Bruce Bolden - University of Idaho, Moscow, ID

Professor: Bruce Bolden

Department: Computer Science

College: University of Idaho, Moscow, ID

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: CS120
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

'C++ hasn't changed much since I started teaching this class, so my lectures haven't either...' (a rough paraphrase from Bolden). If you take 120 from Bolden and don't know everything already, expect to learn everything by yourself. If you want to pass with a good grade, find the smartest, most experienced coder in the class and study with them.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: CS121
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This is my second class taking with Bolden,and to any of you who is taking cs120 in the future, please save your life and do not take it with him. In 121, you will have no choice but Bolden, and good luck with that. Bolden is great as a friend but he is the worse teacher I have never known.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: CS120
• Grade Received: D+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

The worst teacher ever!! He shouldn't be a teacher! Don't take with him!

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: CS121
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Bruce is tough, but one of the best professors that you will have. It is his personal mission to weed out anyone who is not serious about CS, but if you show that you are he is very willing yo help you. Beware: He has a very dry and sarcastic sense of humor. Don't make yourself a target unless you have a thick skin.

Rating # 5

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

A very good teacher. If you put in the effort, you will be very happy with the outcome of this course. He can be a little tough at times, but that is not a bad thing. The text book is not used for the course, but it is a nice supplement to the lectures.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CS121
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

One of my favorite teachers, if you show up to class every day you'll do well.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: CS121
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

There might be some rumors out there that this guy is an extremely tough professor. He's not easy. But those rumors are way overstated. Sure his tests are tough. But you know what? He understands that. I got a pretty low first test score and still managed to pass with an A. Do the homework. Show up to class. Actually care. And you will do well.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: CS121
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Bruce is intimidating at first, but then he grows on you. Class is usually interesting and fun. If he says it in class, expect to be tested on it, unless he says otherwise. The mocking that people talk about is just sarcasm; you babies! All said, I would definitely take another class from Bruce.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: CS121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He prints out his slides, just to put them under the doc cam and read verbatim. Never gives back assignments until the end of the semester, if at all. Good sense of humor imo, lot of funny quips about CS field over the semester kept me awake. If you ask lots of questions, pay attention, attend class,and don't sit in the back you will do fine.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: CS121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

If you respect him he'll respect you. The worst thing you can do is walk in, sit at your computer playing games, or sleep. He expects you to show up to class, and he will help you out at the end of the semester if you care about the class. Pay attention and you'll notice he gives you a lot. Nothing he says is unimportant or "not on the test"

Rating # 11

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Bruce has a very dry sense of humor. He knows what he's doing, but likes to leave a lot up to you as a student. I disagree with some of his practices, but he does challenge you as a programmer to derive solutions yourself. He won't hand feed students anything. Labs are tough, but doable. If you don't attend, you will have a not so good time.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: CS270
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Easy and informative, moves quickly and teaches a lot, far from the most boring teacher, all in all much better than a lot of professors I've had.

Rating # 13

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Attendance is not graded, but, make no mistake, it is Mandatory. Make an honest and consistent effort, and he will deal with you with respect. (I don't know if that means that he will pass you though...) You don't necessarily need to come in preternaturally smart. Just be prepared to work. And that's ok, because that's why we're here, right?

Rating # 14

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Bruce is a scary guy at first, but he is actually very helpful and nice if you talk to him. He has a weird sense of humor and it makes lectures a bit more interesting. He teaches the material quickly. Not much homework, but it requires a lot of work. Great class, I'm glad I took it from him. Warning- he mocks students for dumb questions in class

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: CS121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This is the class that made me decide to switch my major. A student has to come to class to keep up at a reasonable pace, and Bruce's constant negativity made it the absolute low point of my day every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. It is imperative that you love computers so much that you are willing to put up with it; he teaches many CS courses.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: CS105
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I've effectively learned nothing in this class. 50 minute class, of which 20-30 minutes is spent watching stupid LONG youtube videos that have nothing to do with computer science. If you are lucky, you can get your degree without ever taking a class from him.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: CSS102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He isn't a teacher, he's an UNteacher. If you read the book and teach yourself you might enter class knowing the subject and leave class not knowing it anymore. If you have the opportunity to take a class from him take the semester off, you'll learn more.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: CS120
• 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:

Expects you to study and do your work. Seems to prefer it if you attempt to figure out questions yourself before asking. Do not expect to be spoon fed the material. Fine instructor overall.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: CS120
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

his class like a joke. if you can play a talk game with him, u might like it.

Rating # 20

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

As most other quotes have stated...lazy, elitist, tangents off topic a lot. He never explains anything...you either already know it or will spend hours leaching it to yourself. I spend more time on this class than all the other classes for the ENTIRE year combined.