Michael Hoffman - California State University Long Beach, Long Beach, CA

Professor: Michael Hoffman

Department: Computer Science

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

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: CECS575
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Provides good knowledge and really makes you master the subject. Little tricky questions but that is what make you think before answering. Overall a great teacher and clears all your doubts whenever you ask.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: CECS343
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Tests were very tough but the nice thing was he showed us previous tests that he had given in the past so that really helped with studying for his tests. The semester project was very difficult and long. He hardly helped students out with the semester project. Sometimes there were programming labs and they were due by the end of lab.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: CECS543
• 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:

I have taken a few classes with Professor Hoffman; both undergrad and graduate level. His lectures are all on PowerPoint, which is great because you have access to everything he goes over. Make sure you fully grasp the PowerPoints because the tests are related to his slides. He's a fair grader. I recommend taking his class, hes very kind and funny.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: CECS524
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Hoffman is a great professor.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: CECS343
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He reads directly off the power points and "sometimes" goes off topicthat don't relate to what's being taught. Grades are split into four categories, Exam1/25% Exam2/25% Project/25% Everything else /25%. There is no curve AT ALL in this class, no way to make up your work, strict on deadlines. Asking for help results in more questions..

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CECS343
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Read the dates to these ratings. Dont even think about taking his class. He doesnt care(because hes tenured), reads off long slides that you need to memorize for the tests, lies,and just flatout a crappy teacher(Even admits to all of these). Tests are hard AF. Changes guidelines to the semester project. 2Midterms25%Each 1Final25% EverythingElse25%

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: CECS543
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Don't take his class

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: CECS543547
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He is one of the best professors, I had privilege to learn from. His understanding about knowledge and of evolution of SE its simply great. He values your opinion, very strict with the projects and the work you put in the project. He values practical knowledge than bookish knowledge. Highly recommended.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: 343
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

lectures from powerpoint. Tests multiple choice short answer, just study the powerpoints. very lazy overall

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: CECS277
• 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:

Well.. this was his first time teaching this course in java, and he seemed clueless at times. His assignments aren't too hard, but don't except much help from him, since you wont get any. His test are very vague and his lectures are very boring and dull. His lectures are online, so attendance is not necessary.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: CECS343
• 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:

If all you care about is the grade, then I would say this class is easy. His test questions are directly from the powerpoints, just memorize them and you should do well. As for labs, they are pretty repetitive and unorganized, but doable. If you really want to learn about the concepts of software engineering and do challenging labs, don't take him.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: CECS343
• 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:

Hoffman teaches from ppts with all of book's outdated, obscure practices. Knows little beyond that, but hides it by fluffing up rest of class time: sensationalist "software project gone bad" anecdotes and unwarranted tangents onto other CS topics. E.g., state diagrams in SE lead H. to spend 10 minutes giving you TMI on state diagrams for compilers.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: CECS343
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

If you like figuring things by yourself, then take him. Lectures does not help you for the labs, but take good notes since those notes are on the exam. When he gives you a semester project that you are going to code, start planning ASAP. That is what my whole class mistake including me did not do. Only few days to code, half only started.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: CECS543
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He is a very emotional teacher and changes his requirement as he wishes. His test is hard without notes, especially when he changed his mind about allowing notes. You learn the most from studying outside classroom.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: CECS343
• 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:

I agree with the other reviewers. You do not really learn much from his lecture. The lab is pretty much go figure out yourself. He leaves rude comments. His test are not that easy, you really need to study. I would not recommend taking this professor.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: CECS343
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Made a mistake of taking his class since it was open. I should of listened to others about taking Gold instead. Hoffman documentation expectations are very high, but with little clue of what he wants on the assignment. His tests are not easy without notes. His class is likely going to diminish my hope of my dream semester of a 4.0 GPA.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: CECS343
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He is not the best professor for this course. He is unclear on what he expects for the assignments, so you have to guess what he wants. As for exams, Q's are from notes and what he says in class. I would try to cram as much notes on the paper(both side) you can use for exams. He is definitely not an easy A. I am praying I can get at least a B.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: CECS343
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

This guy is awesome! He is really sarcastic that it is funny. He is one of my favorite instructors in the department. His tests are all curved and pretty easy. His project and documentation expectations are high But you learn a lot about documentation.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: CECS343
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I was disappointed in this class. I learned a lot on my own how to code/design during the project. But from the lectures/professor I learned very little.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: CECS343
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He's a liar. He keeps asking questions to students, offering an A in the class if you can answer it, but if you do, he backs out of the deal.