Robert Moll - University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA

Professor: Robert Moll

Department: Computer Science

College: University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: CS121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Great guy, does a really good job teaching the fundamentals of Java.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: CS575MATH513
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Instead of CS 121, Moll also teaches Combinatorics. In this setting, he is an awesome teacher full of great knowledge. I love his sayings and is always there to help you out. There are a lot of hmwrk problems but it's just for more practice. The material gets increasingly difficult but just keep pace. Exams had fair questions.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: CS121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

He loves teaching. Although he allows not coming to class, I would say if you want to learn then GO TO CLASS, every freaking one. Overall, its an easy class and he is a very friendly and helpful person.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: CMPSCI121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

You don't really interact with the professor for this course, so saying anything about Moll doesn't mean much. The course itself is pretty easy as long as you follow along with the OWL-book carefully. Would've gotten a B, but if you get under a 60 on the final, you automatically get a C, so watch out for that.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: CS121
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

attendance is not mandatory so it doesn't really even matter if he's a good teacher or not. All learning is done through the online textbook and programming assignments. He is very approachable and helpful during office hours and the class is not too difficult even if you have to prior programming experience.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: COMPSCI121
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

He was an amazing teacher. I never went to class but his textbook helped a lot and he was very helpful during office hours.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: CS121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

This class is relatively easy if you are persistent and interested in programming/problem solving with computers. Even better, all of the class material can be viewed online so attendance is not mandatory. The lectures can be a bit dry but are decent for the purpose of reinforcing the material.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: CS121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I put no for this being an online class, but it might as well have been. I didn't go to one lecture or discussion and I got a B+. He makes you rent his online textbook, but it's a good textbook (except for a few glitches sometimes) and will get you through the class if you're good at logic based questions.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: CS121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Class is centered around Java programming, and is very easy if you have any prior experience whatsoever. Even with no experience, the class goes at a slow pace and is manageable. I never went to class. However, the professor forces you to 'rent a subscription' to his (poorly written) online textbook which all the coursework centers around.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: CS121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I enrolled this class with fear because I had no programming experience before but at the end of semester i got 100 in all my exams and projects. The textbook is really helpful and so do the TA. Lecture is kind of boring and it is optional. Read the textbook and ask TA for help before tests.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: CS121
• Grade Received: F
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I went into this class with no knowledge of comp science, and I'm not gonna lie, the class is pretty challenging. If you're trying to fufill your R2, don't take this class, he says this on the first day. The book will be your best friend because lectures are optional. Go to the TA discussion sessions and review sessions before the tests.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: CS121
• 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:

I went into this class with absolutely no programming knowledge whatsoever, but I thought it was fine! I only went to lecture the first few times, then just used the book. There are lots of TA "office hours" if you're confused or need help with a project/homework. Read the book ($20 on OWL) very closely and stay up to date with hw, you'll be fine!

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: CMPSCI121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

For someone who has done even a small amount of coding the 1st 3-5 weeks will be extremely easy. If you have taken ANY programming course prior the only thing you will have to learn is the syntax of graphics on the last week. Which is not required to memorize. I dont know how people dont get As.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: CS121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Class is attendance optional. Uses the online textbook extensively; you can do the entire class without showing up for lectures once and Moll actually encourages you to skip if you know the material already. In class he's very helpful, especially with answering questions. Valiantly attempts to learn everyone's names despite the class size

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: CMPSCI121
• 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:

Nice guy but the class is hard. I had to thoroughly read through the online textbook to understand some of the concepts. He explains some topics well in class, but others not so much. Don't take this class unless you need to or are genuinely interested in computer science.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: CS121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

As far as a professor he's average but if you go to the TAs for help you should be fine.This class can be somewhat hard,I was intimidated at first but it didn't turn out that bad.I really felt the textbook was very helpful.I didnt think the tests were hard,some of the programs we had to do were more challenging than the exams.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: CS121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I took this class because the book was online and free, but it ended up being extremely interesting and rewarding. I liked the class a lot. Just a note: dont take it if you're only taking it for the R2. It's allegedly the hardest R2. Professor Moll is good at fielding questions from a huge volume of students.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: COMPSCII121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I did alright in the class but he is probably the worst teacher I have had in my first 2 years of school.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: CMPSCI121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Tough to grade this guy because he basically tells you to teach yourself. The fact is I stopped going to class when I realized the textbook did a better job teaching me then he did. It didn't help that he has the worst case of professor arrogance I've seen at UMass so far. I am good with programming so the class wasn't too hard for me anyways.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: CS121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He says not to go to class if you know the subject, but I would recommend it towards the end of the year because the final exam is a little tricky. Overall a good professor who seems a bit jaded, probably due to the relative easiness of the subject matter. If you've never taken CS prepare for a challenge, if you have you'll do fine.