uwloo

CS 370Numerical Computation

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.

Principles and practices of basic numerical computation as a key aspect of scientific computation. Visualization of results. Approximation by splines, fast Fourier transforms, solution of linear and nonlinear equations, differential equations, floating point number systems, error, stability. Presented in the context of specific applications to image processing, analysis of data, scientific modelling.

Prerequisites

  • Complete all of the following
    • Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
      • MATH106 - Applied Linear Algebra 1 (0.50)
      • MATH114 - Linear Algebra for Science (0.50)
      • MATH115 - Linear Algebra for Engineering (0.50)
      • MATH136 - Linear Algebra 1 for Honours Mathematics (0.50)
      • MATH146 - Linear Algebra 1 (Advanced Level) (0.50)
    • Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
      • MATH118 - Calculus 2 for Engineering (0.50)
      • MATH119 - Calculus 2 for Engineering (0.50)
      • MATH128 - Calculus 2 for the Sciences (0.50)
      • MATH138 - Calculus 2 for Honours Mathematics (0.50)
      • MATH148 - Calculus 2 (Advanced Level) (0.50)
    • Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
      • CS231 - Algorithmic Problem Solving (0.50)
      • CS234 - Data Types and Structures (0.50)
      • CS241 - Foundations of Sequential Programs (0.50)
      • CS241E - Foundations of Sequential Programs (Enriched) (0.50)
      • CS246 - Object-Oriented Software Development (0.50)
      • CS246E - Object-Oriented Software Development (Enriched) (0.50)

Antirequisites

  • Not completed nor concurrently enrolled in any of the following:
    • AMATH242 - Introduction to Computational Mathematics (0.50)
    • CIVE121 - Computational Methods (0.50)
    • CS335 - Computational Methods in Business and Finance (0.50)
    • CS371 - Introduction to Computational Mathematics (0.50)
    • ECE204 - Numerical Methods (0.50)
    • MTE204 - Numerical Methods (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 001600494 / 100TTh 11:30–12:50
LEC 002617591 / 100TTh 14:30–15:50
TST 1016593185 / 200Nov 2 19:00–20:50

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 00156080 / 90TTh 11:30–12:50
LEC 00258920 / 90TTh 13:00–14:20
LEC 7012191135 / 9999Online or by arrangement
TST 10180340 / 180Mar 1 18:30–20:20

Resources

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Reviewed on UW Flow

80% liked it65% easy83% useful

From 314 ratings and 82 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.

  • "WTF, man I just wanted to learn how to program video games..."
    - CS365 commenter, 2012

    Oct 2016 · 5 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • The assignments were fairly easy, and the programming questions which asked you to implement ideas from class were fun. Slides were not posted, but I didn't find that too troubling since the course notes provided were detailed enough.

    Sep 2026 · liked it · 2 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • I've never been tricked harder by uwflow than with this course. It's not interesting and it's not that easy. Professor Steinberg know what he's talking about but he is unwilling to provide any materials like assignment solutions, midterm solutions, practice problems. The assignments were way easier than the final somehow.

    Aug 2026 · didn’t like it · 2 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • You will learn a wide range of computation techniques with interesting applications, like image compression, Google page rank, solving linear systems/ODEs, etc. It's very much an application-focused course, with emphasis on understanding the intuition behind those techniques and knowing when to use them. That also means you rarely have to do rigorous proofs - maybe that's what CS371 is for.
    Midterm and exam were both quite easy this term, despite the horror stories I've heard from previous terms. So difficulty might depend on the instructor you get.

    Apr 2016 · liked it · 2 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Greatest Course Staff ever in a course, from the TAs to the professors. Video recordings of the assignments and midterm and everything is well taught in the notes and class.
    I took this as an elective and it was well worth it!

    May 2026 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

Discussed on r/uwaterloo

807 posts and comments in 572 threads mention CS 370, 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

CS 349 vs 348 vs 370 vs 442 vs 365 2 points, 6 comments

“Which one should I take for the most useful course alongside other courses (one which adds the most value to my degree)? …”

u/shrimpFriedRice49: “… Cs370 is good. Introductory course for computational data treatments. It may or maynot be practical depending on where you go, but definitely worth knowing, and also very interesting. …”

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Course Selection Help 4 points, 4 comments

u/jgcjasmine: “… theres a lot of overlap between cs335 and cs370 from my experience, but cs335 has way more applications in finance (e.g. option tree pricing, monte carlo simulation, etc.) cant speak for others but imo cs335 was one of the hardest courses ive taken😭 (but uwflow agrees... …”

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CS 370 5 points, 6 comments

u/gooseatwaterloo: “Next term will be my next term (provided can pass all courses...loll), I really need your insights to answer my questions for CS 370: 1) Is it using Python or Matlab? 2) Is it more coding or more proofing for assignments? 3) In exams, heavily in coding or Math (e.g. proof)? …”

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Spring 2024

I got a 69 in CS 370 and 86 in CS 350 11 points, 16 comments

u/SaltyOnion1: “How does this even happen lol. Does anyone else have a story about bombing an easy course and doing well-ish in a harder course?”

u/AmbitiousDorito: “happened to me too – bombed CS 370 and did well in CS 341 :) probably happened because i overestimated how easy CS 370 would be. all the uwflow reviews saying that it's a bird course certainly didn't help. oh and my CS 370 final was a day after my CS 350 final 💀”

u/Ok-Conclusion-5481: “I got 74% on CS 370, must've gotten a 66% on the final according to my calculations. Not my fault though, had 5 back-to-back exams and CS 370 was the 4th one”

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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: “… even spend time learning and ended up with 98 for both) PHYS249 (just an easy version of CS371/370 but non-math :) They also waste some time teaching ppl MATH136 so really easy for math ppl)”

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Lin alg heavy courses 13 points, 10 comments

u/U09IUA: “I love math235 and I'm sad that there's no Lin Alg 3. What are some courses that use a lot of Lin alg? Would CS484 or CS480 fit this? CS475 isn't available next term, and I've already taken CS370”

u/Osteospermum: “CS 370/371 and 475 cover numerical linear algebra if you liked computation and matrix decompositions and the sort. PMATH 347 and 348 cover abstract algebra if you liked the theorems and vector spaces. …”

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CS335 vs CS370 2 points, 3 comments

u/blacksugarmilktea2: “… I need one more CS course for my computing minor, and I'm debating between CS335 and 370. Course load doesn't matter since I will only be taking 3 courses. Which of these 2 courses is more interesting and useful? …”

u/ConsequenceNo3618: “Taking CS 370 right now and while it's not that hard, I don't like the way it's taught (ie writing out really long solutions in class). Course load is slightly on the heavy side because the assignments can take a while”

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MATH 235 vs CS 370 4 points, 2 comments

u/Lost-Smile-6813: “I want to take some of the upper year AI/ML courses. CS 480, 484, 485, 486, etc. Does anyone know if it would be more beneficial to take MATH 235 as compared to CS 370? Thank you : )”

u/External-Aware: “Why not both? I took CS370 then Math235, and looking back, it would have been very helpful to take Math235 before taking CS370 lol”

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