CO 685The Mathematics of Public-Key Cryptography

Units: 0.50
Level: Graduate
Faculty: Mathematics
Subject: Combinatorics and Optimization

When it runs

Ran in 3 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: not on the schedule. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.

An in-depth study of public-key cryptography, including: number-theoretic problems - prime generation, integer factorization, discrete logarithms; public-key encryption; digital signatures; key establishment; elliptic curve cryptography; post-quantum cryptography; and security proofs.

Prerequisites

None listed.

Antirequisites

None listed.

Leads to

No course lists it as a requisite.

Fall 2026 sections

Enrolment from UW Open Data, which can trail Quest by up to two days. Instructors and rooms: Schedule of Classes.
Section	Class	Enrolled	Meets
LEC 001	6044	10 / 15	TTh 11:30–12:50

Resources

Around the web

Found by uwloo’s link finder, which checks that each page names CO 685.

CO_685_notes: Lecture notes for CO 685 (The Mathematics of Public-Key Cryptography) at the University of… Course notes · github.com · by ZeusDM on GitHub Remove

Suggest a resource.

Discussed on r/uwaterloo

3 posts and comments in 3 threads mention CO 685, December 2015 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.

Fall 2017

Oct 28, 2017 Any way to disable UWCourseLinker from posting? 16 points, 26 comments

“posting a reply to my comment I find the bot annoying.”

u/Jackhofmann: “PSYCH 483 PSYCH 484 PSYCH 485 PSYCH 486 PSYCH 490R PSYCH 499A PSYCH 499B PSYCH 499C PSYCH 621 PSYCH 630 PSYCH 677A PSYCH 704A PSYCH 704B PSYCH 707 PSYCH 710 PSYCH 714 PSYCH 717 PSYCH 720A PSYCH 721A …”

u/Jackhofmann: “… CO 351 CO 367 CO 370 CO 372 CO 442 CO 450 CO 456 CO 485 CO 499 CO 602 CO 642 CO 650 CO 681 CO 685 CO 739 CO 749 CO 750 CO 789 COGSCI 300 COGSCI 600 COMM 231 COMM 421 COMM 431 COMM 433 COOP 1 COOP 10 COOP 12 COOP 1G COOP 2 COOP 2G COOP 3 COOP 4 COOP 5 COOP 6 COOP 601 COOP 7 COOP …”

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Spring 2016

Aug 25, 2016 What is the minimum enrollment required for a graduate course to be offered? 2 points, 4 comments

u/djao: “If it's a combined undergrad/grad class (example: CO 485/685) then they'll literally run the class with zero grad enrolment as long as there are some undergrads. For grad-only classes the guidelines vary by faculty and there are occasional exceptions. …”

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Fall 2015

Dec 14, 2015 CO487 6 points, 4 comments

“How is the course? proof heavy? a lot of assignments? interesting? class average?”

u/EnumerativeCO: “Word on the street is that it is a lot less "mathy" than its CO 685 counterpart, but /u/djao would probably be in a better position to comment.”

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Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026

Graduate Calendar, Fall 2026The official entry
Requirements for Fall 2026Waterloo’s requisite checker
Schedule of Classes, Fall 2026Instructors, rooms, live seats
Quest Class SearchWhere you enrol
Course outlinesSyllabi from past terms (UW login)
UW FlowStudent ratings and reviews
WClassesPast sections back to 2004, and who taught them

Calendar versions

Graduate Calendar

Older Graduate Calendars

In 42 terms, Fall 2006 to Winter 2024