The Department of Computer and Mathematical Sciences offers a broad selection of first year courses. Different courses are designed for students in different programs, with corresponding shifts in content and objectives so it is important to choose wisely. The links below provide some guidance that will help you understand your options and choose the courses that will benefit you most.
View all first year courses for Computer Science, Mathematics, or Statistics.
Sample First Year Courses
CSCA08 - Introduction to Computer Science I: This course is designed for students who are considering pursuing a degree (specialist, major or minor) in Computer Science, or one of the related disciplines. It focuses on helping students learn how to build and analyze simple algorithms. This course assumes no prior knowledge of or exposure to programming.
CSCA48 - Introduction to Computer Science II: This course is designed as a follow-on to CSCA08, and continues the general introduction to creating and analyzing algorithms, with an emphasis on software design, data structures and basics of complexity analysis. This course assumes that students have comfortably completed CSCA08 or an equivalent introductory Computer Science course. Students who have completed an introductory programming course such as CSCA20 may be admitted with the instructor’s consent, but may be required to participate in a ‘ramp-up’ session to cover material which they may have missed.
MATA67 - Discrete Mathematics: This course provides an introduction to discrete Mathematics that computer and mathematical science students will need, both to introduce fundamental topics that are used extensively in upper year courses, and to build foundations in rigorous mathematical thinking.
MATA31 – Calculus I for Mathematical Sciences: This course provides a rigorous and theoretical introduction to differential and integral calculus. Students will be introduced to techniques of calculus and mathematical proofs and will build foundations in rigorous mathematical thinking.
MATA37 – Calculus II for Mathematical Sciences: This course is a continuation of MATA31. It is a theoretical course emphasizing proofs and techniques through the study of axioms and properties of real numbers, differential and integral calculus.
MATA23 – Linear Algebra I: This course is an introduction to the main ideas and computational methods linear algebra. It is designed for students who are not in a major or specialist program in Mathematics, Statistics or Computer Science. This course will discuss ideas and computational techniques pertaining to vectors, systems of linear equations, matrices, vector algebra, determinants and diagonalization.
Find all courses on the UTSC timetable.