3.3
Quality3.4
Difficulty51%
Would Retake281
Reviews51%
Would Retake
281
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
92
4
48
3
52
2
44
1
45
What Students Say
“At first, I really didn't mind Dovolis' somewhat lazy teaching tactics because the material was not that difficult to understand and the first midterm was relatively easy (average was 88% )”
CSCI1933 - 2.0 rating“This class is full of Java students that will mess up the curve and make you look bad”
CSCI1933 - 1.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
43%
Textbook Required
21%
Grade Predictor
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Predicted Grade
B+
Grade Distribution
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Declining
-0.41 avg changeRatings by Course
CS1901
5.0
(1)CSCI1901
4.6
(40)19011902
4.5
(2)1902
4.0
(1)CSCI1902
4.0
(10)Difficulty by Course
CSCI1103
4.4
CSCI1001
4.4
1103
4.0
1902
4.0
1901JAV
4.0
Reviews (281)
Dovolis always managed to make class fun, and was always very laid back.
Not very knowledgable. Made mistakes on the board, very 80s style with bad jokes.
Wonderful guy, great teacher. Knows the course material. Fortunate enough to have him twice thus far.
As far as teachers in the U of M's CS department go, Chris has been one of my favorites. Teachers who are talented at teaching (as opposed to research, and anything else they are hired to do) seem somewhat rare, but I felt he was an exception.
I thought he was a pretty good teacher. The class itself blew, but he made it mildley interesting.
One of the best professors I've had--explains stuff very clearly in common English. Class material, even though in Scheme, is very relevant and helpful in later courses. Helpful during office hours. Exams and projects reflect what he covers in class.
Dovolis for president! He's the only prof who could make scheme fun. I'd take any class just to have Dovolis as a prof again. He's actually a TEACHER, not a researcher who has to appear in front of students to get paid.
Fun guy to have.
I've had Dovolis twice he's a nice guy. Not a genuis thats for sure. His coding examples are garbage and he can barely log into windows 2000, much less use internet explorer.
I realy liked Dovolis. I felt that he was excellent at explaining the material, and everything he said was very easy to follow. He did really well to introduce the matrial and actually taught it, instead of simply reciting notes.
Had him for scheme and I actually liked the class. He is a really good teacher and makes the class enjoyable. I look foward to taking another class with him.
My favorite professor ever. He makes the class fun and is very easy to understand. Good teacher.
Overall a good professor. Friendly towards students.
Eh, thought the class was pretty boring. Too many examples tend to rot my brain.
Very clear and concise.
Seemed like a nice teacher, but I didn't think he was that great a teacher, and he wasn't very convincing when trying to explain the importance of learning scheme.
He is a good teacher. Explains things very well. He is very fair to his students.
Great teacher. Clear, consice, excited about his subject. Highly recomended
Really knows his programming stuff, but is probably not a Windows user which shows during examples. Gives lots of examples that are only good for showing how commands are used. Pretty friendly and sort of funny. Taking 1902 with him next semester.
Although he's a nice guy, I'd have to say I'm not a big fan of Dovolis. He doesn't know what he's talking about. Usually he started class by correcting errors he made in previous lectures. He often was unable to answer student questions. If you don't understand the material, it's tough to teach it.
Dovolis was a pretty funny guy, and easy to talk to outside of class if something came up. Lectures got to be a bit long once in a while, but they were decent.
Chris is excited about teaching, friendly and easy to understand and follow in class. His lectures are very interesting, basically 1901 was my funnest class of the semester. One thing, Chris expects students to put in time to complete his assignments (he is clear about it from day one of class) and is willing to help if you're having trouble.
I thought that he was a very good teacher, and he really cared about his students. He is a pretty hard teacher, but he makes you understand the material.
Dovolis is one if the few instructors that can go off on a tangent during lecture and it ends up being at least as interesting as the lecture itself. His tests are fairly easy, and the book is wonderful and very much worth reading. The only downside here are the pop quizes.
Great teacher, I was a complete novice when it came to coding, but he made it very simple. About 4 hours work/studying outside of class a week at most for me. He might not always answer very complex questions the greatest but he is an expert at teaching. Rarely would I find scheme fun anywhere else.
Although I ended up with an A I didn't feel like the lectures were helpful at all. He made everything sound very complicated by developing a few lectures on every little subject. I never read the book, except from a few pages for a couple of confusing labs. Unfortunately the class requires having pop quizzes (10% of the grade) so you don't want to
Dovolis is really devoted to teaching his students. His class is hard, and he knows it, but he helps everyone through it. Expect to spend time doing the labs, as they are the most demanding part of the class.
He's definitely one of the better teachers I've had at the university. He presents the material very clearly and seems like a cool guy. However, expect to spend time outside of class learning the material.
I learned SO much and was entertained. Lots of work but worth it--lays a great csci foundation so you'll do great in future classes. Early understanding this stuff means the difference between ending up a mindless code monkey or a SW architect when you get out of school. Dovolis explains it so well you really understand it and remember it.
very good prof
Fairly good professor. Sometimes likes to go off on random tangents. He sorta goes really in depth on really simple concepts, but also on really difficult ones as well. So you will get the information you need, while being bored sometimes as well. However, if struggling in the class his response was "write more code", and nothing else.
He's an okay professor for 1901 but is less than mediocre for 1902. He missed two days and never covered the material he missed. NOT okay.
Great professor. Even if you've had comp sci experience, his programming philosophy is very interesting, and his delivery is engaging. I also love how much he covers in lectures- I haven't had to use my textbook so far.
Good intro Comp Sci teacher. I had done no programming prior to his classes and did just fine. He is passionate about education and has good teaching skills.
Dovolis is an AWESOME professor. I would take a class taught by him again in a heartbeat. He makes computer science very interesting with his lectures. He has fair tests and keeps things interesting
Amazing
Chris is a very nice guy, and he likes students, but not very good as a teacher. Our TA could explain stuff better, and final exams were based on material that he barely covered.
The class was taught very well. Mr. Dovolis did an excellent job of keeping us engaged and interested in the material. I learned a lot of background information about how computers work as well as the course material containing Scheme. The class was also benefited by stellar TA's, but the lectures really benefited the consumption of the material.
Dovolis is a fantastic professor. His lectures are engaging, His assignments are thought-provoking, and he's always willing to help students. Take his courses. You won't regret it.
Awesome lecturer, good and sometimes hilarious analogies (especially the one about the difference between the Boolean AND and the colloquial English "and")
AMAZING TEACHER. He makes very difficult material make complete sense. I feel like I have a very deep understanding of the material covered in this class. He's super nice, and alway willing to help out. I thought all his tangents were either entertaining or thought provoking. Take him if you can!! And even if you can't you still should!!
Can be a little unprepared for class at times, but a lot of fun.
Dovolis is a cool guy. He's funny, he's chill and he's awkwardly amusing. He is also unorganized, has no idea what he's talking about half the time (seriously. the TA keeps correcting him and he just laughs it off), and he comes into class 5, 10, 15 or 20 minutes late far too regularly for a 50 minute class.
Great teacher! I had never taken a computer science class or even dabbled in it on my own. As a complete newbie I can say that he makes everything super easy to understand and interesting. I highly recommend him.
He doesn't know what he is talking about, he seems funny and cool but once you get to know what's going on when you are a junior or senior in computer science, you will come to know he is awful.
Had Chris for 1901 and 1902. Fun guy to listen to, very approachable. Tests were pretty straightforward. Labs were tricky but really helped with understanding the material. TA's were all enthusiastic and helpful. Class is a breeze if you've done programming before (in any language).
I had Dovolis for 1901 and 1902. He made 1901 very fun and interesting for me. However, I had his night class for 1902. It was really hard for me to understand or learn anything. I think it was because it was a night class. Otherwise, he is very helpful.
Dovolis is a great teacher; this class is introductory but has a wide range of students, and he makes it interesting for students of all programming backgrounds. Definitely recommend him!
Lectures were very enjoyable. Tests straightforward--basically, be sure to understand the homework and labs and you're fine. Favorite class this semester and I'm not a CSCI major. He's a bit disorganized. Spends a lot of time explaining WHY things are the way they are, which I appreciated.
great professor!
Labs and lectures were somewhat disorganized, but I may have just caught him on a bad semester. He does a good job explaining complex ideas with a goofball sense of humor. I'd definitely take another class of his if I had the chance. TA's don't mind if you lobby for better test and homework grades.
First, let me say this: this a very, very hard class. But I highly, highly recommend taking this class with Dovolis to see if you like Comp Sci. He's a fantastic teacher. Very friendly, funny, and knowledgeable. Tests aren't too hard...but labs and homework range from difficult to impossibly hard. Still, one of the best teachers I've had here.
If you have had programming experience before and go in w/ an open mind, this course is a breeze. Extremely helpful professor that explains complex ideas very clearly. Felt tests where fair and the labs offered a good challenge. Make sure you like your lab partner because you will be spending alot of time w/ them!
Dovolis is a very clear speaker. The lecture classroom this year was very dark, so it was impossible to stay awake. Would recommend this class if you want to give computer science a try, although be careful-- there is a LOT of work in the second half of the semester!
One of the worst teachers I've ever had. I didn't find his teaching useful. He's also terrible at being an advisor.
I loved this class! Dovolis is a very friendly guy and his lectures are fun to go to. The class will be pretty easy if you've had some previous programming experience and the homework assignments are actually fun if you don't try to do them at the last minute. Dovolis is a great guy. And don't buy the book - SICP is free online (legally).
People seem to like Dovolis because he is goofy and affable. However, he is also somewhat disorganized and doesn't always seem to have a strong grasp of the material. Having said that, the course labs, assignments and projects are all rewarding, and I enjoyed the class quite a bit.
Dovolis claims he has the easiest CSCI2021, which is probably true. His tests were a lot easier in 1901 though; he really misjudged what students could accomplish in 50 minutes and had a couple of rough quizzes. This class would be a breeze for someone who has had previous ambition to learn for themselves how computers really work.
PROS: 1. Uses whiteboard over ppt 2. Energetic lectures delivery 3. Knowledgeable 4. Most content comes from textbook ----- CONS: 1. Not involved in the planning of labs 2. Highly unorganized and writes poor exams the night or day before the exam date 3. Unhelpful and seems uninterested in the success of his students 4. Demands lots of your time
This is an instructor who would go out of his way to help students. He is well-prepared for his classes and has a very good sense of humor. He effortlessly connects to the students and you won't feel like he's your instructor, rather as a friend.
I highly recommend taking this course with Dovolis. He makes all of the concepts clearer to understand. The homework assignments are fairly straightforward, especially at the beginning of the semester. He is good at realizing students concerns with the subject matter and he tries to simplify all concepts as much as possible to teach them better.
Only somebody who does not focus on learning things will like Chris. He is nice but a terrible teacher, only talk about 1+1 = 2 in class but you will have calculus in lab and HW. He always left hard part to TA and lab, himself only talks about easiest thing and does not help overal. Grading system is ridiculous and you always see something in lectu
Homework is either too easy or ridiculously difficult. The labs are stupidly time consuming. He teaches a lot more theory in lecture vs. practical examples. The class moves at a good pace. DO THE LABS YOURSELF otherwise you will fail. I don't care if your partner is a genius - do them. Or else exams will make you cry.
This was my first computer science class and surprisingly, it was not as hard as I expected. The labs are a bit time consuming but the homework is not too bad. The lectures are great though. I learned almost everything from the lectures alone.
I agree with everyone else in that he's a nice guy, however he doesn't provide the class with all of the tools to complete the assignments without significant help nor is there enough assistance from the teacher's assistants. If this doesn't come naturally to you, or you don't have a strong group to study with then you're in trouble.
Really accommodating w/ my incomplete, put the other profs i was taking to shame. i also like his lecturing style
Chris is a poor lecturer who rambles over whatever topics he feels are relevant, then tests and assigns work on different material. It was not uncommon to have labs on material he had either ignored entirely or delayed until after the lab section met. Tests were equally scatterbrained, with intentionally obtuse questions. AVOID!
The prof is very unorganized and doesn't explain clearly in the class on time. He explained the stuff required for the lab after we submitted the lab. The tests weren't hard, but the things he taught in the class doesn't cover the test well. You need a solid study group to do well. He doesn't curve any of his tests. Overall He's OK.
He is an engaging lecturer, and in class you have the sense that you are keeping up just fine. Then you get an assignment to do, and it seems like it came from another class entirely. He has a very bad habit of explaining material AFTER you've turned in the assignment.
His lectures are fine, but his tests are very different. Like everyone said, he explains the concepts long after the assignment is done. He doesn't curve the tests although his TAs said he would. I had 89.6 and I eventually ended up getting a B, I cant complain cause I didnt go over 90 anyway. Take his class as S/N that way your grades would be ok.
We were constantly behind in lecture, to make up for it he would fly through material. Labs were pretty difficult. But if you put the time and effort into the class you should end up with a decent grade.
The projects were a total mess. The final lab was ran by a TA and if you were not in his section understanding and completing the lab was out of the question. He often was side tracked.
He does not write all of his homework assignments, and he has his TA's grade EVERYTHING! I honestly don't know what he even does as a professor.. because he only has a couple office hours! I don't think he's a very hard-working professor for this course, I've had professors that put in way more effort. I don't learn from him I learn from TA's.
Good speaker but speeds through material, tests were full of trick questions, assignments took an unrealistic amount of time to complete
Excellent, engaging lecturer. However beware!! Great lectures are all you'll get from Dovolis. He doesn't deal with any grading, and he deflects all questions to his TAs. Not helpful, but also not that hard. Tests were a little frustrating because they focus on the points he makes in the tangents he goes on in lectures. But overall, alright.
this guy was just terrible. lectures never helped in lab or homework assignments. his midterms were poorly written and 50 mins wasnt enough time to do a good job on them. the only thing that helped me in this class was reading the book and having a capable lab partner.
Dovolis makes it difficult to score an A in 1933 unless you have previous programming experience. With concerted effort, it's possible to earn 100% of the possible points in the lab and assignments. However, that's worth only 50% of the course. The remaining part of your grade is earned from exams, which are very difficult without experience.
Dovolis' lectures did not give enough clear direction and guidance for learning how to program. He went on and on about irrelevant information when he should have given applied examples of coding. The tests were difficult and partial credit was given sparingly. The labs and homework were at a difficult level WAY above the lecture material.
Worst professor I've ever had. Homework and lab assignments do not reflect the course. 10% of our grade was based on 15 possible points. That alone should be an indication of the low level of the preparedness of Dovolis. His lectures are hard to follow, and will discuss the homework topics AFTER they've already been due for a week. AVOID HIM!
Gets confused a lot by the material and will sometimes be unable to solve the problem at hand. Even in office hours he gets confused a lot. People say he's the best professor for this class and he is because he himself doesn't know what he's doing so he makes the exams easier.
Dovolis himself was a good lecturer, and he had great information to share about practical applications of CS rather than just strictly book material. His TAsclass organization, however, were not so great. There was a ton of confusion over assignment expectations, and exams were graded much differently depending on the TA grading them.
Lectures were pretty good, he is good at keeping the bigger picture in mind when teaching concepts. I found the tests to be pretty difficult and hard to prepare for, and they made up 70% of the course grade unfortunately. My only previous programming experience was CSCI 1133, and I'd assume the course is easier with more experience.
He is a tough grader. Although it seems that you have reviewed and learnt materials very well, you may still bomb midterms and final. He curves the class, but it is not a huge curve. There is not much thing you can do with grade. However, he teaches simulation, which is very interesting and challenging.
He's really a fantastic lecturer, and I enjoyed that. His exams, however, are brutal, and designed to trip you up with minute details and things you're expected to remember from a 5 minute tangent in lecture 3 weeks before the exam. The projects aren't that difficult, and neither are the labs, but the exams make up most of your grade.
He was super nice, like a dad. Pretty funny, but the course material itself was kind of dry (which he himself acknowledged). He was engagin, though, and just an enjoyable person.
His lectures are fantastic, presented with a sort of awkward dad-ish charm, but his organization skills fall far behind that. His tests almost always have questions covering some tangent of his lecture, which is fine if you pay attention. Avoid if you don't like going to every lecture. He covers the textbook and beyond well, but it is a tough class
Chris is one of the best professors for this course. He tried to make the class as painless and possible and always helped out his students by moving deadlines when needed. The grading was very reasonable and the class was interesting. Definitely recommended
The course itself was not very much fun, but Prof. Dovolis made it manageable. Very willing to further explain concepts when they didn't make sense. Lectures consisted of mostly examples. Sometimes felt unprepared for the tests since the homework and labs didn't cover all the topics, so we had no feedback on those leftover topics.
Only 4 quizzes, and they didn't build off each other so if you fail the first quiz, you can do fine on the second quiz. He is also very nice and is always willing to talk. My only gripe is we fell behind and had to rush the last few chapters and the TA's were just awful, but that's not his fault. Also, the textbook is the bible in that class.
His lecture is not organized, and he was really behind planned schedule towards the end of semester. Rushing was brutal that you would be tested without good preparation. His tests/quizzes are very confusing and tricky. In order to do well, you have to read the textbook. He tests you on some materials from book not in lecture.
Chris's often devotes most of his lectures to edge cases instead of making the base material clearer. It is extremely difficult to actually parse the information you'll need to pass from lectures.
Someone else said that Chris has a "Dad" way of teaching, and they're right. Chris seems like a nice guy and generally tries to engage his students, however, he tests his students on more than what he covers in lecture and in readings. Problem sets and tests are a pain and don't reflect the class. Save your GPA and don't take a class with him.
If you have not known Java for at least 3 years, you are screwed. It's kind of the universities fault for not testing out students who already know java and data structures since they were 9 years old. Anyway, if you do not know java, do not worry or change your major when you get a C or below. His tests are ridiculously tricky and confusing. Luck!
One of the most painful classes I've ever taken. So dry and dull that every student lacked motivation, and by the end of it, we were only coming in to lectures to give him a bad evaluation. Homework is long, labs are so disconnected from lecture I thought I was in the wrong computer lab, and we only started learning Python in the last three weeks.
Listen to lectures to get information for the midterms (2). The labs kinda just throw you into java expecting you to know the languages syntax so you have to pick it up rather quick. Pay attention to Linked lists, Stacks, and Queues because they make up the bulk of the later labs and build on eachother
I heard that dovolis used to be an amazing professor. I guess somewhere down the line he just lost the passion to teach. The TAs were responsible for the whole class. The only thing he did was lecture and write tests. You could see in the way he lectures that he does not want to teach anymore, which explains why he has become a horrible professor.
There are only two tests that pretty much determine your grade and they're ridiculously tricky and specific. He literally just shows up for lecture and wrote the tests. He also doesn't post answer keys for the practice exams he posts. I emailed him and asked him for one and he responded that "posting them would be a disservice". Lazy and unhelpful
Many people that took 1933 this semester had very sour opinions of Dovolis. I came in with no Java experience and I did fairly well. You MUST pay attention during lecture. You will crash and burn if you do not ask questions to both Dovolis and the TAs. Some TAs were better than others. You probably won't get an A unless you already know Java.
Dovolis is beautiful as human being, a complete failure as a professor. Please learn Java this summer if your reading this before the class. This class is full of Java students that will mess up the curve and make you look bad. It also doesn't help that dovolis is a complete loser when it comes to teaching. Read and practice before you start class!
For those planning on taking 1933 with Dovolis, it is NOT a Java programming class. Dovolis does a great job of explaining Data structures but if you are new to Java, it might be hard to keep up. You must pay attention in lecture to do well in the mid terms . I strongly recommend learning Java over the summer if you are taking this class.
If you're planning to take Dovolis for Java, PLEASE switch the class while you're in time. The class was very poorly organized, there are only 2 midterms in total that WILL make or break your grade, both are very very specific and the grading is terrible. You will be thrown into a lab assuming you know java immediately. Do not recommend.
I took this class on the recommendation of my adviser & felt as if my time was wasted. It seemed to me that the prof spent very little time preparing for our class because if was for non-majors. The labs were disconnected & often flawed. The homework took a ridiculous amount of time for the little help it offered in understanding the material.
I would give him a zero if I could. He is unprofessional and lazy when it comes to teaching. His tests are extremely difficult and are meant to trick you. I would not mind tricky test's, as long as you teach the material well, which he certainly did not. I just wish he would retire so students can actually learn from a better teacher.
He was nice and gave a good overview of topics. Class is always considered one of the hardest regardless of professor.
I really like Dovolis as a person. He's comical and isn't insanely boring. His ability to teach, however, is lost on many of his students. 2021 is hard regardless of the teacher, but I've had Dovolis previously and while I love his personality, I just don't think I could make it through another one of his classes.
Chris is a nice and funny guy. However, given the difficulty of the class, his lectures are useless. Yet he gave pop quizzes so you have to be there. The management is pretty bad, schedule was changed frequently. In the end, for the sake of finishing his schedule, he rushed through 2 chapters, which made our life more difficult.
Cool guy with a solid and articulate way to explain the content. Made learning data structures in Java fun.
I don't understand others' reviews that say you must read the book and lectures are useless, I found it the opposite. The material in this class is very difficult, but Dovolis was very fair in the way he graded midterms (no final) and pop quizzes, usually covering material he covered in class. I did not read the book at all and got an average grade
- Go to lecture - Study material after lecture - Go to labs and try to finish in lab. - If not, go to office hours and ask questions. - Projects are long, but very doable. - When studying inheritance, make sure to know the rules very well for the midterm - Midterms are hard, but fair and test your knowledge. - ** Knowing Java is very useful **
He spends a lot of time lecturing on topics relevant to the projects he assigns (e.g. the bus simulation), but doesn't go into too much detail on any of the more complex data structures/algorithms that we cover (e.g. merge sort). The average score on the second midterm was a 52%, and he didn't even acknowledge it in class.
I've had Dovolis twice now, and here's my conclusions about him: PROS: Fun lecturer, very nice guy, you'll learn a lot. CONS: Expects you to know everything, and know it well (I don't usually read textbooks but 2021 you have to). Tests are weird - you can study for days & there'll probably be questions that you don't even know what he's asking.
At first, I really didn't mind Dovolis' somewhat lazy teaching tactics because the material was not that difficult to understand and the first midterm was relatively easy (average was 88% ). However, I noticed how unhelpful his teaching methods can be when he taught data structures and the next midterm proved that (average was 57%). TAs really help
Tough grader, tests on subjects that were briefly mentioned during class or not mentioned at all. About half of my class did not pass this course. Seems like a nice guy though.
Run! (Away)
I was really excited to take this course, however I am unfortunately writing this as I had one of the worst experiences taking a college class. Professor Dovolis's "out to fail you" attitude after the first midterm really resonated in both lecture and in grading. You know something is wrong with the guy when his goal is to fail most of the class.
Hard class but he is a great professor who understands that the class is difficult so goes kinda easier on you. Loved this course and his teaching of it, takes a lot of effort but if you put the work in you'll get the grade you want. Projects are difficult to start but actually pretty useful and cool.
Not once did Dovolis talk about religion in any of his lectures he was generous at grading. But you also have to remember that the TA were in charge of grading the tests. I liked him.
Good lecturer, but gets off topic occasionally. He is a bit example heavy and does not necessarily cover in class what is on the test. Prepare to read the textbook. His tests are fairly confusing but if you understand the material you will do fine.
I had Chris last year and liked him enough to purposefully take his section of 2021. His lectures are interesting and engaging; I didn't feel bored even though it was a 2.5 hour lecture. The tests and projects are difficult, but if you pay attention in class and do the reading, you should be able to get a good grade.
Regardless of the professor you take for 1933, you'll have to put your "time in" to grade well. No problem there. However, what's frustrating about Dovolis is his laziness/integrity/arrogance. He says an item will be graded a certain way on the exam only to have the TA grade it differently. Afterwards he shrugs his shoulders and replies "oh well."
Should have read review before taking the class. 1) posted a lot of example but never go over them in lecture. 2) arrogant for sure. 3) lectures go off topic a lot. This is what I hated the most: grade exam in a ridiculous way. Regrades are not possible. One whole project one trick question on the 50 minutes exam? TA really helps but not him.
Most of the negative reviews for Dovolis are made by the people who didn't go to lecture and thought they could pass easily. If you are taking this class, you have to be serious about computer science. The third project took me 20 hours in total (with a partner). You should make time for this class.
if you see his name, do not take his class. Chris is literally the worst professor i have ever met in my life. Lazy, arrogant, not helpful, not responsible. I learn most things in this class from TAs. He should retire.
Start early and stay on top of your assignments. This class isn't hard. Go to all lectures and labs, and you will have NO problem understanding the material. All projects and labs allowed for a partner of your choice, so that's nice. Professor Dovolis is great with explaining things, and loves answering questions, so bring plenty!
Be prepared to fail an exam or get a low enough grade to question what the heck you are doing wrong. The projects and labs are easily doable if you put enough time in, heck you can even get A's on every assignment. If you arent great at taking exams, you better go ask his current TAs how and what to study, because the exams are 70% of your grade.
Dovolis acts like a great professor when he lectures. Although he is arrogant, he does present materials clearly. That being said, it feels as if he has no control of what is going on in the class. He does not go over all of the materials that will be on an exam, yet he jokes about not having to read the text book. DO NOT TAKE A COURSE WITH HIM!
I enjoyed Dovolis' lectures at the beginning of the semester. As time went on, however, I realized he really does not do a good job at teaching the class, and is very lazy when it comes to the course. It looked like the TAs handled every aspect about the course except for the lectures/exams. TAs were very helpful, would not pass without their help.
Dovolis made me realize I need to get my act together - to believe in myself and stop wasting my potential. I care a lot more now because of him. He's like a coconut: hard on the outside but (if you do the readings and participate actively in his class) silky-smooth on the inside. Seriously so thankful I took his class. 11/10, I highly recommend it
I really liked Professor Dovolis. He was personable and made learning the material pretty fun. There were a couple times when he would teach us one method of doing things and the TAs would teach something different, and the way the tests were graded was sometimes a bit unclear, but I didn't find it to be a big deal. Would take again.
Make time for this class! Tests are worth most of your grade so it's important to study for them, but even if you study there will still probably be a question you weren't expecting. His tests didn't always seem reflective of what we covered in lecture. Find a partner for labs and projects especially because that made the class a lot more doable.
Took class with him twice. Don't do that. I wanted to like him. Kept lectures engaging. Never taught what was on the test. He sought to set the average at the pass-fail border with no curve. So, everyone below the average, assumedly half, received no credit for the class. Mosey through the labs and projects. Focus your real attention on the tests.
It was quite a hard class. Honestly learned slim to nothing in lecture, but I didn't pay attention too well. You really need to focus during lecture. Labs and projects took up a LOT of time, and were quite hard, but make sure you understand them because tests won't be any easier. Tests are overall random. Theres no real way to study or prepare.
I thought he was a pretty chill dude. His lectures seemed to ramble quite a bit. However, I don't think the grades for the class reflect mastery of the material taught as the 70% of your grade from the tests overemphasized points in passing and neglected topics discussed in depth.
Dovolis is a really cool, laid back guy and an amazing lecturer of the material. However, most of your grade comes down to just 2 exams (10 or so exam questions) and a few of these exam questions will be somewhat random, obscure, or tricky. Go to all his lectures, write notes on everything he talks about, and study like crazy and you should pass.
Really inspiring lectures as long as you care about the subject too. He makes boring classes exciting and provides very clear explanations. Dovolis is not afraid to step back and take different approaches to the topic. Make sure to ask him questions if you have any
Quite bad at explaining things. Constantly rewinds to correct himself- usually a student who noticed. It was often hard for me to put lecture material in context, with respect to projects. Lecture notes just became todo lists for what youtube videos to watch. Also pretty arrogant.
Chris Dovolis is a great lecturer. He is one of the few if not the only professor that I actually enjoy listening to. That being said, his classes are definitely hard. If you don't know Java, I suggest taking an online course on Java before taking this class.
Teaches well and in depth. Main downside are trick questions on quizzes and tests that require strong grasp of conceptual stuff. Projects in this class are fun if you don't procrastinate.
Great teacher, but decently difficult class to get through. There is a lot thrown at you. Projects are good, the tests could be a bit much, but plenty of time is given for them. He can get a bit off topic sometimes, but we usually get through all the material needed.
Overall decent, but not great. The class itself is very hard and Dovolis does his best, but lacks in certain areas. Lectures can be very boring and tough to get through because of the material. Be prepared to be confused when reading through the book and to struggle on projects and homework. He has pop quizzes as well.
Chris Dovolis is a very laid back professor. His lectures are fun and he tries to break down confusing concepts into smaller pieces. That being said, CSCI 2021 will be HARD. You cannot expect Dovolis to teach you everything. You have to put in effort outside of the classroom. Take advantage of resources and good luck.
Have to claim that 2021 itself is a tough class! You have to learn by yourself at some points and couldn't just wait for the professor to teach you. Chris tries to make the class exciting and he is patient to explain student's questions. If you are not sure if you can do good on the exams, try your best to get as much as points in HWs!
A lot of students got screwed, because he was a tough grader. He is a great teacher though. The projects and the labs are very straightforward, but the exams are just too hard! They have the most conceptual questions with really tough grading criteria. I would not recommend him, but it is not the end of the world if he is the only option you've got
I've had Dovolis for both CSCI 1933 and CSCI 2021 now and I can see definitively that he is much better at teaching CSCI 2021. While I did not like him much for 1933, it is clear that 2021 is what he is passionate about and it shows. He was very clear with his lectures, and made homeworks, labs, and exams very reasonable.
If you have to take CSCI 2021 (I don't know why you'd want to take it if you didn't have to), make sure to take it with Chris Dovolis. You definitely have to work hard, but he really cares about his students and wants everyone to pass, he even says so on the first day. He listens and adjusts content and deadlines. Perfect professor for this class.
Quizzes were pretty randomly timed. He would vaguely say when they wold be, and he managed to go off topic quite often in class. The TA's chosen were pretty awful as well, but Chris was okay, if he could stay on topic.
Amazing professor who is really inspirational and cares about his students. Although tests are a huge part of the grade, if you pay attention in lecture and ask questions, you will be good.
Amazing teacher. Had him for CSCI 1001 as well. Cares about his students and explains very difficult topics extremely well. Would recommend to students who go at a slower pace. Answers questions very well. Very respectful.
I had Dovolis for both 1933H and 2021, and he is definitely a professor that makes you work for your grade. 100% you need to read the textbook on your own time (and make sure you understand it) if you want to pass his tests, as he tends to include material not discussed in lecture. He is a really nice guy though and cares about his students.
This course is one of toughest required class in cs major. However, he made this course tougher. If you go to this course without pre-study, you will have no idea what he is talking about. He often made mistake during the lecture. Sometime you may have doubts if he knows what he is talking. Overall you need to be ready to self-study in this class.
The assignments and projects were completely managed by the TA's and not Dovolis. His tests were totally different and often tried to "trick us" unnecessarily and we spent most of the time trying to understand what the question was asking. I learned a lot and I feel that if I took tests relating to assignments and projects, I would do way better.
Lecture quality is hit or miss depending on the topic. Assignments and projects in this course were actually much better at teaching and testing the material, but Dovolis wasn't involved much with those. The grading of the course was particularly egregious: A project taking 20 hrs work is worth less than 3 1hr labs or a 3hr written assignment.
One of the toughest classes I've ever taken but I thought he was a great professor. Every single minute in class is worthwhile, don't skip!! I had issues with his grading breakdown, projects that took 20 hours were worth hardly anything and 3 50 min tests were the vast majority of your grade. Does not curve even though test averages were in the 60s
Absolutely TERRIBLE. Cannot give a good midterm to save his life; midterm will never look like any homework you receive before. Doesn't help you prepare for midterms properly at all. Doesn't use technology at all; you have to go to lectures or else you will not get good notes, and even then, he backtracks so much you get so confused. 0/10
Dovolis gets a lot of hate, but this class wasn't as bad as I was expecting it to be. He has some good TAs and clearly cares a lot about this class. However, this class is really disorganized. Due dates and midterm dates shifted, he was unable to cover all the material in time. The class is midterm heavy and there are trick questions.
It was one of the most interesting classes I took. During lectures make sure to listen everything he said to keep up with him. Although I couldn't do it, reading ahead paysoff. Studying the book very well and doing exercises in the book is the best way to pass the exams.
Professor Dovolis is a very likable person and teacher. He usually started off class by asking for feedback on recent labs or tests. However, even though he connected well with the students, he lacked in a few areas. His tests were hard, long, and worded poorly. A lot of the grade was based on these tests and this caused a lot of stress overall.
One of the best professors I have had at UMN. He just teaches difficult CSCI courses, which are difficult to do well in if you don't put in 20+ hours of work per week. Exams make up a huge part of the grade (60%), so the 15-20 hour projects that are worth very little each can be overwhelmingly frustrating if you forget to include something simple.
No. Just no. Don't do it. Wait another semester and get a better teacher or take 1913. The grading criteria is whack. One 50 minute midterm full of random trick questions worth more than 5 projects combined which take like 15-20 hours each. Could go on and on, but this should be enough to convince you not to take this professor.
Tried Dovolis again and it was the same crap again. Lectures were decent but the grading criteria was badly weighted and the class was very disorganized. Even though he's a nice guy, he is just not a good teacher. He will not properly prepare you for 4061 which you will take next. Take it with Kauffman or wait a semester. Not worth the pain.
I took the night course for 1933, and I really enjoyed it. His lectures are information rich, and not only does he point out pitfalls and loopholes in code, and he always makes sure to answer why we are doing/learning something. His notes are great, and he provides a lot of online resources and explanations for code. Do NOT skip lecture!
Okay I tell you what - when it comes to 2021, Dovolis isn't the worst choice by far. Given how ridiculously hard the course is, he is doing an okay job. His lectures are useless but the overall work load is also less when compared to other teachers. And he is very lenient when it comes to the final grade for the class. So,it is okay to take him.
Terrible wording
If you have a chance of taking a different professor, please do. Dovolis is not "horrible", but he is definitely not a professor I would take again. His tests are random and his practice problems have little to do with them. Projects and labs are the only thing I like about this class. Lectures are hard to follow considering he messes up a lot. No.
If you do the readings and come to lecture, the class is not very difficult. I had prior knowledge of Java, which was extremely helpful. Dovolis teaches you everything you need to know apart from the language in class. Dovolis is a very nice professor who is very responsive to any questions you may have and is always willing to explain more.
Overall, a pretty easy class. Going to lecture will save you time because then you won't need to read the textbook. The labs and homework are not too difficult and with some effort you can get an A on all of them.
Overall, he's a fine teacher. He is a pretty entertaining lecturer, but what is on the test does not really match what he would stress in class. I think he thinks he talks about topics a lot, so he puts them on the exam, when in reality he barely talked about them. Study the topics sheets! and go on the internet to get a more in depth knowledge
This is a tough class, but Professor Dovolis is passionate about it and does his best to explain concepts clearly in class. You absolutely must read the textbook to learn all of the content you need to do well in this class, but the homework assignments give you lots of practice for the exams and help you determine how well prepared you are.
Midterms and finals have a lot of trick questions. Make sure you understand the concepts (Inheritance, Runtime vs Compile time, .Equals vs , etc.) REALLY well.
The projects, lectures, and homework don't line up at all. Exams are also very different from the stuff in the textbooks and homework.
He's a very good lecturer, but the tests are very difficult.
Professor Dovolis has a unique way of lecturing, though, he does try his best to engage us as he encourages us to ask questions on the material that he goes over. He was very open and easy to talk to during his office hours. Overall, I think the class was structured well and that you'll be fine as long as you put in the effort.
Class structure is set up awfully. Tests account for huge chunks of the grade (like 80% I believe), projects that take like 10 hours to do only account for 4% each. Miss 2 labs and automatically fail. Refuses to use github to submit so you have to go in person to talk to the TAs to submit. Teaches poorly so you're better of using the textbook.
Took 1933 during the fall. Bombed the first exam cuz I didnt know time complexity but came back swinging. Really time complexity is big in that class. Exams are 70% of the grade, and five projects worth 20% all together. Went to only five lectures total, u can learn urself tbh. Exams are weirdly worded and projects r way too much time.
You have to work hard in this class! It prepares you well for workload that 2021 and 2041 will dump on you.
I took professor Dovolis in my first semester in the U since transferring, and I should say I was worried about future classes in the U. His class requires heavy reading, and a lot of self learning. Lectures may be boring to some but if you could stay awake and focus you should be good!
Professor Dovolis is a rare gem in academia. He is intelligent, articulate, comedic at times, and truly prioritizes students' passion over grade.
Honestly speaking, I was expecting the worse entering this course as the reviews on here have given Dovolis a reputation of being a sketchy professor. He's actually decent, very accessible for questions, and teaches well. The tests are very fair and not bad if you do the review labs and study example code. Lectures are a must if you want to do well
Really boring lectures.
Reading some of the ratings on Prof. Dovolis before the semester I was kind of nervous about the class but it turned out to be the exact opposite. Seemed like a really good professor who took a lot of time reviewing and going over stuff to make sure that the students knew what was going on. Lectures are a must if you want to pass.
Chris gets a bad rap. His lectures are clear. GO TO LECTURE. His tests are a regurgitation of the lecture. He does have some quirks that he empties in lectures, as does every professor. If you start the labs and projects early the class is very manageable. If you don't understand a topic, ask for help b/c things build on each other very quickly.
When I was signing up for this class, I have heard a lot of horror stories about Dovolis and how awful his class is. Maybe he changed the structure of the class, but overall, it was a pretty good class, as long as you go to lectures and start the projects early. If you do the projects and practice exams provded, you should be good for the tests.
Pretty good lecturer and passionate about teaching. Do your projects, go to the labs, study for exams, and ask for help and you'll be fine.
Class was tough at first but if you put in effort during the labs and take good notes the class is pretty easy. Dovolis is passionate about comp sci and really puts in the effort to make good lectures notes. He always uploads lecture notes and coding examples to canvas so you can use them to study.
Came into 1933 unsure of what to expect based on what other students had said, but overall class isn't that bad. Prof Dovolis was a pretty good lecturer. I honestly felt he was better online than in person though. Make sure to start projects early, try to do most of the lab the day of, and pay attention in lecture.
During lectures, Professor Dovolis is so enthusiastic and excited about the material. I really learned a lot from him and I appreciated how he prepared us for future CSCI classes. He is very caring and granted me a grading accommodation I didn't expect to receive. To succeed in the class just show up, listen, read, and submit projects on time!
While Chris is clearly passionate about his students, his ability to teach clearly and concisely greatly detracted from that fact. He rambles about material not on the exams and I didn't truly learn any material until I looked online. This class is poorly structured, but you might have an easier time if you have a lot of previous Java/coding exp.
Terribly worded tests. You have to guess what the questions mean. Lectures were irrelevant. The projects and labs were way too much work for only a weight of 30% total. The projects and labs were fun, though.
Chris is a good professor, lectures can be a little unclear at times, but there was nothing unfair about the class. You're given plenty of time to complete the projects and they don't take too much time. Labs are graded on completion and some of them can be very long so prepare to spend sometime completing labs outside of lab.
Go to the lectures before you struggle, most of the information is built upon later so its best to stay on top of it. Don't procrastinate the projects and do the work, and the class will go fine
Professor Dovolis's lectures were easy to follow as long as you stayed on track with the content. All labs, projects, tests, and most office hours were run by TAs. I didn't have much personal interaction with him, as his personal office hours were only accessible by phone or email, not Zoom. However, there were plenty of opportunities to get help.
The grading in this class made absolutely no sense. Tests are worth 60% of your grade and projects are only worth 25% when you spend most of the time in the class working on projects. Dovolis is an incredibly mediocre lecturer and does most of his work writing on a piece of paper. Overall the class was fine but it could be annoying at times.
This class was annoying. Large lecture where all graded aspects of the course are done by TAs. Very poorly written project and lab write-ups that faculty. Totally off-base expectations of the time you will spend on projects and labs. You will need to ask questions to understand what is expected of you, but will not always get an answer.
Professor Dovolis is a great teacher. You have to put in a lot of effort to get a grade . Some labs take a whole day to finish ( 2 or 3). Test are long , but doable with reviewing material and lectures. Projects were very interesting ! Take him if you have a choice over other professors
Chris Dovolis is a great professor, but a bit dry. Attend lectures, or you probably won't do very well. Go to office hours! TAs and Professor Dovolis are very helpful during projects. He has decent handwritten notes for review later. It's important to listen bc this class is pretty important for CS, bc you are introduced to OOP and algorithms.
Lectures are okay. He does a decent job with explaining things, it's just presented a little messy sometimes. Exams are 60% of your grade and I found that to be kind of weird as it doesn't involve much coding. There are a few projects done throughout the course that you can do with a partner, if you do it by yourself it's definitely a lot of work.
Tests determine your whole grade... lectures are not very clear and have poor coding examples.
Your grade in this class will be highly dependent on if you can write code in a timed exam environment. Be fluent with all algorithms and data structures presented, you might have to write a semi-complex program. Attend all labs, it's a free 20%. Projects are only 4% each, but your understanding of projects helps with exam prep. Good luck.
Never have I been scared of a professor so much. I hated his exams so much. I studied about 60-70 hours for each midterm. His questions are very badly worded. Heavily depends on TAs. TA's prepare projects and exams from base and grade it. He isn't empathetic to peoples condition and reports people at the slightest hint of cheating,even if you didnt
Dovolis is a cool prof, and his lectures were clear and easy for me. The main issue is the exams and projects. Even though I was fluent in the material, the projects took a ton of time, and the exams were too hard. Like they were designed to make you lose points for no reason.
You'll definitely need to stay on top of the material in this class, as there's almost always a project or exam coming up. Aside from misleading / strangely-worded questions on exams, be careful not to make mistakes or you may be accused of cheating with no way of convincing the professor otherwise. Unfortunately a common problem across the years.
I took this summer 2021 so it was very fast paced, and it was also online. I found Dovolis's lectures to be very thorough, interesting, and useful. My one complaint is that he glossed over some confusing higher level topics, but there was never any tested emphasis on them anyway. Labs were extremely easy. Many projects were what took most time.
I was annoyed by how he pushed all responsibility onto an army of TAs, and the tests were often oddly worded. The lectures and readings are fine, but the labs and projects are where you really learn. I ended up skipping a fair few readings and ended out fine. Projects are designed to be done as a group, making individual attempts much much harder.
He reported like a third of the class for cheating, when I'm certain 70% of them didn't actually cheat. And those who did cheat seriously were punished as much as those who either cheated mildly. Projects aren't worth enough of the grade. They take up 80% of the time in this class but are only worth 20% of the grade. Super boring lecture as well.
High standards Professor. Pretty boring in class, not the best if you're newer to coding/compsci.
The structure of this course is horrible. The 5 projects assigned, that take you numerous days to complete, are each worth 4% of your grade. While the three Midterms that you are allowed to take in 50 minutes are each worth 20% of your grade. Lots of people complained about this, and Dovolis didn't change class. Does not go in-depth with lectures
The worst computer science professor that I have had. The project took like forever, and somewhat only worth 20% of the total grades. Moreover, he will report anyone at the slightest hint of cheating even if you didn't. Also, he does not report people immediately, he wait until the end of the semester to do so. Letting people helping you is cheatin
He responds to email very quickly, which is nice. Clearly passionate about CS but not a great lecturer. Writes down too much code!! Everyone complains about the projects but theyre not that bad. Just get started early and youll be fine, you get two weeks to complete them and you can ask TAs questions if you get stuck.
Not a bad prof tbh. He doesn't do the basic stuff like provide keys for study material and refuses to post the video lecture at the same time/before in person lecture and also gives a dumb reason for both. I highly recommend making a friend in the class for the tough projects and labs and getting them done early. Lectures weren't too bad honestly.
Awful Professor. Doesnt care about his students and grades only by tests. Lectures are mediocre at best, for some reason he doesn't use computers and only writes code on paper or whiteboard.
While dovolis didnt really teach all that much, most of the topics are easily found online. The exams are for the most part like the practice or sample exams and are worth a lot (20% each) So make sure to do well on them. Projects take a pretty long time, so make sure to start them early. Class wasnt too bad, should be an easy pass
Very sweet and funny guy. Offers all the lectures online, which is nice if you miss a lecture. I don't like how he writes code on paper; it slows down the pace of the lectures for no real reason. The projects aren't bad at all as long as you don't procrastinate. Sends out plenty of resources for the exams, so they aren't super hard either.
Dovolis gets so much hate, very little of which is deserved. The class is a bit difficult but he sets you up for future success, especially for interviews. Office hours help a lot if you are struggling. Video lectures were also available online, which was my go-to, as he tends to lecture kinda slow. Not the easiest option, but probably the best.
If you want to do extremely hard projects and watch very boring lectures, then take him. However, his class is great for students who are looking for a job in computer science since his class prepares you well for technical interviews. The exams are hard and you get 1.5 hours to complete.
Prof. Dovolis is just below average. Projects are challenging, but doable. Labs are a lot of weekly work, but helpful. Test's are hard, but straightfoward. Only real issue is the absence of lecture notes, which would make him a solid prof.
He isn't the best professor, but he's also not the worst. It would be better if he used lecture slides, also on some more strange topics his lectures get sorta hard to follow. He explains in sort of a circular way where you won't know the foundations of something, but he'll teach you some weird property of it before the basics.
If you stay up to date on what's going on and how to approach what he's talking about, you'll be fine. If not (like me) make sure you do that whether it's going to office hours or watching videos on youtube.
The lectures were amazing and he made the content easy to understand. He even hosted a Discord server for everyone in the class that had all of the TAs, so you could ask questions and get quick answers or go to office hours digitally! It was amazing.
it's tough but he does a good job
Generally enjoyed this class, the projects and labs were very helpful in learning the lecture components, but the tests were a bit tricky. The tests tended to have some obscure questions on them, and they had written code components which were difficult to complete in the allotted time. He is a great lecturer though-always learned something new.
This course was definitely NOT easy, but there are many many TA's ready to help any student with the countless labs and projects. The tests are half concepts half coding skills based on labs and projects. You have to give your 100% for this class but the professor and the TA's are all great.
You can tell that Professor Dovolis really cares about teaching the best class he possibly can. I heard a rumor that he retired from his career job and he only teaches because it's what he loves to do, and I believe it! Truly an amazing professor; if I could give him more than five stars I would!
Dovolis's lectures were sometimes rambly, but I learned a lot from them. His teaching style is pretty average & he did it on paper. You can work with a partner on a project, but I worked alone for them and got full points for all (might've been faster with a partner). Exams were reasonable, if you did & understand the projects you'd be fine (~80+).
He's passionate about what he teaches and even though his lectures might be a bore sometimes, there is a lot you can take from them. His projects and labs honestly taught me a lot and I went from not knowing basically anything about data structures to getting an internship. Take the class seriously, start your projects early and you will succeed.
Pretty much just echoing what other reviews said: His lectures are a bit rambly, and honestly as long you know what is being covered in lecture you will be fine. Tests had some obscure questions, but aside from that every graded assignment is very reasonable and teaches you how to do well in interviews. Not sure if great professor or great class.
I really enjoyed Dovolis' spring course for 1933. During class he always explained material in an understandable way, derived algorithms with us, and provides LOTS of examples on the class page to look at, play with, and use in labs & projects. Awesome Professor & TAs, well structured. Labs are a little challenging, but such an awesome class!
He is a very smart professor, but he has a couple of key issues. One, he doesn't post notes and expects you to take notes verbatim and as someone who likes to look back at things, it made it difficult. Second, he assigned two projects due on the same day as the final midterm. Three Midterms are pretty much your grade and you have to study a lot.
While I found the subject material to be quite dry, Chris was an incredible professor. One of the funniest and kindest instructors I've had. Office hours were extremely helpful. I would highly recommend his classes. My only complaint is that the projects were long and difficult.
Only posts lectures if he misses lecture. Checks attendance randomly and not during the same weeks. Few notes online. Handwrites code during lecture. Will sometimes give solutions to projects/labs during lecture. Grades are updated on Canvas at the discretion of his TA who will do it maybe once. Midterms are a bit difficult but fine with studying .
Read not-sure-yet as A/A-. Chris Dovolis isn't a wonderful lecturer or teacher -- bland, hand-writes code during lecture, and doesn't post any lecture materials online. And self studying isn't an option, because he uses definitions inconsistent with his online resources/textbooks and there are occasional participation group-pop-quizzes. Tests mid.
About half the class is failing and he doesn't care at all. Doesn't explain well in lectures and he dosent prepare you for his tests.
I found instructions on projects and labs to be very vague. Exams are hand written. Questions had very little to do with understanding the concept and I found them to be tricky instead. Exams would be much easier if he had given access to an IDE. I can't think of any real life advantage of being able to recall and write code from memory on a paper.
Although there are aspects about Dovolis which were a little annoying (such as not posting notes online), he is making an effort to improve this course. Projects could be long but were never impossible and exams never felt too difficult as long as you studied well and took your time. Extra credit is weird with Dovolis, but it definitely helped.
CSCI3061 - Really nice guy that cares about what he's teaching. Lectures had no virtual option which made attendance essentially mandatory, but the content was taught well in them. Midterms were challenging, but the TAs and Prof. Dovolis were understanding and offered points back on various assignments. Would recommend.
No grading criteria in the syllabus so you don't know what you're getting yourself into. Midterm averages were around 70% and there is still no curve. IDK how I got an A but if there is any other prof teaching this go for them!! I heard James Moen's class only had 3 projects and 2 midterms -- both of which way easier & they still learned more
He as a person, seems very nice and personable. His material however, since he dosen't post lecture videos, you gotta be at lectures, which isn't great, so you probably have to self teach, especially if you don't know java. Tests were really hard for me, but I'm not the brightest. Wish he curved everyone and not "case by case" for final grades.
This was the worst professor I have ever had. He would ramble about random stuff for all of the lectures (not available online), complain about how he had too many students, and projects were so difficult and the TAs were not helpful and were just a small portion of the grade. You have to write code on midterms by hand. I did not learn anything.
Dovolis is a nice guy, but his lectures are very boring. He will often spend a whole week on one topic, saying the same things over and over again. The projects (start them early), tests, and labs all really aren't too bad if you are genuinely interested in CS and try to understand each new concept from lecture. Coursework was actually kinda fun.
This guy's lectures are pretty dry, but it's nothing that isn't doable with the textbook. Office hours are very helpful with this class so go early and often. There's a considerable difficulty spike in the second half of the semester so don't become complacent with this course. Fantastic guy, really cares about his students. Projects are massive.
His lectures were very good and the projects in the class were massive but they were excellent for learning. I think if you are interested in learning about computer science this is a good instructor. Tests were a bit hard to get A's on because there would always be 1 or 2 "trick" type of questions.
He's a great guy. His lectures can go off the rails sometimes with some rambles but it's clear he really does care about educating students about computer science. You'll be successful in this course if you do the readings, actively seek help from TAs, etc. He doesn't post extensive lecture notes so it's recommended that you show up.
Really mid professor. Classes is difficult since both exams are around 50-60% of the grade. There are 2 exams but the class is set up where each exam is it's own category. So both exams are not in 1 exam category but instead each are it's own 20-25% category. Had all labs finished and good scores on projects and was not able to pass.
The greatest professor I've ever had. Tests are trivial at worst, labs are fun, but the projects can be a extreme amount of work for those unprepared. Midterms are easy, you just need to attend lecture to understand (he doesn't post any slides from lectures). Go to lecture, and you will ace this class. Don't expect to self-teach, this is college.
This class will be a step up from 1133, so expect to put in the work.There are large projects and midterms are difficult, which have reviews but no answer key.Start projects and review early, because everyone does everything last minute in this class.He is a caring and understanding guy who has a lot industry experience, so go to his office hours.
Projects are given a ton of time and you should visit office hours for them. Lack of homework/quizzes to understand some of the topics especially later into the course with the finals. DOES NOT CURVE so make sure to get all possible points in labs and projects. Practice midterms has no answer key. Manually draws out lectures so make sure to go.
Dovolis is a great professor. He seems to have a deep knowledge of computer science material, and shows it in the lectures. The course is VERY assignment heavy, with large projects and textbook readings that prepare you for the tests. It is a difficult class, but there are many TAs and they are easily accessible. One bad thing is the textbook tho.
Lectures are him just talking, going on tangents, and writing code on paper. He doesn't get the concept that some students aren't just kids who live on campus, so he makes his am students come in on a day they don't have class to test at 630-830 pm. Also gives a lot of push back to students who need to use the disability resource center for exams.
Projects are hardly worth the effort required, and don't contribute to learning the material like the labs do. They are overly complicated, not even in difficulty, just way too many things to do, and the instructions are like reading a book with vague suggestions and expectations. Overall bad time.
Good lecturer, clear grading scheme, projects provide good talking points if you're interviewing for internships. I don't really like Zybooks though. Practice exams were helpful, he doesn't provide answers because he thinks it encourage bad study habits and I kind of agree. Would highly recommend this professor. Has excellent TAs.
Best Professor in the CSCI department goat
Teaching style reminds me of Bill Nye. Incredibly knowledgeable about CS-related content, and his lectures are easy to follow but still provide an in-depth understanding. He frequently reviews and connects old content to new, so course content is easily remembered. Projects take time but aren't difficult, lab and Zybooks reinforce learned knowledge
Dovolis is an OK professor. His lectures were a little difficult to follow since he ramble on about things. Projects were okay and doable alone but definitely required a lot of time and preparation beforehand. I didn't find much help in the ZyBooks for prepping for the midterm and the final but it was nice that it was extra credit.
Points taken off from the midterm on the last day of class are not visible, so regrades have to be done in the next semester. He said he was embarrassed to show his exams to other profs because they were "so easy", but the average score was 60% on the last midterm. The other prof curved the grades while he didn't.
severely underrated professor, and a lot of the flack he gets is because of the shortcomings of the students themselves. there was always very clear and often lenient grading criteria, the content presented to you was highly relevant, and this semester the readings counted as extra credit. all in all a good lecturer with a very well structred class
Professor Dovolis was a kind professor who wants students to succeed. His lectures and slides can be a bit boring at times, but taking my own notes helped me stay engaged and study for tests. Weekly readings are worth 5% extra credit. The midterm is worth 25% of your grade. Some of the projects were tough, but there are frequent TA office hours.
Professor Dovolis runs a structured, content-rich class. While assignments can be time-consuming, the material is relevant, and the TAs are accessible for support. Unstuckstudy AI's practice tools helped me prepare effectively for exams. An overall challenging but rewarding experience.
Dovolis is actually a really nice and understanding professor although he likes to go on tangents during lecture. His lectures didn't make any sense and I felt like I had to teach everything to myself. If you want to pass you have to bombard your TA with 1 million questions. He doesn't curve exams, and claims his exams are "easy" when they are not.
If you are taking data structures with Chris get ready to learn a lot. Remember Linked lists if probably the most importatnt topic you should understand to get the rest. Do well on the projects and study for hte midterms and final. Overall W professor for sure
Lecture slides lack detail, making review difficult. If you don't know Java beforehand, the content can be hard to follow initially. Labs and projects are vague and confusing. He doesn't curve tests, even when averages are low, and claims they're easy when they're not. I'd recommend avoiding him if you can.
Exam-heavy 55% exams difficult exams. Lecs are not very useful often rant about stuff mostly conceptual lectures, very vocal, slides are not very useful. Utilize office hours for extensive projects. The second part of the semester ramps up in difficulty with DSA. The final average was a 60% No curve. This course can make or break CS for you
Professor Dovolis is a nice teacher and understanding, however he moves through material very fast, all lecture slides lack detail, mostly taught through in class examples. Office hours have a 3 hour queue to ask the TA 1 question. One project will be due on Friday and the next will open on Monday for the whole semester, that move very fast.
Lectures are convoluted and he refuses to work with DRC accommodations (illegal). Exams are worth 55% of your grade, and the questions are mostly theory. Nothing covered in class is helpful for the projects, which causes 2+ hour lines for office hours, but both exams are based on lecture content that isn't on the posted slides so you have to go.
This class is awful. Tests are 55% of the grade, with averages around 60%. Lectures are useless, so I relied on YouTube to learn. Labs only help if you understand the material, but TAs are unhelpful, and office hour lines are too long. The final exam was 50 minutes, but the test wasn't shortened. Avoid this class; 1913 is much better.
Dovolis is one of the most engaging professors I have ever had and made a big impact on my decision to declare a major in Computer Science. This class is difficult (averages for the three exams were 78%, 87%, and 64%, I think), but it is very doable if you study in advance, ask questions during office hours, and go to lectures regularly!
He was fine. Funny guy, lectures went a bit haywire sometimes, and the projects were hard. Bit of a difficult class and I'm not sure he really understands that, but nobody fails as long as you put the work in.
His class heavily relies on lecture. If he spends an entire lecture on a niche topic, expect it on the test. Practice with NeetCode; projects are graded generously. His midterms are basically the same every semester so look over the last midterm problems. If you fail either midterms you're probably not getting an A.
In the beginning of the year he takes his time with every topic and goes very slowly (I would say too slowly but they are very thorough and good overall) but near the end of the year, only one lecture is given to each binary trees, binary search, and hash tables. The last exam is much more difficult than the earlier ones.
If you don't go to every lecture you won't get an A and he is such a terrible lecturer, almost fell asleep every lecture.
Skipping lectures will plummet your grade. The way the midterms are graded is bad.
not a fan of bro
Really engaging lectures and personable guy. Explained concepts deliberately and clearly, walking students through the layers of understanding. Projects were not that bad and I was cut a lot of slack when I accidentally submitted my code wrong so it wouldn't compile as intended.
I didn't like him, could get amazing scores on the projects and still do bad in the class because the exams were most of the grade- when I took the class, the midterm average was 60 ish and zero curve even though one exam is 25% of your grade. The exams were graded harshly and I noticed a lot of discrepancies on how other peoples exams got grades.
Lecture was super hard to understand, he has a paper and pencil only style when teaching, and kinda just vomits his thoughts on the paper. I do not suggest taking this prof unless you are ready for 55% of your grade to depend on written quizzes/exams(only 3 total)
pretty good
Zero notes, just speaking and examples of code. 60% of your grade is quizzes, yet the average scores for the class are failing. Lectures are more confusing than just explicitly stating the material on a slide. Required readings that he himself said sometimes won't have to do with the class material yet have some crucial material he doesn't cover.
Not a conventional way of teaching. Very lecture heavy and little to no guided-examples given in class. If you can sit through a lecture and just listen and work on your work outside of class, then take this course. Otherwise, he is very caring knowledgeable, but be prepared to learn outside of lecture in labs and projects.
He's ok. Lectures are him rambling but he does emphasize some important things you should know. The slides that are posted are just brief summaries so try not to skip lecture. Quizzes were fine just attend the review sessions and do the review questions. Labs were hard but you learned a lot. Finish the projects the week they're assigned trust me.
He doesn't use his laptop instead of paper to code. I've said enough.
Office hours (including TA office hours) were far more helpful in helping me understand material than the lectures. Expect to attend them frequently outside of class.
His lectures were incredibly boring and confusing.
The quizzes can be hit or miss. Make sure you finish the projects early and that you understand the lab material. Lectures can be long winded and the posted slides are bare bones but if you're working on practice problems based off of the lab/project material, you should be fine.
Class Info
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100%
Attendance Mandatory
43%
Textbook Required
21%
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