Andre Van Der Hoek - University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA

Professor: Andre Van Der Hoek

Department: Computer Science

College: University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: INF121
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Before you freak out over grading, know that he curves generously (given that you show gradual improvement over the quarter). There is a heavy workload since you're handling 3 big projects, but the class concepts are very important and applicable once you work in the industry. I respect Andre. He's one of those profs you appreciate later in life.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: INF121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Piece of crap professor who clearly doesn't know anything about the subject or grading (which he just offloads to Indian TAs)

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: INF121
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Andre's great! Funny, charismatic, and importantly, gives you a good taste of what software design is like in the real world. Your experience (and maybe grade) in INF121 is highly dependent on the teams you get for the design projects. His final was almost exactly like his midterm, except a bit longer, but not too much more difficult.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: INF121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

One of the best professors and one of the best classes I've ever had! I highly recommend you take this course and you should take it with Andre! He makes the class so entertaining. You learn great stuff that will definitely help in the workforce. Most of the class is group projects and working in groups to design fun and cool applications

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: INF121
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Design studios are interesting, gives you real world experience for software design and challenges of working in three different teams. Midterm and final are fair and class is curved at the end. Professor is very nice and it was an overall enjoyable class.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: INF121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

His class is funny, and his design studios are practical. During the quarter, u might think his hw grading is judging. But, as he said, the grade is based on how good ur designs are in real life. Its actually inspiring. In real life, the designs will be strictly judged by people and the hw is a good start. Finally, hell raise up the total grade

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ICS490
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I had Professor van der Hoek as a graduate student for several years (did my Ph.D. with him). His feedback is absolutely the best feedback I have ever received in my academic career. He mentored me specifically with my writing and my critical thinking in software engineering. I am a better person because of him. He made me work and it was worth it.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: INF121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

His lectures are interesting and can get you to think about the subject. You have group projects and a midterm/final. No clear directions given on group assignments, and no matter what you would end up barely passing. For the quarter: 0 people got above a 9/10. Midterm was dumb, focused on memorization of his definitions instead of the material..

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: INF121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

In addition to a midterm and final there were 3 group assignments, with a different group every time, and 1 individual assignment. The group assignments were intense. It wasn't always clear what was required and grading was very hard. His lectures were boring. He posts his slides so you can just study the slides before the tests.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ICS52
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Tried to ask for his help but he said discouraging things to me as a student. Found him to be very passive aggressive and didn't understand why he didn't use our interaction to encourage me instead of put me down. Sometimes it felt like me asking him a question was less about him helping me learn as a student and more his egoshowing he was right.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: 121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Had a really negative experience with this professor. He's more concerned with students falling in line than anything. When I approach a professor, I am really hoping they are considerate of me as a student and don't abuse whatever power they have and it feels like he does. Didn't feel safe in his classroom I hope he learns more compassion.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: INF121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

A very time consuming class. Almost all of your grade is dependent on group projects. The TA does all of the grading (does not grade easy). You learn a lot but definitely not an easy A class.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ICS52
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Although he is very clear and interesting, what he teaches isn't entirely correct. There are so many areas which are brushed, off leaving the student confused. After having a couple real world experiences this became much more clear, where I could point to questions on exam, and requirements for a project which do not reflect the general reality.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: INFX121
• 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:

ggreat

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: INF121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This class is pretty time consuming. Most of the HW involves a significant amount of brainstorming and group-work. There is no coding. Groups can be frustrating if you have to carry the team; I suppose if you're riding the coattails of others this class could be easy. No Midterm or Final. It's an interesting class, you'll learn some things.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: INF122
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Great teacher, learned a lot. It's a lot of work but in the end it's worth it. Grades on effort, so work hard! Lots of group projects.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: SOFTWAREENG
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Good prof. knows how to teach.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ICS52
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Very clear. Very interesting. Good overall assignment. Always prepared. Great notes. Sets you up VERY WELL for other classes like ics 125, 102, 121, etc. Supposedly has great research projects as well.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ICS52ICS121
• 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 one the best professor I've taken. He explained very well. The class has a lot of hw but it is worth to take it. You will learn so much from the class.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ICS52
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Good teacher, assigns a lot of work for 52 but supposedly not as much as some other professors. Lectures vary between very interesting and so-so.