CS 100Introduction to Computing Through Applications
- Units
- 0.50
- Faculty
- Mathematics
- Subject
- Computer Science
When it runs
- F24
- W25
- S25
- F25
- W26
- S26
- F26
- W27
- S27
Ran in 7 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: scheduled, 2 lecture sections. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.
Using personal computers as effective problem solving tools for the present and the future. Effective use of spreadsheets to process, manipulate, and visualize numeric and textual information. Introduction to the Internet, World Wide Web, HTML, and XML. Algorithms underlying the functional components of web search engines and their influence on data access. Using wikis to publish, reshape, and organize data collaboratively.
Prerequisites
None listed.
Antirequisites
- Complete all of the following
- Not completed nor concurrently enrolled in: All 200-, 300-, 400-level CS courses or equivalents
- Not open to students enrolled in H-Biomedical Engineering, H-Chemical Engineering, H-Civil Engineering, H-Computer Engineering, H-Electrical Engineering, H-Environmental Engineering, H-Geological Engineering, H-Management Engineering, H-Mechanical Engineering, H-Mechatronics Engineering, H-Nanotechnology Engineering, or H-Systems Design Engineering
- Not open to students enrolled in Faculty of Mathematics programs
Leads to
Fall 2026 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 001 | 6365 | 51 / 90 | TTh 11:30–12:50 |
| LEC 002 | 8414 | 80 / 90 | TTh 13:00–14:20 |
| LAB 101 | 6651 | 15 / 30 | M 12:30–14:20 |
| LAB 102 | 6652 | 8 / 30 | M 12:30–14:20 |
| LAB 103 | 6653 | 26 / 30 | M 10:30–12:20 |
| LAB 104 | 6807 | 26 / 30 | M 10:30–12:20 |
| LAB 105 | 8415 | 27 / 30 | M 14:30–16:20 |
| LAB 106 | 8416 | 29 / 30 | M 14:30–16:20 |
| TST 201 | 6654 | 131 / 180 | Oct 30 16:30–18:00 |
Winter 2027 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 001 | 6222 | 0 / 300 | Online or by arrangement |
| LEC 701 | 2172 | 38 / 9999 | Online or by arrangement |
Resources
Around the web
Found by uwloo’s link finder, which checks that each page names CS 100.
- CS 100 | Home Course website · student.cs.uwaterloo.ca Remove
Reviewed on UW Flow
71% liked it84% easy68% useful
From 210 ratings and 40 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
Very, very easy if you've taken computer classes in high school or perhaps developed websites on your own. Just parts of a computer, basic HTML, easy Office tricks, and how websites like Google work. Nothing really in depth, good even if you're not "good" at computers. I learned some new tricks for making more dynamic Excel sheets but for me, it was mostly review / easy marks.
Jul 2016 · liked it · 4 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Parts, especially anything related to spreadsheets, could be good to know. Assignments were fairly straightforward although the exam was slightly more difficult than expected, but that could be because it was a different style of question than we were used to during the rest of the course. Overall a good course to take as an elective or a grade booster.
Aug 2015 · didn’t like it · 3 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
As someone with no past experience in CS, I found the topics in this course to be quite interesting and easy to understand. Concepts are very useful, especially the Excel units. Assignments are straightforward however tedious and time consuming. Final exam (worth 50%) was memorization intensive and very difficult. Would not recommend this course unless it is required.
Mar 2023 · didn’t like it · 2 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Easy, but NOT as easy as I wanted it to be... The first couple weeks was fine, but then it just got worse. If you take it online, you have to read all the modules on LEARN and memorize the content. It was pretty challenging, but fun. If you hate computers, you'll hate this course. But if you're curious about computers, take it!
Nov 2015 · liked it · 2 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Only takes about two hours per week for the assignments and the exam was a breeze with many students finishing in half the alloted time (done in 1.5 hours when given 2.5).
Nov 2023 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
476 posts and comments in 338 threads mention CS 100, December 2011 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
math 104 for honour acience 1 point, 4 comments
u/SkirtAlternative3266: “does math 104 count for a math elective in honour science program bc in the uw website it says the program needs two math electives does this mean i can take any math elective??? like cs 100 or smth thanks \\”
u/chaman_chikki: “I think its 127+128”
u/SkirtAlternative3266: “ohh ;-; the website says "complete 2 math courses from the following subject codes: ACTSC, AMATH, CO, CS, MATH, PMATH, STAT (excluding CS100 and MATH103)" also did u graduate? and if u did are u planning to do grad school (med, den, pharm, optom)? …”
Winter 2025 Bird courses - ARTS 2 points, 1 comment
“So I'm in 3B doing a double major, and last term while I was on coop trying to plan out my last 3 study terms, I noticed I had about half the required courses for a PSCI minor, so I thought why not …”
u/Horiphic: “… CS 100 is also a really easy HTML/CSS focused course if you're interested in that.”
Taking CS 100 as CS Major 1 point, 1 comment
Taking CS100 as a bird elective as a CS major 1 point, 0 comments
Computer science as a fine arts major 17 points, 12 comments
u/Confusedartcat: “… There's no jobs, I'm literally gonna be broke and homeless:(( I took CS100 in 1b for the digital art specialization since I've worked as a graphic designer before, and I surprisingly really liked it, and was the highest grade I've gotten so far. …”
cs100 A0 Question 19 7 points, 2 comments
u/Mean-Ad-3239: “does anyone know the secret word "hidden" in the lab room MC 2062, MC 2063, MC 3005 or MC 3027. god why would anyone put a question like that”
Spring 2024
can i get cs100 in add/drop period? also, can i add 6 courses during the course selection period? 1 point, 1 comment
u/stressywessy: “freshman here, i have some A Level exemptions that are not processed yet (will only be processed in aug), so i am wondering if i should just add cs100 as my sixth course (as I can drop a GEOG core course course once I get my exemption during the add/drop period). …”
is CS100 that bad? 2 points, 3 comments
u/Objective-Variety843: “am thinking of taking it as i have absolutely 0 tech literacy (ie i don’t even know basic excel and word doc functions, or what HTML is rn, but i’ll deffo go learn that before the sch term starts), and i want to have a bridge so i can build on my tech skills before i take CS115. …”
u/EpicCentarus: “… Cs100 won’t cover or really help with anything for cs115, maybe small things like general functions but nothing to the programming level and focus of 115.”
u/JoJoChuu: “I was in biomed at UW and took CS100 for fun as an elective. It was so fun I decided to switch to UW software engineering lol. Best decision ever, I’ve been a software eng for 7 years now and I’m having a blast”
u/cryingmyselftostress: “CS100? or do u mean CS115? as isn't CS100 a bird course”
can enviro students take cs100? 1 point, 5 comments
u/Objective-Variety843: “According to the website, it is not open to Mathematics,Biomedical,Chemical,Civil,Computer & Electrical,Environmental,Geological,Management,Mechanical,Mechatronics,Nanotechnology & Systems Design Eng students. Isn’t that basically everyone except Arts? …”
u/BiscottiEconomy4403: “🤔 what are you taking cs100? I think cs115 might be more useful”
u/Objective-Variety843: “i’m really bad at tech (aka can’t even do excel functions now, or use HTML) i’m gonna self-learn that before the sch term starts, but there’s only so much i can learn. i’m hoping to take cs100 to build some tech confidence in me, am not too sure how useful that is tho”
PHYS 249 Advice/Notes 1 point, 3 comments
“I'm taking PHYS 249 in the fall and I heard it's a pretty tough course. Anyone wanna share their notes with me, or some advice to do well?”
u/Illustrious_Sea39: “… If you did well on PHYS 236, or if you have taken any CS course ( not including CS 100) you should be fine if you go to class/read the Jupyter notebooks. As long as you do the assignments on time you’ll get 85+. Source: Graduating Honours Phys student. …”
please don’t come here if your plan is to transfer in to a program you didn’t get into 290 points, 43 comments
“lot of posts this week about getting rejected from program x but got deferred/got a different offer from y and wondering if you can transfer to x transfers are exceedingly rare and no matter what you …”
u/No_Sport_3635: “… All you need is 3 math courses with an average above 75% And you can take MATH106, CS100 and MATH127 or CS115 to do that easily.”
Looking for an online course offered in spring term 3 points, 9 comments
“Preferably bird course but as long as it’s useful. I want to enroll in one while I’m in co-op term. What do you recommend?”
u/hlthsciprincess0709: “… The only thing that comes to mind for me is CS 100 (I’m faculty of health and found it so easy) finished with a 95. But there is a 50% exam in person, but it’s super easyyy. …”
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