Great teacher. I enjoy her class a lot

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She is the best professor I've ever had. Great, KIND, and cool. She always gave us extra credits, and the assignment are so cool where you just with doing them redularly can get an A+ becuase they cover all the materials. SHE IS THE BEST

Karla has a great grip on what is required to transmit knowledge about a dry topic in an interesting way. She has a large repetoire of analogies that people will understand in order to explain complex ideas. SHe is simply a great teacher.

She is just a great teacher who keeps class interesting and gets all information across in a clear and concise way that is hard to forget.

I looked back on my experience with karla, and she was maybe the best professor I've ever had. Her enthusiasm for the topic, and command of the subject matter are incredible.

best intro prof around

The class was boring at times but Fun and exciting mostly. Teacher was helpful and always willing to clarify. Tests were difficult at times but she grades easy.

I love Karla! She is great, very helpful, and fun! I agree, the tests can be hard sometimes, but she never tests on anything that she hasn't taught. She doesn't really go into the books, but they are EXTREMELY useful if you really want to learn how to program. I definitely recommend taking Karla's classes!!

Great Teacher!

Make sure you have plenty of time to practice prior to her tests, kind of have to memorize sections of code. She will ask pointer arithmetic on the final (Opps) Great prof! She returns emails very promptly.

Karla is more than likely the best professor I have ever had. She is very pro-student and she cares a lot about the success of her students. She is more than a fair grader, and sometimes you just want to call her Mom.

took all 3 intro classes from her. knowledgable, resume to back it up, nerd at heart! grading on programs get harder as you progress but her tests are mostly theory. code on tests are graded very leniently. i turned in a lot of assignments late and got a B. it kept me interested and now i might even minor in cs. for my biz majors, cs161 > cs106

Karla knows her stuff- she will often correct the text books and explain to you why they're wrong. Enthusiastic and animated- Karla's the best. I took the full intro series from her (161-202) and wish I could take more.

Karla knows what she's doing, she has developed a teaching style that makes learning an exciting challenge. In addition, she uses slides that she has created herself. As you continue in the CS department you will find out how important (and rare) this is. After Karla's wonderful classes, the low quality of some of the other CS Professors will leave

Karla is the best CS teacher, she knows what she is doing. Highly advise to take her class.

She is the best CS professor you will ever have! Highly recommend to take her classes.

Karla is an asset to PSU. I don't even use the book because she is so good at explaining stuff. She is very helpful and will always be there for you. Even if you don't have to, you should take a class with her. On top of everything else, she is hilarious.

One of the best lecturers ever.

An amazing teacher. Really clear on requirements for class. Pretty forgiving on due dates too. Great at explaining things. Oh yeah, and totally crazy. I took this online, and I looked forward to watching the lecture videos.

Quite simply the best CS lecturer I've ever had. Karla's classes are well-organized, clear, and methodical. Best part though? She's actually passionate about the subject matter and it really shines through in her lectures. Yes, she manages to make binary search trees and calculating algorithm complexity both interesting and fun.

Karla Fant was once again awesome for this term of CS. While I'll have to retake the class due to my own stupidity, it was in no way due to her teaching style. Word of warning to future students: she really means it when she says don't get behind in the summer term. I got behind and failed hard due to how short the term is.

Karla is amazing. This subject matter has the potential to be boring, cryptic, and dry. She makes it fun and hilarious with her over-the-top lecturing, fun but clear examples, and generally clear presentation. I really look forward to watching her lectures each week!

Very clear, helpful and passionate about CS!

The class structure is definitely thought out well and Karla Fant does a great job putting all the pieces together. From videos, lecture notes, tutors, homework assignments, projects, this class is taught so that if you do all the work, you will be a better programmer. Karla's lecturing is fun and very informative. Required Viewing: Highlander.

Maybe it was just me, but I thought Karla was an extremely boring teacher. Two hours of her was just too much for me. One positive would be she was not a harsh grader at all. Could turn in homework a week late and only be docked 5%.

A great (and fun!) instructor who is obviously passionate about teaching. I wouldn't call her class easy as she does aim to prepare you for higher level classes or coding in industry, but she provides TONS of resources for help and makes subject matter clear and concise. Just don't get behind in her class or the workload will seem overwhelming!

Karla is awesome. She structures her classes to make sure that you understand the key concepts and will be ready for higher level courses. Just don't get lazy. Although you can turn things in way late and still get high grades, this will probably work against you in the long run.

Karla is the best teacher I've had at PSU. Highly recommended. She posts all her lectures online and has ample resources if you get stuck (tutors etc). She'll take late work long after it's due but try not to get behind like most!!! She's a rare teacher who loves to teach.

She's great. Programming is kinda fun with Karla. She's super smart, clear, and makes it easy to grasp difficult concepts-- she'll go over them a few times with different (often entertaining) examples. Corrects the textbook sometimes. Very available outside of class, especially by email. Assignments are challenging but manageable.

Karla is an amazing prof. I took CS162-202 from her, all online. Her lectures (which she records on video for online students/anyone who misses class) are so clear I never needed to open my textbooks. She knows her material and has a sense of humor. The work is challenging but manageable if you attend/watch ALL classes and don't procrastinate.

There is a lot of work to done for these classes (cs 162. cs 163, cs202). However, with Karla at the helm, you will have a very solid basis for a future in computer science. Karla has been there, done that and now gives it to us by being an excellent teacher.

You can fail her class more than once and still love her, AND her teaching style. It is impossible to fail a Karla class as long as you don't procrastinate. (Or if you were just not meant to do CS) I love her, one of my favorite teachers. I wish I could take 202 with her but I got some money issues... GO KARLA! Join her fan club!

Amazing. Don't take beginning CS classes with ANYONE else.

I've taken a couple of CS classes online and Karla's is the only one where I felt I got the feedback and guidance I needed. She doesn't expect you to know a lot about computer science outside of the official prerequisites (CS162), which is as it should be, and so she covers material thoroughly and at a reasonable pace. Great teacher.

She brags about herself a lot, but she really knows what she's talking about. She's very outgoing and funny. Her in-class lectures aren't boring, but since she posts everything (videos, notes, etc) online, not really a point in attending class. Assignments - some questions, the grammar is...Unclear. Class is very accelerated and challenging to me.

Assignments are due every 2 weeks. They aren't easy! You have a pre-lab session you must attend every week, where you program in class, but it's not graded. Her lectures are never boring, but with the two textbooks we have and the amount she posts online, there's not really a point of going to class. Tests: You are expected to MEMORIZE EVERYTHING.

Karla is never boring and answers student emails almost instantly! Love her enjoyment of codding!

Enthusiastic teacher with a lot of knowledge. Programming assignments are straightforward and shouldn't be too difficult for anyone who passed CS163. Two exams, midterm and final, both graded extremely leniently.

Very fun and engaging teacher however course itself is very hard and there is a lot of work needed to be done. Tests are graded strict and her overall grading isn't easy. Don't expect an A, no matter how much you love programming.

Karla is amazing. She is really passionate about computer science and breaks down the materials in an easy to understand way. I will absolutely take more classes with her!

Fantastic teacher!

She's the best teacher at PSU. The classes can be really hard, especially if you get a little behind, but quality wise you won't ever find better than Karla.

Relaxed grading. Good lab policy. Tons of opportunity to make up missed labs and homework. A really nice learning environment overall. I am worried it might be a little too relaxed though.

Karla is a great teacher. The class is challenging, especially the programming assignments, which are pretty open ended. However, Karla is very knowledgeable and helpful, as are the TAs.

I personally liked Karla. Class is challenging but you'll learn a lot if you put the effort. What I really liked about her is she actually uses pictures and diagrams to explain what's going on. Her examples were funny at times but clear and makes total sense :) I never got bored in her class

She's pretty rad. Loves teaching, lectures well, knows the subject (though maybe some of her ideas can be dated?), responds to email instantly. Don't be afraid to sign up for the online lecture (great videos, same as in class) or skip buying the text (never used it)... but DO sign up for the in-class labs if at all possible, they're super helpful.

Karla is a very experienced programmer, and has been teaching forever, and it shows. She uses heaps of metaphors in lecture. Most students like her, I found her inane and banal. God help you if you think you know more about how you learn best than she does.

Karla knows the material well and presents it in a interesting way. The material is hard but she is always there to answer questions and shows that she is there to help her students succeed.

Knows her stuff, and teaches to depth with enthusiasm and humor. Some of the constraints of the class make writing code harder (no strings, no IDEs), but this is "paint the fence". You are learning rigor, not theory. If you're taking an undergrad tutor's advice over Karla's, best of luck to you.

The best teacher I've ever had (and I have two degrees). Karla knows her stuff (only CS prof I've had that can look at code and tell you exactly where the error is in about 10 minutes), knows how to teach, and is passionate about helping her students. I wouldn't have gotten into programming and gotten a second BS in Computer Science without her.

No essays required, just light documentation. Usually has clear requirements for assignments. Prof. demos are easily doable if you practiced. Textbook isn't used much. Assignments require a lot of time. Labs are very helpful. Lecture is usually engaging. Video lectures are online if you missed class. Responds to e-mails within 24 hours. A+

Very challenging class, with some tough concepts that took me a lot of extra time to learn. The labs are the most important part as the homework and test are based from them. Do them early and then just re-hash them in lab. Karla's a great teacher and I would recommend her classes to anyone. She is tough, but I feel like I've learned a lot from her

Do you like going outside? Well, better forget about that. You'll be indoors programming all day just to keep up with the homework. Karla is a good instructor, but I've never seen so much required work in a lower level class. 5 assignments (long), 2 exams, 8 labs, and 2 proficiency demos. Get ready for her to yell SEG FAULT, CORE DUMP, BUS ERROR!

One of the best professors I have ever had. Super good lecturer, really really well structured course. Course was challenging, but you can easily succeed if you keep up with the work.

Karla is a fantastic instructor. She brings a lot of enthusiasm to what she teaches. The way she runs her projects give you a chance to really apply what is being learned in lecture to a real application. Her lectures are easy to follow and her in-class examples can be significantly helpful in understanding new concepts.

Karla provides all the information, exercises, and help in lecturelabs to make you successful. If you fail at her class it's because of you - not Karla. Really, she is one of the better professors I've had. The skills and knowledge gained in her classes will help you succeed in upper divisions. Had her for CS 162, CS 163, and CS 202.

Awesome teacher! She made me loved CS more... I took cs 162, 163 and 202 with her.

Good lectures.

Karla was an excellent teacher and this is a great class.

One of the best professors I've had through both PCC and PSU. Her lectures are easy to follow, are very insightful, and she has a particular way of teaching her lectures that somehow just WORK. I wish she could teach more CS courses than just 163 and 202 (at time of writing).

Amazing professor. Very good at explaining and very empathetic towards those who ask questions. Very intelligent and easy to talk to and listen from.

Fantastic professor. Clearly enjoys helping her students learn. Absolutely amazing at responding to emails. She may be a machine.

I'm not sure Karla is human - She responds to e-mails at all hours of the day with lightning speed. Exceptional teacher, very helpful.

She is a really great professor for me, good amount of homework, the lecture are pretty enjoyable too. The only problem is her assignment is not really clear (usually need CS tutor for better understanding). Overall, her classes are easy to pass and I have a fun time with coding.

Karla is very enthusiastic about the subjects that she teaches, she is particular about things bad habits and making sure your code is well thought out. Assignments can be long but she leaves them open-ended. Forcing you to make the real decisions about your code. She allows late HW but with -5%. Good Teacher! Will take the series from her!

Karla is tough. No HW, but a lot of time is spent on 5 projects, even though it's a freshman level course. Easy to see she loves what she does. Her labs help significantly, but enough is left out where you still have to think for yourself. The proficiency demos are there to PROVE you know what you're doing. Ever in trouble? E-mail her.

I took 162-202 with Karla. She is a talented lecturer and gives students every opportunity to succeed. If it's true that she doesn't teach to industry standards, note that these are 100-200 level courses - why get into templates, IDEs and strings before covering the basics? My first year at PSU as a post-bac: Karla is the best prof. so far.

Enthusiastic, and explains things at a level that sometimes seems redundant, but she explains things really well. When it comes to programming assignments though, do NOT fall behind because she keeps the course rolling, not that you can't catch up, it just can take awhile if you're not an expert in C++ already.

Karla is an amazing professor. Most who complain about her style tend to expect a spoon feeding. She brings you down to the basics. I took her full circuit 162, 163, and 202. She makes you build all your tools instead of just letting you use them. This type of education allows you to fully understand the structures we use in code.

Her teaching structure is phenomenal. She breaks down programming the best way possible, and makes a rather difficult subject more easier to understand for plebs like me. Build your own tools for success, take some ideas from the book, and NEVER be afraid to email her questions. She's FANTASTIC.

She was one of the best professors that I have ever had at Portland State. She is an extremely busy woman, but will always make time for her students. Sometimes an email will be replied to a bit late, but she gets thousands of email so attend office hours. Don't be fooled by the practice tests;the real test is harder. I never showed up and got a B.

If you are in her CS162 and CS163 classes, it would be easy to pass the course. But be careful once you reach CS202, it would be harder than you expect and you can fail. Anyway, practicing the problem for your proficiency demo and prepare well for the exams you would be fine.

Great teacher, teaches you the basics of everything and is very clear. just pay attention and don't skip classes

Karla is a great professor. She is attentive, easy to talk to, willing to work with students, and a very good lecturer. She knows her stuff! Yes, you will have a bit of homework, but it will benefit you in the long run. Yes, it's true that you can't use the String class, but there are reasons for that, which you will come to appreciate.

New to programming? Get more comfortable before signing up. Programmed before? Karla takes a seemingly bizarre approach compared to traditional teachings (e.g. not using easy strings), but you'll become phenomenal with arrays, memory, classes, etc. and "get" why she's ingenious, building-up a solid foundation. Study, program, no social life, study.

She has a lot of restrictions when writing programming assignments. Moreover, she expects you to understand everything and more of what a regular CS162 or CS163 class should learn. Her grammar is horrible. She fails you in the class if you don't pass a proficiency demo. She has vague grading criteria. Try to avoid.

Lectures are very good, funny and clear. She conveys the material very well with good visuals and lecture slides. Assignments are long and hard, but as long as you start early and ask questions about assignment specifics you'll do well.

Karla tries to make the material more interesting by being loud and energetic. She does care about students passing and tries to give you multiple opportunities to prove yourself, but is intimidating, especially in regards to her proficiency demos. Ask questions in your labs so you understand what your doing, otherwise you may get lost.

Karla is engaging, with her own way of lecturing which actualy helps to stay awake and learn the material. People seems to be strugling with the homeworks/demos, but it's helps you to move on. Talk to tutors, think about a problem a lot, hours of coding.. It gives mindset that will help you to learn more and be comfortable with new prog. languages.

If you find that Karla's classes are too hard, maybe CS isn't for you. Her labs are priceless for practice, and you will learn once in upper div that Karla is one of the more talented lecturers at PSU. Her classes will teach you algorithm fundamentals and coding best practices. She will not let you get away with being lazy or sloppy.

Karla's class is the hardest class I've ever taken. You can also instantly fail the class if you fail to pass a test/proficiency demo/program so it's incredibly stressful, but with that said her class actually taught me to program. Anyone struggling NEEDS to go to the tutors and attend makeup labs till you get the material. You cannot skate by her.

Professor Fant is very engaging and lectures with an enthusiasm I'd never seen in the field. She is strict and intolerant of excuses, but grades fairly.

For people taking Karla's class here is some advice: -Read her lectures before you come to class -Finish the programming assignments as soon as possible (there are 5) -Practice a LOT for the demos (even the really hard questions) (Dash #3 helps you prepare for the midterm/final tests) Good luck.

Good teacher, gives more than enough resources for students to be successful. Need to work for it but as long as you do it is a very rewarding class.

I've taken Karla since 162, and she's the teacher who makes you do everything on your own. If you follow the pace of her course outline, you will surely feel sort of behind. You can learn/do all of the labs in less than half of the term. Stay motivated and know how to use your time wisely from 162, 163, to 202.

I had Karla for three different classes, starting with CS162 and ending with CS202. I came into CS162 with no knowledge of C++ which is what she teaches, but with Karlas teaching methods I'd consider myself to be pretty good with C++. She teaches with such a passion that it is hard not to get drawn into the lecture. She explains topics very well.

Enthusiasm for the subject and detailed lectures. She is very clear on what it takes to pass her classes.

Karla is extremely entertaining to listen to, and I have never seen a teacher so dedicated to her students. She answers emails almost immediately, and she provides a lot of resources for help (like lab assistants). However, her tests are really difficult, and be prepared to spend 20-40 hours per programming assignment. She expects a lot out of you.

I fell in love with C++ after her class, she is the goddess of C++, everything she uttered stuck to my brains, I urge you to take her class.

Karla has a way of conveying very dry material in a fun, interesting, sometimes hilarious way. You can tell she genuinely cares about her students' learning. Despite a student load of around 400, she always responded to my emails within 12 hours (usually more like 3-4). The time commitment was HUGE for a 100 level class, but I learned a ton.

She's not a bad teacher. Her tests are difficult not because of the material, but how she words the questions. This was definitely one of the hardest classes I've taken. Luckily, the lab assistants are extremely helpful and the graders are forgiving and leave encouraging feedback.

Great teacher. You need to put in the work. 1) Read the lectures and read the textbook BEFORE class. 2) When an assignment is given - start IMMEDIATELY. Go to tutors and/or TCSS's and figure out the logic of all the functions before you actually start coding. 3) Practice like crazy for the proficiency demo 4) Finish all sections of the labs

Karla is a great professor. Her lectures are very informative and engaging. She's genuinely hilarious. You will learn a lot. Didn't find the class difficult but there is a TON of work. 5 programs, 11 papers, 3 UML diagrams, 2 quizzes, 2 exams, 2 proficiency demos (which suck btw). DO NOT get behind. Start your work early!!

Took 163 and 202. Excellent teacher. Very engaging, in depth lectures. Love the fact that she put in labs, helps me practice what I learned in class. Responsive to emails! But if you fail ONE assignment, exam, or demo tho you insta fail. However I've graders are pretty lenient for programs-as long it works it basically passes. But exams are hard!

If you're taking CS at Portland State, you don't really have any other options for the freshman sequence. Karla is a fine teacher, though you will be treated like a bit of a baby in 162 and 163.

Much of the class is learned through labs and homework, I didn't find the lectures particularly useful. The tutors and homework recitations are fantastic when you become stuck. I would strongly suggest skipping CS161 prior to CS162, I didn't take it and had no prior knowledge of programming, seems like a waste of time for an optional class.

You dont need the "required" textbooks. You can learn everything from the Labs. I got an A and personally thought the class was easy. I was usually lost when I first got to the lab, but asked lots of questions and was able to pick everything up. People that struggle do not ask enough questions. Do not be embarrassed to ask multiple questions in lab

For 10 weeks I received all As, but got an 81% on the final and ended up getting a B in the class. The final is definitely the toughest part of the whole class and is worth 40% of your final grade. Read the textbook on trees and learn some basic BigO on all the data structures.

Karla knows the material very well. She responds to emails almost instantly and gives plenty of opportunities for clarification, questions and extra help. Her courses are hard, but not too hard(except 202 is very difficult/time consuming). Her grading is clear and tests are easy if you review the Lab manuals. Use the TA's and tutors often.

A lot of people say this class is extremely difficult. It is not hard; it is time consuming. Expect every assignment to take anywhere from 20-40 hours to complete. It is not that they are hard to do, there is just so much to do with them. They are large programs. Make sure to start your program as soon as you can and you'll be fine.

When I transferred I sucked at coding and thought maybe I'd chosen the wrong field. Turned out I just hadn't had the right teacher yet. Karla's passion, hilarity and unprecedented enthusiasm for CS transformed me. The demos are tough, but if she fails you, shes honestly trying to help because she thinks you'll struggle in upper division.

Karla is phenomenal at designing a class to get you prepared for learning and understanding C++. Her tests are difficult to understand. Read the book. Just do it. Like seriously, half the exam comes from the wording of the book, and no one does it, but it really helps to study for the final and midterm.

Assignments written by her tend to have unclear criteria, but she's responsive to e-mail. She's the type of teacher to obfuscate information you don't need to know about only to pull the veil back later (think the 1st-grade teacher who insists there's nothing less than 0 until it's time to learn about negative numbers.)

Karla is an amazing, caring lecturer. There were 5 programs: 3 in C++ using vi/vim/emacs, 2 in Java using IntelliJs IDEA IDE. Midterm and final worth 25 and 35%, two pass/fail coding tests, and two quizzes. Study the Prata chapter reviews and lab manual self-check quizzes. She makes exams by scratch and told us she uses both to choose questions

Took a while to get into the groove of her class structure but once I did it was pretty smooth sailing. Karla's a hilarious lecturer and really passionate about the material and her students. Assignments often have confusing requirements. Tests are challenging but she's a very fair grader.

Karla is an institution at PSU, most/all CS students will have her. Great teacher, knows not just what to teach, but when to teach it. She has a planned path for students from 162 to 202, so follow along and you'll be fine. Extremely responsive to emails. That said, if you have previous/outside experience, it will feel slow and boring a lot of time

Intimidating 1st class. There's lots of opportunities to fail. That said, if you go to class and do the work it's easy. She sets up the material in a way that's easy to consume. She doesn't grade the homework though and her graders do NOT look at it that hard. I got 105% on a project w/mem leaks,a broken destructor, and improperly allocated arrays.

Challenging class, but a great intro to programming. She is a master at politely stopping freshmen from hijacking the entire lecture for their own personal circle-jerk. She really really cares about making a difference at PSU and will work with students if they're willing to also put in the work. Allow at least 20hrs/week for those programs though

I transferred to PSU and although her class was very intimidating, I think Karla's class really helped me identify my strengths and weaknesses when it comes to coding. Her assignments are vague, but I think that was the point, so we could design and implement the problem just like they do in the industry. Unfortunately she does not teach upper div

This professor is very good. She knows what she is talking about and I would definitely take her again. I never coded c++ but I did some coding in a ECE class. In the beginning it was pretty easy. Before the midterm I had a B. After the midterm the lectures were so hard to follow. I felt hopeless because I didnt understand.

Karla is incredible. She's very difficult. But you just have to know how to take one of her classes. Never skip, attend and FINISH all of the labs. For homework, visit tutors or homework recitation. Study like a mad man for her exams and you can totally get an A. Don't take 202 with any other incredibly difficult courses. It takes A LOT of time.

Lectures are super important, those 2 hours really stick and are crucial for her exams. READ THE BOOK IN 163, and really practice your data structures, like code each and EVERY demo question in the lab manual several times. Listen: always start your hw early, always, especially in 202. You'll feel less stressed AND you'll be ahead.

To get a high grade in this class, I spent about 8 hours studying for every hour in class. I never felt as if any of this time was wasted--it really was that much work. Note--this was over the summer term, where content gets condensed by about 20%.

Karla knows her stuff and her classes are genuinely entertaining. She relates things taught in class to their importance in the job market. Even if you're experienced the assignments will take a lot of time to do, but you will learn a lot. The hardest thing is that are two live "proficiency demos" which can cause you to instantly fail the class.

Karla is an amazing and energetic lecturer, and I learned a lot about both programming and Computer Science itself in her class. She's one of the biggest reasons I'm pursuing CS as a degree.

Karla is one of the best lecturers I've ever had. Incredibly engaging, very clear, cares about teaching the material well. The proficiency demos are awful though. You fail the class if you fail the demo. Supposed to be interview prep, but if you fail an interview you can just apply somewhere else. So far upper division has been much easier.

Karla is a legend at Portland State. Her classes are HARD, period. There are 5 homework assignments and they take 40-60 hours to complete (each) for full credit. They are (currently) worth 20% of your grade. Study for the tests: Midterm & Final. They are 60% of your grade. Seriously - study for these. Learn to love VIM. NEVER PASS BY VALUE.

OOF Karla is legendary. She is one of the hardest professors I've had, but one that I've learned from the most. Her assignments take a long time to complete, her proficiency demo's are critical, and her exams are not a joke. KNOW YOUR DATA STRUCTURES! She gives a lot of leniency for the homework assignments, so it's not as stressful.

The easiest class I have never seen before. Easy to get an A, you should take it

Karla is the gate keeper for CS. If you really want to understand CS. Take her class. Lecture are long but she always makes it interesting. She is also very accessible outside of class. Her assignment are vague but, its supposed to simulate real world problems. Also know your linear linked list because the demo and final is on that topic.

Yes, the material is difficult at times. Yes, there are many ways to fail. Nonetheless, Karla's lecture gives you the information you need to succeed. If you don't take advantage of the lab assistants and tutors, you risk falling behind. Also, doing recursive exercises on your own is key. Great instructor.

She is an amazing professor and her teaching style is really what I am used too. Obviously this whole online thing I personally don't like but it gives me time to really dig in to the detail. The only thing I don't like is there are literally 5 ways to instantly fail and its really stressful considering the work load in her 3 CS intro classes.

Expect the worst and hope for the best. The profficiency demo questions are hit and miss, but the exams are usually forgiving if you can explain your thought process. She has lots of resources, so use them. Homework recitation, the fish bowl, and TA's are your best friends. She's really accessible and understanding, don't be afraid to reach out.

She's a very smart lady with a lot to teach! Her courses are rigorous and difficult, but that's the point. If you make it through her classes and do well, you feel accomplished and prepared for whatever is to come. She knows her stuff! She really cares about the material, students and teaching, and it shows in her communication and availability!

I was a bit sceptical of Karla due to all the things i heard before taking the class. i can now say almost every bad thing i heard about her was wrongn. She is an awesome teacher who is easy to listen too and will respond to your email literally within minutes of it being sent. she grades based off understanding on exams and proficiency exams.

Although this class is tough, Karla does set you up for success. No matter what she throws at you, you will pass the class as long as you put in the effort and watch the lecture videos. I would recommend starting the programming assignments as soon as possible!

She treats teaching like she's optimizing a RPG, iterating and refining the same classes over the course of years. She has some weird rules. People with prior experience programming especially hate them. The rules are to teach you what is happening and why. I had to retake 202. My work was rushed. This is not an easy A. Do the work early.

The programs in CS202 will take a lot more time compared to CS162163. To do well on the midterm and final, I recommend rewatching the lecture videos multiple times until you are certain you understand the concept. Time I spent most: Programming > Prof demos > Final > Midterm. I recommend spending lots of time for the demos. The final demo is hard.

This class is super hard but definitely do-able. Although done in a terrible way, the difficulty really is just to weed out students because there are not enough spots in upper division. Karla does have strange rules but they all tie together and make sense in the end. Stay on top of lecture videos and always start your programs early!

The assignments in this class are a little harder than they should be but do a good job at reflecting what is being learned. Covid sucks but she has really tried to make it a lot better. Tests are pretty easy. Do not take this class lightly as it requires a lot of work(just hours of grinding).

Karla is by far my most favorite professor Ive ever had. I consider her to be an expert in her field. Her courses are definitely difficult but if you start the programs immediately, watch her lecture videos, ask questions, go to the TCSS, study, actually do the labs and the lab manual, youll be fine. So basically, just be a diligent student.

Best Teacher at PSU, anyone who says she is to hard should have gone to PCC instead.

Great teacher!!! Anyone who says she is hard is not ready for the stress of a CS degree. Karla's classes are the cornerstone of my CS foundation. Great teacher to learn from. Makes it fun and engaging.

Karla's courses are the foundation of the computer science degree at PSU. But the first few classes you have to take with her are weeder classes. Very heavy coursework but also incredibly important. After taking her classes you will know if CS is a good career choice for you.

I took this class P/NP(Covid allowed it to count) and it was a journey. Karla is a great professor and this class is really hard. That being said, just try your best on the HW assignments and really study for the tests! As others have said, try to avoid taking this class with 2 other hard classes if you can. Also the tutors aren't very helpful. GL!

Karla is an incredible professor, and she gives you more materials than you'll ever need. That said this was the hardest class I've taken and this is my 3rd degree. It's confusing, it's frustrating, and it takes up all of your time and then some. Respect the class, and respect the process. It's HARD but rewarding. Talk to her with any concerns.

So I took Karla nearly a year ago for CS 162. I then transferred to a larger State school, and I must say she has been one of the most difficult, yet most effective teachers I've ever had. Yes her classes are hard. No, you won't breeze through this class without putting in the work. But you will remember what she teaches for years to come.

Expectations of the class, assignments, and tests were very clear. The course is structured in 2 week cycles, making it easy to plan your work. There are online lectures which are critical to success in the class. Then there are optional in-person lectures. Karla really cares about student success and tests on exactly what she teaches.

Karla is awesome. If she did have a cult I would join it.

Absolutely the hardest class in CS lower division, but that's the point. She frames the class as preparation to upper divion and she's right. She's brilliant and caring instructor--but the class is not easy. It's the most stressed I've ever been and it'll take a lot of time. But it's worth it-- you'll be a better, more confident programmer from it.

Fant was a very caring and passionate teacher, and was very accessible on Discord. The class moves really quickly through the course topics, so make sure you're staying on top of the weekly lecture videos and the homework, because falling behind makes things much much worse. Excellent Computer Science class.

I’m someone who’s come back to school a decade after my bachelor’s degree in an attempt to break into a different field. Being that we’re in a (post?) pandemic world, my class was entirely online, which was difficult, but Karla’s lectures and associated materials were easily accessible and well-explained.

I got so used to the 2 week delivery time, that even if a project at work has a longer due date, I am quite sure I can deliver within 2 weeks or under and am doing so. These 3 classes 162,163 and 202 are the reason I have a job and am excelling at. Please take these class and yes it may be tough but you will come out a winner. She is the C++ queen

I came into CS with 0 experience and not much in terms of drive, but Karla made me fall in love with the field. I'm graduating next year and I want to leave new students with this: These classes are hard and quite time consuming, but they are very much a sign of what's to come in upper division. Do your best to start early and go to homework help.

Karla was excellent! I took this class online and it was easily one of the best CS courses I've taken so far. No, it isn't easy and you'll have to put in the work, but I feel like I learned a lot from her. If you take this online, KEEP UP WITH THE MATERIAL. Programming Assignments can be challenging, so get help if needed! Exams aren't bad at all.

Karla Fant expects you to work extremely hard, but makes it easier through an good class structure that is very well suited to teaching the material that you are tested on. The biggest thing about her classes is her heavy workload, mainly programming projects, but it all completely prepares you for her live coding tests and written tests.

I learnt a lot from her online classes 162. I personally think the labs are really helpful for the homework (you use the same skills for the homework/project). However, some tutors are really helpful in labs where they explain why your code does not work the way you wanted. Some not so helpful. I learnt a lot from her class!

An absolute nightmare of a workload and pace. This course was pure stress and suffering. Despite this, Karla is a fantastic instructor and I learned more than I ever have in a CS course. Be prepared to give 110% or you will not survive. I gave 4/5 because I think the class is too weighted to memorization-reliant exams. Note: 202 is now 302!

This class is more difficult than 162 so be prepared! She tests on what she teaches so make sure you watch the lecture videos and stay caught up. REALLY practice for the demos in this class, they are more difficult than the 162 demos. HW wasn't too bad, go to HW rec if stuck. She focuses less on programming and more on concepts, attend lab!

She's a very tough CS teacher but a very good instructor. Labs are crucial and will help you do your programming assignments so ask questions and complete them. She also has prerecorded videos for 162 and 163 which is very convenient to watch after every lecture and during programming assignments. She responds to emails quickly as well.

Honestly she is one of if not the best teacher I have ever had. She is very passionate about the material and conveys difficult topics in a concise easy to understand manner. She also provides a wealth of material in addition to regular lectures helping students get the most from the class.She is committed to her students success, and it shows.

Karla is a great professor but very difficult, you're expected to do large programming assignments that span over 2 weeks but they help us perfect our skills. the only complaint I have about karla is the profiency demos because its all based on luck but teaching wise, she's really easy to follow and is really understanding if you ever have late wrk

It's true that this class can have a heavy workload. The worst part of the class is the multiple deadlines per week. Otherwise, prepare to learn, code, and really get involved with programming and data structures. An excellent class and Karla is quite knowledgeable. Her lectures are great and enthusiastic and she clearly wants us to succeed.

HARD PROFESSOR but so worth it. her classes may be hard but she makes sure actually have these skills before going up to higher classes and wasting any money. i find the proficiency demos kind of dumb because its based on luck but other than that great professor. Easy to follow along and she's very friendly

I took 162 w/ Karla a couple of years ago then transferred to a different uni. I'm close to graduating now and to this day, Karla is still the best professor I've ever had. Her course is tough, but it's doable if you put in the work! I wish I could have more courses with her. I actually remember more from her class than some others I've had since.

I've had Karla for 162 / 163. Her classes are very hard, but I have learned more in these two courses than I have in years of trying to learn on my own. If you're not passionate about CS? Buckle up for a rough ride. There are 5 programs to write in each class, and they take a long time to get working. 10/10 recommend if this is your passion.

302 is by far the hardest of all of Karla's classes. 162 and 163 weren't bad for me, but this one ramps up in difficulty. Make sure to ask for help when needed, watch the lecture videos, attend lab! Demos are very similar to 163 so make sure you stay up to date on your data structs. Only thing I don't like is failing the class if you fail one thing

Be prepared to put in a lot of work for this course. Keep up with the work and go to the course embedded tutors when you need help. There are plenty of resources to succeed in this class, especially if you ask for help. She was very accessible outside of class and is more than willing to help with programming assignments during office hours.

Super tough class, but if you watch the lectures, and read all the supplied materials, you're going to seriously learn something during the semester. If your hearts not in the course, it's going to be tough. But I highly recommend Karla, loved the class.

Probably the hardest lower division CS class now that 202 is moved to 302. I recall it taking alot of my time just for the programs to work. There is alot of help though from tutors. Overall not an enjoyable experience but you learn alot of stuff you never even thought of. All in all, pass this class the first time so you don't have to retake it!

I'm a transfer student and this was my first course with Karla at PSU. You better understand your recursive algorithms and you make a great effort to keep up in class or you will fall behind. Make sure to be on top of the assignments too. I seriously learned a lot and this course made me a very confident programmer, but I asked god for mercy often.

I urge really high caution before taking 302, at the moment it seems like the structure for the class is very bad. It's a shame, because i love Karla's teaching strategies.

One of the hardest CS classes I have taken, it taught me more about coding than I have ever known I feel knowledgeable about CS after this class however the grading is silly if you bomb one of the two midterms or the final you have to redo the class and the hw is 30-50 hours a week, future reference learn python for the final you will need it.

Get ready for a ride. There are 5 projects that take an average of 20 hrs/wk and if you fail one exam or proficiency demo, you fail the course. Put in a lot of work the first time so you don't have to take it a second. Karla is a fantastic professor but I frequently wanted to drop out due to the pressure of this course. Learned a lot for sure.

This class will rewire your brain with how you think about programming. The class is vital, but very hard. Exams, which are handwritten, are almost the entire grade. It felt impossible to do ALL the reading/homework/projects/lab assigned with my schedule. But, following along in class and completing assignments is a good way to study for tests.

Took this class online and would recommend the online class IF you have taken Karla's classes in the past in person. Learned a lot of new cool concepts of OOP. The programming assignments were rigorous and takes a lot of time. Labs are also very important and you don't want to skip them.

Professor Fant is one of the best lecturers I have ever had. All of her classes are very dense, but if you stick through it are very worthwhile. Attendance has been made mandatory this term as well. There is also A LOT of homework during the term, though if you do it you will understand and pass the term having learned a lot.

Great teacher

Study weeks in advance for the exams, they make up the majority of your grade & do the same for the prof demos; last demo does not get a redo during finals week. When it comes to assignments, Just do exactly what the program assignment says, and you should be fine. Took this class as a PT student and if i had to redo it i would not change that!!!!!

Karla is a super knowledgeable professor, the hw can be as big or small as you want and can be done fairly early, the 3 tests matter the most over anything else you need a 65+ on each to pass, and the proficiency exams aren't too hard, so focus on what's going to be on the exams and study far in advance in terms of coding and code knowledge.

took 162, 163, and 302 with her. Material is dense and difficult. Readings are hard to fit in but can be skipped if you understand well the lectures. The exam proctor system can cause issues but you can request in person exams. I would recommend taking the labs in person. She is very smart and office hours are helpful.

She's very knowledgeable on her subject, and her lectures are amazing. What brings her down is the excessive amount of homework. She assigns super long readings that you don't need most of the time but also grades you on reading them. On her other, bigger assignments, the grading is oftentimes harsh and with little explanation on your mistakes.

The class is tough, but Karla is knowledgeable. Focus on exams and demos, as they make up most of the grade. Use unstuckstudy ai and other resources to prep effectively.

Karla is an excellent professor, and her CS302 lectures are the best in the series. However, her class can feel incredibly tedious due to the amount of homework, especially for students who aren't solely focused on school. While there's a significant workload, the skills gained from her CS302 class pay off immediately. Pair it with electives!

CS162 & 163 are more homework than you've ever experienced, 25-30hrs/week. If you have a full-time job, approach with caution. The recorded lectures are entertaining and informative, I learned the most from the programming assignments. ZERO code feedback, a wasted opportunity imo. Test question wording is chaotic and confusing.

Karla is very knowledgeable of the concepts and I liked the way she explains things. There is a lot of material, but this college what do you expect. If you work hard and practice you won't fail.

Karla is a gem! 💎 She is strict but fair. This class takes time and attention to detail but so does the degree. If you put in the effort you will be rewarded. She is extremely knowledgeable about the subject and you can learn alot from her class.

An incredibly dense and difficult class but I learned a lot.