CSC 594 Topics in Artificial Intelligence
Summary
This course will introduce the fundamental concepts, techniques and algorithms of Natural Language Processing (NLP; a.k.a. computational linguistics ) and its practical applications. The primary focus will be on the understanding of linguistic features of human languages, and algorithms/techniques that utilize them to solve NLP tasks. Emphasis will also be placed on implementing basic NLP algorithms from scratch/pseudocode in order to enhance the understanding of how and where exactly the linguistic knowledge is incorporated in the algorithms. Topics in Applied NLP (i.e., Text Mining/Analytics) such as sentiment analysis, opinion mining and text categorization will be discussed briefly, but the main emphasis will be on linguistic concepts such as morphology, syntax and semantics, and NLP algorithms/techniques such as language models, part-of-speech tagging and syntactic parsing.
Texts
There is no required textbook. We will use materials that are publicly available on the internet. However, a recommended book is "SPEECH and LANGUAGE PROCESSING (2 ed)" by Jurafsky and Martin (http://www.cs.colorado.edu/~martin/slp.html).
Grading
Homeworks 40%
Quizzes 30%
Final Project 30%
Prerequisites
Students should have taken at least one course on either Artificial Intelligence, Advanced Data Analysis/Mining or Machine Learning. Students must also be able to program. Students must be fluent in at least one programming language (e.g. Python, Java, C++) or data analytic tools (e.g. SAS, SPSS, MatLab, R).
Coursework:
- Homeworks. Homework assignments will be programming, and there will be at least 3 of them. Students can use any programming language as long as the assigned problem is implemented completely and exactly to the given specifications. Homeworks will have varying difficulty levels.
- Quizzes. Quizzes will be pencil-and-paper exercises, and there will be 7-8 of them (given almost weekly).
- Final Project. Final project will be an individual project. Students will choose their own topic (which have to be approved by the instructor). Details will be announced during the course.
This syllabus is subject to change as necessary during the quarter. If a change occurs, it will be thoroughly addressed during class, posted under Announcements in D2L and sent via email.
Evaluations are a way for students to provide valuable feedback regarding their instructor and the course. Detailed feedback will enable the instructor to continuously tailor teaching methods and course
content to meet the learning goals of the course and the academic needs of the students. They are a requirement of the course and are key to continue to provide you with the highest quality of teaching. The
evaluations are anonymous; the instructor and administration do not track who entered what responses. A program is used to check if the student completed the evaluations, but the evaluation is completely
separate from the student’s identity. Since 100% participation is our goal, students are sent periodic reminders over three weeks. Students do not receive reminders once they complete the evaluation.
Students complete the evaluation online in CampusConnect.
This course will be subject to the university's academic integrity policy. More information can be found at http://academicintegrity.depaul.edu/ If you
have any questions be sure to consult with your professor.
All students are expected to abide by the University's Academic Integrity Policy which prohibits cheating and other misconduct in student coursework. Publicly sharing or posting online any prior or current materials from this course (including exam questions or answers), is considered to be providing unauthorized assistance prohibited by the policy. Both students who share/post and students who access or use such materials are considered to be cheating under the Policy and will be subject to sanctions for violations of Academic Integrity.
All students are required to manage their class schedules each term in accordance with the deadlines for enrolling and withdrawing as indicated in the University Academic Calendar. Information on enrollment, withdrawal, grading and incompletes can be found at http://www.cdm.depaul.edu/Current%20Students/Pages/PoliciesandProcedures.aspx.
Students who feel they may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact the instructor privately to discuss their specific needs. All discussions will remain confidential.
To ensure that you receive the most appropriate accommodation based on your needs, contact the instructor as early as possible in the quarter (preferably within the first week of class), and make sure that
you have contacted the Center for Students with Disabilities (CSD) at:
Lewis Center 1420, 25 East Jackson Blvd.
Phone number: (312)362-8002
Fax: (312)362-6544
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