Duncan Buell - University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC

Professor: Duncan Buell

Department: Computer Science

College: University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: CSCE750
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Antiquated beliefs about technology and little practical real world experience shown by professor. He lives in academia and provided me no real lessons that will apply to the greater job world the rest of us live in.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: CSCE240
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

It's been nearly a year since I took the class, but even still I remember everything I learned and I apply it in nearly everything I've programmed since then. I won't lie, he is the hardest professor I've taken for the major as of yet, but his class teaches us so much more than most of the other ones. He's also really good for helping explain math.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: CSCE240
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Buell is probably my favorite professor at this university. He really cares about you as a student and will gladly meet with you and answer questions. Don't get me wrong you have to work for your grade, but he treats you with respect and prepares you for the future, incorporating style guides. If you want to get the most out of 240 take Buell.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: CSCE240
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This class gets a bad rep for being too difficult, but if you pay attention to what he says and do the programming assignments like you're supposed to it pays off in the end.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: CSCE240
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

If you've just gotten out of 145 and 146, and you got an A-B in both of them, take Buell. I was worried before I took his class, because I had heard of his reputation, brilliant but tough grader. So glad I went with my gut and picked Buell. You will learn so much from his class and assignments. Worth it, beyond a doubt.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CSCE240
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Buell is best described as a really smart guy... who knows hes really smart. Hes very experienced, so you'll learn a lot, but some material can be boring so exams can be a little difficult. Programs aren't that hard, but for 240 its all about the style guide. He cares about student's education and is pretty funny. A little bit of an ego.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: CSCE240
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Take Dr. Buell if you wanna improve yourself, take another instructor if you want the easy way out.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: CSCE240
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Buell is an extremely brilliant man. By going through his 240 class you learn a lot about the nature of software; it is one of the most valuable classes to have taken in the long run. Having said that, he is not the best. Make friends in this class; the programs are rigorous. Some programming experience besides 145/146 will help your grade.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: CSCE350
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Buell is probably the best teacher I've had in the CSCE department. Many complain that he's tough, but you simply have to do the work that he clearly lays out for you. Homework is an easy 40%. Midterm/Final are open note and not too hard. Projects can be tough, but aren't weighted too heavily. Get started early and find friends to help.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: CSCE240
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Is Dr. Buell a tough grader? Yes. but is it FAIR grading? Definitely. If your program compiles and your code doesn't look like cat vomit then you're going to be fine. Style and documentation matter, and it's worth more than the actual code. If you're actually serious about wanting to be a great programmer, then Buell will make you that.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: CSCE513
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I've had Buell 3 times, he is the most rude, arrogant, & unhelpful prof i encountered in my college career. I've been to his office asking for help & he told me to go away, & seen him wrongly accuse someone of cheating. He passes out hw 10min before class starts, if you don't get it, you're marked absent even if you show up when class starts.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: CSCE240
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Buell is extremely intelligent and helpful. If I ever struggled with a concept he was willing to walk through it in more depth during office hours. He is very particular about the details of your code which makes grading tough. He cares a lot about his students careers and would have guests visit or send out emails regarding jobs.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: CSCE240
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

There is no one in the department that is as helpful as this guy. Yeah, his classes are really, really hard, but I feel like I'm a much better Computer Scientist afterwards. Learning C++ wasn't a big problem, but the thing that trips everybody up in this class is the formatting he wants.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: CSCE240
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He's a tough grader and the class takes some work, but if you put in the time you really learn a lot. One of the most informative classes I've taken

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: CSCE240
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I went into this class hearing all the rumors about Buell, and was pleasantly surprised. Yes, he is strict, but there is a detailed style guide that he goes over. His assignments are difficult but I went to his office numerous times and he was always willing to help. Honestly, if you aren't ready to work and be criticized, comp sci isn't for you.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: CSCE240
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The test in this class are open book and open notes, but are extremely difficult. The assignments are definitely challenging, but very doable if you give yourself enough time to work on them. His grading on the assignments however is tough. Follow his style guide exactly.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: CSCE240
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Buell is one of the absolute toughest professors in the department. He grades assignments and tests very hard . However his assignments are very vague. Follow his style guide and don't procrastinate or you will not pass. All CSCEIT majors must take this class. This is a good summer class because the work is very demanding. Good Luck

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: CSCE240
• Grade Received: D+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Read all the comments below and do not take his class. His homeworks are brutal and tests are even harder. You will have to work hard to get a "C" on this test.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: CSCE240
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He is very smart & i definitely respect him a lot. He knows everything about programming. He isnt very helpful, he can be very mean. I like him but his course required a lot of time & effort. He hates extra credit & has no problem failing people. Try to attend the course as much as you can. Try work on the hw as early as possible. very tough grader

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: CSCE240
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Buell is a brilliant man. Now with that being said he is the absolute worst professor I have taken ever. EVER. His assignments are quite brutal and his tests, though open book open note are hard as hell. Your best chance to survive is to find a group to code with. For the love of science network with people!