CRN 29368

Syllabus

Time and Place. TR 12:00-13:20, HSSN 219. The class will meet in person but may have to move online if dictated by circumstances.

Textbook. Patrick Van Fleet. Discrete Wavelet Transformations: An Elementary Approach with Applications, 2nd edition, Wiley-Interscience.

Prerequisites. The course has a very applied flavor. Knowledge of fundamental Calculus is required; some familiarity with matrices may be helpful. You will use Mathematica extensively, but prior knowledge is not expected. On the other hand, this is an advanced mathematics course, so you should have some mathematical maturity.

Course Objectives. We will study a recent topic in mathematics (discrete wavelets), and how it is applied to the practical problem of image processing and compression. While some of the underlying ideas go back to Joseph Fourier (1768-1830) and Alfred Haar (1885-1933), most of the material you will see is not older than 40 years. During the course you should expect (and I will expect) that you make considerable progress in the following areas:

Develop an understanding of the theoretical underpinnings of wavelet transforms and their applications.
Learn how to use a computer algebra system for mathematical investigations, as a computational and visualization aid, and for the implementation of mathematical algorithms.
Get a flavor of the ideas and issues involved in applying mathematics to a relevant engineering problem.
Be able to give and defend a mathematical presentation to a group of your peers.

Class Participation and Homework. I will regularly assign homework. The homework will not be collected, but presented by student volunteers. Your homework grade will contribute 10% to your grade.

Tests. Two exams will be given on the following dates: Thursday, March 3, and Tuesday, April 26. Each exam counts 20% of your grade.

Projects. You will complete several individual programming projects. These projects will be graded and contribute a combined total of 20% to your grade.

Final Project. Students (or maybe student pairs) will prepare and present a comprehensive final project at the end of the semester, on Tuesday, May 10 at 13:00 – 15:45. The final project will count 30% of your grade.

Mathematica. You need to request a home license of Mathematica for your computer at https://www.utep.edu/science/math/mathematica/. This may take a few days. The program is available for Windows, Macs and Linux; its size is about 4GB. The Technology Support Center has laptops and hotspots available to students to borrow for the whole semester. The application form is found at https://www.utep.edu/technologysupport/TSCenter/tsc_eqcheckout.html. ""Mathematica Online" will not be sufficient.

Mathematica Tutorials. A half-hour introductory video is at https://www.wolfram.com/wolfram-u/catalog/gen005/ A not so short introduction to Mathematica is the book An Elementary Introduction to the Wolfram Language, by Stephen Wolfram, available online at https://www.wolfram.com/language/elementary-introduction/.

Time Requirement. I expect that you spend an absolute minimum of nine hours a week reading the textbook, preparing for the next class, reviewing your class notes, and completing homework and project assignments. Not surprisingly, it has been my experience that there is a strong correlation between class grade and study time.

Drop Policy. The class schedule lists Friday, April 1, as the last day to drop with an automatic "W". After the deadline, I can only drop you from the course with a grade of "F".

CoVid-19 Precaution. Please stay home if you have been diagnosed with COVID-19 or are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. If you are feeling unwell, please let me know as soon as possible, so that we can work on appropriate accommodations. If you have tested positive for COVID-19, you are encouraged to report your results to covidaction@utep.edu, so that the Dean of Students Office can provide you with support and help with communication with your professors. The Student Health Center is equipped to provide COVID-19 testing. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that people in areas of substantial or high COVID-19 transmission wear face masks when indoors in groups of people. The best way that Miners can take care of Miners is to get the vaccine. If you still need the vaccine, it is widely available in the El Paso area. For more information about the current infection rates, testing, and vaccinations, please visit epstrong.org.

Academic Integrity. All students must abide by UTEP's academic integrity policies. For detailed information visit the Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution (OSCCR) website. Academic Integrity is a commitment to fundamental values. From these values flow principles of behavior that enable academic communities to translate ideals into action.” Specifically, these values are defined as follows:
- Honesty: advances the quest for truth and knowledge by requiring intellectual and personal honesty in learning, teaching, research, and service.
- Trust: fosters a climate of mutual trust, encourages the free exchange of ideas, and enables all to reach their highest potential.
- Fairness: establishes clear standards, practices, and procedures and expects fairness in the interaction of students, faculty, and administrators.
- Respect: recognizes the participatory nature of the learning process and honors and respects a wide range of opinions and ideas.
- Responsibility: upholds personal responsibility and depends upon action in the face of wrongdoing.

Military Service. If you are a military student with the potential of being called to military service and/or training during the course of the semester, you are encouraged to contact the instructor as soon as possible.

Counseling Center. You are encouraged to go to Counseling and Psychological Services (202 Union West) for personal assistance as you work through personal concerns. Confidential counseling services are offered in English or in Spanish.

Disabilities. If you have a disability and need special accommodation, please contact the Center for Accommodations and Support Services (CASS). The Center aspires to provide students accommodations and support services to help them pursue their academic, graduation, and career goals. Phone 747-948. E-mail: cass@utep.edu.

Assignments: