Great Ideas in Theoretical Computer Science | MIT Online Courses

Explore the central ideas of theoretical computer science, from finite automata to quantum computing, in this challenging MIT online course.

Introduction

This course provides a challenging introduction to some of the central ideas of theoretical computer science. Beginning in antiquity, the course will progress through finite automata, circuits and decision trees, Turing machines and computability, efficient algorithms and reducibility, the P versus NP problem, NP-completeness, the power of randomness, cryptography and one-way functions, computational learning theory, and quantum computing. It examines the classes of problems that can and cannot be solved by various kinds of machines. It tries to explain the key differences between computational models that affect their power.

Highlights

• Covers a wide range of fundamental topics in theoretical computer science
• Examines the capabilities and limitations of different computational models
• Explores important problems and concepts such as P vs NP, NP-completeness, and quantum computing
• Provides a challenging and in-depth introduction to the field

Recommendation

This course is highly recommended for students interested in theoretical computer science, algorithms, and the foundations of computation. It offers a comprehensive and rigorous exploration of the key ideas and concepts that have shaped the field.