Discrete Computational Structures

Faculty: Faculty of Engineering
Department(s): CE
Course: Discrete Computational Structures
Weekly hours: Theory: 2 Exercises: 1
ECTS Credits: 5
Semester: Fall


Lecture schedule - Wednesday: 8:15 AM - 10:25 AM

Classroom - B-306 (Computer Lab)


Lecturer: Prof. Dr. Hiqmet Kamberaj
Room Number: rectorate building
Phone Number of the lecturer: ext. 123
E-mail address of the lecturer: km.ude.ubi|jarebmakh#km.ude.ubi|jarebmakh

Course Objectives:

The aim of this course is to learn a set of mathematical facts and to apply them; and more importantly to teach the students how to think logically and mathematically. To achieve these goals, this course stresses mathematical reasoning and the different ways problems are solved.

Learning Outcomes:

After completing this course, students will be able to:

  1. Understand mathematical reasoning in order to read, comprehend, and construct mathematical arguments.
  2. Work with discrete structures, which are the abstract mathematical structures used to represent discrete objects and relationships between these objects.
  3. Construct algorithms and to implement them in a computer program.
  4. Learn about the applications of discrete mathematics in different areas of studies.
Skill outcomes Necessary ( + ) Not Necessary ( –)
Written communication skills +
Oral communication skills +
Computer skills +
Working in laboratory -
Working team +
Preparing projects +
Knowledge of foreign language +
Scientific and professional literature analysis +
Problem solving skills +
Management skills +
Presentation skills +

Course Textbooks:

  1. Discrete Mathematics and Its Applications by Kenneth Rosen, Sixth Edition, McGraw Hill Higher Education, 2007.
  2. The essence of computing and essence of discrete mathematics by Neville Dean, Prentice Hall, 1997.
  3. 2000 Solved problems in discrete mathematics by Seymour Libschutz and Mark Lars Lipson, McGraw Hill, 1992.
Teaching methods Ideal %
Teaching ex cathedra (teacher as the figure of authority, standing in front of the class and lecturing) 60
Interactive teaching (ask questions in class, assign and check homework, or hold class or group discussions) 20
Mentor teaching (consultant-teacher who has a supervisory responsibility and supervising the students) 10
Laboratory work -
Seminar work -
Field Work (enables students to examine the theories and the practical experiences of a particular discipline interact) -
Semester project 5
Case Study (An in-depth exploration of a particular context) -
Students Team work 5

Attendance:

  • Students are obliged to attend at least 60% (based upon the new IBU regulations) out of 12 weeks of lectures, exercises, and other activities.
  • The teaching staff should monitor and submit Course Attendance Report to the Student Affairs Office at the end of 12th week of each semester.
  • The attendance rule for failed overlapping courses is 36% out of 12 weeks of lectures, exercises, and other activities.
  • The attendance rule for course from upper semester is 57% out of 12 weeks of lectures, exercises, and other activities.
  • Students are not obliged to attend the course if the course is double repeated. However, they need to register the course.

Exams (Mid-Term Exam, Final Exam, Make-up Exam):

There are four exams, the Mid-Term (weeks 1-6, 40 CPs Maximum), Final Exam (weeks 7-12, 40 CPs Maximum), Make-up exam (weeks 1-12, 80 CPs Maximum), and Penalty Session Exam (Weeks 1-12, 100 CPs Maximum). For the Midterm and Final Exams there is a criterion of at least 10 CPs to pass the exam. The terms of the exams are defined by the Academic Calendar announced on the University web site.

Passing Score:

The maximum number of credit points is collected during the semester, as follows: Mid-term Exam = 40 Credit Points (minimum requirement is 10CPs to enter Final Exam), Final Exam (minimum requirement is 10 CPs to pass the exam) = 40 Credit Points. Homeworks, quizzes, specific assignments and term papers = 20 Credit Points. Total=100.

Weekly Study Plan

Weeks ~ Lecture ~ Topics
1 1 Introduction to the philosophy of this course. Propositional logic.
2 2 Propositional Equivalences. Predicates and Quantifiers.
3 3 Nested quantifiers. Introduction Proofs and Rules of Inference (Part I).
4 4 Introduction Proofs (Part II). Sets.
5 5 Basic Structures: Functions.
6 6 Midterm review - discussion.
7 - Mid Term Exam Week
8 7 Basic Structures: Sequences and Sums.
9 8 Induction and Recursion: Mathematical induction and strong induction; structural induction.
10 9 Recursive algorithms.
11 10 Relations and their properties. Representing relations and equivalence relations.
12 11 Graphs and Graph models.
13 - Winter break.
14 12 Final exam review - discussion.
15 - Final exam week.
16 - Make up week.

Student workload:

For calculating the Total Student Work Load we multiply the course ECTS credits with standard figure 30. (ECTS Credit: 5) x 30 = 150 hours.

Activities Hours
Lecture hours for 12 weeks: 24
Laboratory and class exercises for 12 weeks: 12
Student Mentoring for 12 weeks: -
Consultation for 12 weeks: 24
Exam preparations and exam hours (Midterm, final, Makeups): 30
Individual reading work for 12 weeks (Reading assignments/expectations for reading and comprehension is 5 pages per hour. Example: If a book 300 pages, total Individual reading work for 12 weeks 300:5 = 60 hours. 40
Homework and work practice for 12 weeks: 20
Preparation of diploma work, for 12 weeks: -
Unless otherwise stated, the content of this page is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License