CS 303E is a course in computer programming for non-majors. Dr. Mitra is a great professor. His lectures are very clear and straightforward and he tells you exactly what to expect from tests/quizzes with no surprises or tricks. Take him if you can! He's a very reasonable professor.

CS 312 Introduction to Computer Programming taught by Mitra is a great course, he is extremely clear about what to expect on exams, and the programming homework is reasonable. Attendance is mandatory, an easy 10% of your final grade. Mitra is friendly, approachable, and genuinely cares for his students. I recommend Mitra

After the first quiz I swore I'd never take a class from him again. We had to hand-write an entire program, which is fine, but he hadn't told us to expect that beforehand. He did much better at preparing us for subsequent quizzes. He is a good teacher overall, and I feel like I learn in lecture and from the homework.

One of the best professors I've taken at UT. Very helpful and genuinely cares about teaching. You will learn a lot in this class.

He is an amazing professor. One of the best professors in UT. Yes, his class is hard, but it's completely worth it you will learn a lot.

Best CS prof ever.

Wouldn't it be nice if someone else could write the rest of this review? In all seriousness, Dr. Mitra is a great prof, and one you will enjoy for CS303E. He obviously loves Computer Science. Mitra is also a "Typical" CS person. Lame jokes, entire lectures on why building a PC is good, etc. If you think of yourself as a CS nerd, you will love him.

Best CS professor I've had. His office hours are popular, but not always the most helpful. Enjoyed lectures, pertinent to assignments.

Probably one of the best professors I'll ever have. Funny guy and a terrific lecturer. Assignments are pretty difficult and or time consuming, but interesting nonetheless. Tests are also really difficult but with a substantial amount of studying, you can do well on them.

I really liked Mitra for CS 303E. It was a hard class, with lots of assignments, some of which were easy and some of which made me want to rip my hair out. But he's a funny dude and the material is, at least to me, very interesting. So, it's not an easy A class, but if you go to all lectures and work hard, you can make an A and learn a lot!

Taking 303E with Mitra is what made me decide to transfer into CS. He's a great professor. He explains things in a very understandable way (I came into the class with 0 knowledge of coding) and loves to answer questions. I always looked forward to his lectures, and that's coming from someone who very rarely is enthusiastic about lectures.

Smart guy with a great sense of humor. He can be a little difficult to follow at times, but gladly answers questions in class. I'm taking him for CS313E right now and took his 303E class last semester.

Great lecturer who teaches us to focus more on the logic rather than the code, and tries to make each homework assignment interesting. Really helpful and encourages students to ask questions when they get lost, and also is a pretty funny guy.

I truly enjoyed taking Mitra's class. He emphasizes the thought process behind the stuff he teaches, and takes time to be clear and thorough with his explanations. That being said, the concepts he does teach are not meant to be easily understood by everyone. If you have little to no background in CS, you will probably have to work harder.

Professor Mitra is a really approachable guy. He wants his students to understand the concepts and is always open to questions. The assignments are a bit time consuming especially for people with no coding background but they're doable. CS is a difficult subject to teach bc there are so many different ways of approaching it, but he tries his best.

I came into this class with no coding background, and I would say that this class is not easy. There were many coding assignments and homework exercises, and the assignments got a lot more difficult as the semester went on. I personally enjoyed this class and I think it's not that bad if you put some effort into it.

Great professor! If you do all the homework, then you'll be fine. Tests made up only 45% of the grade. The assignments are pretty hard, but if you do them and understand them, then you won't really need to study much for the exams. His first test was his hardest, and I got a 58 on it, yet I still got an A.

Dr. Mitra is fantastic. Computer science is not supposed to be easy, so expect to do a lot of studying/doing extra problems on your own. His pop-quizzes usually consist of a coding problem and a logic problem which get you to think in a problem-solving mindset. Tests are fairly difficult, but your HW grade can carry you. You've got to take Mitra!

LOVED the prof. He is so caring and funny. Lots of homework, but the knowledge I gained will carry on for a long time. Go to office hours for assignments, there are a lot of them. Tests were fair, we got to bring a cheat sheet. Definitely enjoyed the class, it is applicable for so many things.

Dr. Mitra does an excellent job at making CS understandable for all students and relates material back to how it can be practically used. On top of how well I think he does his job, he definitely shows he cares for his students. He is some what an unofficial advisor for the computing certificate-- I assume he took this on seeing we don't have one.

Dr. Mitra may be my favorite professor at UT so far. He is very good at explaining complex concepts, and he clearly knows what he's doing. If you go to the lectures, read the textbook, and apply the knowledge to the assignments you should do just fine. The tests, while difficult, are doable.

Mitra is the GOAT

Mitra is very intelligent and committed. Lots of assignments but it is very manageable.

Mitra is a really knowledgeable professor. He is also pretty chill. Much respect for him. Element of Software Design is basically Data Structures so expect challenging material through the coursesuch as working with Linked Lists. Overall, I highly recommend him and he is indeed our advisor for the Elements of Computing prog. / "CS Minors".

Good professor. Hard class

He's an awesome professor. Really made me want to learn more about CS. I thought that I wasn't really capable of programming but he really changed that for me. If you're doubting you really shouldn't.

Mitra is one of my favorite professor's I have ever had. Both his 303 and 313E class are beyond doable... he just really wants students to understand the topics of the class and how to algorithmically think both in and out of the class . Exams are not bad, cheat sheets allowed... programming assignments hold alot of weight in your grade. 10/10

Great professor! He makes you do a lot of homeworks, but you learn so so much and it isn't hard to get a good grade either if you can keep up.

He is awesome!! You learn so much from him, and he makes class enjoyable.

took dr. mitra for both CS303E and CS313E, and it's definitely been two of the most worthwhile classes I've taken here. it's certainly very assignment-heavy, so expect at least one or two assignment a week. i've learned a lot about programming these two semesters, and if you work for it, you should too!

Mitra is one of the best professors I've had here at UT. He genuinely cares about his students and making sure the class is a worthwhile learning experience. He assigns a lot of HW but each assignment has been beneficial to my overall programming knowledge and I'm really glad he gave us so much work.

Mitra is an amazing professor. As a beginner programmer (I started in his 303 class), I thought he taught the basics of coding in an understandable way. If you are serious about learning coding, his class is probably the best to take. Tests and assignments are difficult/time consuming but are beneficial in the long-run.

Dr. Mitra definitely teaches a difficult class, but I thought it was a worthwhile experience. He wants his students to succeed. I took three classes with him (303E, 313E, and 329E) and I learned a lot! He's a great professor. Just be prepared to do ALL the homework, and the tests should be straightforward.

I love Mitra. He's super cool and really funny--the biggest issue for me is the workload for this class. I highly recommend taking the course but get ready to spend a lot of time on homework. Overall, I'm glad that I took it. I admire that Mitra respects all disciplines and sometimes does some good roasting.

Professor Mitra is a great professor. I took Introduction to Web Programming with him. He was always available and helpful during office hours. He only cares about you learning the material. He is very concerned about his students success.

hes a really good lecturer

The second class I've taken with Mitra, it's been the hardest classes I've ever taken, but he really is an amazing professor. It is a lot of work but you will learn so much.

Forreal, if you skip this class you won't pass. There's about two assignments every week (even due on Saturdays and Sundays) and you get to work with a partner on most of them. They're way harder compared to 303E, so don't start on them the day before. Some TAs are helpful. Tests are hard. Worth it because recruiters like it. Good luck.

Prof. Mitra is fine. I learned a lot in his class(OOP, turtle graphics, sorting algorithm, heaps, stack, queue, linked list, tree, graph ...). But you have to strictly follow the rubric if you want a decent grade for assignment. Don't name the variables yourself, I got 3 0s because of variable names.

Mitra is a really cool professor overall. He explains everything very thoroughly and engages his students during the lecture. He might throw some jokes here and there. Also, if you ask questions dumb questions he might roast you during class.

I have taken 303E & 313E with Mitra and loved both. Learn a bit about the language before class starts, because he will only really skim over it while stressing the logic, algorithms, and concepts. Also, don't be too discouraged if you don't do too well on his exams; most don't, just keep at it. Great teacher, funny and enthusiastic every day!

Let me let you in on a secret. You will cry. But then you'll get with the program and learn a hell of a lot. I have taken 2 classes (303E and 313E) with prof Mitra and despite being one of the tougher professors I've had, he doesn't give you anything you can't do. He's reasonable and honestly, one of the best professors I've had at UT Austin.

Mitra is great! A class worth taking. He explains things very well and is funny too.

Dr. Mitra is an outstanding professor. He communicates very well with his students and always gives difficult, yet reasonable, assignments that force you to struggle with the course material. One of the best and most educational classes I've taken at UT Austin so far. Definitely take a CS course with Mitra if you can!

I took Mitra for web development and for the CS 303E class. By the end of the class you will have learned a lot, seriously. If you want to get more into CS then Mitra is the professor you want to take. Getting a good grade is easy as long as you do your work and stay on top of assignments.

Mitra explains things well but there are so many assignments! You have to really put in time for this class or you ain't gonna pass. Exams are very difficult and lengthy (my wrist cramped up multiple times) but he gives partial credit. I learned a lot but I also stressed a lot. All in all, it was a good experience. I'm dreading taking the final :

Dr. Mitra is a great professor, and really does want you to learn the material. His assignments are tough, but they make you work to understand the concepts. Tests also hard, but in the end, he also gets that it's an elements class, and is not trying to destroy your grade. Perfect balance between difficulty of course, and grade received.

Dr. Mitra is a very great professor!!! His class was very organized and valuable.

He's an honest and fair professor who, on the first day of class, told us to refer to the reviews that you see here. The class is a huge time commitment. Assignments are tricky and difficult, and so are the tests. Expect to be coding for at least nine hours a week. Grade distribution on Catalyst looks nice only because so many people drop.

Two programming assignments per week, simple quizzes based on last lecture every lecture, and occasional online reading assignments which are free grades. Tests are fairly doable, mostly closely related to the homework and generally simpler than homework. Relatively a lot of work but Dr. Mitra is a great professor with good lectures and feedback

Mitra is a wonderful professor who makes class interesting. I had him for both CS303 and CS313 which is why I was drawn to take this class. You learn a great deal in this course, but be ready for a heavy workload. If you stay on top of assignments and attend class you should do well in the course.

The class is very work intensive, be prepared to work your ass off in order to pass. Two programmings assignments a week, one due Monday night and the other Friday night. The grading on the homework can be a little unfair due to how much effort you put into it so at times you may feel cheated in a sense. Mitra is an excellent professor though.

Mitra was enthusiastic and genuinely excited to teach. His class is difficult, but the TA's were great and easy to reach. Two programs assigned a week and three written tests. He encourages pair programming, so program homework can be done with a partner. Attendance is mandatory because every class starts with a 3 minute quiz!m

Dr. Mitra teaches with passion and believes in his students. The homework is tough, and you should expect to spend many hours a week working on it, but it is doable if you put in the effort. Daily quizzes based on class content, 3 exams, 2 homeworks per week. This was one of the most challenging classes Ive taken, but it was definitely worth it.

2 assignments a week, 3 exams, readings, and daily quizzes. If you stay on top of things you'll succeed. I usually spent about 1-2 hours per assignment, but ymmv. Mitra truly cares about you learning, and if you are willing to put in the work to get better, you will improve vastly. The grading can be harsh, but you learn to make less mistakes.

Walked into this class thinking it was going to be the hardest thing ever, I wasn't wrong but I can definitely my coding skills and critical thinking skills have improved tremendously. You learn a lot and he teaches really well. for the lectures that I missed, I was always confused. TAs might hoe you on hws but you can just go to them for help

Mitra is an excellent professor, very knowledgeable in his field and an engaging lecturer. His CS313E class is significantly harder than CS303E and it requires several hours of coding a week for homework assignments. Be prepared to attend almost every lecture and put in a lot of work to excel in this class, but it is rewarding.

Class is worth it but the work is very demanding... one of three people will drop so make sure this class is your top priority.

Fairly demanding, requires work/effort outside of lectures. But imo, worth it. If you're interested in programming, take this class ASAP. HWs are straightforward if you go to class or office hours; tests can be a bit more challenging but Mitra and the TAs tell you what to expect. Guarantee you'll learn a lot. Great class, amazing professor.

Explained many CS topics in a very easily understood manner. Made life a lot easier. Lots of programming assignments, but they're quite fun and interesting.

Dr. Mitra is probably one of my favorite professors at UT. As others have said, his class is very involved, but you learn a lot! And Dr. Mitra goes out of his way to make sure his students understand the lectures. I feel that he genuinely cares about the students and their success in the class and the tech industry. He knew everyones names.

Mitra has to teach 3 of these 100 person weed out courses. The course feels very templated but in a good way. Some of the homeworks are pretty tough, and worse the criteria is often unclear, but he and the TA's are so kickass to be available on Piazza like 24/7. That is the saving grace of the class and I can't thank them enough. So much readingbtw

Mitra is a great lecturer and you will learn a lot in this class, but it's A LOT of work. 2 programming assignments a week with other little assignments sprinkled in. Sometimes the wording on the assignments are not clear. Tests aren't too bad but extremely long. Overall, you'll learn a lot but you'll spend a lot of time for his class alone.

This class forces you into being a better programmer and thinker. Upon starting this class you will kiss your weekends goodbye because every Friday/Monday you have an assignment due. Every class there's a quiz and sometimes the topic hasn't been covered yet. You will learn. You will suffer. Mitra is fun and has great in person lectures.

This has been of my favorite classes at UT. Yes, the workload is high, but I think that it is just right for this course because at this point in the semester it becomes obvious that all these programming assignments served a purpose: To make me a better coder. 10/10 I would take this class again.

Dr. Mitra is an excellent lecturer. His lectures are informative, engaging and occasionally funny. Lots of homework and reading in this class, so be prepared to spend some weekends coding . The problems are challenging but fun, and they will definitely make you a better programmer.

Don't skip class, there's a quiz everyday; the quizzes are only 3 questions. Professor Mitra is great at explaining difficult concepts. There are a lot of assignments but the fundamentals behind them are well explained in class. The hardest part are the tests which weigh 15% each. I took this class for credit and would recommend this professor.

Dr. Mitra is probably the best teacher I've ever had. Lectures were extremely engaging and clear, with a great casual and open atmosphere for questions. The programming assignments and quizzes were generally difficult, but very engaging and entertaining. Tests were extremely fair and very well made. Absolutely loved this class.

Awesome professor

Mitra is very knowledgable, but getting a good grade in this class comes down to how much you learn on your own. There are two CS assignments each week (which take 2-5 hours each), 3 midterms, and daily in-class quizzes that consists of 2-3 tough questions. Be expected to devote a lot of time into this course, but you will also learn a lot about CS

If you want to really improve your ability to code and solve problems, this class is great. It is a TON of work, but worth it in the end. Do not take this class if you want an easy A. This class was 6-10 hours of my week every week, but it was all spent on worthwhile exercises to learn how to code. He is extremely kind, so ask for help and he will.

Absolute grind of a class, you cannot afford to lag behind with the pace of this course. It's difficult but rewarding and the intensive coursework incorporates the sort of logical reasoning that employers in the IT space would ask you during an interview.

I don't have any coding experience for context. Mitra was very passionate and broke down concepts well. Assignments were 2-4 hrs each, and 100s are doable. Quizzes were stressful at first, but slowly coincided with lectures better. We lost our grading system halfway through and grading was done in the last 2 wks, but TAs were lenient and helpful.

CS313e was the largest workload I've ever had. I recommend starting each homework 3 days in advance - they are basically mini-projects due every Mon and Fri. There are quizzes every day of class. The class, as Mitra says, was "wickedly beautiful", and it taught me how to problem-solve, code, and think creatively more than any other class. 9/10

This is a difficult class, there's no doubt about it. However, after a few weeks of questioning why you took it in the first place, you will see that there is a specific purpose behind everything he has you do. I can't thank Dr. Mitra enough for how much I've learned, how much he's prepared me for tech interviews, and how much more I appreciate CS.

Mitra is hard, but fair. His lectures are not always relevant to the homework material, though they'll usually be important for the exam. He'll throw everything but the kitchen sink at you when it comes to homework, but you'll definitely learn a lot from this course.

Dropped this class the first time because the transition to Zoom University made it especially challenging, but I'm glad to make it through the second time! Like everyone says, this class is pretty tough, but it's for good reason. Mitra is an amazing professor and you will come out of this class knowing so much more about CS.

Like everyone says, Mitra's class is incredibly intense and he expects a lot out of everyone. He gives a ton of assignments and quizzes that really aren't that easy but he truly is a wonderful professor. This takes a lot of practice and thinking to realize but Mitra truly gave me an insight into Algorithms and programming than I ever knew

Dr. Mitra is really passionate about this FRI course. He gives amazing lectures and covers a vast field of astronomy to better prepare students for the independent research component of the 2nd-semester course. He also gives a few projects and readings to accustom his students to the experience and provides great feedback on them.

Most time-intensive class I've taken and was extremely hard. Mitra is incredibly smart & he would often give valuable insight on the HWs during lecture - take advantage of having a partner, go to office hours and START EARLY on the HWs. Quiz every day of class, lengthy textbook HW every week, and 2 coding projects per week - also 4 hour tests.

This 329E was web development. Same as 313E in that there are two very time-consuming and increasingly-difficult homeworks per week, and that the tests were 4-5 hours. Not QUITE as much work as 313E on average, but by the end of the class, the homeworks were ridiculously hard. That said, the education he gives you is truly unmatched once it's over.

Difficult course, yes, but amazing professor! Very engaging lectures that I looked forward to - learned many new algorithms and ways to think and code. Note that there are a LOT of assignments and reading though and that, yes, this can be a tough weedout course. But the prof is available and answers questions and is helpful!

I thought this class taught a lot about important computer science concepts. The grading scale heavily favored the homework so test grades didn't destroy your overall grade. The main problem I had was that assignments were given and sometimes due within a weekend so we were not given adequate time to ask questions. Fall 2021

Mitra's class is probably the hardest one I've taken thus far. There's a quiz everyday in class, and usually two assignments each week. The assignments get pretty tricky near the last third of the class, but Mitra is very helpful if you go to office hours. The TA's sometimes take a while to return grades which can be pretty frustrating.

Mitra lives up to the hype - bro is a legend. He's been teaching the class over 20 years so he knows what works and doesn't. He cares about his students so if you're lost, go to him and he will help. This class really makes you think like a CS student, so yes, it will be challenging. Go into his class with the right attitude, for your own sake.

Great professor, knows his stuff.

The workload for this class is crazy, but Mitra is great. There are two assignments per week that require a few hours of coding and critical thinking; I wouldn't have survived without partner programming. There are also weekly textbook assignments that end up totaling 3100 questions (1200 in the first 2 weeks). Definitely a weed-out, but worth it.

I expected the hardest class ever, but I thought the class was very manageable and fun. Finding a partner really helps with assignments. Make sure to show up to class every time and pay attention because his teaching is amazing and helps a lot, and don't be afraid to ask TAs for help if you ever get stuck.

Definitely one of the best classes I have taken at UT. I actually made the effort to attend his lecture because the prof made his lessons very interesting and thought-provoking. Definitely a lot of work but you will get a lot out of this class!

Pros - truly a god among men, he will increase your IQ by a couple of points. The lectures are awesome, and you will learn to appreciate the art of problem-solving. Your coding foundation will be strong after this class. Cons - a LOT of work: 2 assignments, 3 quizzes, and textbook reading every week. The class is 100% worth the hard work though.

A difficult class for sure, but the professor is amazing at lecturing and definitely cares about his students. His sense of humor is a little dry and he seemed condescending at first, but he's one of the best people I've met at UT.

Dr. Mitra is an amazing lecturer, hands down. The class itself is a ton of work - as everyone will tell you - but the late work policy (10 pts off per day late) on homework is actually pretty forgiving. It won't be easy, but I recommend Mitra over other 313E profs if you want to get the most out of your education here at UT.

Struggled throughout the entire semester, but taking the course has made me better at problem solving and coding

scientific computation (cs 323e) was disorganized and required a lot of out-of-class learning if you're not a math-heavy major, what we did in class rarely helped with the homework. towards the I ended up relying on other students because I come from a completely different background. dr. mitra was a great professor tho, super passionate and funny

He will tell you that the course is difficult, but it is highly worth sticking to it and learning everything through and through. Best class I took this semester. It challenges you and teaches you beyond data structures and algorithms. Dr. Mitra is a great person and an even better lecturer. Don't take the class unless you're ready to learn.

Don't take this class unless you're genuinely passionate about logic and coding. His goal is not for you to pass but rather solidify your technical skills/knowledge and prepare you for industry. If you are just looking to get an A, maybe this class won't go by so easy. Work is intense, 2 assignments a week plus online textbook problems (weekly).

No tests. Partner lab assignment due every Friday that didn't open until Friday. Attendance quiz that requires a code to access, given in class, so he knows you went. Otherwise, so chill compared to CS313. There are a few homeworks, but nothing nearly as bad. He loves teaching/talking to students so say hi in office hours.

my most difficult class this semester but worth it in the end. be prepared to dedicate 12+ hours per week to this class. 2 difficult programming assignments per week. 1 textbook reading per week. 1 quiz per class (some questions are difficult). 3 tests -- difficult but not too bad to recover from if you get a bad grade on one of them.

(Data Visualization) Extremely annoying amounts of busy work but easy A if you do everything. One group project with multiple checkpoints, no exams, attendance is graded but easy to cheat (access code). Lectures are 90% code demos. Overall pretty disorganized course but highly receptive to feedback/participation.

Entire class is based on a semester group project using a data set of your choice. Weekly quizzes (online, easy), homework assignments and watching online courses also make up the grade. Make sure your data is interesting so you stay engaged with the project and don't miss any deadlines. Professor is super caring and listens to student feedback.

Dr. Mitra really cares for his students. He really focused on the fundamentals. Weekly quizzes, no tests, work load was reasonable.

I had him for CS309 and then CS378 with the upper div CS class where we do actual research. While the first 309 course was content heavy on both astronomy and CS, the research course was very laid back and he does occasional checkups and is more hands off. Mentors were very helpful throughout. He's very active in checking up with his old students!

Math heavy course that requires attendance. Material heavy but the homework assignments and mini-projects were manageable. The professor is very caring and is clearly passionate about the topics. Attendance quizzes done dubiously but aren't anything crazy. Everything in course is done with partner, small group (assignments/mini-projects).

As the other reviews mentioned, the amount of work assigned is unreal. Despite this, he is actually an extremely intelligent and caring professor. The work he assigns us is in our best interest and he is ready to assist us. He can also be unexpectedly funny with his remarks at times. Not to mention, the peer mentors are kind and knowledgeable.

Work was alright, some of it lacked clear instructions and didn't really feel meaningful. But the class itself was very nice, giving us a deep understanding of topics in the subject. Prof. Mitra is a thorough and perfection based teacher and you can tell from the first class. The mentors were very supportive and ensured our questions were answered.

Dr. Mitra is a caring, passionate, and frequently hilarious professor. He makes an effort to build relationships with every student, a rare gift in non-honors STEM courses. This FRI stream does have a heavy workload—if you're serious about growing as a researcher and are passionate about widening your horizons, though, it's completely worth it.

The amount of work needed for this FRI stream cannot be emphasized enough. That being said he is a good professor who will work with you through extraneous circumstances. Much more difficult than other FRI streams, including work over summer. Doesn't give clear directions most times but great lecturer. Don't skip class and ask peer mentors for help

The topics covered in class are very physics and linear algebra heavy. Prof Mitra is very cheerful and good at teaching, but the pace can be very daunting especially if you're learning linear algebra for the first time. The coding is actually very light. Instead, you have research-heavy physics papers every month that kind of suck but are doable.

Took 309 and then 378 the next semester. First semester is mostly learning python and astronomy fundamentals. Short quizzes once or twice a week which are pretty easy if you go to class. Workload is overall not too heavy. Second semester was very hands off: you just work on your project. If you want to learn more about research its a good class.