Student-Led Courses
At CCS, students don't just take classes, they lead them too! From sharing their own knowledge to organizing speakers, students have created courses based on their diverse interests. Explore this page to learn more about past, current, and upcoming student-led courses.
Review the guidelines & eligibility criteria
2025 - 2026
Fall 2026
BIOL CS 5: Macabre Botany
Enroll Code: 71787
Description:
From flowers that mimic corpses to flesh dissolving enzymes, plants provide a unique perspective to explore the biology of life and death. This course integrates plant physiology, toxicology, and evolution in order to ask exactly how and why plants evolved these insane characteristics, and how we can incorporate this knowledge into our own lives. We will investigate the poisonous, carnivorous, intoxicating, and just flat out gross photosynthesizers that are often overlooked.
Interested L&S students should reach out to Ava Jolly at avajolly@ucsb.edu.
Instructor: Led by Ava Jolly under the supervision of John Latto.MATH CS 5: Categories, Types, Logics
Enroll Code: 71795
Description:
We will discuss the close connection between category theory and logic. Essentially, certain structured categories have an "internal language," a logical system whose deductions can be interpreted within the structured category in question. Martin-Löf dependent type theory is the internal language of locally cartesian closed categories, and it is the basis of many modern proof assistants and functional programming languages (Lean, Rocq, Agda, etc.). We will learn enough category theory to understand the categorical semantics of Martin-Löf type theory, and use those semantics to prove some syntactic theorems.Instructor: Led by Tom Lindquist under the supervision of Stephen Bigelow.
W&L CS 5: Autotheory: Deconstruction Epistemologies
Enroll Code: 71803
Description:
This course will explore works of autotheory, a hybrid genre combining critical theory with autobiography, rich in a history of marginalized writers who build knowledge by resisting predominant hierarchies and literary conventions. By engaging with seminal auto-theory texts, participants will consider the questions: How does hegemony inform dominant epistemologies? What is the impact of writing about and/or without academic and literary conventions? How can these understandings be integrated into daily life?
After examining the foundations of autotheory, participants will put these principles into practice through their own writing. In-class writing exercises and discussions will guide students through the process of determining what topics might be best expressed with or without conventions, how to select the critical theory that best informs a topic, and how to accessibly incorporate critical theory for the author's intended rhetorical impact.
Instructor: Led by Ari Linder under the supervision of Rebbecca Brown
CMPTGCS 5: Machine Learning Theory and Statistical Mechanics
This is a colloquium on the influence of physics on both foundational and cutting edge machine learning methods. We will explore how statistical physics can be used to build intuition for and prove properties of machine learning models and algorithms. We will examine the most foundational neural networks, like the multilayer perceptron, and the state-of-the-art generative models, like energy based models and diffusion models.
This colloquium is intended for Computer Science, Physics and Math students. Familiarity with calculus, linear algebra, and probability will be helpful, as will basic conceptual understanding of machine learning, but we will go over the relevant ideas.
PHYS CS 5: Introduction to Quantum Mechanics
The Stern-Gerlach experiment, two-state systems, mathematical formalism of quantum mechanics, uncertainty, wavefunctions, energy quantization, the Schrödinger equation, quantum entanglement, and other topics of interest to the class (time permitting). Recommended preparation: calculus (MATH 3B), linear algebra (MATH 4A), and physics to the level of PHYS 21.
PHYS CS 5: Classical and Quantum Field Theory
Introduction to classical and quantum field theory. Classical scalar, spinor, and vector fields; free field equations of motion; interaction of classical fields. Review of quantum mechanics; canonical quantization; Wick's theorem and Feynman diagram; regularization and renormalization.
Prerequisites: Phys 103 and Phys 115A. Recommended preparation: Phys 104 and Phys 115B.
W&L CS 5: Creating Consciousness; What's The Point?
It's no secret that the role and value of the artist in a society built on the accumulation of wealth has been put into question. So, what is the point of being an artist/creating art in an era where it is not monetarily appreciated? This class will focus on Literary Theories and philosophies with a historical materialist lens to answer this question and explore the possibilities of what it means to be an artist from a creative perspective. Intended for Humanities majors, the course is open to all with an interest or passion for the arts. Email me at: derekuy@ucsb.edu if you have any questions.