Alexis Koster - San Diego State University, San Diego, CA

Professor: Alexis Koster

Department: Business

College: San Diego State University, San Diego, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: MIS380
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Koster is a good, kind professor. He knows the material and does a decent job teaching it. However, his accent can make it very difficult to understand. Lectures can feel dry. There is practically no homework, but 4 time consuming projects. No extra credit. You have to study and work for your grade. Partner up!! It will make class easier.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: MIS380
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Currently, taking his 3 hours/week course. No one can barely understand Professor's accent. Difficult pop quizzes and exams because they are hand-written by him. The best bet is to study by using his book. This def a self-taught course. Group projects.. advise to partner up with someone.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: MIS380
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Tags: Whispers, lacks clarity, and confusing instructions. You could hear a pin drop the room was always so intent on hearing him. Felt bad for the guy and kept up for most of the class. After the first assignment, most of us realized he had his own way of doing things. Learning from outside sources does not help prior to using Edoras/Oracle.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: MIS380
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Probably one of my most favorite courses I've taken at SDSU. I came into this class with a pretty good foundation in programming, so SQL wasn't too hard to pick up. We had 2 quizzes, three exams, and 4 projects (partner optional). It's hard to understand Koster in the beginning but if you do the readings before class theres no need for his lecture

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: MIS380
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Something is really weird with his voice and even without the French accent I wouldn't be able to understand him. If you don't know coding, find someone who does to help you do the projects, whether they're inside or outside of the class. You basically have to self-teach the material.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: MIS380
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Big Tip: Write your lecture notes on your book. Koster allows his Koster book to be open during tests and allows notes on it. I suggest reading his book in a many big sittings and not piece by piece like in lecture. Don't be afraid to talk to him after class. He knows hes not good and even gives opportunities to gain points back from a project

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: MIS380
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

This is the most effort I have ever put into a class to get an A. Definitely not easy but it is doable. The projects take 15+ hrs if you want an A. His accent isn't as bad as people say you get use to it. Take the 2 day a week because sitting through 3 hours with him is difficult. Huge curves on test and open book. Only buy his book not the text

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: MIS380
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

His projects are demanding and he is rude during office hours. He asked me if I even knew how to speak English. Despite all that his exam curves are generous. Do wear your seatbelt on the way to his class, I got in an accident on the way there I still had to go to class.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: MIS380
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Do whatever you can to avoid taking this guy... sometimes it is not possible. Lectures are horrible. Very disorganized lectures that would be difficult to follow even if he spoke clearly. During lectures he mumbles and speaks with an extremely heavy french accent. This class was just short of torture. Also, he wrote the confusing text book too :(

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: MIS380
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

His course reader is mandatory to passing. If you have any programming experience, not even databases just in general, and you read his course reader, it should be a straightforward class. Take the twice a week lectures, because sitting through 3hour lectures will be rough. His accent may be tough, but just pay attention. He can be vague at times.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: MIS380
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

His textbook is super clear (the other one is useless so save your $$) He's a little hard to understand sometimes and a little confused/ing but he's not too bad. Tests are straight from the openbook material so just write notes on his book and use it. Projects are challenging but it's all in the book. SQL is a Useful skill to have.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: MIS380
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Everything everyone else wrote is spot on. He is not a bad guy, its just hard to understand him, sounds like Kermit the frog talking through a wall with a stuffy nose. You are kinda forced to take him. Doesn't use blackboard, and you will never know where you stand in the class. The material covered is very useful and you learn a lot doing the proj

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: MIS380
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Dr. Koster is the worst professor I've ever had. His book is the most unorganized thing I've ever seen. You will never get used to his accent. If you must take his class, I would suggest you teach yourself through online tutorials and just do the projects.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: MIS380
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

I don't wear my seat belt driving to school because I want to die before I can make it to this class. Seriously horrible. His lectures are completely useless, his textbook is disorganized and not helpful. I'm an A student and I got a B in his class so it's possible, just do the projects with a group and learn from mistakes. Good luck

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: MIS380
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

I'm not an A student typically a C student. I tell you this so you don't think that this review is coming from some smart guy. GO TO CLASS for attendance and dont bother paying attention. In fact use that time to work on your projects. Everything comes from the book. Projects help for the test. Didn't pay attention and got a B+

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: MIS380
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Great professor. Thick accent takes a little getting used to but he is very helpful and knowledgeable on the subject. 4 projects but a lot of time to do them. Start early and there is plenty of time. Tests are simple if you pay attention and know what you're doing.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: MIS380
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Impossible to understand what he is saying or writing. The only purpose of coming to class is for attendance, otherwise you're better off teaching yourself. He is not helpful with answering questions in class either, but I've heard from a few people that he is actually helpful during office hours.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: MIS380
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

This class is super boring and he's hard to understand, but honestly the material is very straightforward. Read and study the book over and over and you will get an A. Having an open book doesn't help that much on the test except for a few questions, you have to read the book and study to get the concepts

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: MIS380
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Dr Koster is a good person, but not a good professor at all. If you get the project done, you will do better on the exams.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: MIS380
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Honest assessment. The info is very easy in itself. Read the sections thoroughly(necessary) before tests. Use the optional book for better explanation, but your best understanding will come from doing the projects on your own and learning from mistakes. Professor has a VERY strong accent, and isn't helpful. I still got an A, so it's possible.