2.7

Andrew Runka

Computer Science - Carleton University

2.7
Quality
4.1
Difficulty
46%
Would Retake
130
Reviews
2.7
Quality
4.1
Difficulty
2.7
Helpful
2.7
Clarity

46%

Would Retake

130

Reviews

Rating Distribution
Official

5

36

4

19

3

8

2

8

1

59

What Students Say

Zoning out during class will cause you to miss valuable information

COMP2406 - 3.0 rating

Tests are stupidly hard as well

COMP3007 - 4.0 rating
Class Info

Online Classes

100%

Attendance Mandatory

45%

Textbook Required

11%

Grade Predictor

Your expected effort level

LowHigh

Predicted Grade

B

95% confidence
Based on 70 grades
Most common grades:
Not sure yet (22)
A+ (17)
A (14)
Grade Distribution
A(31)B(10)C(10)D(6)F(4)A-/B+(10)
Based on 107 reported grades
Not sure yet: 22
A+: 17
A: 14
A-: 8
Common Tags
Tough grader (44)
Test heavy (35)
Get ready to read (32)
Skip class? You won't pass. (15)
Clear grading criteria (14)
Lecture heavy (10)
Gives good feedback (9)
Lots of homework (9)
Rating Trend

Stable

+0.05 avg change
Aug
Apr
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Last 6 months
Ratings by Course

COMP2402

4.5

(4)

COMP1405

4.3

(10)

COMP1006

4.0

(1)

1005A

4.0

(1)

COMP1005

3.6

(7)
+3 more courses
Difficulty by Course

COMP2406

4.5

COMP1006

4.0

COMP3007

3.9

COMP2402

3.5

COMP1005

3.4

Reviews (130)
3.0
2.0
COMP1405
Grade: A-
Jul 26, 2014

Solid professor. Clearly very knowledgeable about all CS concepts. Seemed like his young, fresh energy was diminished by the nature of his contract position (no FT benefits). Overall, he is no MIT prof (yet), but he is certainly a great one.

4.0
1.0
COMP1005
Grade: A+
Nov 8, 2015

If you've never programmed before, Runka is on a good level. If you have even a small amount of programming experience, it will feel like he's constantly talking down to you.

2.0
5.0
COMP1005
Nov 19, 2015

Worst course I ever took in my life. If you never took comp science before, it'll be tough. Sometimes he doesn't even upload the right document on his slides, therefore in class, you have absolutely no idea why it's working for him and not for you.

3.0
3.0
COMP1005
Grade: C
Jan 3, 2016

Pretty okay prof. Haven't got to talk with him personally but in lectures he seems interested in what he does, which is good. Classes do get pretty dull sometimes but it's the content rather than himself. Assignments were fair and easy if you follow the lectures. Pretty good prof overall

5.0
3.0
COMP3007
Apr 9, 2016

Very good with class participation. Has a great charisma, and makes good jokes to keep the class entertained (including monty python). Very approachable, and fun to talk to. His assignments and tests are only a little tough, and very fair.

4.0
4.0
COMP1006
Grade: A-
Aug 26, 2016
Would take again

Amazing prof but you will have to work though. Depending on how much experience you have in coding it could either be really difficult or kind of easy (sometimes). Go to the tutorials, help sessions, and office hours and you will be fine. Study the assignments/tutorials for the midterm/final, and come to class. It's not hard but its no Psyc 1001.

Skip class? You won't pass.
ACCESSIBLE OUTSIDE CLASS
GRADED BY FEW THINGS
2.0
5.0
COMP2406
Oct 20, 2016
Wouldn't take again

If you don't pay absolute attention in lectures and take comprehensive notes then good luck, the notes and examples he posts won't teach you much. Assignments are fairly difficult, as well. You'll end up having to teach yourself most the course.

Skip class? You won't pass.
LOTS OF HOMEWORK
LECTURE HEAVY
3.0
4.0
COMP2406
Dec 5, 2016
Would take again

Zoning out during class will cause you to miss valuable information. He doesn't give a lot of warning as to what will be on the tests. The assignments are fun to do, especially if you enjoy the course material. The work can be syntax-heavy at times, but downloading his code after each class and studying it will be a huge help.

Tough Grader
Gives good feedback
Skip class? You won't pass.
2.0
3.0
COMP1001
Grade: A-
Dec 8, 2016
Wouldn't take again

He's pretty boring. I took this class thinking it was going to be easy. The class was suppose to be easy but this prof just makes it worse. Don't take it if you get him.

TEST HEAVY
5.0
3.0
COMP2406
Grade: A
Dec 11, 2016
Would take again

The running joke between my friends who also took this class and I was that the lectures were "Watch Runka screw around on his computer for 80 mins". That being said I really did enjoy his lectures, he knows his stuff and he's great at explaining things.

LOTS OF HOMEWORK
Clear grading criteria
EXTRA CREDIT
3.0
4.0
COMP1001
Grade: A+
Jan 8, 2017
Wouldn't take again

This is not a bird course arts class, you actually have to learn how to program. He is nice enough but also a typical engineer. He sometimes seems like he doesn't care about the class and/or he is above teaching it. Go to class and do the assignments and you should be able to grasp the content. He makes the tests sound harder than they are.

2.0
3.0
COMP2406
Feb 27, 2017
Wouldn't take again

Knows his stuff, but came across to me as very robotic and easily irritable in a personal setting. Seems impatient and a little bit of an ego with moments of coming across as "above you". Pay attention in lectures, lecture slides aren't detailed. Download the code. Know your syntax.

Skip class? You won't pass.
LECTURE HEAVY
1.0
1.0
COMP2406
Grade: B+
Mar 9, 2017
Wouldn't take again

Robotic prof above teaching. Learned some web stuff 1 summer & decided to teach it professionally (true story). Screws around on laptop for lectures. Spites students w/ lecture only stuff not in downloadable note published post lecture. Answers questions w/ "I don't know why" more than an "expert" should(no follow up) assigns projects back 2 back

Skip class? You won't pass.
LOTS OF HOMEWORK
LECTURE HEAVY
1.0
5.0
COMP3007
Grade: Incomplete
Mar 22, 2017
Wouldn't take again

if there was an option to give a zero I would. All this prof knows is how to make silly noises with his mouth. Uses same assignments every semester, doesnt have anything good to teach.

Tough Grader
Skip class? You won't pass.
LOTS OF HOMEWORK
4.0
4.0
COMP2406
Mar 27, 2017
Would take again

Good prof., went out of his way to help me understand a tricky concept (spent a day sunday emailing back and forth with increasingly detailed descriptions of the bug in my code until I found it for myself). Early morning lectures are a drag, but he always shows up and explains what he can. You'll end up doing a lot of self-directed study though.

Participation matters
Skip class? You won't pass.
Caring
5.0
4.0
COMP1001
Grade: A
Nov 23, 2017
Would take again

Very passionate about what he is doing! Likes people to participate during the lectures and help him create the code but very positive about wrong answers! I have literally never done anything with computers before and have an A. Half of the marks are for assignments and if you read carefully you will ace them! Also very helpful with assignments!

Clear grading criteria
Amazing lectures
LECTURE HEAVY
4.0
5.0
COMP3007
Dec 23, 2017
Wouldn't take again

Assignments are just godlike hard, he definitely needs to make them easier. Please attend the lectures, he's a good lecturer, the online notes are not good, you have to attend to understand the content. Tests are stupidly hard as well. You need to spend some time on this course or you will fail before you even realize it.

Tough Grader
Skip class? You won't pass.
LECTURE HEAVY
5.0
3.0
COMP2402
Grade: A+
Apr 18, 2018
Would take again

Runka works very hard and tries his best to deliver the course material. Even though the assignements are hard, he makes them managable by revisiting concepts several times. Lectures are mandatory. The exams are not as difficult as the assignments. Overall, an amazing prof and one of the best for 2402.

Skip class? You won't pass.
LOTS OF HOMEWORK
ACCESSIBLE OUTSIDE CLASS
3.0
4.0
COMP2402
Apr 19, 2018
Would take again

He's a pretty good teacher, but I don't like the lack of details on his slides. Also his assignments are hard, and it really doesn't help that the assignment description is extremely vague and lacking in detail.

Gives good feedback
Get ready to read
Skip class? You won't pass.
5.0
3.0
COMP2402
Grade: A
May 5, 2018
Would take again

Andrew Runka is a very enthusiastic teacher - he clearly prepares his lectures and is interesting to listen to. Like some other people said, I felt a bit of a disconnect with the assignments to course material, but hes available to help out when you need. Exams were very easy

Gives good feedback
LOTS OF HOMEWORK
Clear grading criteria
4.0
1.0
COMP1001
Grade: B-
Sep 26, 2018
Wouldn't take again

Lectures were kinda boring so I stopped going since he posts everything online.

Clear grading criteria
3.0
3.0
COMP1005
Nov 24, 2018
Wouldn't take again

His lectures do tend to get a bit boring. He also goes really fast sometimes. His assignments are quite hard, and do require you to search some stuff online as a help. His tests are like the sample tests he gives, so they are fair.

Get ready to read
Skip class? You won't pass.
4.0
2.0
COMP1405
Grade: A+
Dec 21, 2018
Would take again

Good prof for 1405, explained everything well with good demonstrations. Had review classes for upcoming midterms. Tests were fair and all MC final. The assignments are good practice and not overly challenging. Has good slides, enough info if you know how to code already, but is important to go since his examples in class are useful to study.

Clear grading criteria
5.0
3.0
COMP1005
Grade: A+
Jan 7, 2019
Would take again

Great at explaining computer science in a way that makes it easy to understand. Throws in a nerdy jokes to make class less dry. Beware a large part of your grade comes from assignments that can be difficult if you don't have prior programming experience. At least the criteria is quite specific and clear. Final exam was all multiple choice :)

Clear grading criteria
Hilarious
5.0
3.0
COMP1405
Grade: A
Jan 9, 2019
Would take again

Good Prof in Carleton. Don't choose Jason, Please. Have a nice day.

3.0
5.0
COMP1005
Grade: C-
Jan 11, 2019
Wouldn't take again

To be fair, I am crap at all things computers. But, the lectures went by too fast and he went through the concepts so quickly before anything really solidified in my brain. He also didn't explain ideas well. It started off super easy and then everything went downhill from there. The homework assignments got so difficult by the end of the semester.

Gives good feedback
LOTS OF HOMEWORK
1.0
5.0
COMP3007
Feb 6, 2019
Wouldn't take again

Terrible experience on numerous occasions, would not recommend, not even to my enemy

Get ready to read
Skip class? You won't pass.
LOTS OF HOMEWORK
4.0
3.0
1005A
Grade: A-
Mar 26, 2019
Would take again

Different approaches to explaining teaching the material.

Participation matters
Inspirational
Amazing lectures
5.0
4.0
COMP1005
Grade: A+
Sep 11, 2019
Would take again

For this class this Prof was amazing. General COMP 1005 teaches students Python and he teaches by first showing you the absolute basics, gives you questions to aid your methods of problem solving which are crucial for learning programming and then eases into actual coding which is arguably the best and most efficient way to teach Python.

Graded by few things
Clear grading criteria
Lecture heavy
5.0
3.0
COMP1405
Grade: A
Dec 7, 2019
Would take again

Absolute newcomer to programming and his lectures were very fun and interactive. Very easily digestible for someone who is learning Python from no experience at all. Very clear objectives and practice exams, no surprises. I would definitely take another course with prof Runka.

Clear grading criteria
4.0
3.0
COMP1405
Dec 10, 2019
Would take again

Good, solid prof! He does go a little bit fast in class sometimes, but all the notes and the code worked on in class is posted so you can always review. Assignments are a big part of the grade, so stay on top- he posts them two weeks in advance. He responded very fast over the weekend to my email about a technical issue- very helpful and nice prof.

Gives good feedback
Accessible outside class
Clear grading criteria
4.0
4.0
COMP1405
Grade: A
Dec 15, 2019
Would take again

He speaks fast in class and covers a lot more content than other sections. It will be great if you had some background knowledge before coming into his class. Assignments do take a while but fun nonetheless.

Accessible outside class
Amazing lectures
EXTRA CREDIT
3.0
3.0
COMP3007
Dec 16, 2019
Would take again

Good prof, provides very good notes on his website. The assignments are not that bad, they need some effort but they're fair. The final was crazy hard though

Get ready to read
Test heavy
5.0
2.0
COMP1405
Grade: A+
Jan 16, 2020
Would take again

His lectures are actually fun to go to and a well maintained course webpage. He replies to emails or discussion forms fairly quickly. He is very helpful.

Respected
Inspirational
Hilarious
5.0
4.0
COMP3007
Grade: A
Jan 29, 2020
Would take again

Great teacher! Goes a little fast sometimes, but he's good at clarifications. Even though his notes and code are helpful, going to class will help the most. Assignments are work, but they're fair. When prepping for midterm, but sure that you know your stuff. Don't just say "I can figure it out on the test"- you'll regret it.

Gives good feedback
5.0
4.0
COMP1405
Grade: A
Feb 14, 2020
Would take again

Great professor, definitely need to attend his lectures as slides do not produce what magic this man produces in class. Definitely wish he did some java courses would love him

Lots of homework
Lecture heavy
4.0
3.0
COMP1405
Grade: A+
Apr 7, 2020
Would take again

Sick prof, assignments were long and tedious as were the tutorials but I enjoyed them as I was learning coding either way, would take again

Respected
Lots of homework
Clear grading criteria
4.0
4.0
COMP3007
Grade: A+
Apr 20, 2020
Would take again

Runka is a good prof, but the class is definitely challenging. His online notes are decent, but for a lot of topics you really need to go to class. Luckily he's a good lecturer, very well spoken and easy to understand. Tests and assignments are pretty tough. The "testing" section of assignments is way too long and tedious.

Skip class? You won't pass.
Clear grading criteria
5.0
4.0
COMP3007
Grade: A
May 19, 2020
Would take again

I really enjoyed how Runka taught this class. His notes were well structured and expectations were clear. I feel like I really learned not only about alternative paradigms, but theories behind computation and principles for any program--which set him apart from other professors who teach the class (looking at just the languages and lambda calc).

Respected
Skip class? You won't pass.
Clear grading criteria
4.0
2.0
COMP1405
Grade: A+
Jul 6, 2020
Would take again

He is a good prof but can be a little fast sometimes. However, once you catch up with his speed his explanation becomes quite clear. All of his assignments are mostly related to the code we do in class.

5.0
4.0
COMP3007
Grade: A+
Aug 26, 2020
Would take again

I found Runka to be pretty great. Although his classes can be very fast-paced, he is a very knowledgeable person and I learned a lot from his classes. He is approachable and his marking criteria are very clear. Make sure to attend every class and start working on the assignments early as they're crucial when preparing for exams.

Skip class? You won't pass.
Clear grading criteria
Amazing lectures
5.0
3.0
COMP3007
Grade: Incomplete
Dec 18, 2020
Would take again

Lectures are brisk and easy to follow. Assignments are challenging but doable. Obviously has a sense of humor as he slips in quick jokes into the lectures. Also, set up a text-channel on the class discord just to talk about video games, so yeah, kinda epic.

Amazing lectures
Lecture heavy
2.0
3.0
COMP3007
Grade: A
Dec 19, 2020
Wouldn't take again

I'd recommend Robert Collier. He chooses more interesting/relevant languages for this course, more professional around his students, and actively tries to promote a positive community. Runka does the basics well. Albeit (some) TAs/students were left to be rude, passive-aggressive in the official discord. Runka didn't seem to care or do anything.

5.0
3.0
COMP3007
Grade: A+
Dec 20, 2020
Would take again

Very good prof, his online lectures are bite sized and easy to understand

Test heavy
4.0
4.0
COMP3007
Jan 1, 2021
Would take again

Only after I finished the course did I realize he was a really good Prof. His attitude can come off a bit condescending sometimes but hes got some solid notes and his tests, while difficult, are actually reasonable once you really break it down and study

5.0
4.0
COMP3007
Grade: A
Apr 7, 2021
Would take again

By far the best professor in the Comp Sci department at Carleton. I have had him three times and though he is not the easiest professor by any means, his ability to clearly communicate and teach hard concepts and ideas is by far superior to any prof I've had. His lectures are world class and he cares about his students and is very understanding.

Clear grading criteria
Amazing lectures
Caring
1.0
3.0
COMP3007
Apr 21, 2021
Wouldn't take again

Prof simply do not care about students. Also this course shouldn't have been mandatory for students as there is not slim to none practical use of this language in any comp sci field.

1.0
4.0
COMP3007
Apr 28, 2021
Wouldn't take again

The final take home exam made me feel stupid. If this class was not online I am sure he is great, but the final was just unfair. I cant help but wonder what my grade would be if the test was an exam like it usually is in a normal setting. His lectures were fantastic anyone that says otherwise did not go to them. The final tho... just brutal.

1.0
4.0
COMP3007
May 2, 2021
Wouldn't take again

He lacks compassion for his students. Not fair to everyone. The school should give at least a few options of professors for Comp 3007 if they want students to keep doing this substantially unnecessary course.

1.0
5.0
COMP3007
Grade: Rather not say
May 19, 2021
Wouldn't take again

Does not care about his students.

1.0
5.0
COMP3007
Grade: B-
Aug 23, 2022

Did not see nor care your struggles in understanding the material or concepts. Not an interesting lecturer at all so it made it very hard to want to pay attention and absorb the material. Lecture delivery was amateur and lacking compared to other respectable, knowledgeable and engaging profs in comp sci.

Tough grader
Get ready to read
Test heavy
5.0
2.0
COMP3007
Grade: A-
Apr 23, 2025
Would take again

One of the best comp professors. Classes are pretty easy to understand, and assignments are easy—4 assignments, 2 midterms, and a final.

1.0
5.0
COMP2406
Grade: Not sure yet
Sep 25, 2025

A very special character, his teaching consists of using other peoples videos and his exams consist of whatever he feels like putting there. Oh and he doesnt hold classes just tells us to read the assigned readings L O L. Would not suffer again fr.

2.0
4.0
COMP2406
Grade: Incomplete
Sep 25, 2025

He offers online asynchronous with in person quizzes, which is fine. However, quizzes are relatively hard and in my opinion are too frequent (and via scantron?) His readings are a LOT and probably will eat into your time for other courses. If you'd like to keep a good GPA maybe choose a different professor.

Get ready to read
Lecture heavy
Test heavy
1.0
3.0
COMP2406
Grade: Incomplete
Sep 25, 2025

Uses other profs' slides and lectures, which he posts online but its like he throws so much cluttered stuff at you. Weekly quizzes are harder than the simplicity of web dev. I'm familiar with the MERN stack, which is most of this course, yet quizzes test tedious things. If he actually taught the material in class, the expectations would be clearer.

Get ready to read
1.0
5.0
COMP2406
Grade: Not sure yet
Sep 27, 2025

Took lectures from various other professors, making the learning experience very inconsistent. In-person quizzes were literally insane for no reason. Can't really speak on his teaching abilities since he didn't do anything...The course is basically a YouTube playlist with hard quizzes.

Tough grader
Test heavy
1.0
5.0
COMP2406
Grade: Drop/Withdrawal
Sep 30, 2025

Made 2406 way more stressful than it needs to be. He is attempting to prevent use of AI, which I completely understand and agree with. But I believe there must be a better way to do this other than weekly "quizzes" worth 60% of the grade (that are actually really difficult exams) while providing inconsistent third party content as lectures.

Tough grader
Get ready to read
Test heavy
1.0
5.0
COMP2406
Grade: Not sure yet
Oct 1, 2025

He doesn't teach anything and expect us to know everything about web development. Online lectures from multiple professors not even including himself. Quizzes are extremely hard and if you don't go through every little detail from the material you wont do well. And he doesnt give back these quizzes.

Tough grader
Lecture heavy
Test heavy
1.0
5.0
COMP2406
Grade: Not sure yet
Oct 2, 2025

Avoid at all costs! This prof seriously mandated tutorials that are 0 PERCENT. Quizzes are beyond tough; even if you really study, the test is always hard. He does not teach a single thing; all the "lectures" are from previous years (they were given by other professors). What's the point of making this course so unbearable? No clue?

Tough grader
Get ready to read
Test heavy
1.0
5.0
COMP2406
Oct 2, 2025

Worst prof oat. He doesn't do anything other than very slowly grade weekly quizzes (which were unnecessarily hard) and answer questions poorly. He is akward and doesn't seem to like his students. All the lectures are online even though its supposed to be an in person course and the lectures arent even his.

1.0
5.0
COMP2406
Grade: Not sure yet
Oct 2, 2025

Prof has online lectures that aren't his and has hard weekly quizzes that are based on the content you learned in the past week. Takes longer then a week to grade quizzes so you don't know how well you are doing going into a quiz. quizzes do not feel like they are based on the assigned weekly content. Take another prof if possible.

Tough grader
1.0
5.0
COMP2406
Grade: Not sure yet
Oct 3, 2025

Uses other profs notes for the lectures and throws a bunch of assigned readings every week. Quizzes are harder than the material provided, even though he doesn't teach. Almost as if he's trying to make it as difficult as possible. He seems a bit better for some other classes, but this ain't it. Choose a different prof if possible.

Tough grader
Get ready to read
Test heavy
1.0
5.0
COMP2406
Grade: Not sure yet
Oct 8, 2025

Genuinely don't take this class; this teacher has sucked the love of web development for me. I was hoping for an amazing class with a professor who actually cares. Didn't get any of that.

Get ready to read
Lots of homework
Online Savvy
1.0
5.0
COMP2406
Grade: Not sure yet
Oct 9, 2025

Might be the most dirt prof I've ever had, you are given the material you need to learn for the week (for example WEEK 3 material) , and on that same week you have a extremely hard quiz on it. Which causes you to be unprepared as you don't have enough time to learn, understand, and put the material into practice in order to be ready.

Tough grader
Get ready to read
1.0
5.0
COMP2406
Grade: Not sure yet
Oct 9, 2025

This prof doesn't care about his students. Lecture videos are online and are not recorded/taught by him. Weekly quizzes are extremely difficult and each worth 7.5% which is way too much. Most of the people I knew going into this class have dropped it. Absolutely brutal.

Tough grader
Get ready to read
Lots of homework
1.0
5.0
COMP2406
Grade: Not sure yet
Oct 11, 2025

Avoid this prof. If you already have him drop the class and take it the next semester with someone else. Not worth it

1.0
4.0
COMP2406
Nov 5, 2025

Quiz are really hard, get ready to study more

Tough grader
Get ready to read
Test heavy
5.0
5.0
COMP2406
Grade: Incomplete
Nov 5, 2025
Would take again

One of the best profs I've had so far. Makes all the content engaging and inspiring. I found the quizzes to be a bit difficult, but honestly, doing all the lectures, tutorials, and readings on time will guarantee a 90%+ on the quizzes. 10/10 would take again.

Tough grader
Amazing lectures
Lecture heavy
1.0
5.0
COMP2406
Grade: Not sure yet
Nov 6, 2025

Could not even put up a single finger in creating his own content. All lectures from 3 different prof, not a single one belongs to him AND doesnt even know what's on the reading. Quiz has nothing to do with lectures and readings. Promise to improve yet fails miserably. He's currently being investigated by the dean for his incompetence and laziness.

1.0
5.0
COMP2406
Nov 6, 2025

None of his lectures are his own and his tests are way too frequent, difficult and syntax-focused. You simply don't have enough time to learn and master the material to such a granular level of detail before the next test (which occur every week). I don't think this prof understands that most students are taking his class on top of four others.

Tough grader
Lecture heavy
Test heavy
1.0
4.0
COMP2406
Grade: A
Nov 7, 2025

This guy sucks. All of his lectures are recycled from other profs, he didn't give a single lecture all term. 70% of your grade comes from weekly quizzes that are 95% syntax based. It's like he tried to make the worst intro web dev course possible. Take it with anyone else.

Beware of pop quizzes
Test heavy
4.0
3.0
COMP2406
Grade: Incomplete
Nov 7, 2025
Would take again

The prof is a decent person, isn't very talkative. Lectures are mostly different profs but didn't find them confusing so not a big deal, as it was the same content throughout. On tests, the syntax is tougher, but honestly it's overdramatized. If you review your notes and watch lectures this course won't be tough on you, but don't expect to slack

Tough grader
Get ready to read
Test heavy
4.0
5.0
COMP2406
Grade: Incomplete
Nov 10, 2025
Would take again

Course is tough regardless of the prof, however he's a really cool person! When asking him questions, he was the greatest at explaining everything!

Tough grader
Hilarious
Test heavy
1.0
5.0
COMP2406
Grade: A+
Nov 11, 2025

haven't seen him teach since the beginning of the semester. get ready to read a ton of w3schools as your "assigned readings". if you can, pick someone else.

Get ready to read
Lots of homework
Test heavy
4.0
3.0
COMP1001
Nov 13, 2025
Would take again

Professor Runka has a really great Brightspace layout and explains Python concepts thoroughly with lots of resources. COMP1001 is good to take if you're running on a tight schedule day-to-day since it is mostly online. Granted it is still a coding class and you have to keep up. The quizzes are pretty easy in my opinion.

Test heavy
5.0
2.0
COMP1001
Grade: A+
Nov 14, 2025
Would take again

This class was quite easy, and Runka also proved himself to be helpful when confronted with questions after class.

Tough grader
Get ready to read
Participation matters
4.0
4.0
COMP2406
Grade: Not sure yet
Nov 14, 2025
Would take again

You can ask questions in his Discord and other students can “upvote” if needed. I managed to show up on time and watched the lectures and the tests did feel easier after that, though admittedly at first i didn't go through the syntax thoroughly

Gives good feedback
Lecture heavy
Online Savvy
5.0
3.0
COMP2406
Grade: Rather not say
Nov 14, 2025
Would take again

W prof, but L grades. Doesn't matter though 10/10 would take again

Gives good feedback
Hilarious
Test heavy
1.0
5.0
COMP2406
Grade: A-
Nov 16, 2025

The multiple choice quizzes should not be a significant chunk of the total grading scheme while the actual web development assignments are pushed aside and an insignificant portion of the course.

Tough grader
5.0
5.0
COMP2406
Grade: F
Nov 16, 2025
Would take again

Professor Runka is the goat in doing ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! 100/10 would take again.

Tough grader
Inspirational
Hilarious
1.0
5.0
COMP2406
Grade: Not sure yet
Nov 17, 2025

I don't believe this professor is a bad guy; he's probably an amazing lecturer, but we wouldn't know. We only get online resources and lecture videos that are not his. The format of this class is honestly terrible. Having weekly quizzes that count for 60% of your grade is insane, and 4 assignments that are worth less than 3 20MC quizzes combined.

Tough grader
Test heavy
Online Savvy
1.0
4.0
COMP2406
Grade: Not sure yet
Nov 17, 2025

Forced to give him a 1 star for teaching because he does not teach. Registered for an in-person class just for the lectures to be assigned online (we could have used the best lecture hall on campus). To really solidify himself as the laziest professor, the videos are not even him. Super test heavy and tests oftentimes loosely follow the readings.

Tough grader
Get ready to read
Test heavy
1.0
5.0
COMP2406
Grade: Rather not say
Nov 18, 2025

Reading the comment in 2017 makes me realize that prof cannot teach the lecture well so he decides to NOT GIVE LECTURES! AMAZING!

Tough grader
Test heavy
1.0
5.0
COMP1001
Grade: Not sure yet
Nov 18, 2025

had practice midterms with answer sheets available for students. his answers on the answer sheet were wrong on multiple occasions.

Tough grader
Get ready to read
1.0
5.0
COMP2406
Nov 22, 2025

Very condescending and rude. Doesn't seem to like teaching and it shows. I've seen him talking to himself in the hallway too. Avoid and try to take the course with a prof who has been teaching for years, this one just teaches because he was forced to after budget cuts, he used to be a dean.

Tough grader
2.0
4.0
COMP2406
Grade: B+
Nov 27, 2025

Prof has no passion/care for teaching this class- majority of the grade relies on overly difficult multiple choice tests and lectures are recycled from old profs within the department, however the majority of the test material is based on third party readings (sometimes literally just api and driver reference guides). Avoid taking with this prof.

5.0
3.0
COMP2406
Grade: F
Nov 28, 2025
Would take again

Runka is a great prof, I don't know why his reviews are so bad.

Tough grader
Get ready to read
Caring
5.0
5.0
COMP2406
Grade: Rather not say
Nov 28, 2025
Would take again

Where do I even begin with Andrew Runka… this man teaches COMP2406 with such effortless mastery it feels less like a course and more like a higher being gently guiding mortals through the chaos of backend development. His lectures flow with a clarity that makes impossible concepts feel obvious. If there were a god of web apps, it might be him.

Amazing lectures
Caring
Test heavy
5.0
2.0
COMP2406
Grade: Audit/No Grade
Dec 1, 2025
Would take again

I wrote a quiz with him for fun and it was not too bad, I would write a quiz with him again

Test heavy
5.0
2.0
COMP1001
Grade: Not sure yet
Dec 1, 2025
Would take again

Had lots of fun working with Photoshop and Dreamweaver The VPN is a little iffy so beware of that. Overall grading seemed easy and straightforward enough.

Get ready to read
Lots of homework
Test heavy
5.0
2.0
COMP2406
Grade: F
Dec 1, 2025
Would take again

Failed the class just to take his course again next winter 🤗. Hopefully he teaches Biology next year!

Hilarious
1.0
5.0
COMP2406
Grade: Not sure yet
Dec 2, 2025

Glorified proctor. He hasn't taught anything himself.

Tough grader
Test heavy
5.0
4.0
COMP2402
Grade: A
Dec 2, 2025
Would take again

First of all, what a guy. Second of all, I would drag myself through the Saharan desert just to attend another one of his lectures. Masterful lecturing skills.

Tough grader
Get ready to read
Test heavy
4.0
3.0
COMP2406
Grade: A+
Dec 2, 2025
Would take again

great prof, i love reading

Get ready to read
5.0
5.0
COMP2406
Grade: C+
Dec 2, 2025
Would take again

runka is the best prof in the computer science department. he shuold start teaching comp2804

Hilarious
1.0
5.0
COMP2406
Dec 2, 2025

Avoid. This is a "Zombie Course"—lectures are 5-year-old recordings from a different prof. He doesn't teach, just assigns docs. Listed In-Person but is fully Async. Quizzes (60% of grade!) are "gotcha" trivia copypasted from LinkedIn, not covered in class. You pay full tuition to self-teach outdated material.

1.0
5.0
COMP2406
Grade: D+
Dec 4, 2025

Avoid and take the course with Mark Lanthier, who actually puts effort into his lectures. In my opinion, Runka cannot teach, his only goal was earning a PhD for wall decoration since he hasn't made research contributions since 2016. He seems to dislike his students; whenever I asked a question, he looked at me like I was stupid and bothering him.

Tough grader
Lecture heavy
Test heavy
1.0
5.0
COMP2406
Grade: Rather not say
Dec 4, 2025

Very test heavy but doesn't help you prepare for tests. Modality was switched to be test heavy instead of project heavy due to AI use, which is reasonable, but put no effort in his lectures, which didn't help students. Very disorganized. At least he has hair though, what a great achievement!

Tough grader
1.0
5.0
COMP2406
Grade: F
Dec 4, 2025

Runka said he opposes Bill C-10 and supports rehabilitative, evidence-based justice, but he does not apply these values in his teaching. He is unfair and grades/tests arbitrarily. When he served as academic integrity dean, the power got to his head, and he never prioritized rehabilitative, evidence-based justice. How ironic. Avoid!!!

Tough grader
1.0
5.0
COMP2406
Grade: C
Dec 4, 2025

Very easy to fail his class if you don't keep up. Assignments take a lot of effort but not worth much. Tests are hard compared to what we learned (nothing, he makes you google or use other profs lectures)

Lots of homework
Test heavy
Graded by few things
2.0
5.0
COMP2406
Grade: Incomplete
Dec 4, 2025
Would take again

This prof is honestly exhausting. I took this course with him 3 years ago, and I'm still upset about it. He expects you to keep up every single week because there are quizzes every week about the stuff he gives and he just gives different stuff every week! Also I caught him eating lunch one time!

Tough grader
Get ready to read
Test heavy
1.0
5.0
COMP1001
Grade: B
Dec 4, 2025

he's such a good prof, he should teach comp1001! wait..

Tough grader
Test heavy
Graded by few things
1.0
5.0
COMP2406
Grade: Not sure yet
Dec 5, 2025

Changed course expectation to be more project based to avoid students cheating with ai. Proceed to generate all his quizzes and practice final exam with ai. Including ugly ai generated cat pictures that came from his unglistening chrysanthemum. Biggest Ai harlot. He is truly Einstein himself in the flesh.

Tough grader
1.0
5.0
COMP2406
Grade: Not sure yet
Dec 5, 2025

A lot of readings, and he doesn't teach, he only answers questions. The quiz questions are harder than expected. (if we can teach ourselves why do we have to pay for the class? There're so many resources online and we can ask chatGPT)

Tough grader
Test heavy
1.0
4.0
COMP2406
Grade: B-
Dec 7, 2025

The lecture materials are all taken from other professors. The final exam review questions were generated with ChatGPT with loads of mistakes so how is that helpful? Makes me wonder if he also used ChatGPT to generate the quizzes and exam questions... Just so lazy it feels disrespectful.

Lots of homework
5.0
5.0
COMP2406
Grade: B
Dec 10, 2025
Would take again

Exam was great! Probably the easiest exam I had so far in all my 4 years in Calreton. He really made up for all the hard quizzes by making the exam super duper scrumptiously easy. Definitely take his course, even if you already took it. Make sure when taking his his course that you

Hilarious
1.0
5.0
COMP2406
Grade: C-
Dec 10, 2025

Say goodbye to your GPA. There's no lecture. He provides you a link to documentation and expects you to read it all. Every week, during what would be the lecture period, you come in and write an impossible scantron quiz worth 7.5% of your grade that is based on material that is impossible to anticipate. Only 20% of the course is based on projects.

Tough grader
Get ready to read
Beware of pop quizzes
1.0
5.0
COMP2406
Grade: A+
Dec 10, 2025

Truly an awful course. 60% of your grade is from weekly tests. All you have to study are old online lectures by different professors and random links which sometimes are just the API pages for whatever library/module the test is on. The tests are also never given back so you can't see which question you got wrong to study for the exam.

Tough grader
Get ready to read
Test heavy
5.0
5.0
COMP2406
Grade: A-
Dec 12, 2025
Would take again

good prof, explains all the concepts clearly and the assessments were fair.

Amazing lectures
4.0
4.0
COMP2406
Grade: A
Dec 12, 2025
Would take again

This course was unexpectedly tougher, but watching all the lectures helped me for the tests.

Get ready to read
5.0
5.0
COMP2406
Grade: B-
Dec 12, 2025
Would take again

Runka is ok, you'll need to do a bit of self-studying. But overall this course isn't extremely hard.

Gives good feedback
5.0
5.0
COMP2406
Grade: A-
Dec 12, 2025
Would take again

Learned a lot about MongoDB and websockets. Just wished we had in-person lectures

So many papers
5.0
5.0
COMP2406
Grade: B
Dec 12, 2025
Would take again

goat prof, are the assignments are light but the tests are a bit tricky. You can get a good grade if this course if you don't procrastinate.

Beware of pop quizzes
5.0
5.0
COMP2406
Grade: B-
Dec 12, 2025
Would take again

Definitely one of the easier comp profs in Carleton, but that doesn't mean you shoudn't study...

5.0
5.0
COMP2406
Grade: C
Dec 12, 2025
Would take again

If you don't like reading do not take this course. Otherwise, this is a great course for beginners who want to learn about the web. The tests are are bit diffcult but if you read all the readings you'll do great

So many papers
1.0
5.0
COMP2406
Grade: Not sure yet
Dec 13, 2025

No matter how many times you decide to bot your own reviews to boast your own ego, everyone will remember your terrible teaching and lack of effort towards this class. Focus more on improving than doing this.

Tough grader
1.0
5.0
COMP2406
Grade: C
Dec 13, 2025
Would take again

Avoid Andrew Runka like the plague. If you can, take it with Mark Lanthier next semester, he has free resources and is actually helpful. All of Runka's lectures were other prof's lectures. What was he doing with all his time off since he last taught a course? My other prof was sick on sabbatical and still made an effort to make lectures at least.

Tough grader
1.0
5.0
COMP2406
Grade: D+
Dec 13, 2025
Would take again

Real life Denzel Crocker, do what you will with that information. The assignments are time consuming. The tests are worth significantly more, very unclear, easy to fail, and he will not help you if you ask for help. I went to his office hours once, he was very rude and unapproachable. The TAs are great, but they do not control anything.

Tough grader
1.0
5.0
COMP2406
Grade: D+
Dec 13, 2025

This course will tank your GPA. You have to self-teach a lot, which is fine and expected in computer science, but his expectations were unclear, and he makes things more difficult than they need to be, which makes for a poor learning experience.

Tough grader
1.0
5.0
COMP2406
Grade: D+
Dec 13, 2025

The tests and exams will be 80% of your grade, which is a lot. No accommodations and no practice. Tutorials are just for practice. Technically tutorials and assignments should help prepare for exams, but the material is all over the place, he tells you to search for it basically so exams seem more difficult.

1.0
5.0
COMP1001
Grade: Not sure yet
Dec 13, 2025

This course seemed poorly designed for a beginner art comp sci class. He went very fast and expected us to come into the course knowing everything.

Tough grader
1.0
5.0
COMP2406
Grade: C+
Dec 15, 2025

In my entire university experience thus far as long as I show effort it pays off. If I'm struggling and go to office hours professors are usually understanding. Runka is demeaning though he'll tell you to drop. Very disappointing. Never take a course with this professor. He is genuinely a mean person by nature and has no concern for his students.

Tough grader
Lots of homework
1.0
5.0
COMP2406
Grade: C
Dec 16, 2025

Tanked my GPA. He's not going to teach you well, you're going to end up self-learning for quizzes and tests that don't seem to relate to the readings.

Tough grader
Get ready to read
Test heavy
1.0
5.0
COMP2406
Grade: C
Dec 16, 2025

Holy…. for anyone who is planning on taking 2406 do NOT take runka's class. Abysmal way of grading his students through weekly tests that barely covers the weekly materials. Unless youre a psychopath and wants ur GPA to tank and possibly even fail (1/3 of the class failed) then sure go ahead and enjoy your time with this insane prof…

Tough grader
Get ready to read
Test heavy
1.0
5.0
COMP2406
Grade: B
Dec 16, 2025

60% of your grade is weekly quizzes, so enjoy stressing and taking a midterm every week! The "readings" were just links to the websites of whatever we were learning to implement that week. I read all of the readings, did all of the tutorials multiple times, watched every lecture and still couldn't answer many of the questions on the quizzes smh

Tough grader
Get ready to read
Beware of pop quizzes
1.0
5.0
COMP2406
Grade: B-
Dec 16, 2025

Avoid for COMP2406 if u care about your GPA. Prof did not teach us anything at all and assigned lectures from different profs and a bunch of readings every week. Made the quizzes harder for some reason and it's worth the most (60%), plus some questions on them had little or nothing to do with the week's content.

Tough grader
Get ready to read
Test heavy
1.0
5.0
COMP2406
Dec 16, 2025

"Im gonna curve the quizzes 5-10%" then only curves them 0-2%

1.0
4.0
COMP2406
Grade: A+
Dec 16, 2025

I am pretty sure I got an A+ because I did well on all the quizzes and the final was easy, but you should heed the warnings you see here. This prof is awful. He doesn't give lectures, he assigns entire library docs as weekly readings and most of his quizzes could be syntax puzzles from javascriptisweird - Avoid him.

1.0
5.0
COMP2406
Grade: D+
Dec 16, 2025

Made the easiest second year comp course, the most hated and difficult one. That's a different kind of talent...

1.0
5.0
COMP2406
Grade: Not sure yet
Dec 17, 2025

At the start of the year, I was so excited for this course. It was one of the courses I thought was genuinely interesting when I registered. Unfortunately, the professor just made us read online resources nonstop. I felt no passion, and if the prof isn't going to show passion, how can I? It felt like 0 effort was put in. Unfortunate.

Get ready to read
Lecture heavy
Test heavy
Class Info

Online Classes

100%

Attendance Mandatory

45%

Textbook Required

11%

Grade Predictor

Your expected effort level

LowHigh

Predicted Grade

B

95% confidence
Based on 70 grades
Most common grades:
Not sure yet (22)
A+ (17)
A (14)
Grade Distribution
A(31)B(10)C(10)D(6)F(4)A-/B+(10)
Based on 107 reported grades
Not sure yet: 22
A+: 17
A: 14
A-: 8
Common Tags
Tough grader (44)
Test heavy (35)
Get ready to read (32)
Skip class? You won't pass. (15)
Clear grading criteria (14)
Lecture heavy (10)
Gives good feedback (9)
Lots of homework (9)
Rating Trend

Stable

+0.05 avg change
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Last 6 months
Ratings by Course

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4.5

(4)

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4.3

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4.0

(1)

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4.0

(1)

COMP1005

3.6

(7)
+3 more courses
Difficulty by Course

COMP2406

4.5

COMP1006

4.0

COMP3007

3.9

COMP2402

3.5

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3.4

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