CSE 350: Cryptography and Data Privacy

This course offers a comprehensive introduction to the mathematical foundations, fundamental primitives, and modern techniques of cryptography, as well as the essential principles of data privacy. Students will learn both symmetric and asymmetric encryption, hashing, digital signatures, message authentication codes (MAC), and other critical tools for protecting data and ensuring privacy, while simultaneously developing the necessary mathematical background in number theory and algebraic structures. The course also explores modern cryptographic schemes—such as zero-knowledge proofs and homomorphic encryption—and examines their applications in current research areas. Additionally, students will study privacy-preserving methodologies, learning how to apply cryptographic techniques to safeguard sensitive information and maintain user privacy. By the end of the course, students will possess a solid understanding of cryptography and privacy theory, enabling them to apply these concepts in real-world contexts and research. Introduction to Probability and Statistics and Introduction to Cybersecurity are prerequisites for this course.