Doug Down - McMaster University, Hamilton, ON

Professor: Doug Down

Department: Engineering

College: McMaster University, Hamilton, ON

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: SFWR4E03
• Grade Received: INC
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Good communicator. Lecture slides are clear and fairly exhaustive. Gives plenty of practice problems and solutions which are extremely useful for understanding the theory. Tests are fair - perhaps a bit on the easy side - but encourage critical thinking rather than pure memorization of theorems and procedures. One of the few good professors @ CAS.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: 1D04
• Grade Received: C-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

During lecture, he reads directly off the slides, and fails to engage the class. First year eng lectures range from 200-300 students, and this was in one of the smaller lecture halls (150-200 students). However, he failed to teach in an understandable manor, and should not be teaching a first year class. Additionally, his midterms/final were hard.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: 4E03
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

The Prof. is brilliant. He is able to keep students focused during the whole lecture. He has so many good questions that help students to think deeper step by step. The lecture is very concise and quite helpful. One of the best courses ever had!

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: 4E03
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

DD is a great professor, most likely the best in CAS. His lectures are awesome, although he does not post all notes, so be prepared to come and take notes. The course can be challenging, but he makes it easy to understand.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: 4AA4
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Best professor in CAS by far. This guy is literally a gem. Clear and concise lectures, you know what to expect on assignments and tests. There is no mistake that this guy will be one of your favourite profs at Mac.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: SFWR4E03
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He's without the doubt the best prof in Computing and Software at Mac. He's always willing to help and replies promptly to emails. He does make slightly challenging tests, but he's so good at teaching and giving notes, that only those who miss his lectures suffer during tests and exam. Brilliant prof.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: SFWR2MX3
• 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:

He is a great professor and I had a good experience with his class. He is willing to help out students by explaining and his office door is almost always open.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: SFWR2MX3
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Good prof. patience and helpful when asking questions :) He is a nice guy to talk to!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: SE4E03
• 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:

good prof. material itself is difficult. not enough examples done to understand and solve problems. Midterm/Exam questions are difficult. Hardest course in fourth year SFWR ENG. nice prof though:)

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: SE4E03
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Down does not in fact go out of his way to help students. He does not post lecture notes online or anywhere. The only way to catch up if you miss a single class is to borrow notes off a friend. I can't understand how with the technological age we're in now, you can't scan your notes and upload to the web.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: SE4E03
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

goes out of his way to help the students

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: SFWR4E
• 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:

Down is a good professor and a good guy