verified Verified Information • Last Updated Mar 2026

Introduction to High-Performance and Parallel Computing

This course introduces the fundamentals of high-performance and parallel computing. It is targeted to scientists, engineers, scholars, really everyone seeking to develop the software skills necessary for work in parallel software environments. These skills include big-data analysis, machine learning, parallel programming, and optimization. We will cover the basics of Linux environments and bash scripting all the way to high throughput computing and parallelizing code. We recommend you are familiar with either Fortran 90, C++, or Python to complete some of the programming assignments. After completing this course, you will familiar with: *The components of a high-performance distributed computing system *Types of parallel programming models and the situations in which they might be used *High-throughput computing *Shared memory parallelism *Distributed memory parallelism *Navigating a typical Linux-based HPC environment *Assessing and analyzing application scalability including weak and strong scaling *Quantifying the processing, data, and cost requirements for a computational project or workflow This course can be taken for academic credit as part of CU Boulder’s Master of Science in Data Science (MS-DS) degree offered on the Coursera platform. The MS-DS is an interdisciplinary degree that brings together faculty from CU Boulder’s departments of Applied Mathematics, Computer Science, Information Science, and others. With performance-based admissions and no application process, the MS-DS is ideal for individuals with a broad range of undergraduate education and/or professional experience in computer science, information science, mathematics, and statistics. Learn more about the MS-DS program at https://www.coursera.org/degrees/master-of-science-data-science-boulder.
Duration 8 Months
Institution University of Colorado Boulder
Format Online

Eligibility Criteria

school

Academic Foundation

A recognized Bachelor’s degree or high school equivalent required for admission into University of Colorado Boulder.

language

Language Proficiency

English proficiency required. IELTS, TOEFL, or standard medium-of-instruction certificates accepted.

Detailed Fees Breakdown

Base Tuition Fee $265
Total Est. Investment $265

Scholarships and early-bird waivers may apply. Contact admissions for exact institutional fees.

Academic Trajectory

Program Outcome

Graduates of the Introduction to High-Performance and Parallel Computing program at University of Colorado Boulder are equipped with global perspectives, ready to excel in international markets and top-tier career opportunities.

headset_mic
Get In Touch