Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2026 - CMPT 419 E100

Special Topics in Artificial Intelligence (3)

Class Number: 5475

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 5 – Apr 10, 2026: Tue, 5:30–6:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

    Jan 5 – Jan 23, 2026: Thu, 5:30–7:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

    Jan 26 – Apr 10, 2026: Thu, 5:30–7:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Current topics in artificial intelligence depending on faculty and student interest.

COURSE DETAILS:

Advanced Methods in Natural Language Processing

Large Language Models have become a part of everyday life, with the science behind them advancing at a fast pace. In this course, students will become familiar with the newest advancements in Natural Language Processing (NLP) by critically reading and discussing recent research papers.

This course will focus on recent advancements in the core areas of NLP, including fine-tuning methods, inference optimization, and model evaluation. 

The course will be a mix of lectures and student-led presentations. Students will be required to present selected papers and lead technical discussions with the help of the instructor. For each assigned reading, students will also submit a summary and two questions. The final goal is for students to develop research literacy and propose their own NLP project. 

Note: This is NOT an introductory course to Natural Language Processing. Students are expected to have prior knowledge of Transformer architecture, model training, and inference. This course will deepen this knowledge through the critical analysis of recent NLP papers.

To be successful in this course, it is strongly recommended that students have the following requirements:

  • CMPT 413
  • Knowledge of standard NLP methods (e.g., Transformer architecture, model inference)
  • Intellectual curiosity

 

Grading

NOTES:

  • Assignments (summaries) 30%
  • In class presentation 30%
  • Class participation 25%
  • Project proposal 15%

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

Papers to read will be provided by the instructor.

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 Undergraduate 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).

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.