The theory part isn’t too bad—it’s fairly straightforward. But the programming assignments? Oh boy. Those PAs aren’t playing around. If you didn’t pay attention in labs, you’ll be staring at your code wondering what went wrong with your life choices.
Not the hardest course out there, but it does demand some effort. This isn’t a stroll in the park for an A, but a B is pretty doable if you put in the work. The average tends to hover around 75%, so you’re in decent company.
If learning how the internet works is your jam, you’ll probably enjoy this. But let’s be real, some of it can feel dry. That said, the prof does teach you how to send undetectable spam emails at one point, so there’s that!
The programming assignments are the main culprit here. They’re long and require lots of effort, so block out some time. The exam prep is less intense than the PAs, but still, it’s a time sink depending on how much content your prof decides to pack in.
If you’re eyeing a job at a networking company like Arista Networks, this course will come in handy. Even if that’s not your goal, the stuff about security and performance is super useful. I even ended up using some of what I learned in one of my co-op jobs. Plus, as a CS major, it’s probably a good idea to know how the internet works, right?
Lectures are helpful, but a lot of the content is out there on the internet (ironic, right?). Missing a couple won’t tank your grade, but the lectures definitely help with exam prep. The labs, on the other hand, are essential for surviving the PAs, so I’d recommend showing up for those.
]]>I’ll be reviewing each course based on a set of criteria that should give you a clearer idea of whether it’s a good fit as an elective, or, if it’s a required course, how prepared you need to be and when you might want to take it. Here are the key factors I’ll evaluate:
How challenging is the course material? Are the concepts easy to grasp or do they require significant effort and background knowledge?
How tough is it to achieve an A? Is this a course where you’ll need to struggle just to pass, or can you reasonably aim for high marks?
How engaging or interesting is the material? Is it something you’ll be excited to learn, or is it more likely to put you to sleep in lectures?
How heavy is the workload? Will you be scrambling to meet deadlines, or is there a manageable balance between assignments and study time?
How useful is the course content for your future as a software engineer? Will the skills and knowledge gained be directly applicable in a professional setting?
How critical is it to attend every lecture? Let’s be honest, missing a class here and there happens—will it impact your success, or can you catch up without too much trouble?
By rating courses based on these criteria, I hope to give you a better sense of what to expect and help you make choices that suit your personal goals and study habits.
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