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CS 467Introduction to Quantum Information Processing

Units
0.50
Faculty
Mathematics
Subject
Computer Science
Cross-listed
CO 481, PHYS 467

When it runs

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

Ran in 3 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: scheduled, 2 lecture sections. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.

Basics of computational complexity; basics of quantum information; quantum phenomena; quantum circuits and universality; relationship between quantum and classical complexity classes; simple quantum algorithms; quantum Fourier transform; Shor factoring algorithm; Grover search algorithm; physical realization of quantum computation; error-correction and fault-tolerance; quantum key distribution.

Prerequisites

  • Complete all of the following
    • Earned a minimum grade of 80% in at least 1 of the following:
      • MATH235 - Linear Algebra 2 for Honours Mathematics (0.50)
      • MATH245 - Linear Algebra 2 (Advanced Level) (0.50)
    • Students must be in level 3A or higher

Antirequisites

None listed.

Leads to

No course lists it as a requisite.

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 00164190 / 40MW 11:30–12:50
LEC 701242414 / 9999Online or by arrangement

Resources

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Reviewed on UW Flow

89% liked it6% easy56% 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.

  • This is a very interesting, very tough course with assignments that will take your life away and abstract concepts that will blow your mind. Very strong mathematical background needed.
    I said "not useful", note: it is not useful for me as a software developer right now further than revisiting some useful crypto to bear in mind. It might be useful in some years time, when quantum computers become a thing to care about in a daily basis.

    Feb 2017 · liked it · 3 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • One of the hardest courses I've taken in undergrad. It was taught by prof. Debbie Leung (a prof at IQC). Each lecture had 40 dense slides with heavy linear algebra. I think it was hard because we needed to (1) wrap our heads around the framework of quantum information (2) be able to pull out linear algebra theorems comfortably (3) do physics proofs - a bit different from purely mathematical proofs. Overall it was very fun, and was a good exercise for the brain. 10/10 but would not take it again

    Aug 2018 · liked it · 2 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • The course covers very interesting material from Grover's Algorithm, the Hidden Subgroup Problem and Quantum Error Correction. However, the material is often taught without clear exposition and at too fast a pace which makes developing intuition difficult. Every lecture covers approximately 100 slides of material (with significant linear algebra although the slides really just have each line of the proof on separate slides). Although the coverage is extensive,
    I believe reading the textbook(s) is a better way to develop a strong intuition on the subject.

    Mar 2025 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this

Discussed on r/uwaterloo

84 posts and comments in 70 threads mention CS 467, November 2010 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

After phys 122 for depth (math faculty) 1 point, 5 comments

“For context, I'm in cs(finished 2A, gonna go into 2B) and I have finished phys 122 (and trying for a depth in physics). …”

u/SU__2__: “PHYS 234 (in my offering) was a pretty great course. Most profs will be willing to let you override into without the AMATH 250/251 course pre-req if you email or ask them to sign an override form …”

u/DarkerJava: “… However, if you ever plan to take CS 467, you might as well take MATH 235 first and then take PHYS 234. …”

u/primary_sloth: “I am not planning to take CS467, tho I'm still taking math235 next term cuz I wanna take cs484 later. I might take phys234 with/after math235. Thanks for sharing!”

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Fall 2023

I don’t know what to do with my degree 1 point, 14 comments

“I'm in my 2A term as a math student and my initial plans were to get into data science, but due to my average being lower than the cutoff that did not happen. …”

u/Organic_Midnight1999: “Bro a Math degree is underrated. As the world advances the problems we face just get harder and harder. We move towards more high level, abstract, and data driven problems - guess what? …”

u/jadedwolf12: “… on public-key, and 487 covers more breadth CO 481 - quantum algorithms (crosslisted with CS 467/PHYS 467) This is not an exhaustive list - they're just the ones I took during my undergrad.”

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Crosslisted but different prereqs? 1 point, 2 comments

u/exupery2112: “Hey guys, I was looking at CS 467 (quantum information processing) and saw that the prereqs have changed to require a 80% in MATH 235/245 however the course its cross listed with, PHYS 467, does not have that requirement. …”

u/batson2002: “that’s so weird cause all the listings for the course (cs467, phys467 and co481) do the same thing, so realistically they should share the same requirements. …”

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Spring 2023

[Recommendation] Take PHYS 468 110 points, 37 comments

“Hey, I'm teaching PHYS 468 this Fall, a course which introduces the inner workings of four types of quantum computers. I wanted to encourage people to take it. …”

u/Shahanneda: “This course seems super fun! I'd love to do it if it's still around in a few years once I've taken its prereq CS 467 :)”

u/goataguero9: “Hi Professor, will you be teaching this course again this upcoming fall term?”

u/goataguero9: “aww, quick question for you - unfortunately due to my co op sequence i won’t be able to take cs 467 before i take this course and i only have one fall school term left in my degree (next term). do you think i could manage in this course with just phys 234? …”

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Winter 2023

Fall 2022

CS467 5 points, 4 comments

u/mega-blight: “How is the course? Anyone taken it recently? Is it challenging for someone who hasnt touched physics above say a phy121 level? I am a statistics major interested in this course, so am wondering if ill be possesing the relevant knowledge even though i seem to meet the prereqs”

u/vkoj1221: “I haven't taken it, but perhaps these notes can give you a sense of the course (I assume they're reasonably accurate): https://student.cs.uwaterloo.ca/\cfzhou/notes/cs467.pdf”

u/AHpache182: “CS 467 / CO 481 / PHYS 467 (the same course just cross-listed) is a course on quantum information processing, as the name suggests. I chatted with David Jao (CO advisor) and briefly asked about this course. …”

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Spring 2022

4xx math courses 4 points, 10 comments

“Are there any 4xx math courses that only require a 1st or second year course as a prerequisite? For example pmath340 only requires math135, but I was wondering if there are any other math classes …”

u/TheRealArjun: “AMATH 456, 475 (not sure if pmath majors usually take those Calc 4, ODE 1 prereqs), CS 467 / PHYS 467 / CO 481 (same course), CS 436, 487”

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Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026

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