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CS 241Foundations of Sequential Programs

Units
0.50
Faculty
Mathematics
Subject
Computer Science

When it runs

  1. F24
  2. W25
  3. S25
  4. F25
  5. W26
  6. S26
  7. F26
  8. W27
  9. S27

Ran in 7 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: scheduled, 3 lecture sections. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.

The relationship between high-level languages and the computer architecture that underlies their implementation, including basic machine architecture, assemblers, specification and translation of programming languages, linkers and loaders, block-structured languages, parameter passing mechanisms, and comparison of programming languages.

Prerequisites

Antirequisites

  • Not completed nor concurrently enrolled in any of the following:
    • CS230 - Introduction to Computers and Computer Systems (0.50)
    • CS241E - Foundations of Sequential Programs (Enriched) (0.50)
    • ECE351 - Compilers (0.50)

Leads to

Fall 2026 sections

Enrolment from UW Open Data, which can trail Quest by up to two days. Instructors and rooms: Schedule of Classes.
SectionClassEnrolledMeets
LEC 001599875 / 90TTh 11:30–12:50
LEC 002623867 / 90TTh 13:00–14:20
LEC 003788755 / 72TTh 14:30–15:50
TUT 101660777 / 90W 15:30–16:20
TUT 102660848 / 90W 13:30–14:20
TUT 103788972 / 72W 14:30–15:20
TST 2016028197 / 252Nov 4 16:30–18:20

Winter 2027 sections

Enrolment from UW Open Data, which can trail Quest by up to two days. Instructors and rooms: Schedule of Classes.
SectionClassEnrolledMeets
LEC 00157310 / 110TTh 08:30–09:50
LEC 00262640 / 110TTh 10:00–11:20
LEC 7012179138 / 9999Online or by arrangement
TUT 10156000 / 70W 10:30–11:20
TUT 10256010 / 70W 11:30–12:20
TUT 10357320 / 70W 12:30–13:20
TST 20156800 / 220Feb 24 16:30–18:20

Resources

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Reviewed on UW Flow

87% liked it54% easy89% useful

From 659 ratings and 153 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.

  • honestly like a coming of age course in this university. finally getting to the good stuff!!!!

    Dec 2023 · liked it · 3 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • The very fact that there was an impossible question on the final and that you LOST MARKS for not answering it should tell you enough about this course.

    Aug 2023 · didn’t like it · 2 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Took it in winter 2022. Prob one of the easiest second year cs, had the easiest exam in my opinion. Had a compiler software engineer job after taking this course. Stuff you learn in this course is not really relatable with the actual compiler job. In fact, CS 251 is more relatable imo.

    Dec 2022 · liked it · 2 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • y tf does cfm requires this course?

    Sep 2017 · didn’t like it · 2 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • I love low level stuff so I may be biased, but this was one of my favorite courses during 2B.
    Course assignments definitely take a lot of time, as you build a compiler from scratch for a simplified C language throughout the assignments. The assignments build on each other so start early and understand your stuff. Course notes are really good and are often very good reference points for some of the stuff you need to implement for the assignments (especially code generation).
    Exams are fair. Overall very fun.

    Aug 2025 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

Discussed on r/uwaterloo

1,383 posts and comments in 946 threads mention CS 241, April 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

compsci program 1 point, 16 comments

“could anyone tell me what sets apart waterloo's comp sci program from other comp sci programs in other universities? would be greatly appreciated :)”

u/Opening_Kiwi6441: “as far as the actual academics go, i’d say it’s on par with most other unis, like UofT, UBC, McGill, Mac, etc. …”

u/ApocalypseCalculator: “… CS241 also goes into more depth about compilers and is something usually taken in 2A for UW CS I don’t think you’ll find any “exclusive” content, but I definitely feel like UW CS can go at a faster pace (if you wish) than other programs”

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2B CS Course Selection 1 point, 1 comment

“https://preview.redd.it/nosxancxrv3e1.png?width=612&format=png&auto=webp&s=bdbc72fbc91b3301a578a69a84f06dc3a84b12bd Trying to decide which path to go for, mainly looking to maintain a decent GPA, but …”

u/iPanda246: “I personally don't recommend any of these as all of the 2B terms look very tough. But if I had to pick, probably the first one, because CS245 is better than CS241 during coop term”

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2B CS course selection 2 points, 3 comments

u/Standard-Lecture-950: “… Option 1: CS 246, 245, 251, math 239 in 2B and then CS 240, 241, Stat 231, CS 3xx in 3A 2. …”

u/iamanaybaid555: “Your best combination would be: • CS 246 (pre-requisite for CS 241 and CS 240) • CS 251 (pre-requisite for CS 350) • MATH 239 (pre-requisite for CS 341) • CS 245 (pre-requisite for CS 240) • One elective Two reasons for not taking 231 with this would be a heavier workload and no …”

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2B CS course suggestion 1 point, 4 comments

“i'll be heading into 2B in Winter 2025 (sequence 4) and will also be searching for 2nd co-op in Spring 2025. …”

u/wer2slay: “CS246 is probably one of the most useful courses I've taken at waterloo. Highly recommend you spend around 15-20 hours a week on that alone. …”

u/Standard-Lecture-950: “… ill do stat 231 cuz doing 239 will make no difference cuz ill have to get done with cs 240, cs 241 to take cs 341 and cs 350 so ill do them in 3A”

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Notes??? 2 points, 0 comments

u/Shootthesky400: “Hello hope y'all doing well. I wonder does anyone knows where can I find notes for math239/cs251/cs241? I would like to prepare beforehand, but don't know where I could find the latest version of note for those courses.”

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Spring 2024

cs240, cs251, cs241 1 point, 1 comment

u/michehe: “how are they? easy? painful?”

u/InDiAn_hs: “… CS241 was by far the worst course I’ve taken in CS so far. It’s not because the instructors are bad (Dr Richards is great!) but the course content is a snooze fest if you don’t care about compilers (I don’t). …”

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Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026

Calendar versions

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