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CS 338Computer Applications in Business: Databases

Units
0.50
Faculty
Mathematics
Subject
Computer Science

When it runs

  1. F24
  2. W25
  3. S25
  4. F25
  5. W26
  6. S26
  7. F26
  8. W27
  9. S27

Ran in 7 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: scheduled, 3 lecture sections. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.

A user-oriented approach to the management of large collections of data. Methods used for the storage, selection, and presentation of data. Common database management systems.

Prerequisites

  • Complete 1 of the following
    • Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
      • CS230 - Introduction to Computers and Computer Systems (0.50)
      • CS231 - Algorithmic Problem Solving (0.50)
      • CS234 - Data Types and Structures (0.50)
      • CS246 - Object-Oriented Software Development (0.50)
      • CS246E - Object-Oriented Software Development (Enriched) (0.50)
      • CS330 - Management Information Systems (0.50)
    • Complete all of the following
      • Must have completed the following:
        • AFM341 - Accounting Information Systems (0.50)
      • Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
        • CS116 - Introduction to Computer Science 2 (0.50)
        • CS136 - Elementary Algorithm Design and Data Abstraction (0.50)
        • CS146 - Elementary Algorithm Design and Data Abstraction (Advanced Level) (0.50)

Antirequisites

Leads to

No course lists it as a requisite.

Fall 2026 sections

Enrolment from UW Open Data, which can trail Quest by up to two days. Instructors and rooms: Schedule of Classes.
SectionClassEnrolledMeets
LEC 001600280 / 100TTh 11:30–12:50
TST 101789280 / 100Oct 29 19:00–20:50

Winter 2027 sections

Enrolment from UW Open Data, which can trail Quest by up to two days. Instructors and rooms: Schedule of Classes.
SectionClassEnrolledMeets
LEC 00156060 / 90TTh 11:30–12:50
LEC 00260760 / 90TTh 13:00–14:20
LEC 701218489 / 9999Online or by arrangement

Resources

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Reviewed on UW Flow

63% liked it66% easy75% useful

From 108 ratings and 46 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.

  • PRIOR REVIEWS ARE OUTDATED. Whole course changed this term. The slides are a mess to try and read, the lectures are barely helpful, a chunk of the exam relies on definitions from the assigned text. Teaching SQL was done on the board instead of running the code on the computer that was there... which showed the undecipherable slides. To quote the prof when the midterm marks came out, "I am disappointed in you, but I am not making the course easy." Don't take this course unless you have to, I learned SQL better from Code Academy.

    Apr 2017 · didn’t like it · 2 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • First time ever to write a review for a class and the professor. Way worse than I expected. Probably because of the professor. AVOID Aida!!

    Aug 2023 · didn’t like it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • I found the prof's presentation of course material lacked clarity and organization. The final exams were particularly challenging, seeming at times unrepresentative of the content covered throughout the term. Additionally, the criteria for participation grading often felt subjective and unfair, disadvantaging some students. While the course materials provided were relatively useful, a clearer guidance from the professor would have significantly enhanced the learning experience.

    Aug 2023 · didn’t like it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Super dull and uninteresting course. The instructor is new and not good at teaching. She reads the slides in the most monotonous manner, and it's hard to hear her even from the front rows. The upside is that it's a really basic intro course to SQL. You could easily learn everything on your own in a few days. The workload is quite light. However the final is horrible, with 40% of grade allocated to 24 questions. Median and mean are around 55. Truly a memorable class that ends with students collectively filing grievances.

    Aug 2023 · didn’t like it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • A lot of this class is really helpful and applicable. Unfortunately, most of it isn't, and I had to spend a lot of time memorizing slides.
    Oh, and the final in Spring 2023 was VERY hard.

    Jul 2023 · didn’t like it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

Discussed on r/uwaterloo

342 posts and comments in 260 threads mention CS 338, September 2011 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.

Fall 2024

FARM 2 points, 2 comments

“Does FARM include cs courses after year 1? I see some cs courses in year 1 but not sure if it is like that after? I want to do something in math and business but not cs.”

u/SoopaChris: “cs335 cs330 mandatory, cs338 "bird-ish" course (not really) 335 is useful and not that much cs (fixed/floating arithmetic) the assignments are some python coding but u will need to do that when u get a job anyways so it's decent prep for a uni course. …”

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Spring 2024

CS 234 8 points, 4 comments

“I'm doing a minor, and was wondering if CS 234 is usually offered in the fall time? doesn't matter if it's online or in person, just wanted a general sense. thanks!”

u/Clouds_Are_Cool: “i dont know about cs 234 being held in the fall but I took cs 338 last winter term, so I would assume it would continue being held during that term”

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easy online courses at uw 11 points, 15 comments

“i'm a math major and I was planning out my courses for the rest of my undergrad, and I need 2 easy online courses that I can take over a co-op. …”

u/reckollection: “Stats 230/231 these are medium CS 338/330/234/231 Econ 101/102”

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Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026

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