Charles Dierbach - Towson University, Towson, MD

Professor: Charles Dierbach

Department: Computer Science

College: Towson University, Towson, MD

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: COSC237
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He's very knowledgeable, but struggles to teach. The material isn't hard, but just approach him and ask for help if you need, he's always willing the help. The programs were extensive but cool to work through. He's a solid choice.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: COSC436
• 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:

Dierbach knows material well but doesn't know how to teach it. Lectures are practically useless, labs are confusing. Harsh graded, yet there are no clear expectations. Avoid avoid avoid.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: COSC237
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

In order to do well in this class, you NEED to pay attention during lectures. I struggled since I had him first thing in the morning, but he does know what he's talking about tho sometimes he has trouble explaining things to make sense. He goes over what is exactly on the test in class. Go to the labs and ask him any questions you have there.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: COSC237
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Dierbach is a good professor. If you put the time in to understand the material, pay attention in lecture, do the labs, and assignments on your own, then you will be fine. The textbook is not the best, but can clarify topics that seem confusing in lecture.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: COSC237
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Dierbach is very fair and considerate. He is always ready to help in lab sessions or at his office hours. There were 5 programming assignments, 7 lab assignments, 6 online exercises, 1 pop quiz(we were supposed to have 3), 2 exams, and one final. Do not skip labs and only submit code that is 100% yours or you will receive a zero.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: COSC436
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Attending class is about as useful as reading a pdf on Design Patterns. He's a smart guy, but not all intellects are good teachers. He asks trivial questions on exams such as naming the class and interface names used for a previous programming assignment. The second exam was so poorly written that the entire class got a 15% curve. 10/10 dont recmnd

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: COSC237
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

5 programs, weekly (easy) lab assignments, and 2 exams. The programs take a while to complete and are very difficult. The instructions for them are not crystal clear either (you will need to ask him to clarify things). If you dont understand something, read the textbook. It helped me a lot. He is also willing to help you too.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: COSC237
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

No group projects. 5 programs, 6 labs, a few exercises. 2 exams. All the work is definitely doable. The hardest assignments was the last 3 programs bt if u get help from him or a tutor, and your programs at least compile and run, youll get an A on them. Avoid chegg and other student work. Exams are fair. Great class overall. Dierbach is cool

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: COSC237
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Im a CIS major. I hate programming. But cosc237 with Dierbach was great.. he didnt stress too much about coding itself, its the concepts he wants you to learn. He's funny and super smart. Would take again!

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: COSC237
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Although sometimes unclear, you will def. Learn a lot from dierbach! The workload isn't overwhelming, definitely manageable. Just make sure you pay attention, ask questions, and use your resources. Show up 2 class because he runs on a schedule(lectures). Almost everyone passed the class!Flexible grader. Hes very understanding. His TA is no help tho

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: COSC237
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Good professor! Cares about his students and wants you to learn. He's very passionate about the material, so sometimes he can go off tangent. If you come into class with a poor attitude, thats on you! Dierbach always is willing to help during office hrs. Dont procrastinate on programs.. ask a tutor or dierbach, just avoid asking peers (plagiarism)

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: COSC237
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Dierbach is so kind. Many cosc237 profs give easy A's, but you dont learn as much compared to how much you learn with dierbach. He lectures on a strict schedule, so the class is never behind. If you dont want to learn cosc237, dont bother taking the course. Simple as tht. Also textbook is a GREAT resource to have. Overall, tests arent impossible!

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: COSC237
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Dierbach is very knowledgeable. The only thing tht makes his lectures unclear is tht he likes to mention advanced concepts relevant to the topic. He just wants to introduce topics that rly should be covered in the course. Ask him questions; he is always willing to help. He updates BB all the time (lecture notes, grades, solution) DONT PLAGIARIZE!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: COSC716
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Awesome professor, one of the best in COSC at Towson. I don't know why he has such a low grade here because my semester with him was really good!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: COSC237
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Don't let a lot of these comments fool you. He not a bad teacher. As crazy as this is, you need to try. DO NOT do your programs in a group, you will get plagiarism. Even though he says you can work in groups. Anyway test are hard but not impossible but hes a nice guy and if you get an A on the final he'll probably give you an A in the class.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: COSC237
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

His lectures are not very organized and sometimes he is not clear about what he is taking about. The tests are difficult unless you complete your labs/homework assignments. Although, he is willing to answer your questions and help with homework assignments/labs.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: COSC237
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Dierbach knows his stuff, but has a tough time explaining the concepts clearly and gets a little mixed up or disorganized sometimes. He is very light-hearted and funny. You can tell he wants to help the class but has a hard time with clarity. If I didn't have previous programming experience this course would've been much harder.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: COSC237
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Although Professor Dierbach has some trouble when t comes to clarity, he is very helpful if you're struggling with the course. Nice guy. Funny. He makes the class enjoyable. Easy A, especially if you've already had some experience with coding!

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: COSC237
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

he's kind of a garb professor, always giving code that he laters has to correct. never specific about what he wants. most people do terribly on his exams. have fun

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: 237
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Generally a good teacher. It did seem like he expects students to be able to figure some stuff out on their own and that made a lot of people in my class mad, but it really wasn't anything you couldn't find in 5 seconds on google. The concepts aren't that complex, so if you work hard and get all your programs functioning the class is an easy A.