UAlberta Computer Science Wiki¶

What senior UofA CS students know that the calendar doesn't tell you. Written by students, for students.

The Academic Calendar tells you what's required. Reddit tells you what one person thought. AI chatbots give you advice that sounds right and is often wrong about UofA. This wiki is the in-between: UofA-specific, sourced where it states facts, and first-hand where it gives opinions.

This wiki is being rebuilt. The first version was largely AI-generated, and an audit in October 2026 found outdated and incorrect information. We're rebuilding it page by page with sourced facts and first-hand student experience. Always confirm requirements against the Academic Calendar and the course catalogue. See the Roadmap for the plan, and report anything wrong.

Start Here¶

Starting first year? Read First Year to choose between 174/175 and 274/275, then Math and Stats to pick the right calculus and linear algebra.

Choosing a path? Program Overview explains the Major, Honors, and the AI and Software Practice options. Degree Planning has the prerequisite map and sample plans.

Registering for next term? Every CMPUT course has a page with prerequisites, when it runs, and what students say about it.

Looking for an internship? Start with the Science Internship Program, then Internships and the Edmonton employer directory.

Curious about research? Getting into Research covers USRA and other funding; Research Areas shows who works on what.

Need money? Scholarships and Awards lists the ones CS students actually get, with deadlines.

All Pages¶

Program¶

Program Overview: Major, Honors, AI Option, Software Practice Option, and Minor, and which to pick
First Year: 174/175 vs 274/275, first-term course load, and where to get help
Math and Stats: which calculus, linear algebra, and stats courses each program requires
Degree Planning: prerequisite map, sample plans, and choosing electives

Courses¶

All Courses: a page for every CMPUT course offered since Fall 2024, with student reviews

Skills¶

Curriculum Map: what each course teaches, in which language, and what no course covers
Learning With AI: UofA's rules on AI tools and what each course allows
Dev Setup: lab machines, SSH, and free student software
Resources by Course: the books and sites that pair with each course
Side Projects: what to build and how to make it count

Career¶

Science Internship Program: UofA's co-op route, from eligibility to fees
Internships: when and how to apply
Edmonton Employers: who hires CS students locally, and pay and rent data
Internship Write-ups: first-hand accounts from UofA students
Interview Prep: which courses prepare you, and how interviews changed in 2025-26
Applications and Offers: resumes, Canadian offers, and negotiation
Career Paths: which courses, groups, and employers fit each path

Research¶

Getting into Research: USRA, URI, emailing professors
Research Areas: groups and faculty by area
Grad School: whether it's worth it and how funding works

Community¶

Clubs and Events: UACS, UAPSPC, UAIS, and more, plus the yearly events calendar
Networking: Edmonton meetups and cold outreach that works

Money¶

Scholarships and Awards: Awards Hub, Jason Lang, Louise McKinney, and research funding

FAQ ¶

Contributing¶

This wiki is only as good as what students put into it. The most valuable contributions are first-hand: a course you just finished, an internship you just did, a fact you know is out of date. You don't need git:

See CONTRIBUTING.md for the sourcing rules and how to edit pages directly.

Not affiliated with or endorsed by the University of Alberta.