ENEE/CMSC/MATH456 Cryptography

    Spring 2026

Syllabus (includes grading policy) | Lecture Summaries | Homeworks | Readings | Textbook | Office Hours

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Announcements

• The Final Review Sheet is posted.
• Homework 5 (not graded) is posted.
• Homework 6 (not graded) is posted.

Course Description

This course covers the theory, application, and implementation of mathematical techniques used to secure modern communications. Topics include symmetric and public-key encryption, message integrity, hash functions, block-cipher design and analysis, number theory, and digital signatures.

General Information

• This course meets on Mon/Wed 2pm-3:15pm in PLS 1130.
• The prerequisites for this course are: Programming experience equivalent to CMSC 106, 131, or ENEE 150; plus two courses chosen from CMSC351, CMSC330, ENEE324, ENEE380, and 400-level MATH courses.
• Exam 1: (tentative) Wednesday, February 18
• Exam 2: (tentative) Wednesday, March 11
• Exam 3: (tentative) Wedbesday, April 15
• Final exam date/time/place: (tentative) Thursday, May 14, 4-6pm in our regular classroom.
• The TA for this course is: Rui Tang (Email: ruitang (at) umd (dot) edu)

Textbook

"Introduction to Modern Cryptography, 3rd Edition" by Katz and Lindell, Chapman & Hall/CRC, 2020.

Office Hours

• Instructor office hours: Thurs 9:30-10:30am in IRB 5238, or by appointment
• TA office hours:
  Wed 4-5pm in IRB 5119
  Thurs 6-7pm in IRB 5119

All students are presumed to be aware of the UMD policy on academic integrity.