Resources

Course Pathways

Non-formal tracks for studying quantum computing at Stanford.

Overview

A Plethora of Pathways

There's no single official quantum computing major at Stanford, but there are distinct informal areas students tend to follow paths in: Quantum Algorithms, Quantum Hardware, and Quantum Theory.

This guide is a work in progress — not every course below is offered every year, so check with current course listings on the navigator (or equivalent) before planning around it. The pathway diagrams themselves were last updated in Fall 2021.

Quantum Algorithms course pathway diagram, showing prerequisite chains through CS 103, 106B, 107, 110, 154, 161, and Quantum Mechanics into CS 259Q (Quantum Computing) and CS 359Q (Quantum Complexity Theory).
Quantum Algorithms pathway
Quantum Hardware course pathway diagram, showing prerequisite chains through PHYS 120/121, EE 142/242, EE/PHYS quantum mechanics courses, into APPPHYS 228 (Quantum Hardware) and related graduate courses.
Quantum Hardware pathway
Quantum Theory course pathway diagram, showing prerequisite chains through PHYS 131 (Quantum Mechanics II) into Quantum Field Theory I–III, Graduate Quantum Mechanics I–II, and PHYS 134/234 (Advanced Topics in QM).
Quantum Theory pathway

Reference

Department listing

A quick reference of quantum-relevant courses grouped by department.

Table of quantum-relevant courses grouped by department: Physics/Applied Physics, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, and Materials Science.