Introduction to Graduate Algorithms (Udacity)

Introduction to Graduate Algorithms (Udacity)

This is a graduate-level course in the design and analysis of algorithms. We study techniques for the design of algorithms (such as dynamic programming) and algorithms for fundamental problems (such as fast Fourier transform or FFT).

Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see Udacity's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.

In addition, we study computational intractability, specifically, the theory of NP-completeness. The main topics covered in the course include: dynamic programming; divide and conquer, including FFT; randomized algorithms, including RSA cryptosystem and hashing using Bloom filters; graph algorithms; max-flow algorithms; linear programming; and NP-completeness.
The design and analysis of algorithms form an essential basis for computer science. This course is useful for those who want to pursue advanced studies in computer science, as well as those who want to work as a software engineer.

What you will learn

Dynamic Programming
Fibonacci Numbers, Longest Increasing Subsequence (LIS), Longest Common Subsequence (LCS)
Knapsack, Chain Matrix Multiplication
Shortest Path Algorithms

Randomized Algorithms
Modular Arithmetic: Fast Modular Exponentiation, Multiplicative Inverses
RSA Cryptosystem: Fermat's Little Theorem, RSA Protocol, Primality Testing
Hashing: Traditional Chain Hashing, Bloom Filters

Divide and Conquer
Fast Integer Multiplication
Linear-Time Median
Fast Fourier Transform

Graph Algorithms
Strongly Connected Components, 2-Satisfiability
Minimum Spanning Tree
Markov Chains, PageRank

Max-Flow Problems
Ford-Fulkerson Algorithm
Max-Flow Min-Cut Theorem, Edmonds-Karp Algorithm
Max-Flow applied to Image Segmentation

Linear Programming
Simplex Algorithm
Weak and Strong Duality
Max-SAT Approximation

NP-Completeness
Complexity Classes: P, NP, NP-Complete
NP-Complete Problems: 3-SAT, Independent Set, Clique, Vertex Cover, Knapsack, Subset-Sum
Halting Problem

Prerequisites and requirements
Students are expected to have an undergraduate course on the design and analysis of algorithms. In particular, they should be familiar with basic graph algorithms, including DFS, BFS, and Dijkstra's shortest path algorithm, and basic dynamic programming and divide and conquer algorithms (including solving recurrences). An undergraduate course in discrete mathematics is assumed, and students should be comfortable analyzing the asymptotic running time of algorithms.
The course uses the textbook Algorithms by Sanjoy Dasgupta, Christos Papadimitriou, and Umesh Vazirani.

Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

Statistical Mechanics: Algorithms and Computations (Coursera) Coursera
École normale supérieure

Statistical Mechanics: Algorithms and Computations (Coursera)

In this course you will learn a whole lot of modern physics (classical and quantum) from basic computer programs that you will download, generalize, or write from scratch, discuss, and then hand in. Join in if you are curious (but not necessarily knowledgeable) about algorithms, and about the deep insights into science that you can obtain by the algorithmic approach.

Oct 26th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Code Yourself! An Introduction to Programming (Coursera) Coursera
University of Edinburgh,Universidad ORT Uruguay

Code Yourself! An Introduction to Programming (Coursera)

Have you ever wished you knew how to program, but had no idea where to start from? This course will teach you how to program in Scratch, an easy to use visual programming language. More importantly, it will introduce you to the fundamental principles of computing and it will help you think like a software engineer.

Oct 26th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Sistemas Digitales: De las puertas lógicas al procesador (Coursera) Coursera
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

Sistemas Digitales: De las puertas lógicas al procesador (Coursera)

En este curso aprenderemos los fundamentos del diseño de los circuitos digitales actuales, siguiendo una orientación eminentemente práctica. A diferencia de otros cursos más "clásicos" de Circuitos Digitales, nuestro interés se centrará más en el Sistema que en la Electrónica que lo sustenta. Este enfoque nos permitirá sentar las bases del diseño de Sistemas Digitales complejos.

Oct 26th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Probabilistic Graphical Models 3: Learning (Coursera) Coursera
Stanford University

Probabilistic Graphical Models 3: Learning (Coursera)

Probabilistic graphical models (PGMs) are a rich framework for encoding probability distributions over complex domains: joint (multivariate) distributions over large numbers of random variables that interact with each other. These representations sit at the intersection of statistics and computer science, relying on concepts from probability theory, graph algorithms, machine learning, and more. They are the basis for the state-of-the-art methods in a wide variety of applications, such as medical diagnosis, image understanding, speech recognition, natural language processing, and many, many more. They are also a foundational tool in formulating many machine learning problems.

Oct 26th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Blockchain Scalability and its Foundations in Distributed Systems (Coursera) Coursera
The University of Sydney

Blockchain Scalability and its Foundations in Distributed Systems (Coursera)

Blockchain promises to disrupt industries once it will be efficient at large scale. In this course, you will learn how to make blockchain scale. You will learn about the foundational problem of distributed computing, consensus, that is key to create blocks securely. By illustrating limitations of mainstream blockchains, this course will indicate how to improve the technology in terms of security and efficiency. In particular, this course will help you: understand security vulnerabilities of mainstream blockchains; design consensus algorithms that tolerate attacks, and; design scalable blockchain systems.

Oct 26th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Problem Solving, Python Programming, and Video Games (Coursera) Coursera
University of Alberta

Problem Solving, Python Programming, and Video Games (Coursera)

This course is an introduction to computer science and programming in Python. Important computer science concepts such as problem solving (computational thinking), problem decomposition, algorithms, abstraction, and software quality are emphasized throughout. The Python programming language and video games are used to demonstrate computer science concepts in a concrete and fun manner. However, a learner can take the knowledge and skills from this course and apply them to non-game problems, other programming languages, and other computer science courses.

Oct 19th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Ethical Issues in Data Science (Coursera) Coursera
University of Colorado Boulder

Ethical Issues in Data Science (Coursera)

Computing applications involving large amounts of data – the domain of data science – impact the lives of most people in the U.S. and the world. These impacts include recommendations made to us by internet-based systems, information that is available about us online, techniques that are used for security and surveillance, data that is used in health care, and many more. In many cases, they are affected by techniques in artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Oct 26th 2026
5-12 Weeks