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COP 3502C

Programming Fundamentals 1

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Reviews 13
1

Class Ratings

4Good Class
4Easy
3Kinda Interesting
4Useful

Professor Rating

4Good Prof

Prof: Daniel Delgado / Fall 2023

Dec 13, 2023

Comments on the course

Easy intro to programming class, especially if you're already a little familiar with Python coming in.

Course Content

The first half of the class covers essentially how to engage with a programming at all, the basics of syntax, loops, etc. The second half is where you cover a lot of really important, useful knowledge like Git and OOP. I don't think any of this class is terribly difficult, but there are a couple moments where it spikes, namely the connect-four lab and the Pakudex project towards the end. The class Slack means you can always ask for help, but the TAs can be a little frustrating to interact with sometimes.

Comments on the professor

Delgado was fine, he didn't teach in a ton of detail, which I think works for this class.

Advice

The ZyBooks participation activities are NOT OPTIONAL and they make up 4% of your grade so do them.

Delivery: In personGrade: AWorkload: LightTextbook Use: Yes
Quiz HeavyProject HeavyExam Heavy
2

Class Ratings

4Good Class
4Easy
2Boring
5Very Useful

Professor Rating

3OK Prof

Prof: Lisha Zhou / Fall 2022

Aug 22, 2023

Comments on the course

If you have any prior programming experience this class will be a cakewalk. Projects and labs can be submitted multiple times before the deadline so you have chances to gain back points you missed on your first attempt.

Course Content

Intro to programming with Python. Ultimately a very fundamental course.

Comments on the professor

Professor moved very slowly in the course and I struggled to pay attention. Halfway through the semester, I started skipping the lecture and watching the recording at double speed once it was posted.

Advice

Use the exam study guides. Start projects early.

Delivery: In personGrade: AWorkload: ModerateTextbook Use: Yes
Project Heavy
1

Class Ratings

2Bad Class
1Very Hard
1Very Boring
3Kinda Useful

Professor Rating

2Bad Prof

Prof: Lisha Zhou / Spring 2023

Mar 24, 2023

Comments on the course

Very very not beginner friendly. Especially if you don't like coding. The labs are fairly easy since your have a partner who usually knows what they're doing. Projects are a doozy though, I ended up getting a tutor for a while.

Course Content

Quiz every other Friday, labs every discussion class, and 3 exams. I found programming to be extremally difficult and it didn't help that the lectures were pretty much useless. I went for maybe the first month then once I realized I wasn't getting anything she was explaining I just sort of gave up and taught myself Python on Youtube.

Comments on the professor

I've heard she's alright but most everyone I talk to never went to lecture.

Advice

If you don't enjoying programming or are taking it thinking it's going to be an easy A, don't take the course at all.

Delivery: In personGrade: B-Workload: LightTextbook Use: Optional
Assignment Heavy
2

Class Ratings

4Good Class
4Easy
4Interesting
4Useful

Professor Rating

5Amazing Prof

Prof: Lisha Zhou / Fall 2022

Dec 19, 2022

Comments on the course

Class was structured in a good way, in terms of projects being a large part of your grade. Just attend lectures and read zybooks and you will be fine

Course Content

This class teaches you programming fundamentals in python, useful for cs majors

Comments on the professor

Zhou was extremely helpful and would explain content very well

Advice

Maybe some python experience would be nice, but this class is made for beginners

Delivery: In personGrade: B+Workload: ModerateTextbook Use: Yes
Project HeavyExam Heavy
1

Class Ratings

3OK Class
4Easy
4Interesting
5Very Useful

Professor Rating

3OK Prof

Prof: Lisha Zhou / Fall 2022

Dec 16, 2022

Comments on the course

For a first programming class, its not too beginner friendly imo. Some of the projects can difficult especially the last two where we made a Pokeman rip off and Sudoku from scratch, but if you pay attention and actually try then it shouldnt be too bad. I cant say too much about the lectures because i havnt been to class in 3 months because i self taught myself Python in the summer which was good enough to pass the class. Every time i didnt understand something or needed help, I would look back at the zoom recordings Zhou would post online. Its an alright course for someone that never coded before, but it felt slow to me and boring.

Comments on the professor

idk, i didnt go to class lol. She was good ig

Advice

FOR PROJECT 4, MAKE SURE TO GRAB A GOOD TEAM. This project will make you stress, not sleep, regret everything, and make you hate your major and life. Nah im jk, but its pretty hard and stressful so make sure to grab a good team to do it with so you wont being doing the whole thing by yourself. I also recommend going to Zhou's hour offices 1 hour early because it gets PACK fast. One time i waited 2 hours to get help and when it was my turn, Zhou left because office hours was over. She leaves right on time and doesnt stay for extra minutes so make sure to get there early so youll be the first one in line. The TA office hours are alright but everyone needs help so youll be waiting for a long time. In-Person is better than the Zoom office hours but do whatever you want. And one big piece of ad...read more

Delivery: In personGrade: AWorkload: Very HeavyTextbook Use: Optional
Assignment HeavyProject HeavyExam HeavyQuiz Heavy
1

Class Ratings

2Bad Class
1Very Hard
1Very Boring
4Useful

Professor Rating

4Good Prof

Prof: Lisha Zhou / Fall 2022

Nov 25, 2022

Comments on the course

Not very beginner friendly. If you do not have prior experience it's very hard to follow. Professor is nice and TA's are usually helpful.

Delivery: In personGrade: B-Workload: Very HeavyTextbook Use: Yes
Assignment Heavy
0

Class Ratings

4Good Class
3Avg. Difficulty
4Interesting
5Very Useful

Professor Rating

4Good Prof

Prof: Lisha Zhou / Fall 2022

Nov 15, 2022

Comments on the course

Definitely a fun course, however this is coming from someone with prior coding experience in high school. I have heard that the class can be a bit challenging for people new to coding, but as long as you read over the Zybooks and do the activities you should do fine.

Course Content

9 Quizzes, 9 Labs, 4 Projects, 3 Exams (including final) Content is super useful if you're a CS major, Outside of that probably not. It will set the stage for your conceptual understanding for coding and how software works. Many programming languages may have different syntax/features, but concepts will generally be similar.

Comments on the professor

I've heard Zhou is good, she posts recordings of lectures online. I wouldn't know though I never went to a single lecture.

Advice

If you don't have prior coding experience be prepared to do the assigned bookwork. Even if you do, its still a good idea to go over it.

Delivery: In personGrade: A+Workload: ModerateTextbook Use: Yes
Quiz HeavyProject HeavyExam Heavy
6

Class Ratings

5Amazing Class
3Avg. Difficulty
5Very Interesting
5Very Useful

Professor Rating

4Good Prof

Prof: Amanpreet Kapoor / Fall 2021

Sep 14, 2022

Comments on the course

The class is fairly straightforward, every module has a lab and quiz associated with it. There are three individual projects over the course of the class. The subject matter was not very difficult when I took the class with Java, now they use Python so it is probably even more easy. The last project can be a little difficult, but if you take the class in fall you should have ample time to complete it no problem.

Course Content

One quiz and lab/assignment per module. 3 Individual projects

Comments on the professor

Professor Kapoor is a good professor, he is easily available and patient with stupid or dumb questions. You might need YouTube to supplement the lectures.

Advice

This is an entry level class, if you already know a thing or two about programming take COP 3504

Delivery: OnlineGrade: A+Workload: ModerateTextbook Use: Yes
Quiz HeavyAssignment Heavy
4

Class Ratings

4Good Class
2Hard
5Very Interesting
5Very Useful

Professor Rating

5Amazing Prof

Prof: Lisha Zhou / Summer 2021

Jan 4, 2022

Comments on the course

It was a good class. Very well structured. I did need to supplement the lectures with youtube videos sometimes.

Course Content

I had little experience in programming before I took this class, so this helped me get some fundamentals.

Comments on the professor

The professor knows what she's doing. She'll present the information in a very straightforward way.

Advice

Start projects early, put in the work, and you'll be fine.

Delivery: OnlineGrade: AWorkload: ModerateTextbook Use: Yes
Project Heavy
2

Class Ratings

5Amazing Class
4Easy
4Interesting
5Very Useful

Professor Rating

4Good Prof

Prof: Lisha Zhou / Fall 2021

Jan 4, 2022

Comments on the course

The class is structured very nicely. Easy extra credit. 4 projects. weekly quizzes and labs. 3 tests (including the final). Everything is pretty straight-forward

Course Content

Intro to Java.

Comments on the professor

Prof Zhou is super patient and will explain anything that is asked. She asks questions that show up on tests and quizzes.

Advice

Pay attention to her test reviews. And join the class group chat on Slack (the one with the ta's and prof).

Delivery: In personGrade: AWorkload: ModerateTextbook Use: Yes
Project Heavy
1

Class Ratings

4Good Class
2Hard
4Interesting
5Very Useful

Professor Rating

4Good Prof

Prof: Lisha Zhou / Fall 2021

Dec 22, 2021

Comments on the course

Not too bad with prior programming experience, but without experience, it's a big challenge. The online textbook helps a lot. Most important thing is to make time for the labs and projects as they will take a while.

Course Content

Intro to Java. Weekly quizzes and labs. Two exams. Major project assignments.

Comments on the professor

Not too bad of a professor, she helps out whenever its needed and she's pretty responsive. Watching her practice questions were definitely useful as well as they would correlate with the quizzes.

Advice

Try to gain some experience or get familiar with Java. Take a lot of time to practice, study, and retain the information you learn.

Delivery: HybridGrade: CWorkload: HeavyTextbook Use: Optional
Attendance HeavyQuiz HeavyProject HeavyAssignment Heavy
3

Class Ratings

3OK Class
2Hard
3Kinda Interesting
4Useful

Prof: Amanpreet Kapoor / Fall 2020

Sep 22, 2021

Comments on the course

The labs are pretty simple, but the projects take time, and you'll have to start early if you don't have any prior programming experience.

Course Content

Lot of useful info about Java, it's a good class.

Comments on the professor

Nice guy, but you will need YouTube to supplement his lectures.

Advice

Learn as much as you can about Java before taking the course, even if it's just basic programming knowledge. It will save you life the first few weeks when everything seems foreign.

Suggest a professor

Kapoor.

Delivery: OnlineGrade: BWorkload: HeavyTextbook Use: Optional
Project HeavyQuiz HeavyExam Heavy
1

Class Ratings

3OK Class
5Very Easy
2Boring
4Useful

Prof: Lisha Zhou / Fall 2021

Sep 19, 2021

Comments on the course

Easy and really boring if you have prior programming experience, hard if you don't have any. You mostly have to teach yourself the material and read the textbook.

Course Content

Intro to Programming with Java

Comments on the professor

Her teaching style is a flipped classroom, where you watch lectures at home and do exercises in class. Having to do that makes this class feel very tedious since she doesn't really teach content during class and only answers questions. That said, you could probably just skip class entirely and get by just reading the textbook.

Delivery: In personGrade: Not sure yetWorkload: ModerateTextbook Use: Yes
Project Heavy

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