CSCI-2910 Welcome to Server-Side Web Programming!

You've built pages that look good in a browser — now let's build the systems behind them. CSCI 2910 takes you from writing standalone Python scripts to building real, data-driven, server-side web applications.

What This Course Covers

CSCI 2910 covers strategies for developing maintainable and efficient server-side web applications. You'll work with object-oriented methodology, server-side scripting, sessions, database integration, and web application security — the core skills behind any production web app.

This is a project-driven course. Nearly everything you learn gets applied directly to two team projects: ShinraNet and a Discord Bot. Expect to write real code every week, not just read about it.

The Journey Ahead

Python Foundations & Data

Weeks 1–2. A refresher on Python, then data structures and data analysis with pandas.

  • Python fundamentals
  • pandas Series and DataFrames
  • Working with real datasets
Database Integration & APIs

Weeks 3–5. Connect your code to real databases and the outside world.

  • Database integration with SQLAlchemy
  • Consuming external web APIs
  • Designing and building your own API
GitHub & Team Workflow

Week 6. The collaboration skills every dev team needs.

  • Git and GitHub fundamentals
  • Branching and pull requests
  • Working as a team on shared code
Blazor Web App Development

Weeks 8–10. Move from APIs to full server-rendered web applications.

  • Introduction to Blazor
  • Routing and parameterized pages
  • Midterm covers everything through here
Testing, CI/CD

Weeks 11–13. Make your code — and your deployments — trustworthy.

  • Unit testing
  • Continuous Integration
  • Continuous Deployment
Review & Final Exam

Weeks 14–16. Wrap up, review, and demonstrate what you've learned.

  • Thanksgiving break and Dead Week for catch-up
  • Final Exam Topic Study Guide
  • Final Exam in the lab (Brinkley 120)

Weekly Rhythm

Most weeks follow the same pattern. A module opens with new material, a hands-on Lab, and closes with a short Exit Ticket due Monday night. Don't let exit tickets sneak up on you!

Major Assignments

Labs Weekly

Seven hands-on labs walk you through each new tool as it's introduced — from your first Python script through unit testing and continuous integration. Each lab builds directly on lecture material from that week.

Team Projects 2 Projects

  • Project 1: ShinraNet — your first full data/API-driven build
  • Project 2: Discord Bot — a three-phase team project: Proposal, Status Report, and Completed Project

Midterm Exam Week 9

Covers everything from Python foundations through Blazor basics.

Final Exam Week 16

Tuesday, 10:10–12:10pm, in Brinkley 120 (the lab). Use the Final Exam Topic Study Guide during Dead Week to prepare.

Watch for the off-weeks. Week 7 is an Independent Work Week (no new material — catch up on labs and Project 1), and Week 15 is Dead Week, when Project 2 Phase 3 is due alongside final exam prep.

Ready to Build the Back End?

By the end of this course you'll have shipped a data-driven web app, a working API, and a team project running through a real CI/CD pipeline.

Let's get started.