CO 442Graph Theory
- Units
- 0.50
- Faculty
- Mathematics
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.
Colouring: Brooks' Theorem and Vizing's Theorem. Flows: integer and group-valued flows, the flow polynomial, the 6-flow theorem. Extremal graph theory; Ramsey's theorem, Turan's theorem, Mader's theorem on graphs with no n-clique-minor. Probabilistic methods: Lower bounds for Ramsey numbers, graphs with large girth and chromatic number.
Prerequisites
- Complete all of the following
Antirequisites
None listed.
Leads to
No course lists it as a requisite.
Fall 2026 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 001 | 5961 | 6 / 15 | MW 13:00–14:20 |
Resources
Around the web
Found by uwloo’s link finder, which checks that each page names CO 442.
- UW-CO442-notes: University of Waterloo Fall 2023 CO 442 Notes Course notes · Fall 2023 · github.com · by kiritofeng on GitHub Remove
Reviewed on UW Flow
89% liked it29% easy83% useful
From 9 ratings and 2 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
(Peter Nelson, Fall 2023) Interesting course, about more niche ideas in graph theory, like extremal graph theory, Ramsey theory, graph coloring and flows (with group elements!). Amazing lecturer but extremely disorganized professor. Hard and cool assignments, and brutal and really strict grading (Correctness is only 70% of your entire mark).
Oct 2023 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Very difficult course. Only take it if you absolutely are sure you need it.
Aug 2026 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
25 posts and comments in 22 threads mention CO 442, August 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.
Spring 2024
Rank the courses you've taken from hardest to easiest 20 points, 43 comments
“I'm curious”
u/maaaath: “uhhhh I'm just gonna randomly pick ones I remember or I'll be here for a while PMATH 753 > CO 471 > PMATH 763 > PMATH 451 > CO 442 > CO 255 >>>> CS xyz”
u/SchitLipz: “It's cool I've taken 5 of the 6 courses here and audited the one I haven't taken but my ranking would be different from yours: PMATH 763 > PMATH 753 > CO 442 > CO 471 > CO 255 > PMATH 451”
u/Different_Guess7202: “CO 471 >>>>>>> CS 146 > CO 255 > CO 442 > CS246E > STAT 241 > CS 145 > MATH 148 > CO 463 > MATH 247 > STAT 240 > CS 240E > MATH 245 > MATH 145 > MATH 146 > PMATH 351 > MATH 147 > MATH 249”
2A math courses selection how doable is five major courses? 10 points, 13 comments
“Honours Math, for 2A courses selection I'm choosing between the following two plans Plan A: Math 237 Stat 230 CO 250 CS246 + CLAS104 Plan B: Math 237 Stat 230 CO 250 CS246 + Math235 given that i'm …”
u/KLWG-: “I do CO330/431/456/450/442 and ECON102 in my 3B. I suggest to try how far you can go and drop some if you feel burned out.”
Spring 2021
Anyone take CO 442 before? (especially in Fall 2020) 0 points, 1 comment
CO 342 + CO 442 course notes 1 point, 0 comments
u/anjoanjo8: “Anyone who took CO 342 or CO 442, could you please dm me your course notes? Thanks!”
Winter 2021
Graph theory textbook recommendations 9 points, 3 comments
“I have taken MATH 239 and CO 342 and I would like to learn some more graph theory/review some old concepts. …”
u/MrBoBurnham: “I was in CO442 (ended up dropping it) and we were using Reinhard Diestel's Graph Theory text. I had the 5th edition, idk if that is what was used though. I was able to find a PDF online IIRC”
Spring 2020
Anyone taking CO 442 for Fall 2020? 1 point, 3 comments
u/plchuan: “wanna find some friends...”
Fall 2019
Which is the easier bird course 9 points, 11 comments
“SCI 250 or SCI 201. Also does anyone know the grade breakdown for either course.”
u/bazinga_diem: “CO463 CO442 CO444”
Big 3 hard 32 points, 8 comments
u/bazinga_diem: “Nah, it should be CO442, CO463, CO444, way harder than CS ones”
Winter 2019
Looking for suggestions or comments on my course selection 6 points, 8 comments
“&x200B; https://i.redd.it/a9rxnn8ue6p21.png I'm planning to do a double major of PMATH+CO, and for the work terms, I will try to get as much as URA as possible. …”
u/Nyxeal: “… Both are great course I heard Take CO255/CO442 when Prof. Geelen is teaching. He will pretty much let you in as long as you took at least one course in linear algebra and one in calculus. …”
Spring 2018
What courses are you taking next term? 4 points, 47 comments
“Mine will be a boring one. ACTSC371, MATH237, STAT231, CO342 and AFM101”
u/jdw96: “CO 342 is awesome. Definitely one of my favourite CO courses so far. I'll be on co-op next term, and I've finished all my PD courses, but in the winter, I'm hoping to take: CO 444: Algebraic Graph …”
u/jdw96: “Yeah, like I said, I'll be on co-op next term. I'd rather take CO 442, but it's only offered in fall and so I won't be here.”
Fall 2017
What was your favourite class this term? 20 points, 53 comments
u/HobGoblinHearth: “CO 442 graph theory.”
Are my 3A and 3B terms doable? 1 point, 2 comments
u/isthisdoable: “I was planning out my schedule in advance and since i am in sequence 3 my course selections are pretty restricted 3A CO255 CO331 CS341 CS350 CS348 3B CO351 CO442 CO450 ECON212 CO456 (doing joint co and cs)”
Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026
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