CSCI 260: Data Structures and Algorithms


Fall 2026
Week by Week Outline

Sept 21: Disjoint Sets
Sept 22: Master Theorem Tutorial
Sept 22: Note on Master Theorem
Week Topics covered Notes from Class Material, Homework Announcements Labs and Assignments
Week 1
Sep 8-11
Wed: Course Administrivia; Definition of Algorithm;
Thu: Random Access Machine model; Big-O.
Proving f(n) ∈ O(g(n) using the definition.
Some Rules of Big-O.
Administration and motivation;
Introduction to Data Structures and Algorithms; RAM, Big-O intro

Big-O cont'd

My conversation with Co-Pilot on algorithms
HW1,
Self-test 1
No labs this week, but we meet Thursday for class/tutorial. However, you should ensure that you have access to the lab (Room 115 in Building 315) after hours -- that your access card works. Information on card key access, as well as other topics such as accessing course pages for VIU CSCI courses, CSCI machines and accounts, lab usage rules, etc. is here. Assignment 1 is due Monday Sept 21 :
ADT Array (no hint)
ATD Array (with hint)
Week 2 Mon: Big-O: The Rules. Define Ω and Θ.
Wed Algorithmic Approach: More of the Input, More of the Output, Divide and Conquer (Mergesort).
Thu: ADT Array (the assignment question); UnionFind ADT and its various implementations.
More Rules of Big-O; Defn Ω(f(n)) and Θ(f(n)).
Algorithm defn; Algorithmic approaches

Sept 14: MergeSort and Master Theorem

Union-Find (Disjoint Sets) ADT and algorithms
Labs begin this week. Before you come to tutorial, ensure that you have access to the lab (try your card) and have access to your account (follow your login instructions).
Lab 1: Union-Find
Git - verbose and succinct.
Week 3 Mon: Divide and Conquer Analysis: The Master Theorem.
Wed: Algorithmic Approach: Data Structuring (Union-Find structures). Find.
Thu: Problem-solving (problems such as on the assignment)

analyzing MergeSort,
Master Thm HW Wyss-Gallifent notes on the Master Theorem
Week 4 Mon: Union-Find data structures Path Compression heuristic for Union-Find; Analysis of Union using Quick-Find); and Quick-Union with union-by-rank, path-compression.
Wed: Graph representation. Thu: Reminder, Assignment 1 due on Saturday. Graph searching; generic search.

Sept 26: UnionFind with Path Compression
Sept 28: Graphs1
Sept 29: Graphs2
Week Oct 3 Mon: Graphs, cont'd: BFS DFS
Wed:
Thu:Test
Eppstein: BFS and DFS
Week Oct 10



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