About prerequisite courses for MSCS and first semester

Hello everyone. I am required to take CSE230 and CSE340. On the first semester, I saw some advise that it's better to take easier courses to familiarize to the environment. I was planning on enrolling CSE340 for the first semester and taking the deficiency exam for CSE230 as it is an easier course.

Is CSE340 so difficult for first semester or is it good enough compared to other graduate level courses?

And what two courses would you recommend me for the first semester? My interest is in big data systems.

Which faculty is better for CSE340? gordon or bazzi?

Last question, why is the CSE340 classes so empty? nobody has registered for the spring semester?