Department of Computer Science
University of Miami
CSC345 - Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
Spring 2026
Description
An overview of the spectrum of issues that are considered when building an agent that has
Artificial intelligence (AI).
Firstly, the notion of "artificial intelligence" is considered, to build an understanding of what
can be expected from an AI agent.
Secondly, the history of AI is discussed, leading to the software and hardware used in contemporary
AI agents.
Thirdly (the bulk of the course), the six pillars of AI are covered: sensors, knowledge
representation, learning, reasoning, actuators, and ethics.
For each area the main computing techniques are introduced, and are exemplified by real-world
examples.
Learning Objectives
Students will be able to:
- Discuss what is meant by "artificial intelligence"
- Explain the historical impact on contemporary AI agents.
- Describe different forms of input to AI agents.
- Represent knowledge in various data structures.
- Use learning to generate knowledge from knowledge.
- Use reasoning to solve problems using stored knowledge.
- Describe and use some forms of output from AI agents.
- Apply ethical principles in the use and development of AI agents.
Preparation
CSC345 has the pre-requisites (CSC220 or ECE318), MTH161, and (MTH309 or MTH230).
Students who do not meet the pre-requisites must tell the instructor.
Instructor
Geoff Sutcliffe
Teaching Assistants
Contact Hours
- Lectures in Section TBA
WHERE
- Live lectures are the best way to learn. And the jokes might be funny. And ...
- Each lecture will be streamed live in Zoom, and will also be recorded and made
available to review another time.
- See the instructor's web page for office hours.
- TA has office hours WHEN, in UB310T and in Zoom.
- Students are encouraged to ask questions by email at all times.
- Students are required to read their email regularly, and to consult the course web page
regularly.
Resource materials
The textbook is
Stuart J. Russell and Peter Norvig, Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach (4th Ed.),
Prentice Hall.
Course content,
laboratory tasks,
and
assignments
will be available on the WWW.
Assessment
| 30%
| 6 laboratory tasks, 5% each: sensors, knowledge representation, learning, reasoning,
actuators, ethics
|
| 70%
| 7 short tests, 10% each: introduction, sensors, knowledge representation, learning,
reasoning, actuators, ethics
|
In order to obtain a particular grade, you might be required to attain that grade in all items of
assessment.
Assignments will be placed on the web.
The submission requirements for each assignment will be given with each assignment.
Late submissions will not be accepted.
Extensions of the due date will be granted if supporting documentary evidence is supplied (e.g.,
a doctor's certificate).
Application for an extension must be made to the instructor before the due date (if possible).
Assessment items must be completed individually.
While general interaction between students is encouraged, plagiarism is a breach of the
Honor code.
The university requires faculty to report all instances of academic integrity violations:
Faculty must immediately report the suspected violation to the
Department Chair (or relevant administrator in the non-departmentalized
schools) and complete the online Academic Integrity Reporting Form. The
Department Chair will immediately inform the Academic Dean for
Undergraduate Studies of the school.
See the
Students Rights and Responsibilities Handbook.
That really means ...
It is ok to talk to other students about general solution techniques for assignments, but it is
not ok to copy solutions in part or as a whole.
Plagiarism will result in a loss of marks and/or fingers for all guilty students involved.
