diff --git a/server/.dockerignore b/server/.dockerignore
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..edd83c04
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/.dockerignore
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+node_modules
+npm-debug.log
+Dockerfile
+.dockerignore
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/server/.env.example b/server/.env.example
index bffa5108..4388c146 100644
--- a/server/.env.example
+++ b/server/.env.example
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
-DEV_DB_NAME='myclassroom'
-DEV_DB_USER='admin'
-DEV_DB_PASS='Password_1'
+DEV_DB_NAME='myclassroom_development'
+DEV_DB_USER='dev_admin'
+DEV_DB_PASS='password'
 
 TEST_DB_NAME='myclassroom_test'
-TEST_DB_USER='testadmin'
-TEST_DB_PASS='Password_2'
+TEST_DB_USER='test_admin'
+TEST_DB_PASS='password'
 
 PORT='3001'
 
diff --git a/server/Dockerfile b/server/Dockerfile
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..18bb355d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/Dockerfile
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+# Use the official Node.js image as a base image
+FROM node:latest
+
+# Set the working directory in the container
+WORKDIR /app
+
+# Copy package.json and package-lock.json files to the working directory
+COPY package*.json ./
+
+# Install the dependencies
+RUN npm install
+
+# Copy the rest of the application code to the working directory but ignore node_modules
+COPY . .
+
+# Expose the port the app runs on
+EXPOSE 3001
+
+# Command to run the application
+CMD ["npm", "run", "start:dev"]
diff --git a/server/README.md b/server/README.md
index 50784364..f4be1219 100644
--- a/server/README.md
+++ b/server/README.md
@@ -1,30 +1,39 @@
 # My-Classroom-Backend
+
 ## Dependencies
+
 - node: 16.13.0
 - npm: 9.1.2
 - mysql: 8.0.31
 
 ## Cloning Repo and Installing Dependencies
+
 Install MySQL
+
 - Refer to the [MySQL Getting Started Guide](https://dev.mysql.com/doc/mysql-getting-started/en/) for installing and troubleshooting MySQL.
 
 Clone the GitHub Repository
+
 ```
 git clone git@github.com:OSU-MC/MyClassroom.git
 ```
 
 Navigate to the Server Directory
+
 ```
 cd MyClassroom/server
 ```
 
 Install the Application Dependencies
+
 ```
 npm install
 ```
 
 ## Configuring Local Environment
+
 Rename the .env.example file to setup environment configuration
+
 ```
 mv .env.example .env
 ```
@@ -32,119 +41,190 @@ mv .env.example .env
 The server application can be configured by modifying the `/server/.env` file. The `DEV_DB_...` and `TEST_DB_...` values should match those in the database/user creation commands listed in the setup steps below. Additionally, `CLIENT_URL` should be set to the front end application URL. For basic testing, the default values can be used.
 
 ## Create and Migrate the Database
+
 Connect to the MySQL Database using the Root User
+
 ```
 mysql -u root -p
 ```
 
 Create the Application Database
+
 ```
 CREATE DATABASE myclassroom;
 ```
 
 Create the Administrative Database User
+
 ```
 CREATE USER 'admin'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'Password_1';
 ```
 
 Grant the Administrative User Access to the Application Database
+
 ```
 GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON myclassroom.* TO 'admin'@'localhost';
 ```
 
 Disconnect from the MySQL Database
+
 ```
 exit
 ```
 
 Migrate the Database using Sequelize
+
 ```
 npx sequelize-cli db:migrate
 ```
 
 ## Setup Backend Testing Environment
+
 Connect to the MySQL Database using the Root User
+
 ```
 mysql -u root -p
 ```
 
 Create the Test Application Database
+
 ```
 CREATE DATABASE myclassroom_test;
 ```
 
 Create the Testing Administrative Database User
+
 ```
 CREATE USER 'testadmin'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'Password_2';
 ```
 
 Grant the Testing Administrative User Access to the Test Application Database
+
 ```
 GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON myclassroom_test.* TO 'testadmin'@'localhost';
 ```
 
 Disconnect from the MySQL Database
+
 ```
 exit
 ```
 
 Migrate the Test Database using Sequelize
+
 ```
 npx sequelize-cli db:migrate --env test
 ```
 
 Seed the Test Database using Sequelize
+
 ```
 npx sequelize-cli db:seed:all --env test
 ```
 
 ## Resetting/Rolling Back Databases
+
 (Append `npx` commands with `--env test` to run on the test database)
 
 Undo Database Migrations
+
 ```
 npx sequelize-cli db:migrate:undo:all
 ```
 
 Undo Test Database Seeding
+
 ```
 npx sequelize-cli db:seed:undo:all
 ```
 
 Reset Local Database
+
 ```
 mysql -u root -p
 ```
+
 ```
 DROP DATABASE myclassroom;
 ```
+
 or
+
 ```
 DROP DATABASE myclassroom_test;
 ```
 
-## Starting the Application
+## Docker
+
+The backend NodeJS app and MySQL database can be deployed in containers using Docker. The Dockerfile will build the backend NodeJS app as a standalone whilst the compose.yml file will build and run the backend and MySQL containers. If you plan to re-initialize the database from scratch remember to delete the docker volume for it as well.
+
+### Build the backend Dockerfile alone (Optional)
+
 ```
+docker build -t myclassroom_backend .
+docker run -p 3001:3001: myclassroom_backend
+```
+
+### Utilizing docker-compose (Preferred)
+
+Build and start then detach with '-d'
+
+```
+docker-compose up --build -d
+```
+
+After first build we can start and stop using docker-compose
+
+```
+docker-compose up -d
+docker-compose down
+```
+
+Inspecting detached containers
+
+```
+docker-compose logs
+```
+
+Optionally, the MySQL database can be started and stopped individually after the first build
+
+```
+docker container start myclasroom_db
+```
+
+## Starting the Application (Conventional NodeJS)
+
+```
+
 npm run start
+
 ```
 
 ## Testing the Application
+
 Testing the application is easy. The Jest testing framework is used to write tests for the system. A script has been added to the package.json file to run tests locally:
+
 ```
+
 npm run test
+
 ```
 
 If you run into issues, ensure you have done the following:
+
 1. Created a local test database
 2. Properly instantiated all env variables for the test environment
 
 ## Application Authentication & Session
-The application uses cookie-based authentication once a user session has been created (i.e. a user has logged in). A user's session will have a specific XSRF token value associated with it to protect against XSRF attacks. As such, the value of that token will be sent back as a cookie, and the application expects to recieve with each authenticated request a custom X-XSRF-TOKEN header with that value, along with the traditional authentication cookie _myclassroom_session which the application generated as part of initial session creation.
+
+The application uses cookie-based authentication once a user session has been created (i.e. a user has logged in). A user's session will have a specific XSRF token value associated with it to protect against XSRF attacks. As such, the value of that token will be sent back as a cookie, and the application expects to recieve with each authenticated request a custom X-XSRF-TOKEN header with that value, along with the traditional authentication cookie \_myclassroom_session which the application generated as part of initial session creation.
 
 A user's session is valid for a minimum of 4 hours, and as long as the user is active within 4 hours of last activity, the session can be valid for as long as 24 hours. In other words, users will be asked to login again after 4 hours of inactivity or 24 hours since they last provided their credentials.
 
 ## Configuring Services
+
 ### Emailer
+
 The application is configured to use Courier notification infastructure to message users. In order to use the application's mailer, create an account at https://www.courier.com/. Follow Courier's setup instructions and prompts.
 
 The process should yield a bearer token in the HTTPS request Courier generates. Copy this token, and paste it in the application environment as `COURIER_AUTH_TOKEN`. Also set `EABLE_EMAIL='true'`. That's it! You should be able to interact with the configured emailer through Courier.
@@ -152,6 +232,7 @@ The process should yield a bearer token in the HTTPS request Courier generates.
 It's worth noting that the application is only configured for email use through Courier, but Courier supports a variety of modern notification methods.
 
 ## Roadmap
+
 - Learning Management System (LMS) Integration
 - Expanded Question Type Support
 - WebSocket Open Polling Connection for Live Updates and Feedback
@@ -160,14 +241,21 @@ It's worth noting that the application is only configured for email use through
 - Request Rate Limiting
 
 ## Database Schema
-![Schema](https://github.com/OSU-MC/MyClassroom/assets/25465133/d987e780-fd0e-4ea5-bd18-c72de5d8c32c)
 
+![Schema](https://github.com/OSU-MC/MyClassroom/assets/25465133/d987e780-fd0e-4ea5-bd18-c72de5d8c32c)
 
 ## Endpoints
+
 [API Endpoints Doc](/API%20Endpoints%20MyClassroom.pdf)
 
 ## Getting Involved
+
 Feel free to open an issue for feature requests or bugs. We openly accept pull requests for bug fixes.
 
 ## Licensing
+
 GNU General Public License v3.0
+
+```
+
+```
diff --git a/server/compose.yml b/server/compose.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..04e57b52
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/compose.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+version: "3.8"
+
+services:
+  backend:
+    container_name: myclassroom_backend
+    build:
+      context: .
+      dockerfile: Dockerfile
+    depends_on:
+      db:
+        condition: service_healthy
+    environment:
+      DEV_DB_HOST: db
+      DEV_DB_PASS: password
+      TEST_DB_HOST: db
+      TEST_DB_PASS: password
+    entrypoint: ["./entrypoint.sh"]
+    ports:
+      - "3001:3001"
+    expose:
+      - "3001"
+
+  db:
+    image: mysql:latest
+    container_name: myclassroom_db
+    command: ["mysqld", "--mysql-native-password=ON"]
+    environment:
+      MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD: rootpassword
+    ports:
+      - "3306:3306"
+    volumes:
+      - db_data:/var/lib/mysql
+      - ./db/init.sql:/docker-entrypoint-initdb.d/init.sql
+    healthcheck:
+      test: ["CMD-SHELL", "mysqladmin ping -h localhost -u root -prootpassword"]
+      interval: 10s
+      timeout: 5s
+      retries: 5
+
+volumes:
+  db_data:
diff --git a/server/config/db.config.js b/server/config/db.config.js
index 25d9d62d..c0aff104 100644
--- a/server/config/db.config.js
+++ b/server/config/db.config.js
@@ -1,32 +1,33 @@
-const env = process.env.NODE_ENV || 'development'
-if (env === 'development' || env === 'test') { // dotenv file will only be used in dev and testing
-  require('dotenv').config({ override: false}); // will not override current environment variables if they exist
+const env = process.env.NODE_ENV || "development";
+if (env === "development" || env === "test") {
+	// dotenv file will only be used in dev and testing
+	require("dotenv").config({ override: false }); // will not override current environment variables if they exist
 }
 
 module.exports = {
-  "development": {
-    "username": process.env.DEV_DB_USER || 'myclassroom',
-    "password": process.env.DEV_DB_PASS || null,
-    "database": process.env.DEV_DB_NAME || 'myclassroom_development',
-    "host": process.env.DEV_DB_HOST || 'localhost',
-    "port": process.env.DEV_DB_PORT || 3306,
-    "dialect": "mysql"
-  },
-  "test": {
-     "username": process.env.TEST_DB_USER || 'myclassroom',
-     "password": process.env.TEST_DB_PASS || null,
-     "database": process.env.TEST_DB_NAME || 'myclassroom_test',
-     "host": process.env.TEST_DB_HOST || 'localhost',
-     "port": process.env.TEST_DB_PORT || 3306,
-     "dialect": "mysql"
-   },
-  "production": {
-    "username": process.env.RDS_USERNAME,
-    "password": process.env.RDS_PASSWORD,
-    "database": process.env.RDS_DB_NAME,
-    "host": process.env.RDS_HOSTNAME,
-    "dialect": "mysql",
-    "ssl": 'Amazon RDS',
-    "port": process.env.RDS_PORT || 3306
-  }
-}
+	development: {
+		username: process.env.DEV_DB_USER || "dev_admin",
+		password: process.env.DEV_DB_PASS || "password",
+		database: process.env.DEV_DB_NAME || "myclassroom_development",
+		host: process.env.DEV_DB_HOST || "127.0.0.1",
+		port: process.env.DEV_DB_PORT || 3306,
+		dialect: "mysql",
+	},
+	test: {
+		username: process.env.TEST_DB_USER || "test_admin",
+		password: process.env.TEST_DB_PASS || "password",
+		database: process.env.TEST_DB_NAME || "myclassroom_test",
+		host: process.env.TEST_DB_HOST || "127.0.0.1",
+		port: process.env.TEST_DB_PORT || 3306,
+		dialect: "mysql",
+	},
+	production: {
+		username: process.env.RDS_USERNAME,
+		password: process.env.RDS_PASSWORD,
+		database: process.env.RDS_DB_NAME,
+		host: process.env.RDS_HOSTNAME,
+		dialect: "mysql",
+		ssl: "Amazon RDS",
+		port: process.env.RDS_PORT || 3306,
+	},
+};
diff --git a/server/db/init.sql b/server/db/init.sql
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..be7e978f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/db/init.sql
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+CREATE DATABASE IF NOT EXISTS myclassroom_development;
+CREATE USER IF NOT EXISTS 'dev_admin'@'%' IDENTIFIED BY 'password';
+GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON myclassroom_development.* TO 'dev_admin'@'%';
+FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
+
+CREATE DATABASE IF NOT EXISTS myclassroom_test;
+CREATE USER IF NOT EXISTS 'test_admin'@'%' IDENTIFIED BY 'password';
+GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON myclassroom_test.* TO 'test_admin'@'%';
+FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
diff --git a/server/entrypoint.sh b/server/entrypoint.sh
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..772fbf12
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/entrypoint.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+# This script checks if the container is started for the first time.
+
+CONTAINER_FIRST_STARTUP="CONTAINER_FIRST_STARTUP"
+if [ ! -e /$CONTAINER_FIRST_STARTUP ]; then
+    touch /$CONTAINER_FIRST_STARTUP
+	echo "Container first start intializing database..."
+    # place your script that you only want to run on first startup.
+    npx sequelize-cli db:migrate --env test &&
+	npx sequelize-cli db:migrate --env development &&
+	npx sequelize-cli db:seed:all --env test &&
+	npx sequelize-cli db:seed:all --env development
+	echo "Completed migrating and seeding databases."
+	npm run start:dev
+else
+    echo "Not running first start up script."
+	npm run start:dev
+fi
\ No newline at end of file