CIVE 121Computational Methods
- Units
- 0.50
- Faculty
- Engineering
- Subject
- Civil Engineering
When it runs
- F24
- W25
- S25
- F25
- W26
- S26
- F26
- W27
- S27
Ran in 4 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: scheduled, 2 lecture sections. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.
Introduction to computer programming, examples of efficient numerical algorithms for basic scientific computations. Programming and problem solving concepts introduced in the course will be incorporated into group projects involving civil, environmental, or geological engineering applications. The language of instruction will be Matlab.
Prerequisites
- Complete all of the following
- Students must be in level 1B or higher
- Enrolled in H-Civil Engineering
Antirequisites
Leads to
No course lists it as a requisite.
Winter 2027 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 001 | 4439 | 0 / 150 | MW 08:30–09:50 MW 08:30–09:50 Jan 18 13:30–14:20 Feb 8 13:30–14:20 Mar 22 13:30–14:20 |
| LEC 701 | 1839 | 0 / 9999 | Online or by arrangement |
| LAB 101 | 4592 | 0 / 75 | M 14:30–15:20 M 14:30–15:20 W 14:30–16:20 W 14:30–16:20 |
| LAB 102 | 5218 | 0 / 75 | M 15:30–16:20 M 15:30–16:20 W 14:30–16:20 W 14:30–16:20 |
| TST 201 | 5219 | 0 / 150 | Feb 23 14:30–16:20 |
Reviewed on UW Flow
67% liked it50% easy81% useful
From 85 ratings and 12 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
Professor made it much harder than it had to be.
Mar 2023 · didn’t like it · 4 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
You either understand the content or you don't. If you have previous programming experience, you will do well. Otherwise, if you don't understand it right away, you will definitely need to work hard.
Jul 2017 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
First programming course you'll ever be exposed to if you haven't taken any programming in high school. This course is extremely useful for helping you to learn other programs and for future courses that make use of this course. To many, this is a difficult course. I still think it's the most difficult course I've ever taken so far in my undergrad (currently in third year). You need to give yourself a lot of time to study for this course, practice, and do the assignments. Midterm and final will be done on paper so you won't have any computer program telling you if your syntax is incorrect.
Jun 2016 · didn’t like it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Learning some syntax, pretty useful.
Apr 2025 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this
Not even a DSA course, literally how to use Matlab
Apr 2025 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
17 posts and comments in 15 threads mention CIVE 121, December 2012 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.
Winter 2022
Admissions / High School Megathread (Fall 2021) 149 points, 2,875 comments
“Engineering Admissions Blog: https://theroadtoengineering.com/ This megathread is for prospective freshman and current high school students interested in Waterloo! Ask your questions down below!”
u/Ok-Glove6728: “I think I'm going to choose Waterloo over UofT for Civil Engineering, you guys think it's a good choice? …”
u/Osteospermum: “Looking at the civil engineering required courses I only see one programming course and it's taught in MatLab (CIVE 121). I'm not really sure how the CS courses in engineering work, but you can get a computing option. …”
Spring 2021
Why is Waterloo mostly online in the fall while other schools are opening up? 138 points, 69 comments
“Looking at the new courses, it seems like most are online of blended. In other schools, most are in person.”
u/pumpkinwavy: “Imo blended should be the model going forward. No more 8:30 in person lecture with clicker questions”
u/colaroga: “ohh yeah every week dude, same as in CIVE121 also taught by Bob”
A Retrospective on Online First Year Civil Engineering 51 points, 29 comments
u/Intense_Stare: “… CIVE 121 Computational Methods (Robert McKillop) Summary: “If you’re new coding, I recommend re-watching this lecture 10 times, worth it.” Evaluation Breakdown: \- 9 assignments (easy since you have access to MATLAB) \- 3 “quizes” (worth the same as fucking exams, first one ez …”
Winter 2021
How much do you need to pass if you’re only taking 1 course + PD? 7 points, 15 comments
“I’m only taking 1 course and a PD course (fuck PD), do I need a 50% to pass my one course, or 60%? Got a 25% final tomorrow and I’m hella stressed”
u/1000Ditto: “u need 60 for pd eng (check the syllabus, it's not math pd)”
u/albuspercivalwulfic: “CIVE121”
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: “… Bob McKillop (CIVE121) - Bob is back. He didn't let us use our laptops in class and forced us to buy the notes and write things by hand. I suppose it did help, so I can't really blame him. Nichole the TA he hired was absolutely amazing. …”
Rating your Winter 2020 courses 2 points, 7 comments
“The Winter 2020 semester was disrupted in so many ways -- one week of cancelled lectures, the transition to online lectures, revised grading schemes, final assessments. …”
u/ReplEH: “… i was able to grasp concepts in class and enjoyed doing series Worst: cive 121 I went into the semester thinking this would be my favourite class, but the way the content was taught and graded made it awful. …”
Winter 2019
Real programmers use pen and paper. 80 points, 5 comments
u/whackmanhamoozle: “Our MATLAB midterm and final 😢”
u/whackmanhamoozle: “CIVE 121”
Spring 2018
Does anyone else hate when courses require you to pass the exam? 54 points, 30 comments
“I don't mind having to pass the weighted exams, because getting a decent grade on the midterms means you do have some wiggle room on the final. …”
u/colaroga: “yeah, cive121 cive105 and cive204 were like that. luckily I passed tho”
Winter 2018
University of Waterloo Civil Engineering Questions? 0 points, 6 comments
“Hey guys, I've been accepted to uWaterloo into CivEng, and had a few questions: 1) How hard would you say the 1st year is compared to HS? …”
u/quantum_kitkat: “… and had a very hands on coop vs others who just did a lot of paperwork and evaluations 3) CIVE 121 (Matlab)...Most of your TEs aren't very programming related. A full list of electives is on the ugrad website 4) Back in first year: 2-3 hours on weekdays, 6-8 on weekends. …”
Spring 2017
Civil Engineering Questions 2 points, 6 comments
“hi, if any civil engineering students could answer these questions, i would appreciate it a lot; 1. how do you like civil engineering so far? 2. …”
u/WhiteBeamz: “… 3) In the civil engineering curriculum at UW, you only take 1 coding course (CIVE 121) in 1B, which teaches you MatLab. …”
Winter 2016
lecture notes/prep for next term 0 points, 1 comment
u/dshahr: “I want to start preparing for my next study term which is this spring, where can i get access to previous class notes? or atleast the outline. the courses are: math 118 gene 123 cive 105 cive 121 enve 153 thanks!”
Fall 2015
Hi, I am a bot. 75 points, 98 comments
“Hey everyone! After some discussion with mods, I think I am ready to be pushed live. I am a bot designed to provide relevant course information upon request. …”
u/GeneralGains: “[[CS 115]]”
u/UWRedditBot: “… Prerequisites: None Antirequisites: CS 121, 122, 123, 125, 131, 132, 133, 135, 137, 138, 145, CHE 121, CIVE 121, ECE 150, GENE 121, PHYS 139, SYDE 121 Available Online: No -----------------------------------------------”
u/cursedorenriched: “[[PHYS 236]]”
u/UWRedditBot: “… Antirequisites: PHYS 139, CS 121, 122, 123, 125, 131, 132, 133, 135, CHE 121, CIVE 121, ECE 150, GENE 121, NE 113, SYDE 121 Available Online: No -----------------------------------------------”
u/MuchBetterThanBest: “[[CS 135]]”
u/UWRedditBot: “… Prerequisites: None Antirequisites: CS 115, 121, 122, 123, 125, 131, 132, 133, 134, 137, 138, 145, CHE 121, CIVE 121, ECE 150, GENE 121, PHYS 139, SYDE 121 Available Online: No -----------------------------------------------”
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