ChapterZero

The registration period for winter term courses has begun. Here’s a list of the courses that I’m considering, in no particular order:

• ACM 216: Markov chains, discrete stochastic processes, and applications.
• ACM 118: Methods in Applied Statistics and Data Analysis
• ACM 104: Linear Algebra
• ACM 210: Numerical Methods for PDEs
• EE 163: Communication Theory
• CDS 202: Geometry of Nonlinear Systems
• APh/EE 131: Optical Wave Propagation

I’m aiming to take all the probability related ACM courses, because I started getting interested in serious probability and stochastic processes over the summer, and what I’ve seen in class and read on my own this term has made it seem like an interest worth pursuing. The PDE course I would take, just because I know nothing about PDEs and they seem useful and interesting– plus there’s the possibility of me eventually working with stochastic pdes, which I know absolutely nothing about except that the idea is awfully cool. However, I don’t know if the numerical methods course will be an effective intro to the subject; I’ll have to ask around.

The linear algebra course is required, unfortunately. It puzzles me that you take numerical linear algebra before the linear algebra course. Admitted, the linear algebra course is almost definitely more technical, but the ordering still seems weird. The communication theory course and the optics course I’m not too jazzed about either, but I need to take an applied course, and those were the closest to interesting. The geometry course I would love to take to fulfill my applied course requirement, but I’m not sure I can slip that one by: even though it’s being offered by the control and dynamical systems option, it’s essentially a differential geometry class… not incredibly applied.

I did note as I was looking for classes that an awful lot of excellent, interesting courses that I’d love to take aren’t being offered next term.

Possibly relevant posts:

• El Fin (9/28/2007)
• Course planning (5/4/2005)
• Quick UpDate (1/28/2003)