Kenneth Supowit - The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH

Professor: Kenneth Supowit

Department: Computer Science

College: The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: CSE2331
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

If you are in a computer science related major at OSU and you never take a class with Ken, you are missing out. His lectures are open-ended and conversational, which keeps them very interesting in my opinion. He is more challenging than others but really he is just pushing you to think more deeply and his generous curve covers the difference.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: CSE2331
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Recommended -- I found that he teaches data structures and algorithms well and in great detail. His class is challenging, but you'll want to know these concepts well to pass your technical interviews, so take Foundations 1 and/or 2 with him and don't blow it off. You'll be rewarded for it.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: CSE2331
• 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:

Prof. Supowit was one of my favorite professors ever. He's hilarious and has a perpetual smile. His exams are really hard, but it would be unfair to say that he doesn't prepare you for it. His examples and homeworks are equally challenging, requiring you to think for you yourself. Would recommend for in-depth learning, but not an easy grade.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: CSE2331
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

If you like theoretical things, do choose this professor. If you just want to remember what was taught and pass exams, choose another one. He likes to lead you to think, to find algorithms on your own, and he stresses on this ability. CLRS is as really important for the course, and you'd better go through proofs in it carefully.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: CSE2331
• 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:

I really liked Ken. I think he does a good job conveying some complex concepts and keeps the class entertaining with his humor. Most don't like him because he doesn't post any grades online or outline a grading scale. He claims "it won't change how you study anyway". It didn't affect me but I can see how that would be frustrating to others.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CSE2331
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

First of all, funniest prof I've had. Insanely smart guy as well. Generally speaking he's very good at teaching the ideas and material as well. However I couldn't help but feel like he made the class quite a bit harder than it needed to be, relying on a huge curve at the end of the class. I felt like I learned a lot, but I really had to work for it

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: CSE2331
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Supowit is a hilarious professor, and his class is pretty challenging, but if you pay attention in class you'll do fine!

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: CSE2331
• 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:

The class is hard, but don't knock him for it. He is great at explaining algorithms and is an overall interesting person.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: CSE2331
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Foundations II is a tough, lecture-heavy class, and Dr. Supowit does everything on the chalkboard, but he's a very solid, passionate prof to learn from. His lectures aren't for everyone, but if you really try to follow and participate, you'll get a lot out of it. Note the pop quizzes. There are easier lecturers, but you'll learn much more from him.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: CSE6331
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Supowit is a nice professor. He prepared the class the well and tries his best to make the class interesting. After class, he is willing to help me with any question. But his exam is a little bit tricky.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: CSE2321
• 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 smart and seems to be really interested in the material. He does everything on the chalkboard, so you have to go to class to get the notes. There is some textbook reading, but I never did it and was fine. If you do all of the homework, you should be fine for the exams. He gave a few pop quizzes and even gave one right before Thanksgiving break

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: CSE2331
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He is a really good lecturer, and I found this class incredibly interesting. The material was hard, but going to his office hours was really helpful. He wants students to succeed, and is very lenient with partial credit. He was my favorite professor I've had at OSU so far, and if you have to take Foundations 2, I would definitely take it with him.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: CSE6331
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Nice professor. Very inspiring. Willing to answer everything in his office hours. The office hour is long. Don't feel afraid to ask him questions.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: CSE6331
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Do not take his course. He did not prepare his lecture well. His lecture does not help at all. However, if you are enjoying to debate a professor and have a good contestable skill, then try it.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: CSE2321
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Thought this class was going to kill me but it actually was my favorite class. If I can stress one thing, participate in discussion. Be present, its so much easier to learn if you just pay attention during class. He acts like he doesn't care about students but I think he does. He's a really good teacher and you can learn a lot from him.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: CSE6331
• 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:

He is an amazing lecturer. Explains every algorithm so clearly. Some homeworks are too tough. Mids & finals are easier than the hws. You need to work really hard for an 'A'. Try to response in class.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: CSE2331
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Terrible lectures, no online notes, difficult tests. And to top it all off, he gave a midterm the day after springbreak.....

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: 2331
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He clearly had a passion for the subject matter and was very intelligent, but he would ramble and go off on tangents constantly. He was horribly unprepared for his lectures, he would ask the class questions that he himself didnt know how to solve and leave half of them unanswered as he moved to the next topic. Avoid this professor if you can.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: CSE2331
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Really smart professor, exams are tough.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: CSE2321
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Terrible teacher. He expected students to understand concepts that should have been taught as a part of this course. He also expected people to speak up when something didn't make sense, but even when someone did it didn't help anyone with understanding. Book is also useless and not needed. Switch out of this class while you still can.