Archer Harris - James Madison University

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Archer Harris - James Madison University

Professor: Archer Harris

Department: Computer Science

College: James Madison University

Rating # 1

Overview:

Course: CS350
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 4.5
Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Arch knows his stuff, and expects his students to put in the work to figure things out, but has a sense of humor. He cares about following specs. If you genuinely need help he'll always explain things and help you understand. 350 is a good class for demystifying how a computer works from the ground up. Pity he's retiring, he'd be hard to replace.

Rating # 2

Overview:

Course: CS234
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 2.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

ive had him for 239, 350, and now 430. He is going to make you work....hard....but you will learn a lot if you don't give up. also, more often than not Arch's classes will hurt your gpa. Most importantly remember 2^8=256

Rating # 3

Overview:

Course: CS350
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 3.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Not an easy class, but he definitely knows the material. If you ask a good question, he'll give you a good answer. If you ask an ambiguous question, he'll ask you one in return. Go to class and do the homework - it's really not too bad...but his expectations are high and everything must be perfect.

Rating # 4

Overview:

Course: CS239
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:

I took 239 last semester with Adams and got a C. So I decided I'd give another teacher a go so I could actually learn. Arch is very good at explaining exactly why you need certain concepts and how to use them. He's very approachable and can help you through any problem.

Rating # 5

Overview:

Course: CS240
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 2.0
Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Haris is certainly a very smart guy, and his arrogance is right on par with it. Expects you to know things that he thinks are simple because he's been doing them (as he loves to tell you) for 30 years. Helpful in that he is knowledgable, but only if you can get him to give you any answers at all.

Rating # 6

Overview:

Course: CS462
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 4.5
Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Arch is the man. One of the most intelligent professors that the CS program has. If you are willing to goto this office hours he is more than willing to help you. Stay up on the readings and going to class and you'll be fine.

Rating # 7

Overview:

Course: CS240
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 3.5
Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Harris knows his material. He seems gruff at first and hard to approach, but once you get past that he is really helpful and caring. His program instructions can be dubious - make sure to clarify with him - but the programs themselves are not toooo bad. Our class had some good laughs. Seems like a **** at first but he's not. Thumbs up

Rating # 8

Overview:

Course: CS460
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 4.5
Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Great teacher. Gives extremely difficult project, but will get your group all the help you need. Tests aren't bad if you have some background in networking. You MUST go to class in order to succeed. Keep up on the project and go to class and you'll be fine.

Rating # 9

Overview:

Course: CS240
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 1.5
Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Over-inflated jackass who doesn't know how to teach. You'll spend all time out of class learning the material on your own through google and the book. Expect all programming assignments to be vague and filled with holes until one day before it is due when he updates the specs. Avoid at all costs. Made Elizabeth Adams look like a good teacher.

Rating # 10

Overview:

Course: CS240
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 2.0
Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Arch is very knowledgable and lets you know that in every conversation you have with him. Be prepared to learn on your own. Will answer questions but only after they have been checked through his "good question f.a.q." Expectations are high and unless you know the langauge already don't expect to do well.

Rating # 11

Overview:

Course: CS350
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 3.5
Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Definately not the easiest professor. There's a lot of good material to pick up, but it's a challenge. He has some high (sometimes seemingly unfair) expectations and can be a little intimidating, but he at least seems pretty solid and you'll walk away from the class with a sense of acomplishment.

Rating # 12

Overview:

Course: CS139
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 4.5
Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Best 13 teacher ever. Humor is awesome and he gets the point across, even the hard ones.

Rating # 13

Overview:

Course: CS139
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 3.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Whatever you do, don't act like I did. I went into the class acting like I knew everything, which I did... I was punished accordingly. Class average for the assignments was typically above 85. My assignments were consistently graded with 75s. Reason? I suppose there was some bias and bitterness because I acted like I didn't need his class.

Rating # 14

Overview:

Course: 460
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 4.5
Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

next to bernstein, one of the most awesomest CS professors! was very helpful... perhaps i was very annoying. the class was an extension of CIS 320, except harder, and more concepts. i never quite got the whole active directory thing though... but he spent more time on the matter because everybody in both sections complained. he reminds me of the pillsbury guy when he laughs. a wonderful professor.

Rating # 15

Overview:

Course: CS450460
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 3.5
Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

In 450, Arch was really harsh and had a semester long project that would pile up on you. When you asked for help he was there, but being rude and mean. In 460 he was totally different. Nice and very helpful. Tests on everything.

Rating # 16

Overview:

Course: CS350
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 4.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This class is tough, and Arch doesn't make it any easier. The class project is a *****, and if it's wrong expect a 0. You'll learn a lot, but you better expect to live in the lab. Don't take this if you don't have a lot of time already.

Rating # 17

Overview:

Course: CS450
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 4.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Tough class, but if you work hard youll get what you deserve, semester project was a ****, expect to live in the computer labs for weeks on end. At the end youll get the grade that you deserve

Rating # 18

Overview:

Course: CS450
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 3.5
Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

A good professor, but very tough. The semester project is tough and there are several programs to do. On the positive side, you come out the class having learned a lot. Good for 450 if you're not taking a heavy workload with it.

Rating # 19

Overview:

Course: CS450
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 4.0
Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Smart man. Hard ass too. You'll learn a lot-when you aren't working on the latest programming assignment/homework/project. prepare for a lot of sleepness night, but know the lack of sleep will be well worth it. His book is useful. Tan's is not. Study his book and you'll be fine on his exams.

Rating # 20

Overview:

Course: CS450
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 3.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

You learn a lot from Arch. However your GPA / sanity might suffer. He always gives huge projects that are extremely time consuming and the tests are out of left field. Has no problem giving students 0's on projects that they spent hours and hours on. Grades ruthlessly (at times) on tests.

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