Kenneth James - California State University Long Beach, Long Beach, CA

Professor: Kenneth James

Department: Computer Science

College: California State University Long Beach, Long Beach, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: EE380
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

6 quizzes, 6 Matlab labs, lowest score of each dropped. 2 Midterms. Generous curve. Great at teaching (some disagree), but hard exams. Very approachable if you have grade disputes or need help. He might work out most of the lab if you ask in person. I got an A in 380 and B in 360 with him last semester. Bonus: he's like a sheriff from a Western.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: CECS100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I think it was his first time teaching a 100 level class, so he went at a really fast pace that felt like a little too much at times. He is very passionate and connects with the students. Recommendable to anyone who is seriously questioning a CS major but do not take if you're looking for an easy A. His projects and quizzes make you learn coding.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: EE360
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I agree with the people here who talk about him focusing on math rather than engineering. It's Proofs, and more proofs, and if you don't remember the proofs your grade will poof. James has a reasonable curve so far from what I have seen, but I don't know about end term grading.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: EE380
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Confusing, long lectures with the expectation that you know matlab already. Midterms are the hardest tests I've taken in my life. He'll try to answer questions but his over-complication of topics will make his explanations unclear.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: EE380
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He is smart but he tries to make his lectures hard and complicated for students to understand. He curves but sometimes it isn't good enough. Should know Mat lab.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: EE380
• 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:

Dr. James has a sharp mind, but his teaching skills aren't there. His lectures are mostly proofs, which can be tedious and confusing to sit through for 2-3 hours straight. He expects you to already know MATLAB, which is unreasonable. He goes much too fast most of the class. It seems like he just talks about math instead of teaching.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: EE380
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Stats is hard but profound. KJ understands its basics very well, but that's all you'll learn. He will seem like a genius at first, but halfway through you'll realize class is all about memorizing usage of certain equations, their derivations and applications, and covering the same tired topics week after week. That said, you'll master the basics.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: EE380
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

His skill set is incredibly broad, physics, statistics, computer science, computer engineeirng, electrical engineering, you name it, but what shines most in his lectures is his mathematics. He see's things on a whole different level. Fyi, don't know matlab? you're f'd.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: EE380
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

One word for this man, "Genius". This is how his lecture is: He shows you 2 step process to get an answer, then he will fill an entire 15x15ft white board with the hardest integral derivations you've ever seen to get the same answer as the two step process. Amazing part? He fills it up from his head, no books, no notes. Bow down to your maker.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: EE380
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Projects are damn near impossible if you don't know MATLAB. Other than that, he definitely knows his stuff. Do lots of practice problems and the quizzes and midterms shouldn't be all that bad. Final was 20 multiple-choice questions, and his grading curve is beyond gracious. Went into the final with a low D, passed with a C. :)

Rating # 11

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Dr James is a nice person. You can visit him, and he will have time for you, if you can find him in his office. Yes, a busy man, but he will speak with you. A nice guy, somewhat unexpected for EE teachers.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: EE380
• 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:

As far as the class goes, face it, it's not supposed to be a capstone. However, if you make the effort i.e. take the time to see him out of class, I can assure that no matter how busy he is, he will always make time for you. He tells you exactly what type of problems you can expect to see on the midterms. Grades on a curve, so hang in there.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: EE380
• 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:

Dr. James has a wealth of information stored inside his head--so lectures can sometimes run on tangents. EE Stats is a hard subject in general, but the way Dr. James structures the lectures, he basically pounds the material/chapter into you until you get it. Reviews before all exams/quizzes, and gives the formulas. Exams can be tricky though.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: CECS460B
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He tries to explain the material but the more he explains the more confused you get. He may know a lot of stuff but is not a good teacher at all.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: CECS460
• 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:

His mind runs at 1000 mph. An incredible man yet his teaching style could use some work. But Hes a great guy and his classes really have good content to them.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: EE462
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

tough class........to get a good grade stdy very very hard........complete or try to complete all labs.....very difficult class.........gotta put in a lot of effort and u might not be rewarded well for all your hard work..........however, once the semester is over you will be glad you took it with Dr. James

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: CECS460B
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He is definetely not responsible for what he says or does in class. Final exam was super hard even though it is multiple choice, but the midterms were straight forward. Overall, he is a helpful person and spent the whole lecture if we did not get a concept. He is a good guy. Just buy the DSP book if you do not have a club to what he is saying.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: CECS460A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

strong understanding of class material

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: CECS460A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Very helpful professor,however his exams are way further than what you had the quizzes and former exams.You have to think of the answer in a certain way and there is always a trick.His labs were straightforward had licensing problems.Pay attention to what he is saying,talks fast,writing and diagrams hard to read.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: EE346EE462
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Great teacher! very challenging. Knows the material very well and is reasonable on grading. Easy to communicate with.