Mahmoud Tarokh - San Diego State University, San Diego, CA

Professor: Mahmoud Tarokh

Department: Computer Science

College: San Diego State University, San Diego, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: CS560
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Oldschool professor with few assignments/tests to be graded on. He admits that he purposefully makes the class more challenging so students learn instead of memorize. Unfortunately his lectures aren't fully organized, the lecture slides contain errors, and he doesn't always solve the problems. Very smart guy but studying will take many many hours

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: CS560CS660
• 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:

Toughest Algorithms professor at SDSU. After taking 560 and 660 with him I can honestly say those were the two toughest CS classes I've taken at SDSU. You must really understand the notes, exercises and the homework to do well on the tests. Class lectures are often confusing and hard to follow. Tarokh is a lot better during his office hours.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: CS560
• 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 course is not so easy but you will definitely learn a lot. Prof. Tarokh is always there to help and he replies email quickly. Very good guy and amazing lecture.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: CS560
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He is very organised. Take his class if you are sincere and can spend time to do assignments on your own. The best part of his lecture i liked would be discussing the answers for assignments and exams.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: CS560
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Tarokh is very knowledgeable on the subject. Unfortunately he's an awful teacher. Another commenter said it best - he expects 200% but fails to give students the tools they need to succeed. Moreover, he blames his students for his lack of acumen as a teacher. Whatever you learn, you'll learn in spite of him.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CS559
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

A good class and decent professor. It's a hard class, and he is knowledgeable about the subject, but tends to say things that are obviously false during class. His grading is unfair and he nitpicks on tests. You can get every question correct and still end up with a B or less. Regardless, I thought it was a worthwhile course.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: CS560
• 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: Mandatory

Comment:

This class is not easy. Tarokh will challenge your abilities to really learn algorithms. My suggestion is to form study groups and work all you can with them. Teamwork is imperative throughout this semester, without it you're screwed. Fair class, just a very confusing professor.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: CS560
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

This is not an easy class, but Tarokh goes through the material methodically with his organized notes. He gives valuable extra credit, too. Go to his office hours for help. He has a very funny sarcastic sense of humor, which I enjoyed greatly. He can be tough, but he is a very nice person and I look forward to taking more of his classes.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: CS560
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Decent professor. Assignments, exercise and exam questions made you study hard for this. Not that great in teaching but helpful.

Rating # 10

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

I found him to be an excellent professor. He is not overly "friendly", but does a good job of presenting difficult material. His tests were right in line with HW assignments, making preparing for exams a lot easier. He's not easy, but is very fair.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: CS560
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

toughest professor I have ever seen, he loves to give C. It is really tough to do everything up to his expectations.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: CS560
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He is the worst professor with respect to the attitude. He is not at all friendly. You should not expect any help from him regarding your curriculum off the class. If he teaches 20% then he expects 200% from the students.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: CS559
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

not an easy class but you can handle it with B or C grade, if you have a solid background in math. This class will kick your butt due to so many assignments, reports, 3 conclusive exams and 10-12 programs to code but definitely you'll learn some thing out of it.he isn't a fair grader in exams at all.he talks so slowly so You may get bored at class

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: CS370
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He's not passionate for teaching that you can see. He avoids students asking him questions and never stays in class when class is finished. He's mean and always wear a serious look. don't take him or u will learn nothing from him.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: 560
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

take his class, only if you think you are one of the best in your class, and have lots of time to study, otherwise, you'll fail! he's a great instructor, and expects a lot from students

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: CS560
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This class is hard, there's no doubt about it. Tarokh does a good job trying to make it as easy as he can. His text is wayyyyy better than the garbage they call a book by Baase. He genuinely seems to be interested in his subject and is one of the better CS profs at the school (definitely no Root, Riggins, or Leonard though)

Rating # 17

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

He was the worst teacher of all time. He was never helpful, never could understand his ass, and made up his own text. Also if you don't do the problem his way and still get the correct answer prepare yourself for some long winded explanations.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: CS660
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

one of the best professor and one of the best courses I ever had!! He is just great!!

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: CS370
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Don't take his class. The homework is very hard and he never explains the problems or gives solutions. The questions on the exams are very vague. He is such a terrible teacher I've never had.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: CS370
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Basically do not take him if you can avoid it. Horrible teacher, doesn't seem to understand his own subject material. Simply reads from the book when lecturing, not that it matters because nothing that he teaches in class in on the final anyways. Also his graders are moronic, 2 different papers, same answer and work, totally different grades.