Shiva Azadegan - Towson University, Towson, MD

Professor: Shiva Azadegan

Department: Computer Science

College: Towson University, Towson, MD

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: COSC519
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This professor teaches over the heads of students. Don't take if you want to learn.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: COSC175
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Azadegan really knows her stuff and won't hesitate to pause and try to make sure anyone who has a question understands the material. However, her pacing is a bit of an issue if you are a first-time computer science student. She moves forward very quickly. You will need to pay close attention!

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: COSC175
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Hands down best teacher I have ever had. Her alone convinced me to switch from CIS to COSC major. She has amazing grasps of the concepts and explains things very clearly. If you do not participate or are not intelligent you will fail. Definitely takes an interest in her better students. Highly recommended.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: COSC175
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Azadegan is a good teacher. If you come to class and do all the labs you will pass easy. Her TA is very helpful and helps you out a lot with the labs. Would recommend for 175.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: COSC439
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

She makes you work for your grade, and you have to study if you expect to do well in this class. Make sure to read the book, it was essential for me understanding concepts. Take notes on what she goes over in class, it is usually what she puts on her exams/quizzes. 1 term project paper and presentation

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: COSC439
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Coding in C and use Linux. All assignments done in C. Many assignments and a term project. A week for most assignments, but took HOURS to do some. MUST READ BOOK, powerpoints not really helpful. Get familiar with fork(), threads, and semaphores. Didn't code much on tests, but were HARD. 10% quiz, 15% project, 25% assignments, 25% midterm, 25% final

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: COSC175
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

If you are a comp sci major and taking this class as a Freshman, this should be an Easy A for you. Don't be intimidated by the professor's name; she is extremely well spoken and you can definitely tell she knows her stuff. She notices and takes interest in her better students. If you are not a comp sci major, things might a little tricky for you.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: COSC175
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

She's not an easy professor; she provides ppts of readings and the txtbk is optional but reading it is helpful. Things are very direct and the only thing where you really need to think is writing programs. But she's good and knows her stuff. Might not be the best at lectures, but great and very kind. You need to get to know her.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: COSC175
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

It's tough for an introductory course, but that being said you get out exactly as much as you put in. Take time to learn the concepts outside of the classroom and you'll be fine.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: COSC175
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Azadegan expects a lot of things from students. It is an introductory course after all, and some of the concepts as you've seen in some of the older reviews can no doubt get tough. That being said, if you use the time in labs and take the initiative to understand coding outside of the classroom, you'll be fine. It's a tough class, but passable.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: COSC175
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

If you are somewhat intelligent, cosc 175 is very easy with her. I had no prior programming experience, and I ended up with an A. Just pay attention in class as she explains things very clearly. If you have a question, ask and she will answer it. I rarely studied outside of class but still feel like I understand the core concepts.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: COSC175
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Lab due every week on BB (Utilize the tutors in the comp lab) A few quizzes and homework assignments on BB (multiple choice) 3 exams worth 60% of your grade (Don't fail!) I would highly recommend taking this course before COSC 236 but I wouldn't recommend taking this teacher. I believe there are other professors who teach this course better.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: COSC519
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

She gave lot of homework which were really tough. We hardly understood anything she taught. Her grading was very strict. I studied whole semester operating system and I didn't clear the subject. Please select a different staff.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: COSC519
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Never take her. I spent the whole semester studying only operating system. She gives tough homework which you spend most of your time. Her tests are very difficult. She expects you know c language. I scored really bad in this course.

Rating # 15

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

I don't know why her ratings are so low. She can be a little confusing and difficult to understand at first, but she is very nice & supportive. She loves when students ask questions. Her classes are interactive. Other 175 profs allow cheat sheets but she doesn't so you have to study a lot for the exams. Nice lady, but you must work for grade!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: COSC175
• Grade Received: D
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Most of the kids in my class were computer science majors and they could not even grasp her easy concepts. She expects you to know everything coming into an introductory course. Her TA was amazing and very helpful. First day of class, she asked us to write a program off an example she gave us. This is not an introductory course. Too advanced!!!!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: COSC175
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Professor Azadegan wants you to be successful. She loves working with you and if you ask her a question she will keep on helping you until she understands it. Computer Science is something that you either get or you don't. If you don't, she is still able to help you get it.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: COSC175
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Everyone is so mean about her. She's not bad at all. I had no programming experience before her and I have an A in her class right now. I know this sounds crazy but you do have to study to get a good grade. If this is your major she is great at making you understand what your learning. Love her teaching style .

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: CIS175
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I do not know why everyone complains about her. I took her in the Spring of 2013. I never had any programming experience before her class. I felt challenged but nothing I could not overcome. She was always willing to help. Actually, I learned the most from her programming class than any other programming class I took at Towson.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: COSC439
• 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: Mandatory

Comment:

She's supportive and always willing to explain concepts again and again. I won't say that her skills when it comes to explaining are the best, she sort of expects you to know what she's talking about all the time. But really, this is university; read the book and know what she's talking about, or at least have some basic understanding of it.