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Computer Science & Engineering
4 credits

UW CSE 311: Foundations of Computing I

CSE 311 is UW's discrete math and theory course — propositional logic, proofs, set theory, induction, regular expressions, and finite automata. It's the first course in the major where the work is writing proofs instead of writing programs, and it underpins everything from CSE 312 to algorithms.

Fennie is independent and not affiliated with University of Washington. This is an unofficial study guide.

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What makes it hard

The jump from programming to proof-writing is the whole difficulty: students who have never written a formal proof suddenly need induction arguments graded on rigor, not just correctness. English-to-logic translation and strong induction are common midterm killers, and partial credit depends on precise notation.

What you'll cover

  • • Propositional and predicate logic
  • • Set theory
  • • Modular arithmetic
  • • Induction and strong induction
  • • Regular expressions and context-free grammars
  • • DFAs, NFAs, and uncomputability

The CSE 311 study guide

How to study for UW CSE 311, step by step.

  1. 1

    Accept that CSE 311 is a writing course

    You're being graded on rigor and notation, not just correct answers. Slow down, define your variables, and justify every step — partial credit lives in the precision.

  2. 2

    Practice English-to-logic translation daily

    Take sentences from anywhere and formalize them with quantifiers, then negate them. Translation errors are the most common midterm point-loss, and the skill only builds through volume.

  3. 3

    Rewrite lecture proofs from memory

    After each lecture, close your notes and reproduce the day's main proof. Where you get stuck is exactly what you didn't actually understand — reread, then try again the next day.

  4. 4

    Grade your own homework against posted solutions

    Compare line by line, not just conclusion to conclusion. An induction proof with a vague inductive hypothesis feels right and scores poorly; learning to see the difference is the course.

  5. 5

    Make Fennie your proof-practice scheduler

    Upload the CSE 311 schedule and Fennie builds a Daily Plan that distributes proof reps across the quarter and paces them to your midterm dates, with quizzes on logic equivalences generated from your actual materials. Free to start.

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How Fennie helps with CSE 311

Upload the CSE 311 schedule and Fennie's Daily Plans allocate steady proof practice across the quarter — the only way this material sticks. Chat through why an induction argument is incomplete or how to negate a quantified statement, and generate quiz questions on logic equivalences before each exam.

FAQ

Is CSE 311 hard?

It's widely considered one of the harder required CSE courses because it's the first proof-based class. Programming skill doesn't transfer directly — rigor and notation do the heavy lifting.

What math do I need before CSE 311?

Comfort with algebra and the maturity from the calculus sequence helps, but the course teaches its own toolkit. The prerequisite chain runs through the CSE 12X programming courses and MATH 126 or equivalent per current requirements.

How do I get better at CSE 311 proofs?

Volume and feedback. Write proofs daily, compare against posted solutions line by line, and rework every problem you missed. Reading proofs feels productive but doesn't build the skill.

Pass CSE 311 with a plan, not a cram

Upload your CSE 311 materials and Fennie generates a Daily Plan paced to your deadline — plus chat, flashcards, and quizzes built from the actual course content.

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