Note: Formerly CS014
Harder than CS12, but manageable. The projects require much more work than 12
Avoid Mart Molle if you don't feel like you have a solid foundation in CS10-12. Always start assignments as far in advance as possible. Class is typically curved a lot (out of sheer necessity).
One of the most challenging lower division cs class. AVOID MART MOLLE AT ALL COSTS
Probably the hardest lower division CS class out there. Some people say CS061 is more difficult but I highly disagree; CS014 is much, much more difficult contentwise. CS061 is "effort-based" and CS014 is "intelligence-based," would be the best way to put it. It is DS&A after all, so this should come as no surprise to CS students, just make sure you put in a lot of effort and build a solid foundation for CS141 or you will seriously regret it.
Honestly I thought I was gonna fail this class but the curve literally saved me. The material in CS14 is pretty damn hard. You have to understand the concept thoroughly in order to be able to the programs. I took this class with professor Evangelos so I was pretty lucky. I got an F on the final and a D on the midterm but still somehow ended with a B+ in the class. I'm pretty sure he curved the hell out of the class cuz I'm pretty damn sure I was supposed to fail.
MUCH harder than cs061 (with mart molle) hardest lower division cs class by far
Take time to complete the programs and labs. This will give you a strong buffer before going into the midterms. Also, McDaniel is tough, but understanding so try to be well-liked by him before finals.
Took with McDaniel fall 2018. As background, I *thought* of myself has a strong competent programmer coming into cs014. Yet this was certainly the hardest class I’ve taken yet and it was the last of my lower division. Labs and programming assignments are straight forward IF YOU GO TO OFFICE HOURS. The hard part is certainly the tests. I aced everything in labs and programming assignments and still failed the second test (38%.) Multiple choice is e z p z but short answer is 60% of tests and will destroy you. Especially coding/ drawing in pencil. MASTER data structures and standard library member functions and the rest will follow. Good luck. You’ll need it
By far the undergrad class with the MOST work. Not the hardest intellectually. If you breezed through CS012, you have the capability to breeze through 14. You dedicate time to your programming assignments (esp 2-3 trees, they will fuck you over.) If you struggled in CS012, you will have trouble in 14, beware. The concepts are straightforward but the programs require time to implement.
I had Dr. Lependu, and honestly the class isn't that bad. If you put in the time on your programs and study the material you will do well in the class. His midterms are a reflection of what he teaches in class so ATTEND LECTURE!!! make sure to ask him questions if you need help, he is very nice and bubbly.
Paea's midterms were extremely easy but the final was difficult
Had Vagelis, the class itself was not too hard. IMO the material was more interesting than CS012, but the assignments are very time consuming , yet manageable so DO NOT slack off on them. There's a very large curve at the end, went from a D+/C- to an A.
I had McDaniel in Fall'19 and passed with a B. The labs and tests weren't too bad (focus on studying the slides), but the assignments were tough as shit in my opinion. You have to work on them in groups of at most 3, and the person I worked with was absolutely no help, so make sure to get a good group. The TA's weren't much help on the assignments either, so START EARLY. The final was also very difficult, but I think he curved the class because I'm pretty sure I averaged around a 70% overall. Just keep up with the pace of the class and you will be fine.
Reem is good.
Programming assignments were extremely difficult to implement. Labs also get progressively more challenging. Tests weren’t too bad. A big step up from CS012, know your CS012 stuff before stepping into this class (linked lists!)
[COVID-19 ERA] This class with a Professor Paea LePendu was a pleasure to partake in. Data Structures and Algorithms is an initially scary class as the jump/learning curve from CS012 was drastic and you had to be really confident in your ability to program. If you don't understand the concepts from the previous class, beware, this class will be difficult programming-wise. Conceptual understanding wasn't a problem, as LePendu really makes sure people nail that portion of the subject. It's not too difficult of a class but taking it online because of COVID-19 did add some learning struggles. The midterm was easy but the final was HARD. I do wish that some of the programming labs that were smaller in size would be 1-person labs as working on them with a group meant you didn't do much coding on your own. More coding practice would've been better as all technical interviews pull from the knowledge you learn in CS014. The most fun CS class so far, though coding some of the challenge activities was mentally stressful lol.
Had the class with Ali Reem. She was a very nice professor, so I did not struggle as much, but again, make sure you understand all the concepts!
A massive step up from CS012 but as long as you understand the basic concepts and how to implement them in code you should be fine. In terms of the types of questions you'll be asked in programming interviews this class covers them the most so PAY ATTENTION if you wanna get a job later on.
Took it with Evangelos Christidis (fall 2020, online), would NOT recommend. It was hard asf especially with the assignments we got no help/feedback on. lecture was really boring, but theres a huge curve at the end so dw about failing.
Took it with Vagelis Hristidis in fall 2020. Wouldn't say it was easy as he would make up program assignments all on his own that were very difficult and required us to know things we've never seen before. But at least they were graded pretty generously.
Projects take a lot of time, give yourself a lot of time. Make sure to thoroughly understand all the data structures and algorithms on a conceptual level, which will carry you through the exams.
Take it with pat miller, not silas. You must understand pointers, as data structures are just an application of pointers and what the entire class is about. be prepared to work and go to alot of office hours
difficult class, but do all the assignments and you'll be fine! take pat miller, I heard from friends in silas's class that he was bad at responding to emails / slack msgs , and that he had a very long multiple choice final. for miller, do the practice midterms and finals!!!!!!!! a lot of the questions on the practices were on the actual exams, just with different numbers or slight different wording. for the final, know how to insert and remove into all the types of trees.
This class IS relatively difficult, but 100% doable. PAY ATTENTION because the material is VERY important. My advice, regardless of whether or not you get lucky professor-wise, is to invest in a whiteboard. A majority of the material requires you to really visualize and grasp how specific structural processes work, and if you can genuinely understand what is expected of you, you are already halfway there. If you can, take professor Pat Miller- he is very thorough, understanding, and kind. Good luck!
Took with Ryan Rusich Summer 2023 in person, much, much more work than CS10A/B, but much easier to grasp than 10B imo. Definitely one of the hardest low div cs classes but an A is very doable, 5 weeks and a quick vacation in between got me an A-
Took this class with Patrick Miller. He is chill, and gives mercy extensions on almost everything. Downside is his grading is absolute ass and ambiguous. All the lab grades include a quality portion to which he makes up his own shit. You can write one program without a destructor and get full marks, then write another without it and lose half your grade (note you are given a list of requirements, and the required destructor is not on there).
Had Professor Pat Miller; somehow easier than 10B. Do labs and PAs on time and you'll be fine. Make sure to go to his office hours before midterms for some hints about the midterm (though he didn't really drop hints about the final during Week 10). Pretty fun dude, definitely would take classes with him again.
pat miller (spring 24) — despite the difficulty rating, CS 010C was not bad. if you go to lectures or do the readings, you should be fine. the labs and PAs range in difficulty but are definitely do-able if you start them fairly early. if you take it with pat miller and go to his office hours, you'll be all set !! 4 quizzes (lowest dropped). no midterm, 1 final.
Took with Patrick Miller in Winter 23. He is a great prof one of the best I have had. The class however may be very hard if you struggle to grasp concepts, aren't good at memorizing, or fall behind (same goes for most CS classes). This is probably the hardest class I took between the first quarter at UCR to the time of writing this (first quarter of my 2nd year). It's really just understanding the idea and then memorizing how to code it. I did pass with an A+ but only because of a ~10% curve at the end and doing all my assignments. Best way to pass is to not wait for the last second because it won't be possible. Actually went to office hours for the first time because of this class. You'll be fine if you put in the time.