CIVE 115Linear Algebra
- Units
- 0.25
- Faculty
- Engineering
- Subject
- Civil Engineering
When it runs
- F24
- W25
- S25
- F25
- W26
- S26
- F26
- W27
- S27
Ran in 3 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: not on the schedule. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.
Linear systems of equations, matrices, and determinants. Introduction to the eigenvalue problem. Applications.
Prerequisites
- Complete all of the following
- Students must be in level 1A or higher
- Enrolled in H-Civil Engineering
Antirequisites
- Not completed nor concurrently enrolled in any of the following:
Leads to
No course lists it as a requisite.
Fall 2026 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 001 | 4844 | 131 / 150 | T 10:00–11:20 T 10:00–11:20 Oct 8 10:30–11:20 Oct 29 10:30–11:20 Nov 12 10:30–11:20 |
| TUT 101 | 4845 | 63 / 75 | F 12:30–13:20 F 12:30–13:20 |
| TUT 102 | 4846 | 68 / 75 | F 13:30–14:20 F 13:30–14:20 |
| TST 201 | 5369 | 131 / 150 | Oct 27 14:30–16:20 |
Reviewed on UW Flow
63% liked it49% easy76% useful
From 80 ratings and 14 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
"I'm not adding a curve unless half the class fails" - Kim.
Proceeds to fail half of CAGE on the midterm.
This is a course is harder than it seems. If you want a good mark it is more work than most other courses (e.g. MATH 116). Not super hard if (and only if) you study and review the material after class. Very practicalSep 2023 · liked it · 5 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
This 0.25 credit class has more work then my 0.5 credit classes. Online lectures and weekly assignments. Videos aren't clear, and lectures lack organization. Examples in tutorials/lectures are helpful and will probably reappear on exams. Potential to be a great class just needs some restructuring.
Nov 2023 · liked it · 4 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
I really liked this course, but its not easy feat, for a 0.25 credit there is a lot of important information that is not in a lot of detail.
Nov 2022 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
The course was easy, useful concepts. Exams scared me . The exam was one of the hardest I took in first year. Walked in needing a 30% to pass the course, walked out and do not even know I if I got a 30%.
Dec 2016 · didn’t like it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Fell behind and paid the price, this course is not really relevant as you won't do Lin alg until year 4
Jan 2026 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
16 posts and comments in 13 threads mention CIVE 115, October 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 2024
How do i get lyryx for free 9 points, 12 comments
“my lin alg prof makes us us this shitty software for hw and i'm not tryna go to a computer lab every time i need to do hw or pay 40 dollars for the license. …”
u/CharismaABC: “Which course is this for?”
u/Apophis_06: “Cive115”
u/Apophis_06: “Cive115”
Spring 2022
What courses are considered easy or difficult in the 1A term for Civil Engineering? 3 points, 5 comments
“Starting 1A this September, so just curious what courses people found easy or difficult in them. How long of times did you spend weekly, outside of class studying for these courses?”
u/CreepyWindows: “… CIVE115 - Linear Algebra - Half weighted. Has difficult concepts but is overall easy if you keep up. Certain concepts can be tricky, and there is a lot of repetition. MATH116 - Calculus 1 for Engineering. Without a doubt the hardest concept course. …”
u/UnsquabbledToast: “… cive115 - practice practice practice!! try the tutorial problems the day before, work on them in the tutorials with friends. it’s very tedious, but not the most difficult thing in the world. …”
Spring 2021
A Retrospective on Online First Year Civil Engineering 51 points, 29 comments
u/Intense_Stare: “… CIVE 115 Linear Algebra (Eugen Kim) Summary: “This rock got mad drip (angle)” You’ll talk to people in other engineering majors who take Linear Algebra, and you’ll soon realize that CIVE 115 is blessed. …”
Spring 2020
Civil Engineering professors? 2 points, 3 comments
“I'm going into Civil Engineering first year. Can someone give me a brief description of the professors, their personalities, or what they like, stuff like that?”
u/MeinGottWasZumTeufel: “… Kunho Eugene Kim (CIVE115) - He didn't post the notes he wrote in class online, and he writes pretty fast, so trying to keep up was a bit of a challenge. He used Lyryx, which although I hated at first, turned out to be pretty good in forcing me to learn stuff. Show up to class. …”
Engineering first year mandatory courses? 0 points, 4 comments
“I'm going into Civil Engineering at Waterloo this Fall. Are there required courses for all first year students like English? If so, what are they? …”
u/c1v1l: “1A Classes: CHE 102 - Chemistry CIVE 100 - Civil Engineering Concepts CIVE 104 - Mechanics 1 CIVE 115 - Linear Algebra ENGL 191 or SPCOM 191 (same course, you’ll get one of them randomly) - Communication in the Engineering Profession MATH 116 - Calculus 1 Pre-Class: Math …”
Winter 2020
Reduced load program 3 points, 2 comments
“Hey guys. I’m going to be taking the reduced load program for 1A Civil eng this upcoming spring term and was wondering the level of difficulty in getting above 60% in che 102 and math 115. …”
u/ReplEH: “… CivE’s don’t take Math 115, they take Cive115. …”
Transferring from Eng to Eng 6 points, 6 comments
“Hiya, 1B student here So I'm interested in transferring from one Engineering program at UW to another (CivE to CompE, to be precise). What's a good average to have in order to transfer?”
u/SaladOfSalads: “Probably 90+ and you'd restart in 1a”
u/SaladOfSalads: “CIVE 115 isn't even a full credit course. It only really covers some applications. They're still missing digital circuits, logic which likely only run during ECE 1b terms. 104/5 might cover 105 but what about 106? …”
Spring 2019
Switching programs 1 point, 8 comments
“I really want to switch from civil to mechanical engineering. But of course the program is full and I will have to wait for the end of 1A. …”
u/crono760: “You're best off contacting either Dr. Mike Collins or Meghan Bester. Their contact info can be found here: https://uwaterloo.ca/mechanical-mechatronics-engineering/our-people I've seen some people …”
u/crono760: “… The civils take a version (CIVE115) that is focused specifically on their needs, especially for their statics courses. It has less content but more depth. The more general MATH115 is a much broader course with many topics that are not covered in CIVE115. …”
Transferring between engineering programs 4 points, 5 comments
“I'm starting in the civil engineering program in September. But I feel like mechanical engineering is more of a passion for me. So I am considering switching to mech. …”
u/alt-goldgrun: “Mechanical 1A: CHE102, MATH115 (linear algebra), MATH116, ME100 (autocad, solidworks, sketching, etc), PHYS115 (mechanics 1) Civil 1A: CHE102, CIVE115 (linear algebra), MATH116, CIVE100 (similar to ME100 I suppose?), CIVE104 (mechanics 1), ENGL 191/SPCOM191 (counts as a CSE, …”
Fall 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: “… 120R CHINA 200R CHINA 201R CHINA 202R CHINA 301R CHINA 320R CHINA 391R CIVE 100 CIVE 104 CIVE 115 CIVE 204 CIVE 221 CIVE 224 CIVE 241 CIVE 265 CIVE 298 CIVE 306 CIVE 313 CIVE 332 CIVE 343 CIVE 354 CIVE 381 CIVE 382 CIVE 399 CIVE 486 CIVE 497 CIVE 601 CIVE 611 CIVE 653 CIVE 671 …”
Spring 2017
Is there a way to swap those 8 am classes to later times. (im a clueless freshie plz help) 9 points, 24 comments
u/gooseapproved: “No you can't. I think GENE 199 can be switched for an elective, but otherwise, no, there's only one section for your cohort, minus CIVE 115, MATH 116, and CHE 102 tutorials.”
Fall 2016
Transfer From Civil to Mechanical Engineering 2 points, 10 comments
“I'm a 1A civil engineering student who wants to switch into mechanical engineering. Could anybody provide me with some information regarding what average I would need to maintain and what I would …”
u/LPFR52: “… CIVE 115 looks like it covers the same material as MATH 115 for the most part. Your physics courses are pretty similar as well, but based on the course description it looks like you guys focus more on forces and don't focus as much on kinematics as PHYS 115. …”
Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026
- Undergraduate Calendar, 2026–27The 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