This repository contains information about the Deep Learning course, including the course objectives and outcomes, policies, and the schedule.
- Schedule
- Instructor
- Course Description
- Course Objectives
- Learning Outcomes
- Course Policies
- Allegheny College Policy and Awareness Statements
Below is a tentative schedule of covered topics and associated activities. The schedule is subject to change.
| Week | Dates | Topics | Assignments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | January 13 - January 17 | Overview of Deep Learning | |
| Week 2 | January 20 - January 24 | Linear Algebra Basics (Vectors, Matrices, Operations), Derivatives and Gradients |
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| Week 3 | January 27 - January 31 | Linear Neural Networks. Loss Functions. Optimization Algorithms. |
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| Week 4 | February 3 - February 7 | Linear Neural Networks. Generalization. Activation Functions. |
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| Week 5 | February 10 - February 14 | Multilayer Perceptrons |
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| Week 6 | February 17 - February 21 | Deep Learning Computation |
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| Week 7 | February 24 - February 28 | Midterm Exam on February 25th. Understanding Convolutions. | |
| Week 8 | March 3 - March 7 | SPRING BREAK | |
| Week 9 | March 10 - March 14 | CNN Architectures |
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| Week 10 | March 17 - March 21 | Sequence Modeling. RNN Architectures |
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| Week 11 | March 24 - March 28 | RNNs. Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM). |
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| Week 12 | March 31 - April 4 | Modern RNNs. Attention. Project Proposals |
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| Week 13 | April 7 - April 11 | Attention. |
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| Week 14 | April 14 - April 18 | Transformers. |
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| Week 15 | April 21 - April 25 | Hyperparameter Optimization. Model Deployment. Project Work, Peer Reviews. |
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| Final Exam Period | April 28 - May 2 |
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Dr. Janyl Jumadinova
Office Location: Alden Hall 110
Office Phone: +1 814-332-2881
Email: jjumadinova@allegheny.edu
Credits: 4
An interrogation of foundational capabilities, challenges and consequences of deep learning algorithms. Participating in hands-on activities that often require teamwork, students master theoretical concepts to build and train neural network architectures and learn how to improve them. Leveraging insights and tools from an industry partner, students also investigate real-world cases such as speech recognition, machine translation, computer vision, and natural language processing. Students are invited to use their own departmentally approved laptop in this course; a limited number of laptops are available for use during class and lab sessions.
Prerequisite: CMPSC 301.
Distribution Requirements: QR, SP.
- Apply concepts from calculus and linear algebra to create predictive models that use a deep neural network.
- Use Python to implement and interpret a multilayer neural network that can process various sources of data.
- Use an existing deep learning model in an application for predictive data analysis and communicate the results effectively in both written and oral formats.
- Evaluate, optimize, and improve the performance of a deep learning model with a focus on its ethical impact.
- Build, train, test, document, and deploy a new deep learning model in a software application.
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Quantitative Reasoning (QR). Quantitative Reasoning is the ability to understand, investigate, communicate, and contextualize numerical, symbolic, and graphical information towards the exploration of natural, physical, behavioral, or social phenomena.
Learning Outcome: Students who successfully complete this requirement will demonstrate an understanding of how to interpret numeric data and/or their graphical or symbolic representations.
Course learning outcomes 1, 2 and 3 satisfy the QR learning outcome.
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SP: Scientific Process & Knowledge (SP). Courses involving Scientific Process & Knowledge aim to convey an understanding of what is known or can be known about the natural world; apply scientific reasoning towards the analysis and synthesis of scientific information; and create scientifically literate citizens who can engage productively in problem solving.
Learning Outcome: Students who successfully complete this requirement will demonstrate an understanding of the nature, approaches, and domain of scientific inquiry.
All program learning outcomes satisfy the SP learning outcome.
GitHub and Discord are the main digital channels used in this course for communication. Students are responsible for regularly checking these platforms to ensure that important messages are not being missed.
This course will follow department's policies regarding attendance, late assignment submissions, and AI use. Non-participation in a class activity will result in a missed attendance mark.
| Component | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Midterm Exam | 15% |
| Final Exam | 15% |
| Final Project | 15% |
| Labs | 35% |
| Class Activities | 20% |
Tokens may be used for two missed or incomplete assignments as described in the department's policy except for the exam retakes (token can be used to take the missed exam). A token can be requested at any point of the semester. The assignment for which the token is requested can be submitted at any point of the semester but before the last day of classes.
To earn extra tokens, you can 1) participate in two events related to CIS and/or 2) participate in the hackathon (must contribute to a project) AND submit a reflection using this Extra Token Request Form.
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Midterm Exam (15%)
Covers material from Weeks 1–7, focusing on foundational concepts and techniques in deep learning. -
Final Exam (15%)
Comprehensive exam covering all course topics, including material from the midterm exam. -
Final Project (15%)
A practical project demonstrating the application of deep learning concepts. Assessed on the quality, complexity, and depth of the implementation and analysis. -
Labs (35%)
Regular assignments to reinforce weekly topics, focusing on coding, problem-solving, and hands-on experience with deep learning tools and frameworks. The following grade conversion is used for labs (+-2 points for normalization). Note that lab grades typically include, A, B, C, D, F, and only on rare occasions -/+ variations of those grades:
A = 97, A- = 93, B+ = 88, B=85, B-=82, C+ = 78, C = 75, C-=72, D = 65
- Class Activities (20%)
Includes participation in in-class activities, group discussions, and collaborative exercises that deepen understanding of the material and foster engagement.
| Grading scale | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 95 - 100 | A- | 90 - 94.9 | ||
| B+ | 87 - 89.9 | B | 83 - 86.9 | B- | 80 - 82.9 |
| C+ | 77 - 79.9 | C | 73 - 76.9 | C- | 70 - 72.9 |
| D+ | 67 - 69.9 | D | 63 - 66.9 | D- | 60 - 62.9 |
| F | 59.9 and below |
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Midterm grades will be submitted for all students in this course by Monday, March 17, but will not appear on academic transcripts. By giving you an early indication of your performance so far, midterm grades offer an opportunity to make adjustments, if necessary, before the end of the term. While midterm grades are primarily focused on first and second-year students, upper-level students may also receive them in some courses. This feedback is a key part of our commitment to supporting your academic journey.
Students who struggle to understand knowledge and skills defined in this course are encouraged to seek assistance from the instructor. To meet with me, consult my available office hours (above) and make an appointment. See above for my office hours or go to this schedule for Technical Leaders' office hours.
Students with disabilities who believe they may need accommodations in this class are encouraged to contact Student Accessibility and Support Services (SASS) at (814) 332-2898. Student Accessibility and Support Services is located in Pelletier Library. Please do this as soon as possible to ensure that such accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion. Please see student accessibility's website for more details.
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Keep in mind, course deadlines, absences, and accommodations for mental health are subject to the course policies and expectations that are set within this syllabus. Students are encouraged to communicate with their professors as soon as possible regarding their needs and seek support if their mental health impacts their academic performance or daily life. When you find yourself struggling emotionally, remember that there are supports available, and you are not alone.
Students who are in need of mental health support can access multiple resources to receive support. The 98.6 CampusCare app provides physical and behavioral health consultation and supports free of charge 24/7 via telehealth for any actively enrolled student who downloads and signs up with their smartphone. Allegheny College has also partnered with ECPS (Edinboro Counseling and Psychological Services) to provide in-person therapy on campus. The ECPS partnership with Allegheny College delivers holistic mental health services to the Allegheny College student community through brief individual counseling, and crisis support.
Students may request services from ECPS by calling (814) 332-4368 or by emailing the Wellness Case Manager at wellness@allegheny.edu.
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In each semester, we have one Gator Day set aside for programming, with no classes. Fall Gator Day is held on the first Tuesday in November (coinciding with election day). Spring Gator Day is held on a Monday in early April. These all-college programming days feature programs and workshops that highlight educational opportunities at Allegheny, that prepare students for life after graduation, and that help to create a greater sense of campus community. Additionally, in the Spring, during the Richard J Cook – Teresa M Lahti Scholars Symposium (the day immediately after classes end and before exams begin), we gather to celebrate student research, scholarship, and creative activities on campus. We
The Office of Class Deans in Pelletier Library serves as a place for students to begin seeking assistance and answers to their questions related to college life. If you have a question and don’t know who to ask – ask a class dean. If you want advice – talk to a class dean. Aacha Gregg is the First Year Class Dean, Amy Stearns is the Second Year Class Dean / Director of Transfer Advising, and Carene Shipley is the Third/Fourth Year Class Dean. Dom Turner is the Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, located in Schultz Hall. Please contact them individually or through studentsuccess@allegheny.edu.
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Allegheny College is committed to providing a workplace and educational environment that is free from all forms of harassment, discrimination, and sexual misconduct. The College expressly prohibits discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, religion, and disability. Allegheny College prohibits sex-based harassment, sexual violence, intimate partner violence, and stalking regardless of the gender, gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation of the individuals involved in any education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX, including admission and employment.
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Allegheny College is required to respond promptly and effectively, utilizing a fair, transparent, and reliable process, when they have knowledge of conduct that reasonably may constitute sex discrimination in its program, and must take steps to prevent the recurrence of discrimination and remedy its effects, the college must communicate their policies and procedures to all students, employees, and other participants in their programs and must monitor and address barriers to reporting instances of sex discrimination.
Allegheny College employees must notify their Title IX Coordinator when they have information that may reasonably rise to the level of sex discrimination, so long as the employee is not a confidential employee, as defined on page 3 of this policy. All employees must be trained upon hiring and annually thereafter on (i) the College’s obligation to address sex discrimination, (ii) the scope of conduct that constitutes sex discrimination under Title IX, including sex-based harassment, and (iii) all duties of employees upon receipt of a report of sex discrimination, including to provide the reporting individual with contact information for the Title IX Coordinator and information about how to report sex discrimination under Title IX.
Joe Hall, Interim Title IX Coordinator
814-332-3085 (direct line), jhall@allegheny.edu, Campus Center 310A
You can access support and resources even if you do not want to take any further action. The College respects your right to file or not file a formal complaint. The Title IX Coordinator must take action only in situations that pose a serious threat of harm to you or the community.
Notice that Faculty are Responsible Employees with Mandatory Reporting Obligations:
Unless specifically identified otherwise by policy, all faculty, staff, and administrators of Allegheny College are considered mandated reporters and are required to notify the College’s Title IX Coordinator of any incident of discrimination and harassment disclosed to them, or known to them, involving a member of the campus community. Mandated reporting helps to ensure that individuals who are experiencing or have experienced discrimination or harassment are connected to the full range of resources and options afforded to them.
If you are in need of support or advocacy and wish to discuss such matters confidentially, you are invited to consult any of the resources listed below. Unlike other College employees, the options below are confidential and are exempt from mandatory reporting obligations to the Title IX Coordinator. These resources are free and include both internal and external options.
On Campus Options:
- Meadville Medical Center @ Winslow - (814-332-4355) - Walk-ins welcome - Open from M-F 10am-3pm (last patient check-in at 2:30pm) while classes are in session.
- ECPS partnership with Allegheny College (Edinboro Counseling and Psychological Services) - (814) 332-4368 - Please call to schedule an appointment.
- 98point6 CampusCare - Allegheny students can download the app for iOS or Android smartphones, confirm their cell phone number, and complete their profile to receive services. This physical/behavioral telehealth service is free of charge for all actively enrolled students at Allegheny College.
- Wellness in Student Life -
wellness@allegheny.edu- (814) 332-2782
Off Campus Options:
- Meadville Medical Center Emergency Room, 751 Liberty Street – (814) 333-5500
- Meadville Crisis Line, (814) 724-2732
- Women’s Services, Inc., (814) 724-4637 (office)
- 24-hour Hotlines: (814) 333-9766 or (888) 881-0189
If you would like more information on the College's Harassment, Discrimination and Sexual Misconduct Policy click here. Resources | Title IX | Allegheny College