CO 446Matroid Theory
- Units
- 0.50
- Faculty
- Mathematics
When it runs
- F24
- W25
- S25
- F25
- W26
- S26
- F26
- W27
- S27
Ran in 1 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: not on the schedule. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.
This is an introductory course on matroid theory, with particular emphasis on graphic matroids and on topics that are applicable to graph theory. The topics include matroid intersection and partition, graphic matroids, matroid connectivity, regular matroids, and representable matroids. Applications include matching, disjoint paths, disjoint spanning trees, the 8-flow theorem for graphs, planarity testing, and recognizing totally unimodular matrices.
Prerequisites
- Complete all of the following
- Must have completed the following:
- CO342 - Introduction to Graph Theory (0.50)
- Earned a minimum cumulative overall average of 80
- Must have completed the following:
Antirequisites
None listed.
Leads to
No course lists it as a requisite.
Reviewed on UW Flow
100% liked it0% easy50% useful
From 1 rating and 1 comment on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
Very interesting course that dives quite deep into matroid theory. The assignments were interesting (broken interesting theorems and results into digestible parts and proves them) but quite difficult and time consuming, and the curve was generous at the end.
I wish this course touched more on matroid algorithms, but instead it touched more on connectivity, extremals, and asymptotics.Aug 2025 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
9 posts and comments in 7 threads mention CO 446, November 2016 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 2024
No CO 446 Spring 2024? 1 point, 2 comments
u/Dog_N_Pop: “Kind of a niche question here, but does anyone know why this class isn't being offered this upcoming term? The course calendar says it's offered during spring terms only and I was really looking forward to taking it.”
u/batson2002: “CO446 is only offered every other spring term iirc, you can check odyssey for future course offerings. i took it in spring 2023 so it should be offered next in spring 2025”
Winter 2023
Math courses without a midterm 0 points, 3 comments
u/LostPizza3290: “CO 342 had 2 in person quizzes in F22, no idea about the other 3, but CO 446 and PMATH 464 are probably 2 of the hardest undergrad courses offered at uwaterloo, so I don't think it's a good idea to take them without going to lectures.”
Winter 2019
Fun/cool courses to audit for spring 2019? 15 points, 6 comments
“Can be from any faculty/department (including arts), preferably during the evening. I'll be on coop over the spring term. I audited some classes for CO 487 (Cryptography) last term and that was chill.”
u/Nyxeal: “CO342, CO446, CO471”
Fall 2017
C&O Course Suggestions? 8 points, 12 comments
“Interested in pursuing a minor in CO which requires three 3rd/4th year CO courses. To CO majors: which courses do you recommend?”
u/GenesisTK: “From the ones that look super cool: CO 446, CO 434, CO 450, CO 471, CO 463, CO 452, CO 466.”
Interesting 300/400 level math courses to take 0 points, 40 comments
“I'm doing a stats major but also have some room for other math courses. What're some of the more interesting non-stats math courses you guys have taken? …”
u/GenesisTK: “… CO 446: Matroids are insanely cool, I haven't taken this course (I'm on co-op every summer), but I did work through the first bits of the course and it is super cool. PMATH 464: Haven't taken but sounds cool af. …”
Winter 2017
Good CO courses? 4 points, 7 comments
“Wondering if there are any good CO courses that anyone would recommend? Also would you recommend taking the prerequisites or just override them, this is coming from a student that's not in the math …”
u/GenesisTK: “From the courses I've seen other people take, CO 444, CO 446, CO 471, CO 466, CO 463, CO 450, CO 430.”
u/RecurrentWalk: “… CO 446 (matroid theory) This is a very cool subject that generalises some concepts from graph theory and linear algebra. I recommend you take it if you like graphs and want a challenging, rewarding course. …”
Fall 2016
Should I take CO 442 (Graph Theory) or CO 446 (Matroid Theory)? 1 point, 2 comments
Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026
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