New-Style Descriptions for CS Courses

CS has begun converting its "handbook descriptions" of courses to a new format. This page describes the sections of a new-format description and suggests ways that students and instructors may find them useful.

The sections are as follows.

General Description

A high-level description of the course content. Use it to determine whether you want to read further.

Logistics

Information concerning how the course runs, rather than its content. It may include related courses, possible textbooks, software that the course may use, etc. Note: Only general information is given. Consult the UW Calendar for official regulations, such as precise requisites.

Before buying textbooks, software, etc., consult the outline for your section.

Required preparation

This section specifies the starting point for the course.

For students, it lists skills that they will be expected to use in the course. It gives some explanation of the choice of pre-requisite courses. Students who may have lost some previously acquired skills should either brush up before starting the course or expect to do so concomitantly with their course work.

For instructors, it gives starting points for development of the material and foundations on which to build. It may, by omission, indicate material that will need careful treatment before proceeding to certain parts of the course.

Learning objectives

This section details what a student should achieve by taking the course. The objectives are calibrated to an ideal student; an individual student may experience partial success on any or all objectives. Only the most able and motivated student will master them all.

For students, it will differentiate the course from others thay may appear similar. It gives the level of achievement expected, and separates the depth (or shallowness) to which the couse treats the described material.

For instructors, it aids in choosing content for a particular offering and suggests ways to evaluate students' progress. It serves notice that later courses will expect passing students to have the listed skills.

Typical syllabus

A listing of possible topics and durations. Individual offerings will vary. Students should consult materials for their particular offering. Instructors should prepare such materials in advance of the offering and make them available to students.