Computer Science Research

CS 197 · Fall 2026

This course offers a project-based introduction to computer science research. Students are matched with a team and project area (i.e., AI). The class is a quarter-long mentored research project with the goal to produce a publishable work-in-progress (e.g., for a poster or workshop paper) by the end. This course will be organized as a "reverse classroom", where class time is spent working on the project with your team, and you will review the lectures independently at home. The lecture components of the course review fundamental research concepts in computer science.

Week Date Assignment Released Due
Progress Reports: 8:00pm
Assignments: 11:30am
Lecture
0
Mon 9/21 — — What Is Research?
Wed 9/23

Section application

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Sat 9/26 —

Progress Report 0

1
Mon 9/28 — — Research Contributions: Bit Flips
Wed 9/30

Assignment 1: Reading a Paper

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Sat 10/3 —

Progress Report I

2
Mon 10/5 — — Arguing a Research Project
Wed 10/7

Assignment 2: Related Work

Assignment 1: Reading a Paper

Sat 10/10 —

Progress Report II

3
Mon 10/12 — — Vectoring in Research
Wed 10/14

Assignment 3: Introduction

Assignment 2: Related Work

Sat 10/17 —

Progress Report III

4
Mon 10/19 — — Velocity in Research
Wed 10/21 —

Assignment 3: Introduction

Sat 10/24 —

Progress Report IV

5
Mon 10/26 — — Evaluation
Wed 10/28

Mid-quarter feedback form

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Sat 10/31 —

Progress Report V

6
Mon 11/2 —

Mid-quarter feedback form

Writing a Paper & Picking Projects
Wed 11/4 — —
Sat 11/7 —

Progress Report VI

7
Mon 11/9 — — Research Career Paths
Wed 11/11

Assignment 4: Evaluation Plan

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Sat 11/14 —

Progress Report VII

8
Mon 11/16 — — Giving Talks
Wed 11/18

Assignment 5: Draft Paper

Assignment 4: Evaluation Plan

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Mon 11/23 — — Publication & Peer Review
Wed 11/25

Assignment 6: Draft Talk

Final Talk

Final Paper

Assignment 5: Draft Paper
9
Mon 11/30 — — -
Wed 12/2

Team Feedback Form

Assignment 6: Draft Talk

10
Fri 12/11 — Final Paper (due 8:00pm)
Final Talk (in-person) 		-