Martin Furer - Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA

Professor: Martin Furer

Department: Computer Science

College: Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: CSE565
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

No proper syllabus. Ask a question and it will take around 20 minutes for him to come to your question. He might be the worst instructor I have ever seen in my entire academic career. I want to ask questions and learn but it is impossible to follow and or understand him. Basically everyone is following youtube videos about the topics.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: CMPSC464
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I got a grad course with him and he is a good prof. He is one the nicest person I've ever seen. I think most of ppl who say he is not good, don't have a good mathematical background. His field needs a good logical background. He is also very smart. But I should mention that his exams are considered to be hard (in the U.S.) and that's true.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: CMPSC464
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Grading criteria is a bit vague. Grading of HWs and tests were tough. HWs were graded way past any acceptable amount of time. Exam averages were well below 50% (2nd exam was 38%). He does curve (grading scale is made easier: An A was a '76%'). Lectures consist of a few examples and reciting textbook definitions. Material/Course was forgettable.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: CMPSC464
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Tough grader. Lectures don't make any sense. if you can, don't take him. Homeworks are very hard.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: CMPSC464
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

The class was bad enough that he had to apply a massive curve in order to pass people. A 42% was considered passing? Like, what? I learned next to nothing from him. That shouldn't be allowed to happen, when the entire class is borderline failing and you do nothing to try to teach clearer or better, you shouldn't be teaching at all.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CMPSC365
• 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:

Very clear explanations although the topics can get complicated. This class is NOT about practical programming but gives precious information to better understand and design algorithms and data structures.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: CMPSC465
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Algorithms... one of the most important subjects that any aspiring professional in the computer industry must master... taught by one of the biggest teaching failures I have ever seen. Don't expect to be a better programmer after taking this class. In fact, considering real-world performance issues aren't even touched upon, expect to be worse.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: CSE465
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Gave the biggest curve from any PSU class i've taken...had calculated my grade to a C but ended up with a B+

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: CSE465
• 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:

Was always willing to converse in person or via e-mail. I had to miss several meetings, including a quiz and an exam, because of work and he had no problems with that. Was always very well prepared for class. It's very hard, but he is liberal with partial credit and there is a massive curve.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: CSE465
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Exams are basically impossible, however there is a massive curve (cut off for a D was approx 36%). There is a lot of homework which is weighted enough to bring up your test scores that with the curve you will do decent. Professor does not teach well, read the book, it is where you will learn. Exams on book sections but much harder.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: CSE465
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Honestly, he's not that bad if you do the readings and assignments. Homeworks are hard, but if you get through them, you'll be much better off on the exams. He grades hard but there is a massive curve. Considering it's required for CSE majors, you're much better off getting it over with when he's teaching.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: CSE465
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Going to lectures is just about useless if you don't read the book beforehand, even so they are still confusing and unorganized. His explanations about how algorithms work are completely bizzare and incomprehensible. Don't bother asking questions, he won't understand what you are trying to ask. Homework has little to do with what he says in class.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: CSE465
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

CSE 465 seems to have the worst professors at PSU. Goldstein and Furer should not be allowed to teach... Just let them do their research and keep them away from the classrooms

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: CSE465
• 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:

He is a very nice professor! I can't believe he is not getting nice ratings! His notes are very helpful, office hours are great, a very helpful person! For those of you that gave him a bad rating - if you sit in the back of the class and don't pay attention, it sucks for you! He is such a lovely person!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: CSE465
• 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:

The class is very difficult. Lectures are boring. Homeworks will require effort if you want a good grade on them. Exams are extremely hard. However,in the end there is a massive curve. He is much better than Goldstine, and Berman. Since 465 is a required course, I would say to take it with Furer.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: CSE465
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

He's boring in lecture, but the assignment are good enough to teach you the material. I hear the other 465 profs are worse.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: CSE465
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This class is difficult, lots of work that will require effort. Lectures are boring, but be glad that he is not Goldstine.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: CSE465
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I was taking his class in the Fall 2000. Prof. Furer certainly takes his responsibilities seriously. We had 2 midterms and 1 final. For the final, all the questions were partial credit, as it should be. My overall impression was that he'll make you work if you want to get a good grade.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: CSE468
• 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:

I have no idea which Furer all the above are talking about. The Furer I had was always very preprared and presented material in an organized manner. His homeworks and exams were challenging but reasonable. Way better than Berman or Goldstine.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: CSE565
• 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:

Terrible instructor. He copped out on explaining practically everything in the class with "clearly." Every time I thought I got something, he dismissed it as "trivial."