About the Course

Modern Cryptography

In the age of digital surveillance, apps boasting end-to-end encryption such as WhatsApp and Telegram have flourished. What are these tools, and how do they work? How have developments in modern computing and mathematics affected the field of cryptography and impacted privacy and safety in modern society?

Explore modern cryptographical tools such as ElGamal encryption and the Diffie-Hellman key exchange or the RSA cryptosystem with a focus on the interplay between privacy and security, including how governments and law enforcement agencies respond to new technological developments. As you and your peers develop your own cryptosystems or product ideas that solve an issue in modern cryptography, you simultaneously consider the technological and social implications of your work by looking deeply into its potential long-term impacts on cryptography and how it may complicate the balance between privacy and security.

Fall and Spring Time Commitment: 4-5 hours per week (1-hour of class time, 3-4 hours of independent work).
Summer Time Commitment: 12-15 hours per week (3-hours of class time, 9-12 hours of independent work).

Course Overview

This course is

ungraded.

Classes

Register for an Online course by selecting an open class below. If no open classes are listed, then course enrollment is currently closed. Note: You will need to have an active CTY Account to complete registration through MyCTY.

Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays
-
3 weeks
12:00 p.m. (ET)
$1,365

Testing and Prerequisites

  Math Verbal
Required Level CTY-Level Not required
Check your eligibility using existing test scores If you do not have existing test scores:

Students must achieve qualifying scores on an advanced assessment to be eligible for CTY programs. If you don’t have qualifying scores, you have several different testing options. We’ll help you find the right option for your situation.

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Course Prerequisites

Modern Cryptography requires:

1 prerequisite

Algebra I

Cost and Financial Aid

  • Tuition
    • Varies
  • Application fee
    • Nonrefundable Application Fee - $15 (Waived for financial aid applicants)
    • Nonrefundable International Fee - $20 (outside US only)

Financial Aid

We have concluded our financial aid application review process for Academic Year 2023-2024 Online Programs (Courses with start dates July 1, 2023-June 30, 2024). Our application for Academic Year 2024-2025 Online Programs is expected to open in January. We encourage those who may need assistance in the future to apply for aid as early as possible.

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Course Materials

Please acquire all course materials by the course start date, unless noted as perishable. Items marked as “perishable” should not be acquired until the student needs them in the course. If you have questions about these materials or difficulty locating them, please contact [email protected].
 

Book Title: The Code Book
Author: Simon Singh
ISBN: 978-0385495325

(Optional) Book Title: An Introduction to Mathematical Cryptography
Author: Hoffstein, Pipher, and Silverman
ISBN: 978-0387779935

Materials:

  • Colored cardstock paper* (required cardstock-friendly printer, *colored paper can be used as a substitute)

Technical Requirements

This course requires a computer with high-speed Internet access and an up-to-date web browser such as Chrome or Firefox. You must be able to communicate with the instructor via email. Visit the Technical Requirements and Support page for more details.

This course uses a virtual classroom for instructor-student communication. The classroom works on standard computers with the Zoom desktop client, and on tablets or handhelds that support the Zoom Mobile app. Recorded meetings can only be viewed on a computer with the Zoom desktop client installed. The Zoom desktop client and Zoom Mobile App are both free to download.

About Mathematics at CTY

Our online Mathematics courses—spanning elementary through college-level curricula—cover a wide range of topics, from algebra and geometry to chess, cryptology, and AP Calculus and are guided by expert instructors. You’ll join group sessions with classmates to ensure you stay on track with challenging course content. Whether you’re looking for pure math fun and enrichment, to move up the math ladder and advance your honors and AP (and beyond) academic standing, or to train for mathematics competitions, there’s a CTY course that’s right for you.

New math enrichment courses available!

Explore our new math enrichment courses, including Excursions in Pre-algebra and Introduction to Logic and Proofs.

Meet our Mathematics Instructors