David Burris - Sam Houston State University

Professor: David Burris

Department: TBD

College: Sam Houston State University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: COSC3319
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

You either understand what he is saying 100% or 0%. He's very rude and writes things like "weak", "pathetic", etc. on homework. Unless you already know how to program algorithms in Ada/C++ don't even attempt this class. I'm usually a straight-A student and got a C. Usually less than 1/6th of the class passes (1 or 2 people get As).

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: COSC3319
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

First of all, you will learn a lot from him. Dr. Burris grades fairly. It's pretty hard to find his topics from online sources. You will spend 2x times doing assignments. Read carefully his textbook to understand it. You can submit your assignment as many times as you like before the deadline to have a chance to improve it. Learn Ada beforehand.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: COSC4319
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

His lectures are meandering and assume you understood what he said the first time. Important concepts are rarely defined clearly, often exclusively through example. Examples frequently have unneeded details, and he makes no effort to reinforce how they connect to the concepts he's teaching. Most learning is done on your own or not at all.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: COSC3319
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

It kills me to see Dr Burris with anything less than a 5.0. Yes, his class is likely the hardest one you'll take at Sam. Yes, over 50% of my class dropped. But the people who made it out the other side became exponentially better programmers. Dr Burris truly cares about his students, and wants to see them grow.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: COSC3319
• Grade Received: D-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Expect 60% of the students in the course to not pass. Put in the time and effort and don't procrastinate, and you should be able to make it through. The labs are tough and will take a lot of hours, so do not procrastinate on the labs or try to cheat on them from online. Dr Burris will catch you. Wish you the best if your about take this course (:

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: COSC3319
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

If you want to pass his data structure class, you should have a special programming knowledge about Ada language OR C++ Or C#. If you think that you dont have that knowledge, dont take this class. For his exams, study whole class note and do past papers. If you did not do past papers at least before one week his exam, you ca not pass the exam.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: COSC2347
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He requires your programs to be turned in on paper, but doesn't make this explicit on his syllabus or the assignments. If you don't hand in your work in the format he prefers, he'll fail you for it. Furthermore, if you don't get a C on all his assignments, the most you can get for the class is a C. One mistake and he'll essentially fail you.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: COSC3319
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Burris is the only professor who teaches 3319. If you're thinking of taking it... - You MUST be comfortable with coding. The labs are not simple. - Do NOT procrastinate. Most labs took me 6+ hours, some more than 15. - Don't take this class with too many other "difficult" courses. It will soak up a lot of your time. - Most fail on first try

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: COSC3319
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Burris is a one of the only professors in the department that care about student professional growth. He has a tough love system in his classrooms. It can be frustrating, and I wish he would straighten out his criteria more as well as be a little more lenient on one of the grading items but eh.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: COSC3319
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Ok, so Dr. Burris is a rare case of being an extremely knowledgeable guy and an extremely tough guy. Lab assignments are extremely tough and tests are also graded harshly. Labs can be turned in multiple times though to fix mistakes. Grade is 50% lab and 50% 3 tests and final. You must get a C on all labs to get a grade higher than a C in the class

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: COSC4327
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He will not allow himself to be your first resource outside of class. He wants to to think for yourself and learn how to use many resources. He answers question s about the lecture. For assignments you better be able to state everything you tried and list various resources you used. If you can that is the key to unlock a big grin and himself.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: COSC3319
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Very interesting lectures and material, vague and confusing vernacular in the labs. Grades tests harshly, and labs are functionally pass/fail. Assume all discussion questions on the tests are traps. Was never able to find the guy outside of class, especially not during office hours, presumably because he beams up to the mother ship instead.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: COSC3319
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dude knows his stuff. Be prepared to read. No required textbook. He gives you documents that show all the algorithms, and much more. You just have to put in the time to work through them, by hand step by step. Attendance is not mandatory, you can get by with the handouts, way harder by your yourself though. He has kind of a dry sense of humor btw.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: CS560
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

very strong technical and teaching skills, well prepared for each class provides teaching on current topics outside the curriculum

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: COSC4318
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The 2nd hardest CS class ever behind language translators. You WILL learn a new language every other week or you WILL fail. Not for the faint of heart, slackers, fraternity boys or .NET code monkeys. If you can pass this class your career is set for life. You have to earn his respect. Work on the labs 7 days/week. Neevr miss a class.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: COSC3319
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

If you want to be a poorly paid .NET developer who looses their job to outsourcing, then skip this class. Dr. Burris is not for slackers or people who like to party. If you can make it through his class even with a C you will be one of the better developers in your company. Treat as a 6 hour class,memorize the algorithms,stay ahead on the labs.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: COSC4316
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Burris is the professor you want to take if you want to succeed and make a lot of money in the field. The techniques you learn in this class will put you into literally the 99.999th percentile of software developement skills. Slackers beware. Treat this class as a 9 credit hour class & and spend 4 hours/day 7 days/week on your labs

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: COSC3319
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He obviously has a ton of knowledge to share, but if you plan to take any other "heavy" classes with this one or have a job, you will have a hard time. Sometimes it seems like he values students' learning and wants you to succeed, other times he is very demeaning and will make you feel like an idiot, even if you have a valid question.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: CS362
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

So terrible. Worst prof in the department. Goes way to fast and his notes are so poorly organized it's impossible to find anything. Will change your grade to a D if you don't make at least a C on every assignment.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: CS362
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Terrible in every possible way. Has no business teaching.