Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2025 - CMPT 984 G100

Special Topics in Databases, Data Mining, Computational Biology (3)

Class Number: 5577

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 3 – Dec 2, 2025: Tue, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

Description

COURSE DETAILS:

This is a seminar-style special topics course on trustworthy AI and risk and robustness of LLMs. The purpose is to promote the awareness of safety and security risks of AI technology  and LLMs, and to understand technical solutions to these problems. Teaching materials include a collecction of selected survey papers and research papers on these topics. Working knowledge of machine learning is assumed. The student will read papers are present the findings in the papers according to a schedule. The course materials will be available at sfu.canvas/Files.

Topics:

Trustworthy AI
LLMs
Attacks on LLMs
defenses for LLMs
Safety alignment of LLMs
Multimodal LLMs, attacks, and defenses

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

To promote responsible design and use of AI technology and LLMs.

Grading

  • Class participation 10%
  • Research paper presentation 30%
  • Project proposal 10%
  • Project presentation 20%
  • Final project report 30%

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Selected survey and research papers publicly available. The list will be provided at the beginning of the course. 

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Department Graduate Notes:

The following are default policies in the School of Computing Science. Please check your course syllabus whether the instructor has chosen a different policy for your class, otherwise the following policies apply.
 
  • Students must attain an overall passing grade on the weighted average of exams in the course in order to get a C- or higher.
  • All student requests for accommodations for their religious practices must be made in writing by the end of the first week of classes, or no later than one week after a student adds a course. After considering a request, an instructor may provide a concession or may decline to do so. Students requiring accommodations as a result of a disability can contact the Centre for Accessible Learning (caladmin@sfu.ca).

Graduate Studies Notes:

Important dates and deadlines for graduate students are found here: http://www.sfu.ca/dean-gradstudies/current/important_dates/guidelines.html. The deadline to drop a course with a 100% refund is the end of week 2. The deadline to drop with no notation on your transcript is the end of week 3.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.

To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit: 


RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.