I took it with Pam. Like others say, if you want an easy A, take it with Pam. If you want to actually learn something, take it with Naumann. Pam's class pairs well with 261 (Data Structures) because most of the assignments are just copy/pasting her templates into your own words (you literally ctrl+F on two assignments and change "movies" to your topic, it's ridiculous). The last few weeks they cram a ridiculous amount of information (which you won't retain) trying to cover Mongo, Rest and React. I'm talking like 7-8 explorations per module, but the assignments aren't hard. They just try to cover too much ground in this course and the whole thing suffers as a result. Again, easy A though

Submitted Mon Mar 25 2024

Make sure to use online tutorials. Later half of the class gets more complicated. Front part is easy. Plenty of extra credit! Can get an A if you commit 6-10 hours every week. Final week required 15hrs or more.

Submitted Wed Dec 20 2023

Took the course with Pam. During the first few weeks, you'll learn HTML, CSS, and a high-level overview of how the web works. Pacing during the first few weeks is a little slow, but don't let that fool you. When the latter half of the course kicks in, the course turns into an insane info dump of MongoDB, JavaScript, Node, Express, and React. You'll be given mostly-functional code that contains elements of the MERN stack, and you'll be asked to manipulate things in some fashion. You'll likely feel as if you have no idea what you're doing. Fortunately, every assignment contains a follow-along video from the professor (Pam) where she shows you how to complete the assignment. Most of this work involves getting really good at Ctrl F and replacing variable names within functions you barely understand. Grading in the course seems to be very subjective, so quadruple check the rubric to ensure you've completed every step and prepare to have a few points knocked off anyways. All being said, if you follow-along to the assignment videos and do the extra credit, you'll earn an easy A.

Submitted Mon Dec 18 2023

This course starts very slow with HTML and CSS for the six weeks, then it goes to 11 and drowns you in JavaScript, Node, Express, and React for the final few weeks. Luckily, all the modules were open from the beginning, so students are free to work ahead. There are plenty of extra credit opportunities, so I never felt like my grade was at risk, but I would definitely try to learn JavaScript on my own if I were starting this semester over again.

Submitted Sun Dec 17 2023

Prepare by learning web development (HTML/CSS/JavaScript, little bit of MongoDB, Node, Express, React) ahead of time, and this class will be a breeze. Without the preparation beforehand, you may feel overwhelmed by the end of this course, since they stuff React, Node, Express, MongoDB into two weeks. Do not feel like this class will prepare you for web development - they really need to split this course into two different courses. Supplement by taking something else externally afterwards anyway, if you're really interested in it. Pam makes the course very accessible to extra credit - I ended up needing to get a 0 on the final project to get an A (still required to be turned in though). You do not need to take a final with Pam. I heard the Naumann final can be pretty detail-oriented, and really wasn't much better (experience may vary). My conclusion was to just try to get this course out of the way as easily as possible, and doing it without a final helped me that way. Took with CS372 and CS362 in same quarter, but I'm a full time student. Had some previous web development experience.

Submitted Mon Dec 11 2023

The ratings for this class may make it seem like an easy class and that everyone can get an A. Yes there are copious amounts of extra credit, however this class is not without its work. It's easy to put this class on the back burner and then have your jaw drop when you see the size of the module you put off reading. Even worse is that the modules are at times nonsensical until you work through the assignment. If you're taking it with Pam, work ahead of the HTML/CSS sections, they don't require as much time as the later JavaScript frameworks. Working ahead will give you a lot more time for the React/Express/Node components to marinate in your brain. I started to get a better understanding of how everything clicked after the final assignment so I've definitely calmed down on this class towards the end of the term.

Submitted Mon Dec 11 2023

Took it with Pam, not a bad course but def just a supplement. Take it with a hard course.

Submitted Tue Nov 28 2023

Treat this as an introductory survey of web dev, knowing that 90% of what you will use in the future will come from your own discoveries outside this class.

Submitted Thu Sep 07 2023

Assignments can be frustrating due to harsh grading and seemingly pointless requirments but extra credit is extremely generous, you can make so many mistakes and still end up with over 100% if you do the extra credit, it is tedious though. By the end of the course, you will have very shallow knowledge of the MERN stack.

Submitted Mon Aug 14 2023

Go through assignments slowly as to not miss a key detail, as they can take HOURS to hunt down bugs. Just know that you will probably not be in love with your website and accept that; don't kill yourself trying to make an awe-inspiring site because your time is better spent elsewhere. Pam is so sweet and tries hard to help everyone. I think she gets a bad wrap when really it is just way too much content to fit into 1 quarter, so be respectful to her and she will work hard to help you improve.

Submitted Mon Jun 19 2023