Jim Buffenbarger - Boise State University

Professor: Jim Buffenbarger

Department: TBD

College: Boise State University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: CS354
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Took CS354 and Cs554 (prog langs and adv prog lang, respectively) Both classes were lecture full of unimportant and useless information, better summarized in a one slide PDF. If I were to think of "this person is only here because they're tenured", this professor is the prime example.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: CS354
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He is exactly "fine". He lectures, grades, and has office hours. He is nothing special and wouldn't see myself ever taking one of his classes again. If there's another professor to take, I would take it with someone else. The group project is stupid, a waste of time, and boring. Then you have to present it while he grills you with questions.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: CS354
• Grade Received: C-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

The midterm and final were very difficult. The average on the midterm was a 53%. I did pretty well on all the coding assignments and homework. He curves the grade at the end. His lectures are boring. If you have the choice avoid Buff.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: CS354
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed 354 with Buff after really not enjoying 230 with him. 354 he still lectures from the slides primarily, but somehow it's more interesting, and I think maybe he is more interested in the material too. Pro tip: if you request the rubric for assignment before it is due, he will send it to you.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: CS471
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Buff's classes are harder than most, but every one I've taken has made me significantly better at programming. If you're a "C's get degrees" person, his classes will suck. If you're here to learn, he's a godsend. Buff is also pretty flexible with due dates (so long as the class is actually working on the project).

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CS230
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Don't expect a clear explanation of criteria for the class or the projects. It's vague at best and so is how you're graded, pretty much like everything else about BSU's subpar CS program. He'll dock you points on work, won't give you feedback and return work late so you have no chance to improve. You can skip every class if you have the book

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: CS354
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Programing assignments are very hard, but grades on a curve. I got a 4280 on final but still got a b- out of the class

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: CS354
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Teacher gave too many assignments at one time if you are taking a full load of classes. Tests were extremely hard and lectures did not prepare students for the tests.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: CS230
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Very easy grader and lectures out of the book. I would recommend avoiding him, unless grades are the most important thing for you. Mostly because he doesn't try to teach (just lectures) or try learning his students' names. Online courses are cheaper and a better use of your time than his lectures.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: CS230
• 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:

Would read his notes and then write exactly what he had said up on the board so class was extremely boring. Homework was really straight forward and easy as long as you followed the instructions. Gave you a chance to redo it if you went and talked to him about it. Overall he's a pretty easy professor just a really boring class

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: CS125
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Teaches straight out of the book. Provides his own example codes that are similar to the ones in the book. Exams are all code and if you do the homework you'll pretty well. Really good at answering questions. He'll even modify the code that youre looking at in class simply to show you how it works.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: CS471
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Likes to have discussions with the class, so no sleeping is allowed. Livened up dull material.