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5
/ 5
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Overall Quality Based on
431ratingsMatthew Butner
Professor in the Computer Science department at University of California Davis
86%
Would take again
5
Level of Difficulty
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I'm Professor
Butner
Professor
Butner
's Top Tags
Lots of homeworkAccessible outside classClear grading criteriaCaringGroup projects
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- 431 Student Ratings
All courses
ECS32A
May 16th, 2024
Quality
1.0
Difficulty
5.0
ECS32A
May 16th, 2024
For Credit
: Yes
Attendance
: Not Mandatory
Grade
: Not sure yet
Textbook
: Yes
I'm begging you guys to take a different professor if you've not coded before. One of the only ways I can see anyone passing this class is if they basically spend all their time in office hours. Each homework takes 20-40 hours but they're due once a week ???? I signed up for a 4-unit INTRO class, not a full-time job.
Helpful
1
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ECS36A
May 13th, 2024
Quality
5.0
Difficulty
4.0
ECS36A
May 13th, 2024
For Credit
: Yes
Attendance
: Not Mandatory
Would Take Again
: Yes
Grade
: A+
Textbook
: N/A
Took 36A in FQ23, and I'd say that Butner is a prof that is heavily favored if you already have some programming experience - would not recommend for someone with no experience but he's great for people who took CS in high school and want a no-BS course that you can breeze through.
Clear grading criteria
Helpful
ECS32A
May 10th, 2024
Quality
1.0
Difficulty
5.0
ECS32A
May 10th, 2024
There's an absurd amount of weekly projects that become exponentially more difficult and time consuming. With both lectures and projects, it feels as if he's unable to differentiate between teaching an intro course vs one of his upper divisions. I think there's a problem when actual CS majors are also puzzled by the intensity when trying to help.
Helpful
ECS32A
May 9th, 2024
Quality
2.0
Difficulty
5.0
ECS32A
May 9th, 2024
For Credit
: Yes
Attendance
: Not Mandatory
Textbook
: Yes
Professor Butner assigns incredibly difficult homework, and for those with no programming experience like myself, homework will take you at least 10 hours and cause lots of tears. He is very nice and a good lecturer, however his expectations for students in an introductory programming class are outrageous.
Lots of homework
Helpful
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ECS32A
Apr 27th, 2024
Quality
1.0
Difficulty
5.0
ECS32A
Apr 27th, 2024
For Credit
: Yes
Attendance
: Not Mandatory
Grade
: Not sure yet
Textbook
: Yes
I really don't understand why so many people give 5 points. Your rating misleads many students. We saw a five before we picked this teacher. In fact, his homework is very much and very difficult, I'm not kidding. You have to spend almost half of the week on homework. As a result, I have no time to do other homework.
Lots of homeworkLecture heavyTest heavy
Helpful
ECS036A
Apr 2nd, 2024
Quality
5.0
Difficulty
5.0
ECS036A
Apr 2nd, 2024
For Credit
: Yes
Attendance
: Not Mandatory
Would Take Again
: Yes
Grade
: A-
Textbook
: Yes
This class took a lot of time out of my week. He gives out homework that would take about 10-40 hours per week. It's doable given you go to lectures and google a few concepts. Though Butner is very helpful and he genuinely cares about his students. OH is very helpful as well.
Lots of homeworkAccessible outside class
Helpful
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ECS50
Apr 1st, 2024
Quality
3.0
Difficulty
5.0
ECS50
Apr 1st, 2024
For Credit
: Yes
Attendance
: Not Mandatory
Would Take Again
: Yes
Grade
: A-
Textbook
: Yes
Super hard class, but yk this going into it. HWs take 20hrs/wk, even with partner. Do all the exams. I liked the "learn-by-doing" approach, where lectures just help with the HW. Course basically ends after he finishes the assembly lectures. I liked the difficulty of the hw, others did not. Felt like a small tatse of upper-div cs courses.
Tough graderGraded by few thingsAccessible outside class
Helpful
ECS036A
Mar 19th, 2024
Quality
5.0
Difficulty
5.0
ECS036A
Mar 19th, 2024
For Credit
: Yes
Attendance
: Not Mandatory
Would Take Again
: Yes
Grade
: D
Textbook
: Yes
Butner is honestly an amazing prof, with a lot of OHs. But, there's an INSANE amount of homework. If he says it took him 20 minutes, expect to put in 6-10 hours minimum. Overall, made me realise I didn't want to stay in CS, so I'm changing majors, but that doesn't make him a bad prof at all. Def a great prof who cares about his students.
Lots of homeworkRespectedAccessible outside class
Helpful
2
ECS50
Mar 18th, 2024
Quality
3.0
Difficulty
5.0
ECS50
Mar 18th, 2024
For Credit
: Yes
Attendance
: Not Mandatory
Would Take Again
: Yes
Grade
: B+
Textbook
: N/A
Professor Butner is a great teacher and really cares about his students. However, his homework assignments are just painfully long. One of the homework assignments took me 46.5 hours to complete, and I didn't even make the deadline. Concepts could easily be taught with less work. You can get an A, but it will eat away all your free time.
Amazing lectures Clear grading criteriaLecture heavy
Helpful
5
1
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ECS036A
Mar 8th, 2024
Quality
5.0
Difficulty
3.0
ECS036A
Mar 8th, 2024
For Credit
: Yes
Attendance
: Not Mandatory
Would Take Again
: Yes
Grade
: Not sure yet
Textbook
: Yes
Butner is a great professor and his lectures are very useful, but I found it hard to pay attention since it got boring sometimes. His lectures were also available on zoom for those too lazy to go. Biweekly online readings that are really useful for understanding content. Homeworks were tough but doable. Midterm was long but using TAs is great.
ECS036A
Feb 9th, 2024
Quality
5.0
Difficulty
4.0
ECS036A
Feb 9th, 2024
For Credit
: Yes
Attendance
: Not Mandatory
Would Take Again
: Yes
Grade
: A+
Textbook
: Yes
Really Supportive and gives amazing feedback and help with regards to solving assignments when required, would take him again!
Amazing lectures Clear grading criteriaGives good feedback
Helpful
ECS036A
Feb 7th, 2024
Quality
5.0
Difficulty
4.0
ECS036A
Feb 7th, 2024
For Credit
: Yes
Attendance
: Not Mandatory
Would Take Again
: Yes
Grade
: A+
Textbook
: Yes
Lectures are clear, detailed, and go over lots of examples and questions. Grade is mostly on projects which most are pretty easy, though some can be very difficult and time consuming. However they do a great job of demonstrating the concepts. No exams so if you're on time it's an easy A. Lots of support available from him and TAs when needed.
Amazing lectures Lots of homeworkAccessible outside class
Helpful
1
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ECS036A
Feb 5th, 2024
Quality
5.0
Difficulty
1.0
ECS036A
Feb 5th, 2024
For Credit
: Yes
Attendance
: Not Mandatory
Would Take Again
: Yes
Grade
: A+
Textbook
: Yes
Professor Butner really cares about this students. Lectures were really informational and would go through concepts step-by-step (esp pointers and recursion). Homework consists of readings and projects, which makes up your grade. Midterm project was the toughest, so I suggest to begin that ahead of time.
Amazing lectures Lots of homeworkCaring
Helpful
ECS154A
Jan 29th, 2024
Quality
5.0
Difficulty
2.0
ECS154A
Jan 29th, 2024
For Credit
: Yes
Attendance
: Not Mandatory
Would Take Again
: Yes
Grade
: A
Textbook
: N/A
This class was project-based and he was very easy going. The projects are done solo. It was an amazing class 100% get it.
Amazing lectures Caring
Helpful
ECS154A
Jan 12th, 2024
Quality
5.0
Difficulty
3.0
ECS154A
Jan 12th, 2024
For Credit
: Yes
Attendance
: Not Mandatory
Would Take Again
: Yes
Grade
: A
Textbook
: N/A
He's a good and caring prof. Lectures were interesting and he provides many resources online. Didn't go to lecture after wk4 but still succeeded with the resources available + OH. Last project is hard, I would try to stay on top of all your work to give time to cache project.
Group projectsAmazing lectures Accessible outside class
Helpful
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ECS036A
Jan 8th, 2024
Quality
5.0
Difficulty
3.0
ECS036A
Jan 8th, 2024
For Credit
: Yes
Attendance
: Not Mandatory
Would Take Again
: Yes
Grade
: A+
Textbook
: N/A
Butner provided a lot of examples in class to help teach concepts, if you want to pass the class just pay attention to the lectures, they are even live via Zoom and posted online. You can also do the coding assignments with a partner.
Lecture heavyOnline Savvy
Helpful
ECS036A
Jan 8th, 2024
Quality
1.0
Difficulty
2.0
ECS036A
Jan 8th, 2024
For Credit
: Yes
Attendance
: Not Mandatory
Would Take Again
: Yes
Grade
: B-
Textbook
: N/A
Butner is not an understanding teacher when it comes to helping you complete the assignments. ECS 36A is a project based class. Remember that this class is going to involve a lot of homework and if you submit even a single assignment late your grade will be sacrificed with no chance to improve.
Tough graderLots of homeworkOnline Savvy
Helpful
ECS036A
Dec 21st, 2023
Quality
5.0
Difficulty
3.0
ECS036A
Dec 21st, 2023
For Credit
: Yes
Attendance
: Not Mandatory
Would Take Again
: Yes
Grade
: A+
Textbook
: N/A
Butner is an amazing professor. His lectures help you a lot with the homework and he's really helpful during office hours. The class has no exams, just weekly readings/homework that you have to complete. Start on the assignments early because they take a lot of time (5-10 hr/wk). However, they are very rewarding and kinda fun to do.
Amazing lectures Lots of homeworkAccessible outside class
Helpful
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ECS154A
Dec 20th, 2023
Quality
5.0
Difficulty
4.0
ECS154A
Dec 20th, 2023
For Credit
: Yes
Attendance
: Not Mandatory
Would Take Again
: Yes
Grade
: A-
Textbook
: N/A
Extremely good lectures. Very good at explaining things. Gets harder as the class progresses. Final project was extremely difficult. Quizzes and midterm all have 3 attempts, are untimed and unproctored, and are very tedious. No final exam. Not hard to get a good grade in the class but it is time consuming.
Amazing lectures CaringRespected
Helpful
ECS036A
Dec 20th, 2023
Quality
5.0
Difficulty
3.0
ECS036A
Dec 20th, 2023
For Credit
: Yes
Attendance
: Not Mandatory
Would Take Again
: Yes
Grade
: A+
Textbook
: Yes
Great professor. Explains concepts clearly and seems to care about student success. There are a lot of homework assignments but lots of help are offered for them. It's not hard to earn an A with a decent amount of effort.
Amazing lectures Lots of homeworkAccessible outside class
Helpful
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