Note that I teach CS436/636 Database Application Development, usually in the spring, and CS437/637 Database-backed Websites and Web Services, usually in the fall. You may take both classes if you wish. Both classes use databases for holding persistent data and use HTML5 for web UI, so there is some overlap. It's best to take cs437/637 before cs436/636, since it is easier. Here is a quick comparison of these classes:
| CS436/636 | CS437/637 |
|---|---|
| uses Java for business logic | uses PHP for business logic |
| requires Java expertise (cs310 or equivalent) | requires intermediate Java (cs210 or equivalent) |
| focus on large or enterprise sites | focus on smaller sites |
| basic HTML5, minimal CSS | more HTML5, CSS, plus Javascript |
| layered architecture (presentation/service/DAO) | simpler sites, less layering emphasis |
| use MVC (Model/View/Controller) pattern for web UI | use MVC (Model/View/Controller) pattern for web UI |
| use Oracle or mysql interchangeably | use mysql |
| default to using eclipse IDE | default to using NetBeans IDE |
| run your own tomcat application server | run XAMPP, your own Apache webserver, mysql, PHP site |
| only discuss web services | study and implement web services |
Note: If you are interested in preparing to use .NET, you should probably take CS436/636, since .NET is an enterprise platform, like JEE.