Course syllabus

All content in the course page will be found in the modules section (most of it will be added as the course progresses). 

Course-PM

• DAT495/DIT183 Data structures and algorithms, study period 4 2026 (7.5 hp)

Teachers

• Teachers: Jonas Duregård (examiner)

Preferred mode of contact is through Discord (join link in modules section). Otherwise email jonas.duregard@chalmers.se. Sensitive or urgent matters can be handled by phone: +46317721028. Lecture breaks are also a good time to talk to me. 

Language

The course material is in English. I plan to give the lectures in Swedish.

Course purpose

Data structures and algorithms are fundamental building blocks in almost all software products. Knowledge of data abstraction, data structures, and algorithms is important in the construction, use, and maintenance of adaptable, reusable, and efficient program components.

The course gives knowledge and skills in the construction and use of data structures and algorithmic concepts, and gives an introduction to algorithm analysis and data abstraction.

Schedule

Schedule in TimeEdit can be found in Modules.

Course literature

See link in Modules section.

Course organisation and examination

The detailed schedule is in TimeEdit, and details about the lectures and assignments are in the Modules, but here is some general information.

Lectures

• Two or three times per week. May include some exercises. 

Assignments

• There are 4 compulsory assignments (a.k.a. laborations)
• The first assignment is individual, the remaining three are done in groups of three
• The assignments are graded on campus during scheduled lab sessions, requiring the physical presence of students

Written examination

• There is a written exam at the end of the course; as usual it is compulsory and individual.
• Your final course grade will be decided from your result on the written exam. 
• You are allowed to bring one double sided A4 sheet of hand written notes to the exam. It can contain anything you want, though a summary of the course material is a popular choice. The sheet must be handed in with the exam, but only for the purpose of determining if it adheres to the rules (and to make grading more entertaining, the sheets are sometimes quite the works of art). You can get the sheet back afterwards if you need it for a re-exam or want to frame it and hang it on your wall.

Passing the course

• To pass the course you need to pass all 4 laborations, and the written examination.
• The final grade is the same as the grade on the written examination.

Learning objectives and syllabus

You can read the complete syllabi on Studieportalen.