Marius Zimand - Towson University, Towson, MD

Professor: Marius Zimand

Department: Computer Science

College: Towson University, Towson, MD

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: COSC336
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Takes attendance but not for grade; uses attendance as leverage later in semester if you possibly need a curve. Occasional quizes, very short. Curved exams too but perhaps our class just did bad. Boring lectures, grades easy on program projects. Every project is in a group, can choose java or c++ it's up to your group. Better to have the book.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: COSC417
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This class was very difficult for me. Though I believe it was due to the difficult nature of the course. Zimand definitely knows his stuff. his lectures can be difficult to follow and his hand writing is pretty poor. However he is very reasonable and moves at a relatively slow pace to ensure that everyone in the class can understand the material.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: MATH314
• 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:

Dr. Zimand is very knowledgeable. The textbook is good (though not entirely used, he does a lot of .pdf teaching in the second half of the course). Exams are "curved" in that he drops 1-3 of the hardest problems on each test. Homework load is heavy, with 10+ assignments done in groups (DO THESE ALONE as you will not pass his exams by slacking)

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: MATH314
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Great professor. He has an accent but it is understandable. If you study and practice wisely, you will pass. The weekly homework is crucial in checking your understand

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: MATH314
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Going into the class, I knew it'd be tough. Read the textbook if you have the time. I'd rather watch other professors on YouTube that explained the content better. Ask questions! There's weekly group homework, one group project, a midterm, a final, and like two quizzes throughout the whole semester. Good luck!

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: MATH314
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Very hard material to understand and very hard to pay attention. The class is so boring. Homeworks take several hours to complete- basically teaching myself. Quizzes are tough. Exams are tough- does not give partial credit. Tough class. You need to put in a lot of time to do well. Zimand is okay- but I would not recommend.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: COSC483
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

This course is tough, you have to put in time or else you will not understand. I made the mistake of allowing my group to work on the assignments without me and didn't stand a chance catching up around finals time. Give this class the attention it needs, and you'll get a good grade.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: MATH314COSC314
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

His lectures are straightforward, pay attention and take notes, do the homework on your own and compare answers with your group to get the most out of the class. Most of his lectures are straight from the pdf's posted online which can get boring, but make sure to ask questions whenever you're not understanding

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: COSC483
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

The topics covered in this class is difficult. It is like a math and a computer science class combine. All you do in class is look at algorithms. He gives weekly homework, which you can work with a partner. A Java project at the end of the semester. Two tests. I don't recommend taking this class, if you have other options.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: COSC645
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

nice subject. and he is a good professor.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: COSC645
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

As others have said, Cryptography can be extremely challenging without a proper math background, especially the second half of the course. Practice exams modeled the actual exams pretty well. We were allowed to use both sides of two sheets of notebook paper for notes on each exam. I enjoyed the class and thought Dr. Zimand was a good professor.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: MATH314
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Crypto isn't the easiest subject, but Zimand's explanations are very clear IF YOU PAY ATTENTION. Plus, if you pay attention you'll catch his occasional dry humor. My fave: "Say you go to a party and someone asks, 'What is 7^803?'" *blank stares* "That never happens to you? You are not really nerds, yes? This happens all the time at nerd parties."

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: COSC645
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Incredible professor, I learnt a lot in his class.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: COSC645
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Incredible professor.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: COSC645
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He is great

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: COSC483
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Best computer science teacher I have had at TU. Handwriting can be a little sloppy, but he is a very smart, straightforward professor. If you attend his classes, participate, and do the work chances are you will get a good grade. RECOMMEND.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: COSC314
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Incredible prof. Crystal clear explanations. Straight forward tests. Strong curve. Tries to help you succeed. Go to class and Pay Attention instead of sitting in the back playing on your laptop or texting, do your homework and you will get an A. One of the best professors at TU!

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: COSC336
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He ends every sentence in the word "yes," and his writing is chicken scratch. Makes things more complicated than they need to be, and spent the first 2 days of class doing a POINTLESS equation.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: COSC417
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

class was kinda difficult toward the end, but he gives extra credit for homework. he repeats things several times, and is available for help. monotone, but informative.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: COSC645
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

best class at towson cosc. The class is easy if you just pay attention. His grading is incredibly relaxed. If he wanted to you could probably fail everyone on merit alone but he doesn't. If you try, you'll be fine. this is a grad level class people so you need to know basic math.