Darin Goldstein - California State University Long Beach, Long Beach, CA

Professor: Darin Goldstein

Department: Computer Science

College: California State University Long Beach, Long Beach, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: CECS328
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Extremely smart, and incredibly fun if you're into the subject. Tests are very similar to the homework, so if you practice them enough, you'll do alright.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: CECS228
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Smart & knows his stuff, but could explain things better. Only test grades and its on a curve so it's hard to get an A. Not planning to take him again

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: CECS328
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Goldstein is a solid professor. This was his 1st time teaching non-honors 328, but he made it work. Graded entirely off 3 midterms (3rd midterm is the final); each midterm was VERY SIMILAR to the homework questions, so make sure to do all the homework questions! He's a genuine guy and we would have chill, non-cs related discussions before class

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: CECS455
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Darin is a great teacher. His assignments are super difficult, but he's upfront about it. He makes the content interesting and his genuine enthusiasm for the subject matter is contagious. During lectures, he'll spend as much time as students need in order to answer questions. He's also super laid back about attendance.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: CECS328
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He is no doubt a master of his subject. A great professor that you will most definitely learn a lot from. The class is graded on 8 programming assignments and a final. Class is curved to the highest students (my grade went up 20% after the curve). Really funny guy, interesting lecturer, overall a great class. Hard class but extremely worth it.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CECS328
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Take Darin's classes if you feel like the classes you've taken so far are a joke. Because his classes are no joke. You will work hard for your grade, you will be going against your classmates for your grade. But it's truly rewarding going through the process. If you want to learn algorithms in a fun but challenging way, take Dr. Darin Goldstein.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: CECS328
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Class is based off of 8 programming projects and a final (30% of grade). You are not allowed to speak to anyone about the programming project AT ALL. His programming projects (written in Java) are hard.. like EXTREMELY HARD. He has homework posted online (not for credit) but final consisted of problems from the homework.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: CECS228
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He is the best professor ever. Definitely the most helpful I have met at CSULB so far. Don't worry about asking stupid questions because no matter what it is he will make sure you understand it. The homework is not mandatory but it is essential.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: 519
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He was awesome. He comes off as hard, but he will explain anything to you, and is totally ready for questions.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: 428
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Read the book and take online classes before you take this course

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: CECS528
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I sat in on CECS 528, Advanced Algorithms. It was a good class, many topics answered questions you get on interviews. Some topics were easy, most were difficult. He did a good job explaining - animated professor. I was not graded, but exams were generally difficult - I sometimes could not recognize the exam questions. No evening office hours.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: CECS451
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

clear, in-depth lectures. preview them on his website so you know what you're getting into. 5 prog assns tell you what you need, but not how, so expect min 10 hrs working on each. sem started w/ 30, by end only 5 attending lecture and rest struggling to do assn on own. doubt they made it; class not made for avg lb cecs student w/ poor math skills.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: CECS528
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He's a brilliant professor! Extremely fun. I look forward to his lectures with great excitement. Just diligently do your homework and you'll sail through the exams. Planning to take a lot of courses under him. The only downside is he doesn't try to be comprehensive or rigorous in his treatment of subjects but instead picks topics of "interest".

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: CECS455
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

This class is NOT for making games, it's more about game strategies and concepts of game theory. Don't expect to make video games in this class. Overall, it was an interesting class. Most of the lectures were quite complex and often graduate level material. However, when it comes to grading, its all based on you AI player code and how it runs.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: CS3281
• 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:

Definitely not an easy class, but if you do study, you'll come out feeling like you've earned quite a handful of IQ points. The coding assignments have little to do with the lectures. Tests are straight from the homework so work on them early! He does expect his students to grasp the concepts quickly, so do think before you ask him anything.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: CECS328
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Not that bad of a professor. His lectures are straight from the notes he put online. He gives you all the labs assignments from day 1. 48% of grade is from labs and 52% from three exams. The exams are straight from the homework problems. However, if your programming background is low or barely passed 228, you WILL struggle in his class.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: CECS228
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

If you're looking for an easy pass? Do Not Take. If you actually have a desire to learn? You will learn a lot about comp sci from Goldstein. He's smart, and he knows his stuff, and you can learn a lot, but it won't be easy. So if you're willing to take a tough course to learn MUCH more than you would otherwise? Rewarding.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: CECS228
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I took his CECS 228 class a year ago. Look, take Goldstein if you are a quick learner, able to understand logic and the material instantly. Otherwise, you will struggle. He blazes through the material with difficult examples. You have to independently study for hours, that's how you will succeed. Two midterms and a final. No partial credit. Curves.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: CECS228
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Very cool and knows the material. Grades strictly. Not all material on test is taught in class. MUST DO THE HOMEWORK. Definitely learned a lot, even if it was difficult.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: CECS451
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

My thoughts are pretty consistent with other reviews. He doesn't communicate clearly, wants you to understand, but his teaching style is too crazy. Too much math, doesn't go by the book. No partial credit most of the time. Expectations exceed what he teaches. Kind of funny guy, often condescending, really nice sometimes, but a hard teacher.