Shon Vick - University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD

Professor: Shon Vick

Department: Computer Science

College: University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: IS247
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Vick is terrible. It's easy enough to do well on his exams and quizzes, but the homework assignments were a joke. He graded all of them after we took the final, so we had no feedback all semester. He's the only programming professor who will give you a decent grade for minimal work though, so take him if you want to learn nothing.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: IS448
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Great guy, makes not-funny jokes that actually make you laugh. Class is boring as hell, he knows a lot and is an expert but he's bad at teaching, really. Projects can be way complicated compared to other sections but he's reasonable when grading and also giving online quizes and exams.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: IS247
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

If you (like me) don't care about programming (Java) and dont want to be one, he's the easiest professor. No problem getting a B or A. If you do want to be a programmer and learn more advanced Java, I'd suggest to take a better professor. Although he knows a lot and has vast experience, he is bad on teaching, very bad.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: IS247
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He is a horrible teacher. He doesn't care about being there. He gives take home quizzes, which is probably the only reason why I passed. He doesn't explain anything and just reads off of the books PowerPoints, he is so lazy and he doesn't give timely feedback--still waiting on grades from before the midterm and classes are over.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: IS247
• 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:

Professor Vick is a pretty cool teacher in general, his exams are fairly easy (simple questions from slides/book), and he is very lenient with deadlines. However, in terms of teaching, he's not very clear and his writing on the board is almost incomprehensible. He requires peer programming for projects, my suggestion don't pick a crappy partner.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: IS247
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I'm not sure if I should suggest Vick or tell you to run away. I ended up getting an A in his class but I can't say it was easy. He's not very clear on assignments and seems to have a strange grading system. We did peer programming which was both a blessing and a curse. Helpful tip: Pick a good partner and you'll be fine. Exams are easy as all hell

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: IS247
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Vick is probably the best option for ANY IS major taking IS247. He assigns problems from the book but gives plenty of time to do them just don't wait. Start early, and you can code with a buddy (He favors Peer Programming highly). He's funny and jokes with you during lecture. Beware of his doctor's handwriting on the dry erase board.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: IS247
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I haven't received any grades yet but feel compelled to say AWESOME PROF! He falls way behind in lectures but always offers help. Very friendly. Grading might be somewhat harsh but gives plenty of time to do assignments. Has a sense of humor and classes are not stressful. He is in total favor of Peer-Programming (ie: with a buddy) on projects.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: CMSC331
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

As said before, very lenient and fun to talk to, but is not great at actually teaching the material at hand. Get in groups.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: CMSC432
• 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:

Unfortunately the majority of the previous comments are true but they do leave out some things I personally encountered. In addition to being poor in teaching and class organization, he blatantly lied about how a project would be graded. Later, he changed how the grades would be weighted in the course. Best to avoid, adivse others to do same

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: CMSC331
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No. Vick is very nice and funny, but in my top 3 of worst professors ever. Doesn't explain things well, makes everything overly cryptic. 3 quizes, a take home mdtrm, 3 prjts, final exam. Sounds okay, but is waayy to hard, considering his teaching ability. Get in groups.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: CMSC331
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

The nicest, most lenient prof you'll meet. The worst teacher you can take. 331 is not supposed to be difficult but Vick turns it into intro to compiler theory. Cannot explain anything clearly, even after numerous tries. Seems to enjoy making subject overly cryptic. Likes to call on ppl when it's clear they have no clue. 3/4 of the class was lost.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: CMSC331
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

WAYYYY too hard. expects you to know every single thing he teaches. STAY AWAY!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: CMSC432
• 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:

This professor is a lot better than everyone thinks. People who can't be expected to take "take home" exams seriously should not register in his course. Once you try, you will realize how easy his classes are. True, he could be a bit more explainitory, but if you're not understanding his lectures, chances are others aren't either. Curves favorably!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: CMSC331
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Vick knows a lot about computer science, and you can learn a ton from him if you want to. His assigned readings are there for a reason, and lecture is a supplement to those. If you read the reading, and follow along in class, the class is great; if you rely on lecture alone, you will fail. He is more concerned with learning than grades.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: CMSC331
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Ah fun times with Vick. So I had to repeat this God aweful class, took him the first time only person available the second. Fun Times. :P. I oounted a total of 6 graded materials. Midterm and Final are takehome, prepare to be amazed at how hard something you have all week to do is

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: CMSC331
• 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's probably a follower of Socrates because all he'd do is ask the class questions.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: CMSC331
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Vick is the ultimate double-edged sword of professors. On one side he's funny, approachable, and interacts a lot with the class. On the other side though he's probably the least effective lecturer i've ever had. He's liberal with curves but even with them you will likely struggle to get B's. If you study his powerpoints outside class, you'll do ok.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: CMSC331
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

It's very difficult to adjust to his teaching style, but once you do, you will realize that the course is easy. Do NOT rely on lectures alone. The only reason I got an A was because I met with a group and we studied together 2x / week. Lectures are useless, but grades are curved off of the highest grade. Take home exams. Put time into them!!

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: CMSC331
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Avoid this teacher at all costs. He is almost always late to class. He "scolded" us for leaving early once because he was over 20 minutes late. Wikipedia explains the covered topics better then he does. His exams will always have material he expects you to "find" and "learn" on your own. By far the worst professor I've had at UMBC.