Steven Shaffer - Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA

Professor: Steven Shaffer

Department: Computer Science

College: Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: CMPSC121
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He was a very poor professor, and luckily for me, I had a background in programming. This class should be an easy A for anyone with some programming experience but will be difficult for those new to programming.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: CMPSC121
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

A very do-able, introductory class. IT'S UP TO YOU TO DO WELL and up to videos to teach you. Annoyingly picky with his code expectations (always down to the character). Exams are therefore very stressful, big grades. Berating him in his office about how dissatisfied you are will do you no good. I think his reputation is a bit harsh. Big extra cred

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: CMPSC121
• Grade Received: D
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Steven Shaffer is an awful professor to have if you are a beginner coder. He doesn't even teach, everything he does is straight out of an online textbook. Class is pointless. The only time you learn is when you meet with the TAs. He expects you to learn everything on the first try without even teaching the information.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: CMPSC101
• Grade Received: F
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

midterm and final is 50% of grade. each exam has 3 questions so it's a pass or fail class.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: CMPSC121
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Class was easy for those who had experience with programming before however many with no experience struggled. You will have to pace yourself because the class is online but if you keep up with the material it is very easy to complete. Lab period was confusing and had little relevance to the class but you got credit for simply showing up.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CMPSC121
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Unless you need to take this class for your major, DON'T TAKE IT! This man single-handedly ruined my interest in computer science. He relies on someone else's online lectures and youtube videos to teach you the content. You are basically teaching yourself and the assignments get extremely hard. Tests are extremely nerve-wracking and difficult also.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: CMPSC121
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Wouldn't recommend for anyone the online course for anybody new to programming. Utilizes video lectures made by another professor (which you pay for), an online textbook, youtube videos, and a website called vocareum for homework (the hw is all due at the end of the semester). With that in mind, an easy A for anyone with previous experience coding

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: CMPSC121
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He relies on youtube videos and other tutorial videos to do his job for him. He is not helpful with extra help.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: CMPSC121
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This class is an absolute nightmare. If you like being constantly frustrated and discouraged take this class.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: CMPSC431W
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Shaffer made an effort to emphasize learning the material over points in the classroom. Design and Program Assigns. made up the bulk of grades, helped to learn more about DBMSs from back&front-end by implementation. Assign. due dates , values of/expectations for each assign & course syllabus were changed constantly, very hectic & unorganized.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: CMPSC101
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I also posted below and wanted to mention that all of the other user comments are accurate. Class isn't very hard, but there's no help if you get stuck. Exams are 50% of your grade and it's pass/fail. You have to use his book which is garbage, and a "new" online compiler that is marginal at best. I wish I read these reviews before taking the class.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: CMPSC101
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Exams only have 3 questions, so if you don't manage to get all 3 of the programs to work he will fail you. Worst professor I've ever taken for an online class - no lectures - no structured learning to the class either, you either learn by yourself or you don't learn at all. Very condescending towards beginner coders who just want to learn.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: CMPSCI121
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

The material in this class really should not be that hard but this guy somehow makes it impossible for inexperienced programmers.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: CMPSC121
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

By far most nerve-wracking class I have ever taken. Material was very easy but the way he tested us was confusing and made it almost impossible to get a good grade. Exam averages were low, he was very unorganized and was ultimately downright rude to me and other students when asking him questions. Not a nice guy and an even lousier professor.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: CMPSC431W
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Usually textbooks are supplements for the class, but he thinks that the class is a supplement to the textbook and refuses to go over material in class(not exaggerating, he actually said he would only mention some points he thought were interesting from the almost 70-page assigned reading this week). The quizzes are on small details, ironically.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: CMPSC121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Without a doubt, the WORST professor I have had in my life. He provided no guidance and instead of teaching, he relied on YouTube and videos of other professors teaching online to "guide" the class. He is also extremely offensive and derogatory to his students.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: CMPSC121
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I'm not sure if bad is the right word to use. most of the students dropped the class after the second coding exam. If you can take it with a better prof please do so.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: CMPSC121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He is not only a bad professor, but also an immoral one. He always suspected students and did a lot of things without any legal reasons. Don't take his class!!

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: CMPSC121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He is so far the worst professor I had to take at Penn state. His lectures are really bad and not worth attending . Most of his work is done by the online textbook which is not that great too. Gives a lot of extra credit.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: CMPSC121
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The entire class is taught out of an online textbook so he just spends class answering questions. Tests are poorly structured and pretty difficult, overall not something you want to involve yourself with. However offers a good amount of extra credit but isn't worth the trouble if not mandatory.