Fall 2026
Barnard College
This course teaches cryptography from a practical perspective and provides hands-on experience in building secure systems.
We will first introduce foundational cryptographic algorithms and discuss their security and privacy guarantees. These primitives will serve as the building blocks for the design of secure communication and authentication systems. We will then study and identify flaws in widely-deployed cryptographic products and protocols. The focus will be on the techniques used in practical security systems, the mistakes that lead to failure, and the approaches that might have avoided the problem. Course assignments will weave through the different concepts introduced in lecture, focusing on implementation and design of secure systems.
Pre-Requisites: COMS W3157 (Advanced Programming)
Recommended: Prior background in cryptography is encouraged but not required. This course involves implementing cryptographic systems in Rust. Prior experience in Rust is recommended.
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We, the students of Barnard College, resolve to uphold the honor of the College by engaging with integrity in all of our academic pursuits. We affirm that academic integrity is the honorable creation and presentation of our own work. We acknowledge that it is our responsibility to seek clarification of proper forms of collaboration and use of academic resources in all assignments or exams. We consider academic integrity to include the proper use and care for all print, electronic, or other academic resources. We will respect the rights of others to engage in pursuit of learning in order to uphold our commitment to honor. We pledge to do all that is in our power to create a spirit of honesty and honor for its own sake.
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