me the first two weeks of the course.
  • Harrassment: One purpose of your education is to help you develop skills, approaches, and abilities that are necessary for effective teamwork, and for your success in your profession and as a citizen. It is important that you understand your rights and responsibilities regarding the University’s Sexual and Racial Harassment policies (full text of the policies can be found on KSU’s web site at http://www.ksu.edu/uauc/fhbook/fhxj.html). If you experience any situations, in or out of class, that seem inappropriate or that make you uncomfortable, a list of resources and courses of action to assist you can be found on the College of Engineering web site at http://www.engg.ksu.edu/harassment-statement.
  • Expectations for Classroom Conduct: All student activities in the University, including this course, are governed by the Student Judicial Conduct Code as outlined in the Student Government Association By Laws, Article VI, Section 3, number 2. Students that engage in behavior that disrupts the learning environment may be asked to leave the class.
  • Campus Safety: Kansas State University is committed to providing a safe teaching and learning environment for student and faculty members. In order to enhance your safety in the unlikely case of a campus emergency make sure that you know where and how to quickly exit your classroom and how to follow any emergency directives. To view additional campus emergency information go to the University’s main page, http://www.k-state.edu, and click on the Emergency Information button.
  • Copyright Issues: Class and lecture notes for this course carry a copyright. Students are prohibited from selling (or being paid for taking) notes during this course to or by any person or commercial firm without the express written permission of the professor teaching this course.

For a more complete discussion of these issues see the course policies for the College of Engineering at Kansas State University: http://www.cis.ksu.edu/resources/intradept/syllabuspolicies.

Acknowledgment

The course material, including this syllabus, is adapted from the one taught by David A. Schmidt, Torben Amtoft, and Robby.