Discrete Optimization

Jonathan Noel (University of Victoria)

Sep 3, 2025 — Dec 3, 2025

About the course

Discrete optimization focuses on developing efficient methods to determine the maximum or minimum value of a function over a finite (discrete) domain. This course will cover a wide range of topics in discrete optimization which may include linear programming, semi-definite programming, dynamic programming, matroids, combinatorial algorithms, duality, hardness reductions, among others. We will also see many interesting applications of tools from Discrete Optimization to problems in combinatorics and other areas of mathematics and computer science.

Registration

This course is available for registration under the Western Dean's Agreement. To register, you must obtain the approval of the course instructor and you must complete the Western Dean's agreement form , using the details below. The completed form should be signed by your home institution department and school of graduate studies, then returned to the host institution of the course.

Enrollment Details

Course Name
Discrete Optimization
Date
Sep 3, 2025 — Dec 3, 2025
Course Number
MATH 428/529
Section Number
A02
Section Code
CRN 12140

Instructor(s)

For help with completing the Western Dean’s agreement form, please contact the graduate student program coordinator at your institution. For more information about the agreement, please see the Western Dean's Agreement website

Other Course Details

Course Webpage

This course will have an accompanying webpage

Materials related to the course, links and other updates will be posted to the course webpage as the course proceeds.

Class Schedule

  • Monday, Thursday 1:00-2:20pm (PT)

Remote Access

Remote access for this course will be provided via zoom. This course will be taught from the UVic Multiaccess classroom HHB 110. The room is equipped with multiple cameras in the ceiling which can capture two blackboard areas and TV screens that can be used to show the Zoom gallery. A demonstration of this system can be seen in the instructor’s existing Extremal Combinatorics Network Wide Course playlist. Notes and other course related material will be made available on the instructor’s website (see e.g. notes for Extreemal Combinatorics).

Lectures will also be live-streamed on the instructors YouTube channel and also be available to view there asynchronously.

Availability

This course may be open to students from universities outside of the PIMS network, and those coming from industry/government.

2025-2026