Mitchell Theys - University of Illinois at Chicago

Professor: Mitchell Theys

Department: TBD

College: University of Illinois at Chicago

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: CS261
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

As long as you show up and pay attention during the lectures you will do well in the course. Had to buy his textbook which was a bit overpriced (only used it to do the mandatory HW checkpoints). Written HWs are not that bad and labs are pretty easy as long as you follow the PDFs given. Exams are not too hard. Overall, he is a great professor.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: CS362
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He is okay

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: CS362
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

362 is not a hard class, make sure to do the 9 arduino labs in time and pay attention in class. Prof. Theys has a good sense of pacing when he is lecturing in class, so make sure you are there and engage in the material. You don't have to, but in my opinion, you get more out of it if you go.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: CS261
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

just show up to class and get an A. he makes everything very easy.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: CS261
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

He made this class so easy. Tells you everything in advance about the exams, labs and homework. Be sure to attend his classes. I did badly on labs before which I didn't attend class. He has a lot of satire but is funny. The textbook is useless and too expensive, but he forces you to buy it. Other than that, he's one of the best CS professors.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CS362
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Really good professor, kinda tough on hw and lectures, but very resourceful for help

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: CS261
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

class was extremely easy.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: CS261
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Very good lecturer, its easy to follow along his lecture if you actually read the textbook chapters like I did, and theres iClicker as well to help you practice the material. Only thing I didnt like was there was homework every week but I guess thats standard for CS students. Very active on Piazza to help answer questions. Exams were tough.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: CS261
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Theys has been teaching 261 for twenty years, and it shows. He's perfected a style of teaching that works if you follow his directions: read. Reading the textbook *and* understanding is the key to success in this course. Read, show up to lecture, and you'll be fine.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: CS261
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This is a difficult class since is all new material, however Prof. Theys is very approachable and would help you to succeed, use his office hours. TAs are also very hopeful during labs and office hours

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: CS261
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He's a good lecturer, the slices are well-made, things are all planned out. Gives interactive lecture with examples and clicker questions. The labs are hard but they do help you understand, or at least know what you don't understand about the materials. Definitely better than your average professors. homework and exams are all fare games.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: CS261
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Theys is a very smart professor who will challenge you dramatically but will also make sure that you leave the class knowing what is going on. He can seem a little abrasive at first but he means nothing but the best for his students and this is clear in his lectures. He is always ready to re-explain something or clarify any questions.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: CS261
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

My only complaint is the amount of homework, some weeks we would have multiple different assignments going on at once. He's a great lecturer and knows what he's talking about. I didn't read much, failed most of the reading quizzes but I still ended with an A. Exams were almost the same thing as the practice exam so study those hard. Would recommend

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: CS362
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

zyante for hw, 9 labs, final group project, midterm and a final. great lecturer.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: CS261
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Theys is a really fair and approachable guy, don't hesitate to ask questions in class cause many people don't, or go to him for help. The book was definitely a must-have for my success in the class. If you find yourself struggling, make sure to do the readings and they will get you far for exams. Overall, I would recommend taking him.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: CS261
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This class was very difficult, but I also didn't read any of the book. There's a good chance that I'll pass with a B if I do ok on the final, so it's definitely achievable. I actually enjoyed his lectures. I don't really have any complaints about the class since I made it hard on myself by not reading. (Definitely Read, the few times i did helped)

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: CS362
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

pretty lenient grading on exams and projects. Really good at the material he is teaching

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: CS261
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Good professor, his midterms are exact like old midterms so get yourselfs a copy of previous semester one way or another. The projects can be time consuming but office hours r a blessing and google

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: CS261
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Really good professor. Make sure to show up to class, do the homework, and read the book. As long as you do that you're pretty much guaranteed to get an A on the midterms. His midterms are pretty similar from semester to semester, only changing 1-2 questions. The final could vary a lot more, so be aware of that. Projects aren't too bad either.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: CS261
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

His lectures are straightforward, and if you take the time to read the book thoroughly, you should be able to get at least a B. A lot of people struggle in this class because they refuse to read the textbook.