Fall 2026
Syllabus contents
| Instructor | Dr. Devangi N. Parikh |
|---|---|
| What to call me | Dr. Parikh |
| Pronouns | she/her/hers |
| dnp@cs.utexas.edu | |
| Office | GDC 5.704 |
| Office Hours | Check Canvas (“Logistics” Module) |
| Teaching Assistants | |
| Check Canvas for the list of amazing teaching assistants and undergrad course assistants that will be helping with this course. | |
| Section | Time | Location | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lectures | |||
| 54890 54895 |
TTh 5:00 PM–6:15 PM | GDC 5.302 | Turing |
| 54885 | TTh 2:00 PM–3:30 PM | ECJ 1.222 | CSB |
| Discussion Sections | |||
| 54885 | F 3:30 PM–4:45 PM | CBA 4.348 | |
| 54890 | F 12:00 PM–1:15 PM | WCP 5.102 | |
| 54895 | F 2:00 PM–3:15 PM | WAG 308 | |
This course discusses discrete mathematics, the part of mathematics devoted to the study of distinct or unconnected elements. Discrete mathematics provides the mathematical foundations for many computer science classes, including data structures, algorithms, database theory, automata theory, formal languages, compilers, security and operating systems.
By the end of the course, you will be able to:
These textbooks are not required, meaning there will be no reading assigned or problems assigned from the textbook. However, the textbooks may serve as an additional resource.
We will be using Ed Discussion as our class’ discussion board. Ed will be the preferred and quickest way to communicate with the teaching team.
You are encouraged to respond to your class-mates posts. I expect you to make good use of the discussion board when you have technical or administrative questions or problems.
You are responsible for any and all information posted to the discussion board. You are expected to read all announcements within a timely manner.
If the teaching team needs to get in touch with you, we will use your email officially registered with UT. You are expected to check your email in a timely manner.
Do not use Canvas messages to contact the teaching team. If you use Canvas Messages, you may not receive a reply.
Read this syllabus.
The course moves fast, so keep up with the class. This includes coming to the class prepared. Do the readings and watch the assigned videos. Be prepared to have productive discussions during the class time, both with me as well as your fellow classmates.
There may be some of you that may have seen this material before. If that is the case, I encourage you to remain curious and explore the materials further in depth. Be aware that your classmates may not be as familiar with the material as you are. So be kind and respectful.
Help each other learn. By explaining the concept to another person, helps you further your understanding.
Participation is an important aspect of your learning. You are expected to actively participate in class, discussion section, office hours and on the discussion board. Your participation accounts for 6% of your final grade.
A set of practice problems will be given out each week. A solution to these problems will be given out as well. Using these solutions, you are expected to self-assess your work. Your completed problems are to be turned in for a credit of 6% of your final grade. You can collaborate with others when you work on these problem sets. If you do so, please write the names of the students you collaborated with on your submission.
The quiz that you will take at the end of each the discussion section will a mix of multiple-choice, and free response questions. Engaging in the activities your teaching assistants have planned for you, will help your performace on the quiz. The quizzes will make up for 23% of your final grade. You may not collaborate or use any form of assistance on your quiz.
These exams will help you review the materials, and showcase what you have learned. You are not allowed to collaborate on the Exams. This includes discussing the question or answers with your classmates, friends or TAs. You may not discuss the exam question or answers till the grades are released to you.
There will be 2 midterm exams during the semester. The first midterm will be on October 1, 2026 and the second midterm will be on November 5, 2026 dates in the evening from 7p–9p. The midterms are worth 40% of your final grade.
There will be a final exam on TBD during Finals Week. The final exam is worth 25% of your final grade.
You will have a total of 4 slip days in increments of 1 day units (that is, 1 minute to 24 hours late = 1 slip day, etc.) to use throughout the semester to extend your problem set assignment deadline. However, you may use only one slip day on any particular assignment. Other than that, you may divide your slip days across the assignments in any way you wish, subject to the 4 slip days total and the maximum 1 slip day per assignment. Slip days are to account for unexpected life circumstances and emergencies. Use your slip days wisely. If you use all your slip days and are unable turn in your assignment on time for any reason then you will receive a 0 for that assignment.
The score of two assignments (quiz and problem sets) will be dropped from the final grade calculation. These drops serve as a safety net in case you miss an assignment because of illness or other obligations that may come up. The two dropped assignments could be both quizzes, both problem sets, or one quiz and problem set. If you have not missed any assignments during the semester, then two assignments of the lowest score will be dropped. These drops will be applied automatically, you do not need to reach out to the teaching team to get these drops.
In general, there are no make-up or extra credit opportunities for participation, problem sets, quizzes, and/or exams. However, if you have an extenuating circumstance, such as an extended illness, work conflicts, or other issues, please fill out the exception form as you are able. We will consider form submissions at the end of the term, and the timeliness of your submission may matter. Also, if you need to quarantine, are ill, or even think you might sneeze, please stay home and rest, and then please submit any missed work via the exception form when you are able. If you are having trouble catching up after an extended absence, let us know, and we will help you create a plan for success.
One of the objectives of this class is to communicate coherent and accurate mathematical arguments which will demonstrate your reasoning skills. This is done via proofs of theorems and claims. The proof you present (in class, on problem sets, quizzes, or exams) must convince the reader the accuracy and correctness of your mathematical argument. To ensure we communicate effectively, you must follow the format, terminology and notation that is established in class. Your work will be evaluated on the basis of the legibility, clarity and how easy it is to understand the proof you write. At times the proof that you write may seem logical to you, but the reader may not be able to follow your steps of reasoning. There will be other times where you believe points have been taken off for a small mistake, but it may be the case that the small mistake is actually a fundamental error in the mathematical argument.
If an error as been made while grading your work (i.e., you have a correct answer but it was marked wrong, or your score was added incorrectly, bring your requests to the teaching team within one week of receiving your grade.
While I welcome your regrade requests, I will not entertain any debate on the rubric.
To summarize, your final grade will comprise of the following assessments
| Category | % of Final Grade |
|---|---|
| Participation | 6% |
| Problem Sets | 6% |
| Quizzes | 23% |
| Midterm Exams | 40% |
| Final Exam | 25% |
The University and the Department are committed to preserving the reputation of your UT degree. To guarantee that every degree means what it says it means, we must enforce a strict policy on academic honesty: Every piece of work that you turn in with your name on it must be yours. Students who violate University rules on scholastic dishonesty in assignments or exams are subject to disciplinary penalties, including the possibility of a lowered or 0 grade on an assignment or exam, failure in the course, and/or dismissal from the University.
Changing your exam answers after they have been graded, copying answers during exams, or plagiarizing the work of others (classmates or from the internet), using your phone or generative AI during the exams will be considered academic dishonesty and will not be tolerated. You may not search for solution to problems given in the class on the internet. Moreover, you may not copy these solutions or be inspired by them and claim they are your own work. Plagiarism detection software will be used on the programs submitted in this class. If cheating is discovered, a report will be made to the Dean of Students.
HOP 2-9970 prohibits students from recording class instruction (audio or video) unless a student obtains the instructor’s permission or Disability & Access has approved audio recording as an accommodation.
Generative AI use is strictly prohibited. Students are not authorized to use AI to generate ideas, outline an approach, answer questions, solve problems, or to create any product or output with any generative AI tool. All work in this course must be produced entirely on your own or created in group work, where allowed. Using generative AI tools for academic work in this course may constitute academic misconduct under UT Austin’s Institutional Rules and may be referred to Student Conduct and Academic Integrity in the Office of the Dean of Students for resolution.
Professional courtesy and sensitivity are especially important with respect to how we address each other, and we strive to address you in the ways you prefer. Class rosters are provided to the instruction with the student’s chosen name, which you may update through UTDirect ( https://utdirect.utexas.edu/apps/ais/chosen_name/student/). That said, we will gladly honor your request to address you by a name that is different from what appears on the official roster and by the pronouns you use (she/he/they/ze, etc). Please advise us of any changes early in the semester so that we may make appropriate updates to our records.
My policy is to fully support all students with disabilities to the best of my ability. At no time is it required that you disclose the nature of your disability to me, and I will not ask you to do so. If you are a student with a UT-acknowledged disability, I ask that you meet with me 1-1 to discuss accommodations as soon as you have your accommodation letter in hand. I do ask that you meet with me by the 12th class day so that we can put your accommodations in place as soon as possible.
If you are a student with a disability that has not yet been acknowledged by UT’s Services for Students with Disabilities, I hope that you will be willing to let me know that you need accommodations. I ask that you meet with me 1-1 to develop a plan for your success this semester. University-required language: The University of Texas at Austin provides upon request appropriate academic accommodations for qualified students with disabilities. For more information, contact the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement, DisabilityandAccess at 471-6259, 471-4641 TTY
Children are always welcome. I understand that if you have childcare responsibilities, you are a special-level of exhausted. Please talk to me if you need help.
At all times, we are not just our academic selves but our whole selves, with responsibilities and pressures from outside the classroom. If you find that those responsibilities or circumstances are preventing you from participating in this class, please contact me as soon as possible.
Religion (or lack thereof) is an important part of who we are. If a holy day observed by your religion falls during the semester and you require accommodations due to that, please let me know as soon as possible. Email is an acceptable form of communication, though please use the format described in Emails to the Instructor and TAs, p. 5 so I am more likely to receive it. In order to guarantee accommodations around exams and other big deadlines, I will need notice of at least two weeks. If you are unable (or forget!) to provide that notice, please contact me anyway in case I can still accommodate you.
University-required language: A student who is absent from an examination or cannot meet an assignment deadline due to the observance of a religious holy day may take the exam on an alternate day or submit the assignment up to 24 hours late without penalty, ONLY if proper notice of the planned absence has been given. Notice must be given at least 14 days prior to the classes which will be missed. For religious holy days that fall within the first 2 weeks of the semester, notice should be given on the first day of the semester. Notice must be personally delivered to the instructor and signed and dated by the instructor, or sent certified mail. Email notification will be accepted if received, but a student submitting email notification must receive email confirmation from the instructor.
Do your best to maintain a healthy lifestyle this semester by eating well, exercising, getting enough sleep and taking some time to relax. This will help you achieve your goals and cope with stress. That said, sometimes that is not enough. If you experience any academic stress, difficult life events, or feelings like anxiety or depression, we strongly encourage you to seek support. All of us benefit from support during difficult times. There are many helpful resources available on campus and an important part of the college experience is learning how to ask for help. You may begin by talking to any of us, and we’ll help you get connected to resources, or the Counseling and Mental Health Center is here to help you. Asking for support sooner rather than later is often helpful. If you are struggling, know you are not alone. We all need help when we are struggling. Please reach out to me if you need help so that I can support you. Counselors are available Monday-Friday 8am-5pm at the UT Counseling and Mental Health Center (CMHC) on the 5th floor of the Student Services Building (SSB) in person and by phone (512-471-3515). The 24/7 UT Crisis Line is 512-471-2255
If you experience an emergency situation during the semester, Student Outreach and Support (SOS) is here to help you. They can help in the event of family emergencies, medical or mental health concerns, and interpersonal violence, among other situations. If you experience such an emergency, you may contact them directly through email (dosstudentsupport@austin.utexas.edu) or by phone (512-471-5017), or you may contact one of us and we will assist you with the process. Please, if you are in an emergency situation, focus on ”forgiveness, not permission”. Please focus on your needs, and assume we will do something reasonable when we learn of the situation. If you have time to drop us a note to let us know what is going on, please do---but otherwise, focus on you. Documentation through SES will eventually be required, but it does not need to be immediate.
If you have concerns about the safety or behavior of students, TAs, Professors, or others, call the Behavorial Concerns Advice Line at 512-232-5050. Your call can be anonymous.
Senate Bill 212 (SB 212) (capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/86R/billtext/html/SB00212F. htm), which went into effect as of January 1, 2020, is a Texas State Law that requires all employees (both faculty and staff) at a public or private postsecondary institution to promptly report any knowledge of any incidents of sexual assault, sexual harassment, dating violence, or stalking "committed by or against a person who was a student enrolled at or an employee of the institution at the time of the incident". Please note that the instructors and the TAs for this class are mandatory reporters and MUST share with the Title IX office any information about sexual harassment/assault shared with us by a student whether in-person or as part of a journal or other class assignment. Note that a report to the Title IX office does not obligate a victim to take any action, but this type of information CANNOT be kept strictly confidential except when shared with designated confidential employees. A confidential employee is someone a student can go to and talk about a Title IX matter without triggering that employee to have to report the situation to have it automatically investigated. If you would like to speak with someone who can provide support or remedies without making an official report to the university, please email advocate@austin.utexas.edu. For more information about reporting options and resources, visit http://www.titleix.utexas.edu/, contact the Title
IX Office via email at titleix@austin.utexas.edu, or call 512-471-0419.
Web-based, password-protected class sites are associated with all academic courses taught at The University. Syllabi, handouts, assignments and other resources are types of information that may be available within these sites. Site activities could include exchanging e-mail, engaging in class discussions and chats, and exchanging files. In addition, electronic class rosters will be a component of the sites. Students who do not want their names included in these electronic class rosters must restrict their directory information in the Office of the Registrar, Main Building, Room 1. For information on restricting directory information see: https://onestop.utexas.edu/student-records/ personal-information/.
This syllabus is a plan of action for the semester. It is NOT a contract and is subject to change. As the instructor, I reserve the right to make additions, deletions, and modifications to the syllabus and the course requirements with reasonable notification to the students enrolled in the course. You are responsible for any changes announced in class, on Canvas or on the Discussion board used for the class.
Acknowledgements. In preparation for this course I have used materials from Alan Cline and Elaine Rich, Maggie Myers, Chand John, Adam Klivans, and Bill Bulko. In preparation of this syllabus, I have used language from Alison Norman.
Copyright Notice. These course materials, including, but not limited to, lecture notes, problem sets, quizzes and exams are part of a first Theory course in Computer Science. You must have my written permission to use these materials and share these materials outside of the classroom. This copyright extends to any and all video or audio recordings of this class. I do not grant to you the right to publish these materials for profit in any form.