Syllabus

Computer Science and Engineering, University at Buffalo

Fall Semester 2020

Instructors

Note

Students are strongly encouraged to use the Piazza’s private messaging option to contact the intructors to ensure that the messages are dealt with promptly.

Meeting times and locations

  Day Time Location
Lectures (in-person) Tuesdays and Thursdays 11.10 AM - 12.25 PM Talbert 107
Lectures (online/live) Tuesdays and Thursdays 11.10 AM - 12.25 PM Online (UB Panopto/zoom-lectures)
Lectures (recorded)     Online (UB Panopto)
Office Hours Wednesdays 12.00 PM - 2.00 PM Online (zoom-oh)

Attention

This class will taught in a HyFlex Mode. The class content covered during the in-person lectures will be available online through UB Panopto, both live and recorded. A separate session on zoom will be available during the lectures for asking questions. All office hours will be conducted remotely on zoom.

Prerequisites

CSE474/574 (Introduction to Machine Learning) or equivalent. A strong background in linear algebra and probability/statistics is expected.

Programming Requirements

All in-class demonstrations and homework-related codes will be in Python 3.x. We will use GPy, a native library for Gaussian Process (See https://sheffieldml.github.io/GPy/ for details and installation instructions). Additionally, we will also explore two modern libraries, GPyTorch and GPflow to develop scalable GP based solutions for large scale problems.

CSE MS Requirements

  • The final project in this class satisfies the MS project requirement for the CSE Masters program.
  • This class will be considered as an AI focus area course, with regards to the CSE graduate requirements.

Topic Schedule

Week Topic Notebook Resources
1 Introduction Primer Introduction  
1 Machine Learning Models Models [PONotes] Chapter 1
2 Introduction to Gaussian Processes   [GPMLBook] Chapters 1 and 2
3-4 Gaussian Process Regression   [GPMLBook] Chapters 2 and 4
5-6 Classification with GPs   [GPMLBook] Chapter 3
7 Model Selection for GP Models   [GPMLBook] Chapter 5
8 Scaling GPs for Big Data   [GPMLBook] Chapter 8
9 Handling Complex Scenarios with GPs   Selected readings
10 Dimensionality Reduction with GPs   Selected readings
10 Bayesian Optimization with GPs   Selected readings
11 Deep Learning with GPs   Selected readings
12 Clustering and Dirichlet Process   [PONotes] Chapter 2
13 Thanksgiving Break No class  
14 Final Project Presentations    

Course Deliverables

Note

  • Homeworks
    • Will be released every Tuesday at 9.00 AM EST
    • Due in two weeks before the end of the Tuesday lecture
    • Homework 0 will not be evaluated (warm up)
    • All homeworks will be submitted electronically on UBLearns
    • Homeworks will include mathematical derivations, analytical proofs and data analysis

Term Project

  • Students will work in groups of 3 on a semester long project.
  • The choice of topic will be flexible but should involve using the models discussed in class.
  • A two-page project description, detailing the plan, expected outcomes, and milestones, will be due (submitted electronically via UBLearns) on September 29.
  • A two-page mid-semester report project description, detailing the plan, expected outcomes, and milestones, will be due (submitted electronically via UBLearns) on September 29.
  • Each group will make a 15 minute project presentation during the last week of classes (Dec 1 and 4) detailing their findings.
  • A 5-10 page final project report, detailing the methodology and findings of the project, will be due at the end of the semester on December 15th.

Course Texts

Grading

  • Homeworks (6) – 60%
  • Final Project – 40%
  • Final grade cut-offs (TBA)

Exams

  • This course has no exams

Expectations

  • Students are expected to act in a professional manner. A student’s grade may be reduced due to unprofessional or disruptive behavior. Examples include coming to class late, texting (or otherwise using your cell phone) during class, your cell phone ringing during class and/or exams, etc.
  • Homeworks will be graded and returned to students.
  • Late submission of homeworks will receive a grade of zero.
  • Students are encouraged to discuss homeworks and share ideas, but each student must independently write and submit their own solution.

Accessibility Services and Special Needs

If you have a disability and may require some type of instructional and/or examination accommodation, please inform me early in the semester so that we can coordinate the accommodations you may need. If you have not already done so, please contact the Office of Accessibility Services (formerly the Office of Disability Services) University at Buffalo, 25 Capen Hall, Buffalo, NY 14260-1632; email: stu-accessibility@buffalo.edu Phone: 716-645-2608 (voice); 716-645-2616 (TTY); Fax: 716-645-3116; and on the web at http://www.buffalo.edu/accessibility/. All information and documentation is confidential. The University at Buffalo and the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences are committed to ensuring equal opportunity for persons with special needs to participate in and benefit from all of its programs, services and activities.

Academic Integrity

This course will operate with a zero-tolerance policy regarding cheating and other forms of academic dishonesty. Any act of academic dishonesty will subject the student to penalty, including the high probability of failure of the course (i.e., assignment of a grade of “F”). It is expected that you will behave in an honorable and respectful way as you learn and share ideas. Therefore, recycled papers, work submitted to other courses, and major assistance in preparation of assignments without identifying and acknowledging such assistance are not acceptable. All work for this course must be original for this course. Additionally, you are not allowed to post course homeworks, exams, solutions, etc., on a public forum. Please be familiar with the University and the School policies regarding plagiarism. Read the Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure for more information: http://undergrad-catalog.buffalo.edu/policies/course/integrity.shtml. Visit the Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs web page for the latest information at http://vpue.buffalo.edu/policies/

Machine Learning Honor Code

Against the ML honor code to:

  1. Submit someone else’s work, including from the internet, as one’s own for any submission
  2. Misuse Piazza forum

You are allowed to:

  1. Have discussions about homeworks. Every student should submit own homework with names of students in the discussion group explicitly mentioned.
  2. Collaborate in a group of 3 for the final project. One submission is required for each group.

Warning

  • Violation of ML honor code and departmental policy will result in an automatic F for the concerned submission
  • Two violations ⇒ fail grade in the course