CS 200Concepts for Advanced Computer Usage
- Units
- 0.50
- Faculty
- Mathematics
- Subject
- Computer Science
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.
Important concepts underlying major personal computer application categories; methodologies for learning and evaluating software; operating system and hardware design from the user's point of view, with implications for maintaining a personal computer. Students are encouraged to use their own personal computer for assignments. Social media and the effect of technology on society are explored throughout the course.
Prerequisites
None listed.
Antirequisites
Leads to
Winter 2027 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 001 | 5962 | 0 / 104 | M 14:30–16:20 |
| LEC 701 | 2332 | 63 / 9999 | Online or by arrangement |
| LAB 101 | 5963 | 0 / 52 | TTh 10:30–12:20 |
| LAB 102 | 5964 | 0 / 52 | TTh 12:30–14:20 |
Resources
Around the web
Found by uwloo’s link finder, which checks that each page names CS 200.
- CS200 | Home Course website · student.cs.uwaterloo.ca Remove
- CS 200 | SCS Other · cs.uwaterloo.ca · posted on r/uwaterloo Jan 2017 Remove
Reviewed on UW Flow
73% liked it65% easy67% useful
From 45 ratings and 18 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
The course was one of the most practical and useful courses I've taken so far in university. It really embodies "Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime." While we did look at specific software like MS Word, Excel, FileMaker, etc., all of the units were accompanied by pearls that taught you how to apply what you're learning to almost any software. After taking this course, not only do I feel comfortable using some of the most common programs like MS word and Excel, but I am not afraid to explore new software if I have to. My favourite part about the course was the fact that along with learning the technical skills, it also teaches…
Aug 2021 · liked it · 3 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Very useful course, lots of applied knowledge. Advanced word (eg. styles), advanced Excel (incl. macros, some VBA), Photoshop (including vector graphics), Databases (Filemaker Pro, SQL).
Nov 2012 · liked it · 2 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
It is a really useful course. It teaches you many things about basic usage of computers and also, takes you in depth like scripting in MS Excel. Assignments were straightforward and were easy.
Nov 2014 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
This is a very easy course with very straightforward assignments. Still use the Excel macro stuff I learned a year later.
Sep 2025 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Lots of work to keep up with assignments and everything but nothing is necessarily hard to learn. It seemed like lots of the course was trying to make simple topics seem harder than they are (I would've rather learned more useful/complicated material without dragging on the basics). Easy to get a high mark in the course but it will be a pain in your side the whole term. Lots of the time the TAs didn't know what to do in labs so it was a lot of independent learning which I wasn't a fan of.
Apr 2025 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
192 posts and comments in 142 threads mention CS 200, February 2013 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
Easiest 3 year General Math Degree Courses 2 points, 4 comments
“Got a few terms left but all I care bout atp is getting a high grade, what courses would you consider the easiest to do? I’m taking only 3 courses next term, 2 math and 1 non math. …”
u/Kassaking777: “Heard from my friend that CS200 is a really easy one I would say CS231 234 should be easy but I'm a CS person so not sure if it works for math ppl. STAT 330 could be easy but depends on prof. …”
bird math courses 200 x ?? 8 points, 6 comments
u/Admirable-Point-3615: “CS 200 (definitely the easiest math faculty course) and actsci 221 are prolly your best bet. CS 234 aint a bird course imo, like yes it’s easy but the assignments take forever, I found cs 230 was a lot less time consuming.”
Bird CS for Minor Computing 5 points, 10 comments
“Hi, I need 2 more CS courses (need 1 from 3xx/4xx and the other one is just any CS) for my minor Computing. Can someone suggest what CS bird courses that I can take? Thanks so much.”
u/AHpache182: “Are you in faculty of Math?”
u/AHpache182: “CS 230 and 431. They aren't the most bird, but they are pretty useful. They are not challenging IMO. If you want to, you can take CS 200 as a super bird course, but I don't know how useful that'll be for you.”
Winter 2024
Is there a discord for CS courses? 3 points, 1 comment
u/Ojaura_: “Is there a discord channel for the following CS courses: cs 136, cs 200, cs 231, cs 234, cs 338 ?”
CS 200 1 point, 0 comments
u/summerarcadia: “How were the midterm and finals previously? i heard they were muchhh harder is 90+ doable? i need an assignment partner and study buddy!!! dm me”
Bird CS 2xx 3 points, 8 comments
“Hi, can anyone recommend any CS 2xx courses for someone who is sucks in coding? Thanks”
u/8strws: “cs 200, 231, 234”
u/M00bak: “… Cs 200 is like learning common PC applications or smthng, the uwflow reviews: https://uwflow.com/course/cs200. …”
Looking for CS 200 Partner + discord 2 points, 0 comments
u/rxlii30: “My friend is looking for a partner for cs 200. Please pm if interested!! If anyone has a discord server for the course please let me know as well. Thankss”
Fall 2023
Debating between CS Minor classes 4 points, 4 comments
u/Comfortable-Essay122: “… are easier and require the least amount of work I have already taken CS231, CS234, CO370, CS200”
Resume Building Courses 7 points, 2 comments
u/bomankleinn01: “… One example is CS 200 that teaches HTML/Photoshop/SQL/etc… and another one that I just found out ECON 102 that teaches R with Macroeconomics, but that is some that I’m aware of, I know they’re much more”
Second Year Electives 2 points, 3 comments
“What are some relatively easy second year electives?”
u/1000Ditto: “probably things in arts faculty, also maybe liek this https://uwflow.com/course/cs200”
CS 200 2 points, 1 comment
u/bomankleinn01: “For those who has taken CS 200, is this course useful or a mismatch of stuff smashed together. What does this course focus on? I’m interested in the Excel macros VBA and SQL stuff but are those things going to be skimmed over or would be give its due diligence. …”
u/PNF2187: “CS 200 (at least when I took and ISA'd for it) was largely a grab bag of different programs and languages in a flavour of the week approach. …”
struggling with cs 115, desperate need for help 1 point, 1 comment
“hello all, for context i am a 1A GBDA student currently taking cs115 in order to pursue a computing minor, however, i may have slightly underestimated how difficult this course is and i completely …”
u/Laeriana: “… I had her for CS 200 and she was always super helpful and accommodating whenever I went to office hours for help. I highly suggest reaching out to her (and your own individual instructor) for extra support! …”
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