Skip to main content

First Year Guide

last updated on 2025/10/07
Maintained by the Computer Science Society (CSS)

This guide helps incoming first-year computer science students at the University of Windsor get started, from setting up accounts and enrolling in courses to joining the CS community and preparing for your career.

Getting Started at the University of Windsor​

UWin Accounts​

Every student must have a UWin Account in order to access the university's online services. Instructions to set up your UWin account will be sent to your personal email after you've been accepted into a program at the university. You will be assigned a UWin ID and will create a password during this process; these will be used as your login information. Your UWindsor email will be yourUWinI@uwindsor.ca.

Online Services​

Some of the online services you can access using your UWin Account include:

UWinsite Student​

For browsing and enrolling in classes, viewing tuition and fees, accessing acedamic information, applying for scholarships, and more. See the UWinsite Guide for more details and help.

Brightspace​

The university's Learning Management System (LMS). It is used to view course material, submit coursework, review grades, and more.

Microsoft Office 365​

All University of Windsor students have access to a full suite of Microsoft Office 365 tools and software, including Outlook for email services and OneDrive. A Microsoft Account is automatically created using your UWindsor Email and UWin Account Password. See this FAQ for more details.

Enrolling in Courses​

Which Courses to Take​

important

These wiki resources are maintained by student contributors. Always verify important academic information with a primary university resource or an academic advisor.

There are several computer science programs offered by the University of Windsor, each with their own course requirements which can be found in the undergraduate calendar. If you follow the recommended course sequence, many programs will share the same courses for the first term.

Fall Semester

  • COMP-1000 – Key Concepts in Computer Science
  • COMP-1400 – Introduction to Programming I
  • MATH-1250 or MATH-1260 – Linear Algebra I
  • MATH-1720 or MATH-1760 – Differential Calculus
  • One elective course

Winter Semester

  • MATH-1020 – Mathematical Foundations (Honours CS and Honours CS SWE)
  • MATH-1730 – Integral Calculus (Honours CS and Honours CS SWE)
  • COMP-1410 – Introduction to Programming II
  • COMP-2650 – Computer Architecture I - Digital Design
  • One elective course

See the Courses section for a user-friendly table of course requirements by program.

How to Enroll​

Incoming first year students typically have the earliest appointment time and may enroll in courses before all other students. Your appointment time can be found on UWinsite under My Academics -> Enrollment Deadlines. It is recommended to enroll as early as possible, as courses have a limited capacity and desireable timeslots fill up quickly. See the UWinsite Guide for more details on how to enroll in classes.

warning

Check your schedule on UWinsite before classes start! Course rooms often change last minute.

Course Planning​

For a detailed guide on the recommended software for computer science students, see Recommended Software.

Academic Success​

Study and Note-Taking Tips​

  • Focus on understanding during lectures instead of transcribing everything.
  • Take photos of examples or handwritten notes from the board.
  • Create short summary sheets to review key ideas.
  • Practice problems regularly — programming and math require repetition.
  • Teach concepts to someone else to reinforce your understanding.

Time Management and Balance​

  • Use Google Calendar or Notion to organize deadlines.
  • Schedule daily study sessions and start assignments early.
  • Give yourself breaks and rest. Consistency beats cramming.
  • Attend lectures regularly — even familiar material helps reinforce learning.

Accessibility and Support​

  • CS Tutoring: 2nd floor of Erie/Lambton
  • Math Tutoring Centre (MSLC): Erie 3120, open weekdays 12–4 PM
  • TA / GA Office Hours: Posted on Brightspace
  • Professor Office Hours: See your syllabus
  • Student Accessibility Services: sas@uwindsor.ca
important

Avoid relying on AI tools for coding in your first two years. They are not allowed in exams or technical interviews and prevent you from learning essential problem-solving and debugging skills.

Community and Involvement​

Join the CSS Community​

Clubs and Groups​

On Campus

  • Google Developer Group (GDG) on Campus
  • Competitive Programming Club (Discord)
  • Women in CS
  • Women in Cybersecurity

Off Campus

  • GDG Windsor-Essex
  • Hackforge
  • WeTech

Events and Hackathons​

  • WinHacks (hosted by CSS) – winhacks.ca
  • Hack the North
  • CUSEC – Canadian University Software Engineering Conference
  • ElleHacks – For women and non-binary participants

Career and Growth​

Why Start Early​

Computer Science is competitive, start exploring opportunities early to gain experience and stand out.

Steps to Prepare​

  • Internships and Co-ops: Paid experience that builds your resume.
  • Extracurriculars: Clubs and hackathons help you network and learn.
  • Projects and Portfolio: Build a GitHub profile to showcase your work.
  • Technical Practice: Use LeetCode and NeetCode.
  • Explore Platforms:

Programming (COMP-1400 / 1410 / 2120)​

Computer Architecture (COMP-2650)​

Math Courses​

Study and Productivity Tools​

  • Google Calendar – Scheduling and reminders
  • Notion – Notes, planning, and organizing
  • OneNote / Evernote / Notability – Note-taking
  • Symbolab – Math problem solver and calculator

For more curated resources, see the CSS Resource Guide.