Jose Nelson Amaral - University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB

Professor: Jose Nelson Amaral

Department: Computer Science

College: University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: CMPUT229
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

A really caring prof. He helps you out whenever u need it. The course itself is very hard in general though

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: CMPUT229
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Prof likes to engage in discussions and at times goes over harder topics again to make sure the whole class is on the same page. Make time for assignments because it is very time consuming. Prof seems passionate in computer architecture.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: CMPUT229
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Just an caring person in general!

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: CMPUT229
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He remembered almost all students in his class!!! Amazing prof. His labs are a little bit difficult and they are really time consuming. But the exams are not that hard since he gives you a bank of questions.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: CMPUT229
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The prof is awesome and the class material itself is hard. Heavy course load, but you can learn a lot from this class. Will be hard to have spare time on other classes if you know nothing about assembly. Better take fewer classes or more easy classes The GPA you get in this class is totally depend on the effort you put not which grade you are in.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CMPUT229
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He's a great prof and he's knowledgeable, but if you're taking a full course load or multiple classes with lab components, be prepared to drop one because the workload will drown you. If you're not familiar with assembly or don't dedicate time to understanding the material, you won't pass. By far the hardest class I've taken in my 4 years.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: CMPUT229
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This class helped me start smoking :) ; I mean students have to do other courses and things apart from this class.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: CMPUT229
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Too much work, difficult labs. Expects your life to revolve around the course, doesn't care if you have other courses. Prepare yourself to invest a lot of time in this course and consume your life.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: CMPUT229
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He is by far my favourite prof. The courses he teaches are very difficult but he actually cares if his students understand the material. While test averages are typically low he does curve. I will be taking all of the courses he teaches (though admittedly with a lighter course load).

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: CMPUT229
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He has a very clear, understandable way of explaining concepts. You will want to read the textbook, as the subsidiary information is helpful. He's definitely the best prof to get for this class. Just study, you'll do fine. Though, I would suggest taking it AFTER 201, not concurrently. Big picture stuff helps the small details.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: CMPUT229
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Raising difficulty of the course you teach, thus you can be nice explaining things to studious students. That makes you "one of the best profs in Canada".

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: CMPUT229
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He's a really nice guy and he cares but there was way too much to do in this course. Assignments + Quizzes + Labs + 2day midterm + final not enough time to focus on other courses. The averages were crazy low and his questions are like essays that you have to get through before you can start answering. Beware of this class. Time management is key

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: CMPUT229
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The best prof I've ever had. However this is a very difficult class. I almost recommend taking it as a third year as that really gave me an advantage over the other students. I highly look forward taking more of his classes and he has made me love this area of computer science.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: CMPUT229
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Tests are time crunched, and lots of the questions are based off "if" questions.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: CMPUT229
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Very good prof. His explanations are clear and he will answer any questions you have if you don't understand. He records all his lectures, so you don't have to worry about missing a class. The course itself is very difficult and requires lots of effort to get a good grade.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: CMPUT229
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He really wants to make sure you understand the material. Of course if you don't work hard you are not going to enjoy his teaching or this class.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: CMPUT415
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

One of the best profs in Canada. Teaches real solid compiler and system knowledge. I'm not strong in system and compiler, so I suffered a lot from this course. However, I think it's WORTH taken. You will learn all you need to know about COMPUTER SCIENCE in this course. You will gain solid hands on experience on how to implement a modern compiler.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: CMPUT229
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Best prof ever.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: CMPUT229
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Really great prof, class was tough but he is an amazing lecturer

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: CMPUT229
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

One of the most caring,invested profs I have seen yet. Knew students well. Always made interesting,animated slides (but 1st draft often had errors). If you ask,he puts in the effort to help you understand. That being said, this course is nowhere near fair in workload or grading scheme. Watch for small,unimportant details that he will fail you for.