Phil Kearns - College of William and Mary

Professor: Phil Kearns
Department: Computer Science
College: College of William and Mary
Rating # 1
Overview:
  • Course: CS415
  • Grade Received: B+
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
Him leaving makes me scared for our department because he is as good as they come. His lectures are very clear and covers so many things. His projects take you to hell and back, but it's worth it in the end. Take any class with this man, he knows his material better than I know my family. Start projects early, ask him for help, and you'll be fine!
Rating # 2
Overview:
  • Course: CS415
  • Grade Received: B+
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
He's an amazing teacher. Although he's tough, he is the man who makes you into a programmer. If you're just for the major skip him, but if you want to learn how to really program and learn so much more take any class he teaches. ANY. He knows so much. As long as you don't waste his time, he's great to get help from.
Rating # 3
Overview:
  • Course: 415
  • Grade Received: B-
  • Overall Rating: 3.5
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
The course is good. There is only one test - the final, and it's relatively hard. The rest of the grade is made up of projects which are done solo only. Grading is on a curve, so aim for at the very least average and you'll more than likely get a B. Attendance is not required, but strongly recommended.
Rating # 4
Overview:
  • Course: CS415
  • Grade Received: A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
Kearns is passionate about this class, which answered many questions I had about software systems. Several script-graded projects determine most of your grade. Most projects are in C, and use Unix system calls for spawning processes and interprocess communication. (Start early on the projects to get them right.) I highly recommend this class.
Rating # 5
Overview:
  • Course: CSCI415
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 3.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
Grades against other students, basically a Hunger Games scenario
Rating # 6
Overview:
  • Course: CS444
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 2.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Very tough assignments with very little time to complete them. Quizzes throughout the semester, final is cumulative and the only test of the semester (and no specifics about the test are given. Basically just says to know everything from the readings, homeworks, quizzes, projects, and lectures).
Rating # 7
Overview:
  • Course: CS312
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Great teacher; I had him for 315 as well. But he's definitely more interested in systems stuff than databases and it's reflected in the way he teaches.
Rating # 8
Overview:
  • Course: CS315
  • 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:
Had him for both Systems and Database. Really good teacher and fun projects, but he grades really hard. You have to start everything weeks in advance to have enough time to finish.
Rating # 9
Overview:
  • Course: CS315
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 3.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Hardest class I've ever taken here so far. Granted I'm a sophomore, I took this with 303 and was my first elective. I like software programming but this was extreme coding. Don't slack off the projects at all. You learn a lot though. He knows his subject almost as if he invented it. Take with pass/fail otherwise, say goodbye to your GPA.
Rating # 10
Overview:
  • Course: CSCI315
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 3.5
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Good professor, interesting and incredibly useful class material, but secretive grading scheme and unnecessarily painful final exam took this class down a notch from one of my favorites. Entertaining and enthusiastic professor.
Rating # 11
Overview:
  • Course: CSCI315
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Fasten your seatbelt - it's gonna be a wild ride. He posts his lectures online - and if you read those (and Linux man pages) - there is no need to read (or buy) the books. Projects are tough. Make sure your SSH client works - you'll need it. Nice guy, good prof. Recommended.
Rating # 12
Overview:
  • Course: DS
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: N/A
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
He is one of the best professor in the Department of computer science. ( At par with Prof. Mao). He is sharp, intelligent and knows his subject very well. Difficult to fool him in any way. In short, Don't go from W&M before taking Kearnes and Dr. Mao's classes. You will repent.
Rating # 13
Overview:
  • Course: CSCI315
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: N/A
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
This guy is awesome! Know C like the back of hand. But he will expect you to know it like the back of his hand too. Very responsive to good questions, very critical of bad ones. You will be encouraged to try to answer your own questions before asking.
Rating # 14
Overview:
  • Course: CSCI544
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 2.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: N/A
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Probably the best teacher I've ever had, at least in Graduate School. He really cares about his students as opposed to his own research goals. Also, he gives GREAT comments on work and is wonderful during office hours.
Rating # 15
Overview:
  • Course: CSCI315
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 2.5
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: N/A
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
While he understands the material well and explains it ok, Kearns is unapproachable outside of class in is very unhelpful if you have questions on your project grades. Good course but he is very unhelpful.
Rating # 16
Overview:
  • Course: CSCI315
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 4.5
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: N/A
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Very good professor, super hard class... very fair grader, though. Good luck with the class... you'll need it.
Rating # 17
Overview:
  • Course: CSCI315
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 1.5
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: N/A
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
No Comments
Rating # 18
Overview:
  • Course: CSCI315
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 3.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: N/A
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
No Comments
Rating # 19
Overview:
  • Course: CS315
  • 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:
Some of the programming projects are a bit much. Otherwise the class isn't that bad.
Rating # 20
Overview:
  • Course: 315
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 4.5
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: N/A
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
80 hours in one week in the lab, for one project. This class is very good, very hard, and very intense. Take with a light workload in other courses and don't bother with your room deposit, you'll eat sleep and work in the lab.
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