CS 398Topics in Computer Science
- Units
- 0.50
- Faculty
- Mathematics
- Subject
- Computer Science
When it runs
- F24
- W25
- S25
- F25
- W26
- S26
- F26
- W27
- S27
Ran in 3 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: scheduled, 3 lecture sections. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.
See the Course Offerings List for topics available.
Prerequisites
- Complete all of the following
- Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
- Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
- Enrolled in H-BBA & BCS Double Degree, H-Computer Science (BCS), H-Computer Science (BMath), JH-Computer Science (BCS), JH-Computer Science (BMath), H-Computing & Financial Management, H-Data Science (BCS), or H-Software Engineering
Antirequisites
None listed.
Leads to
No course lists it as a requisite.
Fall 2026 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 001 | 6725 | 72 / 72 | TTh 13:00–14:20 |
Winter 2027 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 001 | 7978 | 0 / 60 | MW 11:30–12:50 |
| LEC 002 | 7979 | 0 / 60 | MW 10:00–11:20 |
| LEC 701 | 8324 | 85 / 9999 | Online or by arrangement |
Resources
Around the web
Found by uwloo’s link finder, which checks that each page names CS 398.
- CS 398 :: CS 398 Course website · student.cs.uwaterloo.ca Remove
- CS 398: Introduction to Graphics Programming Course website · Fall 2026 · cs.uwaterloo.ca · from Toshiya Hachisuka’s site Remove
- CS 398: Introduction to Graphics Programming Course website · Fall 2025 · cs.uwaterloo.ca · from Toshiya Hachisuka’s site Remove
- ReNote: An Android app for taking notes and rewinding time. Made for UWaterloo's CS398. Course notes · github.com · by CPlusMinus2000 on GitHub Remove
Reviewed on UW Flow
100% liked it100% easy58% useful
From 9 ratings and 3 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
Took it as Intro to Graphics Programming in Fall 2025. Most interesting CS course I've taken so far! All of the assignments were enjoyable and they covered a lot of topics in graphics. Computer graphics is a super broad field, so we got our feet wet in many different topics. Grading was all assignment-based with one larger project that we were able to decide the topic/scope of, it was really nice to explore a topic further that I was really interested in and not covered heavily in the lectures. If this is offered again, I highly recommend taking it if you want to learn more about the field, or want to take CS488.
Jan 2026 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Fall 2025 - Intro to Graphics Programming. Supposed to be a lighter version of CS 488, but it covered too little content. It definitely felt more like a survey course of what ideas exist in computer graphics. This resulted in very little discussion of technical implementation. I leave this course knowing slightly more about computer graphics, but it was not worth taking for 4 months.
Dec 2025 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Took it with Jeff Avery (Application Development) and anything you take with Jeff Avery will be good. Honestly wasn't very useful because we used Java FX and Kotlin but the content was engaging, assignment interesting enough and grading was fair
Jan 2023 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
10 posts and comments in 8 threads mention CS 398, May 2018 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
How hard is it to get CS minor as Math Major 3 points, 5 comments
“The website states that you needed to have been in the CS program beforehand if you want to add a CS minor to your Math major. …”
u/dabeast4826: “It is possible. It is very hard and takes careful planning and in my opinion not worth the hassle. You can get a computing minor which is less strict with required courses!”
u/Constant_Reaction_94: “… Take CS 135/145, 136/L/146, math 239/249, obviously Then for the "Five additional courses from CS 240-CS 299, CS 340-CS 398, CS 440-CS 498" requirement, take 245, 246 (assuming you can enroll), 371, 479, 467. There's other courses you can take, but that's just an example. …”
Spring 2022
How to Graduate from the University of Waterloo's Computer Science Program with the Least Amount of Effort 1,487 points, 156 comments
u/ConradIsMyDaddy: “… CS 398 (soon to be CS 346) - App Development \- this is a brand new course and a new hidden grail right now. it is ran by Jeff Avery, and will go by the course code CS 346 starting Fall 2022. …”
Computer Engineering or Math? 1 point, 16 comments
“Hey I'm kind of looking for advice on what program to choose I got into both Computer Engineering and Math at waterloo, and I know they are completely different programs but I'm unaware of which too …”
u/steakhousebobby123: “If CS + CO is taken why not try CO with a CS minor? Plus the CO degree should be good enough to get jobs like the ones u are describing Also don't just do a program because its prestigious. …”
u/reachoutc: “… The reqs are: - MATH 239 / MATH 249 - CS 115/135/145 - CS 136/146 - One additional course from CS 340-CS 398, CS 440-CS 498 - Five additional courses from CS 240-CS 299, CS 340-CS 398, CS 440-CS 498 The 6 CS courses you can take to achieve this which are open to Math (non-cs) …”
Winter 2022
Upper Year CS Courses 9 points, 17 comments
“What are some of the easiest upper-year cs courses (CS 340-398, CS 440-489 or higher)?”
u/WinxClubisBest: “CS 349 is easy. CS 458 except assignment1 I’ve heard CS 398 is easy as well”
Fall 2021
CS 398 1 point, 10 comments
u/astroturfer1984: “Is anyone else considering switching out of this now that W22 is online?”
u/donnerschwanz: “Not really, it won't be offered again, and it seems like one of the few courses where the prof will run a decent course online”
u/Jaffe240: “CS 398 prof here. Thank you, I'll try my best to make it interactive and interesting, regardless of any changes due to COVID. …”
u/Jaffe240: “CS 398 prof here. Shoot me a message if you want to chat about this. I'm optimistic that we can still have a great term, and I'd hate to lose interested students.”
New CS courses for Winter 2022 17 points, 11 comments
u/ComputerBunnyMath123: “Is the capstone project over two terms or just one? I thought I read prior that they wanted to make it only accessible for those who had 4A/4B back to back, though I could be remembering wrong”
u/Jaffe240: “Here's the draft course website, which has some more info. https://student.cs.uwaterloo.ca/\cs398/”
Winter 2019
Minor in CS 1 point, 5 comments
“i'm in honors math, is it still possible for me to minor in CS? I heard they got rid of it, but i'm not too sure. Pls confirm op &x200B; Edit: i started in 2017 &x200B;”
u/OrthogonalTrajectory: “It is possible, with CS370, 245, 246, and three more CS courses from CS 240-CS 299, CS 340-CS 398, CS 440-CS 498.”
Spring 2018
Computing Technolgy Option - What CS electives to take? plz help 7 points, 5 comments
“Hi guys, what cs electives should I take for a computing technologies option, idk what to take. I've taken CS 100 and CS 115, and was planning on taking CS 116, but after that I'm lost. …”
u/TaIent: “Hiya, it's recently been renamed to the Computing Option I would suggest taking CS136 if you're interested in learning programming (it's the intro algorithms and data structures course in C). …”
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