Theodore Nicholson - New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ

Professor: Theodore Nicholson

Department: Computer Science

College: New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: CS100
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I took it in the summer so there was no homework. Your grade is the midterm and final. Pay attention to the programs he writes in class and practice the older midterms and finals as much as possible. Lastly, write the programs in pen and paper and then in the interpreter so you can be ready for the midterm and final.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: CS490
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

This class basically one giant group project. The teacher tells you what he wants done, and you do it. There is also some basic lecturing and a final at the end. He puts emphasis on how he only gives a test because he has to, so as long as you do good on the group project, you will pass. Just make sure you get a good reliable group.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: CS490
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Condescending. Was a lawyer before a CS professor. Does not give deliverables in concrete form, just says them in class. Does not interact well with people in general - usually defensive or aggressive unless you agree with everything he says. Basically, not a good professor. His project is reasonable, but you need a good group.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: CS602
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

The class is pretty straight forward. You need to turn up, listen to him, make notes along the way. He will practically give away the types of questions to be expected on the midterm and final. If you have good knowledge of Java you are at an advantage, but dont be lazy. The questions are typical ones that one would get stumped on an interview.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: IT400
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Course was fun, there was front-loaded practical information for the first half of the semester that led into a midterm exam. The last half of the semester was group projects and presentations. Very informative and sparked great class conversations, Nicholson is great at carrying on your points brought up in class.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CS602
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Good Teacher, teaches through his slides. But the slides are basically his teaching aid, i.e they cannot be used as notes or prep material. Won't understand just by attending classes, self reading and understanding along the course is a must for the course and with his method of teaching.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: IT400
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This is a useless law class for IT majors. Our grading was based on a midterm which was 50% of our grade, a presentation, and debate. You must memorize a lot of things for the midterm but if you do well in it, you are sure to pass the class. Presentation and debate are easy once you understand what to do.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: IT114
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Good professor. Knows what he's doing and willing to help but won't hand out answers. Doesn't care about attendance but he's a cool guy to talk so I liked going to class.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: CS490
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

This guy is great. The material itself is kinda dry, and doesn't need much explanation, which is a shame because he's a great teacher. What he does care about is the semester-long group project you will have. Make sure you pick good teammates and have at least a rudimentary understanding of web dev. Tough but fair, I definitely recommend him.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: CS490
• 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:

The first day of class you will randomly select kids to be in your group. Then you will hope and pray that everyone does their part and AFS works when you have to present. A lot of things can go wrong in this class and he doesn't care. He is paid to read slides and be an ass. Very stressful class because you cant control a lot of things.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: CS602
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

High energy. Speaks quickly and covers a lot of information, but has tons of supplemental material. Have at least a rudimentary understanding of java or c++ prior to taking this class (e.g. undergrad intro course) in order to get the most out of this. Exams are difficult in a trick question kind of way. Final project is time-intensive. Recommended

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: CS113
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Not a good professor, doesn't care about his students at all.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: CS602
• 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:

Not a good Java professor, he teaches theory, shows code and leaves students to fend for themselves on the big project. He is never available after class to help students. He doesn't care about students, he talks too fast and drinks too much Pepsi. If you are new to Java or a newbie with programming, don't take his class, take Blank's class.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: CS490
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Good prof, however expects what is asked of students (if u dont know a language, learn it). Clearly explains exactly what he wants 4 each milestone of the project. Exam based directly off slides. Project involves making a schedule builder w 2 other ppl. Make sure u know HTML, CSS, AJAX, PHP, MySQL, other web programming before taking this class.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: CS602
• 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:

Great teacher. enthusiastic, builds up skills in a careful and methodical way. His slides were somewhat dated, and he should deveote more time to JEE. Challenging, but enjoyable lectures.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: CS602
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Great Teacher. Class is designed to build on prior skills, so while challenging, you build up slowly.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: CS490
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Required class, but easiest class. You can not use the book for exams, just power point slides. the syllabus is 30% on a midterm and 70% is a project

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: IT400
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

EASIEST class EVER. we had a takehome midterm!! simple leagal terms & important legal battles in history. Class is NOT boring at all. it's mostly discussion, & he talks to students with respect like adults. just don't BS him, and don't wiki all the answers on his exam, or he'll rip it & make u take it in class. instead of final we had debate. NICE!

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: IT102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Clas crazy hard because Prof for C++ part 1 didn't teach well. Theo was understanding & caught us up to speed. no textbook, but he is good at explaining things. instead of a final exam we just simply had a final project. & he gave is a GREAT starting point.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: IT400
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Nicholson is very simple about IT 400. I took the Honor's version of the class and it was combined with the regular version. We received the same assignments. The grading scale is Assignments 40%, Exam 30%, and Debates 30%. A copy of his old exam is on his website. You will get an A as long as you do what he asks. He will hold your interest.