Suggestions for Courses based on the book

Models of Computation: Exploring the Power of Computing by John E. Savage

I have developed a new first course on theoretical computer science based on this book called CS51 Models of Computation that I teach to sophomores and juniors at Brown University. Students like this course because it relates modeling and analysis to their interests. The course uses all of Chapters 1, 3, 4 and 5, half of Chapter 2, and a small portion of Chapter 8. It is described below in two reports, one in html and the other in PDF format. A link to the course home page is also provided.

A New Approach to the First Theory Course

in HTML

in PDF

Web sites for Brown University courses that use Models of Computation:

1. CS051, Models of Computation.
2. CS159, Introduction to Computational Complexity.

Advanced courses in theoretical computer science that can be taught from this book:

1. Computational Complexity -- use portions of Chapter 3 (Machines with Memory), Chapter 8 (Complexity Classes) and Chapter 9 (Circuit Complexity)
2. Applied Theory of Computation -- use portions of Chapter 10 (Space-Time Tradeoffs), Chapter 11 (Memory Hierarchies) and Chapter 12 (VLSI Models of Computation)
3. Parallel Complexity Theory -- use portions of Chapter 2 (Logic Circuits), Chapter 6 (Algebraic and Combinatorial Circuits), Chapter 7 (Parallel Computation) and Chapter 8 (Complexity Classes)