Introduction to NLP
(CMPSC 497)
Revised on 2/10/2025
Mon & Wed & Fri
9:05AM - 9:55AM
ECoRE Bldg 401
Instructor: Prof. Wenpeng Yin, wenpeng@psu.edu
Office hours: W328, 10-11am Wed
TA: Janice Ahn (jfa5672@psu.edu)
Course Intro
&
Objectives
The course requires basic programming skills, with a preference for Python. It will cover mainstream NLP tasks and explore both traditional and modern AI techniques for NLP, including SVM, deep learning, and large language models (LLMs).
The objectives of the course are threefold:
To provide a foundational understanding of natural language processing problems.
To develop basic skills in applying conventional machine learning techniques to solve NLP tasks.
To gain a fundamental knowledge of how modern LLMs address NLP tasks, along with their limitations.
There are no required textbooks for this course, but some chapters of the following books are recommended for reading during this course:
Dan Jurafsky and James H. Martin, “Speech and Language Processing”, 2024
Chris Manning and Hinrich Schütze, “Foundations of Statistical Natural Language Processing”, 1999
Class Materials
Grading Policy
Your final grade for the course will be based on the following:
Attendance: 10%
Bi-weekly quizzes: 10% (4 Quizzes)
Homework: 20% (2 homeworks in total)
Midterm project: 30%
Final project: 30%
Grades will be assigned on the following scale:
93+: A
90-92: A-
87-89: B+
83-86: B
80-82: B-
75-79: C+
70-74: C
60-69: D
59 and below: F
Late Submission Policy
On time: maximal score: 100%
Late but before I release other students' scores: maximal 50%
Late and after I release others' scores: score 0
Schedule
This schedule is subject to change throughout the semester. Changes will be communicated in class and through Canvas.
If you need CSE-specific compute resources, please refer to this link: https://www.eecs.psu.edu/cse-student-lab-access/index.aspx
Please send me an email about your absence (w/ proof if you have) before the class. Explanation after the class is unacceptable.
Academic Integrity
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Academic integrity includes a commitment by all members of the University community not to engage in or tolerate acts of falsification, misrepresentation, or deception. Such acts of dishonesty violate the fundamental ethical principles of the University community and compromise the worth of work completed by others.
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In order to receive consideration for reasonable accommodations, you must contact the appropriate disability services office at the campus where you are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation: See documentation guidelines (http://equity.psu.edu/sdr/guidelines). If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus disability services office will provide you with an accommodation letter. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early as possible. You must follow this process for every semester that you request accommodations.
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
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Counseling and Psychological Services at University Park (CAPS)
(http://studentaffairs.psu.edu/counseling/): 814-863-0395Counseling and Psychological Services at Commonwealth Campuses
(https://senate.psu.edu/faculty/counseling-services-at-commonwealth-campuses/)Penn State Crisis Line (24 hours/7 days/week): 877-229-6400
Crisis Text Line (24 hours/7 days/week): Text LIONS to 741741
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If you or anyone you know has experienced or is concerned about inappropriate or unprofessional behavior, you can talk with College, or School leadership, your instructor, academic advisor, or another trusted faculty/staff member, report to police or the Office of Sexual Misconduct Reporting & Response (titleix.psu.edu), or you can seek confidential support and assistance from the Gender Equity Center. The Gender Equity Center supports any student who has had negative relationship experiences including those impacted by sexual violence, relationship violence, stalking, harassment, and other campus climate issues. Services include one on one crisis intervention/support, advocacy, exploring options, accommodations, safety planning, and referrals. They also promote awareness, build support for survivors, and conduct educational programs and events. All services are free and confidential. Gender Equity Center | Penn State Student Affairs (psu.edu)