There are weekly discussion posts(300 words) due by midnight each Friday and biweekly assignments(500 words) due by midnight either Sunday, Wednesday, or Friday depending on the week. It is easy to receive a high A on all of these assignments that comprise the majority of your grade. 5 easy quizzes (3 at home online) (4 questions each) and a final.

intro cs is a weirdly structured class and the curriculum is kind of strangely ordered, so it seems like they brush off a lot of explanations saying we'll get to that later, but the class itself is pretty interesting and Dr Arena is good at explaining concepts so he's one of your best bets at not becoming frustrated by the curriculum.

Professor Dan is the best professor I have had at college. He is hilarious and insightful and knowledgeable and approachable.

THE BEST

The homeworks take time but the TAs are always available and Dan is really helpful during office hours. The tests are easy as long as you read the lectures. You don't need to go to class to do well but Dan is very entertaining.

Dan Arena is hands down the best professor for CS 1101. He is a good lecturer and is happy to help you outside class. I went to his office hours a few times and he was not at all intimidating. If you are able to take his class I would absolutely recommend him over any other professor.

The homeworks were hard and took time, but definitely paid off. My favorite class, such a funny guy.

Professor Dan is very helpful from day one. He cares about how his students and this is demonstrated by him asking for feedback after every test about what the students thought. Assignments can sometimes get pretty lengthy but he gives ample time as well as 4 free late days. 10/10 would recommend. 12/10 with rice.

Definitely one of my favourite professors at Vanderbilt. Office hours are a great time, and classes are fun too. Professor Dan genuinely cares about his students. Once, he stayed after class on a Friday for two hours to help me fix my mess of a program. He's the reason I'm considering a CS major. I wish I could take all my CS classes with him.

As a student who had never taken a CS course before, Arena really made me glad I did. Very personable and makes the lectures about as interesting as comp sci lectures can be. Weekly homework can be very challenging at times but it forces you to really know the material. Would definitely recommend.

He is a great, nice teacher. He knows the material. I definitely thought the course had way too many assignments, and the grading criteria was very picky. However, that isn't professor Arena's fault at all. I think he is the most interesting and funny out of all of the CS 1101 professors.

Professor Dan is great. I went in with no CS experience, and he made it relatively parsimonious if I paid attention. Tests aren't too bad if you read the lectures and the textbook. The class had a few too many assignment that seemed only doable with LOTS of TA help or previous programming experience, when this is supposed to be an intro class.

Professor Arena has been my favorite professor this year. He is very funny in lectures and extremely helpful in office hours. He definitely cares for all of his students and really does his best to teach us. The class itself is fine, some of the programming assignments can be difficult but you get a week to do them. Would recommend 10/10

Professor Arena is extremely helpful. He's patient with every student's every question. When you think you should get some credit back from any test or assignment, as long as your request is reasonable, he's definitely gonna help you. He takes the honor code really serious so you will always be rewarded for your honesty and hard work in his class

Seriously one of the nicest professors ever. This course in particular was a bit rough because it was his first year and it contained a lot of reading off the slides and equivocal explanations of concepts, but the material isn't too difficult to begin with. But he still rocks.

Awesome. Professor Dan was really great and really cared about the students. I know it was his first semester teaching it, but I thought he did a great job with a tough subject.

Professor Arena is phenomenal. Got through this course without ever opening the textbook because of how thorough & clear his lectures were. He is also very approachable when you have questions and seems committed to helping students succeed. Best advice for this class: Start assignments early and go to office hours if/when you get stuck.

I've taken more than my fair share of traditionally difficult classes at Vandy, but none compares to CS 1101. It's a TON of outside work (10-17+ hrs/week). Prof. Arena is a great choice and very accessible outside of class, but Java is definitely not for the faint-of-heart. Do not take the class unless you are TRULY considering a CS major.

Hes great, love the guy. Do the homework and youre fine

don't buy the textbook. he's so great. love hte class. take ethics with him if you can. study for the quizzes

One of the best professors. Gives feedback so fast.... I asked a question on piazza and ten seconds later I received a response

Great professor, but one of the hardest classes I've ever taken. The sheer workload for this class dwarfed all my other courses combined. There are weekly homework assignments that really take quite a lot of effort to do. He's unbelievably responsive to questions, and is good at explaining the concepts. Seriously--Great professor, difficult class.

He is a wonderful and fair professor. Lectures always contain some humor, and he is very easy to work with and get in touch with outside of class.

In short, Arena is a great lecturer and I was glad to have him. He's a gem in office hours and I'd recommend him to anyone.

Vandy made this course harder than it previously was before Spring 2017. It is a challenging course but very interesting and you will learn a lot. Arena is a great teacher and he genuinely cares about his students. Great class all around if you're up to the challenge.

This year they reprogram all assignments and they are really challenging. I have no background and it is really hard at first. But I REALLY learned a lot. Prepare to spend a lot of time on this course. Professor Dan is the best!!! He is always there to answer your question and help you. If you love CS and prepare to major in it, definitely take it!

With weekly programming assignments, this class requires a lot of effort. Even for those who have some CS background and are CS majors (like me), the homework still takes a lot of time and can be tricky. Arena is a fabulous teacher though. He welcomes questions in class and is quick to answer emails. I also took CS 1151 with him, which was good.

Awesome, caring and the best professor I've ever had.

CS1101 is a hard course. You definitely need to put a lot of time and effort into the course if you want to do well - there were times that I spent 20+ hours in office hours in a week. But Professor Arena was great! His lectures are clear and he is extremely helpful in office hours! If your gonna take 1101, take it with Arena.

Great class. Great professor. Learned a lot.

His lectures are just so fun - he always has tons of cool real-life examples and case studies to go along with the boring textbook stuff (the mock trials/discussions of court cases on Fun Fridays are hilarious and really get the whole class engaged) The quizzes are not too hard if you review the slides carefully and he is kinda an easy grader too.

Lot's of very hard homework for the course but I went to his office hours and he helped me more than my actual professor! Obviously knows what he's talking about.

Arena is funny, helpful, and accessible. Don't get the optional textbook, it's useless. But he's very organized and overall a great professor.

He posts the lectures online and is super helpful in office hours. I highly recommend using the office hours for this class.

Amazing professor and by far my favorite at Vanderbilt. Hard, hard class though. Even with Java and APCS background, you'll definitely have to work for an A. Roughly 15-20 hours a week of work outside of class, but very rewarding and fun once finished. Dan is very accessible and helpful. Go to office hours!

This is my first year at Vandy and no background in CS what so ever but Arena is the guy that made me want to become a CS major. He is super chill and funny in class. Obviously know what he is talking about and MWF 12-1 he has office hour and always helps his student on their program. Great professor. Course is challenging but doable.

Professor Arena is awesome. The class is difficult for people who have never coded before, but after the first test it is not bad. Failed the first test, but then got As on the rest, so do not worry. Be ready to code a lot. Projects take a long time, but are super helpful for really learning the material.

I've already taken AP Computer Science before, so most of this class was a breeze. Despite that, Professor Arena still taught me a lot of new things because of how good he is at explaining the concepts and answered my questions perfectly each time. Would definitely take Arena again for Discrete Structures.

Prof Dan is a real solid guy. He is always willing to help with assignments and you get multiple submissions if you don't get it exactly right on the first try. Also, the test aren't necessarily easy but they're not killer by any means. The averages always lied around B to A-, and he does curve if it needs to be done.

Loved the course but it is no joke. I had no prior programming background but I had no issue getting things done. The TAs and professor are super helpful on programming assignments. You have to be willing to do hours of work a week, around 10-15.

Prof. Arena is a highly competent and caring professor. He absolutely know his stuff, and he is able to teach it well too. The class itself is challenging and there is lots of homework, but it is manageable if you put in the effort. Prof. Arena and the TAs are very accessible and want you to pass, so if you put in the effort, you will succeed.

Professor Dan was probably my favorite professor I've taken so far. Cheesy pop culture references, extremely helpful lectures, and nearly uninterrupted accessibility outside of class helped my understanding of Comp Sci a ton and made class really enjoyable. Definitely an extremely time intensive course, but it's totally fulfilling and worth it.

This class is pretty good at helping you learn Java. This class quite manageable if you have even a little coding experience. Otherwise, you'll have to work a bit. Professor Arena is very engaging and a good lecturer, and even a little funny, so I highly recommend taking it with him. The programming assignments take a long time, so start them early

I took CS 1101 as a high school student, so it was both my first college-level class and my first formal Computer Science class. Professor Arena made the curriculum very clear and understandable with his excellent lectures, and though he assigns a lot of homework, the work done outside of class was extremely helpful and well worth the effort.

Very kind and wants you to do well in the course, hilarious and makes class and assignments fun

Always there to help, and his lectures really help with the exams and homework. Go to class and you'll do fine. #1 tip is start assignments early, so the TA's will be able to help if you need it.

Pretty great dude. He has amazing lectures, teaches content well, and focuses on making sure you understand whatever is happening. He cares a lot about each individual student even though its a big class. If you're taking 1101, make sure its with Dan.

Professor Dan was truly amazing! His lectures are quite fun. Attendance is not mandatory, but highly recommended. Programming assignments may sometimes take a really long time to complete, but are ultimately rewarding. It is not hard to get an A in this class, if you are organized and do your best on the programming assignments.

Professor Arena is one of the most fun and understanding professors I've had, yet he is also great at teaching students all of the material in a clear and interesting manner. He's super great!

The professor is sooooo great, but the course does require a lot of work.

Keeps the class lively and entertaining. Teaches the material in an understandable and relatable way that makes you want to learn more from him. Would prefer if he taught all my classes. There is a good amount of homework, but that should be expected from a CS class.

Arena is a great professor -- he has this vibe of "let's get through this together" in his teaching which is really inspiring. My only complaint was that we used TopHat for lecture, which is unnecessarily complicated when the powerpoint could just be posted on Brightspace.

Definitely the teacher of choice for CS1101. Lectures are effective at teaching the material and also entertaining at the same time. Did an amazing job at fielding questions on the online discussion board we used, and is available for further help if contacted. If you start assignments early/attend office hours when needed, you should do great.

Dan is a great teacher. Since 1101 is a big lecture hall intro class, a lot of people don't come, which I think is a shame because I learned so much from him in just one semester. Office hours are very helpful with programming assignments and as long as you don't start them the night before and put in time you'll be fine.

Great teacher, always available and replies his emails within a short time. He explains the material clearly and answers your questions. Difficult class though, I struggled to get an A.

Out of all of the professors I had last semester, Prof Dan was easily the best. Programming assignments are fair with a noticeable increase in difficulty a few times throughout the course. He is always on Piazza or email to the point where he will respond to questions at 10pm or later on the nights where assignments are due.

Professor Dan was a great professor who had lectures that were easily understandable even if you've never programmed before. He explains things very clearly and is helpful if you ever have questions. Programming assignments are very doable if you put in the time and go to office hours if you have trouble.

Professor Dan is easily the best professor I've had at Vanderbilt; he truly cares about his students' success. While this class definitely makes you work pretty hard, it is worth it-- you will learn so much. The tests are relatively easy, but the weekly programming assignments will typically take a few hours.

Professor Arena is an excellent instructor. Lectures are very clear, and he is always very willing to help. For example, on days where programming assignments would be due (Usually 11:59 PM), he would stay behind after class and help students who had trouble or questions. Tests are straightforward, assignments are easy but sometimes time consuming.

I love this man, he is friendly, accessible, and obviously very knowledgable and passionate about the subject. Inspired me to switch my major and made difficult concepts easy to understand. 10/10 the coolest dude

Made me work for an A. Didn't attend to many lectures, but if you read his slides and the textbooks, its do able

Professor Dan is one of the best professors I've ever had. He is so helpful and really cares about his students' success. It's sometimes hard to go to lectures because they aren't mandatory, but if you go, you will learn and probably do better in the course. Some assignments are difficult, but there are TA office hours every day to help.

If you have any sort of programming experience and/or are good at logic, class is very easy. You can honestly show up to class maybe once every 2 weeks and still get an A. Just make sure you understand the lecture slides, which he'll post every day. Super helpful on Piazza too, and responds quickly.

Dan is an amazing teacher. I had no programming experience coming into this class and he makes everything really easy to understand. It is a lot of work, but it's rewarding work. He is super helpful on Piazza and is good to go to for office hours if you have something the TA's can't answer. And he gives candy on Friday's for happy hour!

Dan is a great teacher. This class isn't that hard and there are no tests, only quizzes. It's easy to get in the B range but really hard to get in the A range since so many things determine your grade in the class.

Great professor, great stories, fabulous lectures!

Dan just started teaching 2201 this semester, and he ROCKS, but it's a little more tough to be in his class rather than Roth's because Roth makes all the final decisions. Dan cares about you and your learning and will do everything to make you understand content. Great teacher, just make sure you are working to Roth's standards on PAs and exams.

Probably the best professor in Vanderbilt Engineering. Always take his class if you can enroll in since so many people are trying to get into his session. The professor is so so so so nice but the class itself is challenging. Try to spend about 10 hours every week coding and debugging. The TAs are super strict on grading.

Dr. Arena is out to assist students and make sure they pass, often staying after classes are over in order to help students while also being available by email. Fantastic professor!

Arena is a great professor. Definitely the best for Discreet Structures. It can be a decent amount of work at times, but his lectures are entertaining and he explains concepts well.

Cares about your learning and does everything he can to help you do well in a class that is not easy. Heard great things about him before taking the class and they were not wrong.

Great professor. You can go to less than half the lectures and be fine - he posts all of them and they're pretty clear.

Professor Arena is very good at explaining concepts and its never a real mystery what are on exams. Dont really need to attend lectures since they are posted online but worth it if you end up having trouble. Very nice and answers all questions (through email or piazza) he receives.

PAs are a lot of work, but they really do help a lot with understanding the concepts. Arena is definitely one of the best lecturer in Vanderbilt. I had no experience with programming before, but he teaches so well.

Arena is the man!!! A great teacher, and sets it up where it is helpful when you go to class, but isn't essential to attend because lectures are online. You get out of the class what you put into it (the PAs are a huge time commitment) but i've learned so much over the past semester. Take this class if you have any interest in Computer Science!!

Professor Dan is an awesome teacher. His lectures are really entertaining and easy to follow. He really cares about how well you understand the material, and he's super easy to meet with outside of class. Definitely take him for any CS course you can.

Professor Arena is so dedicated to helping you learn CS. He answers questions for everything, at almost all hours of the day. His teaching style is very helpful for anyone who knows nothing about this subject. This class can be hard bc CS is hard, but Arena really helps you get into it. Take him!

Umm it is easy to get A-, but you actually need to work hard for A or A+(if u want to get A+ u need to be perfect lmao) because your grade is determined based on how people do in class (btw if ur grade is over 90, then it is guaranteed A-). You can get A if u have a solid background. I think A+ cutoff >98. Well it is a fun class.

Absolutely awesome!

Great prof. He really cares if you learn the material. Lot of work but it's totally worth it.

Prof Arena made an introductory class a really special experience for so many people. He loves teaching and is so good about answering emails, etc. and helping out students with their grades or questions. Such a funny guy that you can tell really cares about his students, posts lectures so you don't have to go but you should for his explanations

Professor Arena is nice and available outside of the class, answering the email and piazza questions as soon as possible. Class's homework is time-consuming but it is more annoying than hard, and the tests are really straightforward and easy. Definitely an easy A and good experience with Java even though you have no experience in coding before.

Arena is my favorite professor at Vandy so far. Extremely helpful, engaging, and knows what hes talking about. Lectures are super informative though not mandatory to go to. Class is naturally a lot of work but Arena is absolutely the way to go if you want to do well. Definitely recommend

Prof Arena is one of the most genuine, caring professors at Vanderbilt. Coming into this class with no programming experience I found the material of this class extremely difficult, but Prof Arena is so helpful in office hours and also responds to emails/posts on Piazza discussion board very quickly. His lectures are clear and he posts slides too.

Dan Arena is my favorite professor so far at Vanderbilt. When you go to him during office hours, he knows exactly what to say to make you feel competent and respected. He was extremely helpful during office hours and his lectures are clear. Made me become a CS major and was always caring about his students. Truly a gem at Vanderbilt.

1101 is a lot of work, but if you do the programming assignments well and actually go to class, it is not hard to get an A. His course convinced me to switch my major to CS

The other ratings say it all. Great lecturer, posts each day's slides online. Obviously, going to class is the best way to ensure an A, but its pretty doable to miss a bunch of them and still pull it off, especially if you have prior programming experience. Most of the assignments are very time consuming, but not overly difficult.

He is a wonderful professor. He gives very good lectures. But if you want to get an easy A, I do not recommend this class.

Professor Arena is one of the best professors I've had in the CS department here. He explains the material super clearly and thoroughly in class, and makes hard concepts easy to understand. Quizzes are graded fairly, and he is pretty accessible outside of class. I would definitely recommend Arena for discrete

I loved the course and if you do want to take 2212 I would recommend Dan Arena. An A is definitely attainable. He makes sure you understand concepts and will not test you on anything he feels he hasn't taught well. He is a very caring Professor and I am glad to have taken the class with him. Probably one of my favorite professors at Vanderbilt

Arena is the best professor for Discrete. Quizzes are all straightforward/fair and if you study his lectures you'll do well. Super funny guy who makes the class way more interesting than it could be.

He's an amazing professor who explains concepts really well. His slides are super clear and he will go over some concepts twice if he thinks the class doesn't understand them well enough. Easily the best professor you can take for 2212

CS 1101 is a great class. Like the other comments say, it is a lot of work-- specifically with the programming assignments; however, Professor Dan makes these doable. I don't agree that this class is an easy A, I definitely think it is has gotten harder every semester, and requires more work. The tests are HARD: make sure to study for them!!!

Arena is the reason I am majoring in CS

The other reviewers aren't wrong he is a very great lecturer and cares for his students. Definitely take his section of CS 1101 if you are on the fence about majoring in CS I know a lot (myself included) who decided to major in CS thanks to professor Arena. An easy A if you already have background in coding

Only complaint is sometimes the Zylabs sample runs are off so you end up wasting submissions on the projects. His lecturing itself isn't great but his slides are really, really useful and if you learn them you'll do great on tests. Giving him a 5 more because he's a great guy who cares so much about his students' well-being, academic and otherwise.

It is a great introductory computer science course. The assignments take about 8-10 hours per week, but it gives you a good grasp of Java. Arena is a fabulous teacher who keeps lectures entertaining.

Professor Dan is a really great guy who actually cares about his students and he does everything he can to make sure everyone understands the material. Definitely take his section if you can!! The class is a good amount of work, but office hours make it a lot easier.

Professor Arena is phenomenal. You can tell he loves his job just through the effort he puts into his class as well as making sure all his students are understanding the concepts. This IS the CS class to take if you are interested in being a CS major. An 'A' is doable if you put the work in.

Dan Arena is a great guy who genuinely cares about his students. The class is definitely work heavy, but since a lot of your grade is based on the programming assignments, as long as you put the work in, an A is definitely do-able, even with no past coding experience.

Only take 1101 with Professor Arena. His lectures are clear and well structured, and he can explain the material to anybody - I had zero experience coming into this class. Every week consists of programming assignments and a bit of busy work. Two extra credit opportunities are provided.

Professor Arena is one of my favorite professors: he clearly cares about students, is very helpful with any questions you may have, and makes learning CS a challenging but very rewarding experience! If you put in the effort, a good grade is fairly easy!

Very good

Didn't get to know him personally, but I loved going to lectures. He's very accessible, does the most to help his students, and tries to make his class as engaging and interactive as possible. Attendance isn't mandatory, but zyBooks count for part of your grade. Overall, 10/10 recommend; if he's teaching a course you need, take it with him.

So great! His personality made lectures engaging and he explained concepts well. For a beginner coder, homework was difficult at first -- so if you have no experience, know it's not a breeze. Work hard and go to office hours and you will do well. Prof. once spent 40 minutes helping fix my code, and he responds quickly to questions posted online

Dan Arena is the GOAT and the best professor I've had at Vanderbilt. The class overall and programming assignments are challenging, but Arena is a great teacher who gives you every opportunity to succeed. If you put in the time and effort you can get an A.

This class made me fall in love with Computer Science. Truly a great and understanding professor. The weekly programming assignments got tougher as the semester went on, but if you get help from the TAs in office hours you will be fine. I thought the homework was kind of fun, and the tests weren't too bad. He wants his students to work to get As.

Cares about students learning CS and learning to think. Programming assignments due every week, but he gives you the tools to do them in class, and if you are stuck the TAs will guide you through in office hours. I've had better lecturers, but I knew many people in the class and they all agreed he was great, which is rare. He also cares a lot.

Dr. Arena is amazing. He responds to questions immediately and definitely wants all of his students to learn. I already knew java coming in, but I knew others that didn't, and everyone found the class not too difficult. Honestly, as long as you do the PAs, you'll be completely fine. Some do take a good amount of time though. 100% would take again.

Amazing prof. One of the best I've had during my first year at Vandy

Just a great professor. Take him if you get the chance. If you listen to his lectures, you will be fine. Homeworks can be tough, but he's always ready to help.

Prof. Arena is one of, if not the best professors in the CS department. He is a very nice person and extremely helpful to students. He truly has a passion for teaching. Take him if you get the chance!

This was my second time taking Professor Arena, and he did an exceptional job teaching 2212 in an asynchronous format. His lectures and examples are very clear and it is easy to get in touch with him. Highly recommend!

Prof Arena is probably one of the best teachers in the CS department. He seems to genuinely want to see you do well(ie he doesnt purposely sabotage grades) and gives you all the tools needed to succeed. For this being an asynchronous class, I found it to be one my favorite classes to actually work on all semester.

I can't say enough good things about Arena. He cares, and you will see that. Discrete structures is very difficult and at times convoluted, but Arena makes it somewhat enjoyable and easier to understand. If you are confused about something, Arena WILL help you. Difficult problem sets (4) but easier exams and other grade cushions (participation).

he is the best cs professor at vandy

I generally don't like CS profs at this school but he is caring and open to explaining things in ways that don't feel condescending. He also has been the most understanding about mental health issues and genuinely wants you to learn and feel your best in the class

Prof. Arena is an absolute gem. His lectures are super thorough and detailed, he goes over plenty of practice problems, and is readily available on Piazza to answer questions at nearly all hours. He uses Zybooks for the textbook; he tracks attendance through TopHat participation (5% of grade). If you get the chance, take Arena for discrete!

Amazing prof who made going to class fun. Will take classes just because he teaches them.

Prof. Dan is hands down the best professor I've had at this university. Makes this class, which is difficult, as easy as he possibly can. Very understanding, truly cares about his students and about their success. Very personable and successfully relates the material to the students, uses good real world examples when applicable. TAKE ARENA!

Prof Dan is definitely one of the best profs I've had at the school! Besides being a kind, caring, and entertaining professor, he explains concepts in a very clear and structured way. Homework is great exercise but has never been overwhelming. Take him at all cost!!

Arena is the GOAT. Nuff said.

Professor Arena is the best CS professor here. Hes funny, genuinely cares, and looks for ways to help you succeed. The subject material was harder for me, but I believe, without him, I wouldnt have done as well as I did. Exams are easier than homeworks which is nice. And every Friday, he brought snacks for when you got a question right. Take him!

Hard class but great professor. Discrete didn't make as much sense to me, but he made it manageable. Would absolutely take any class he taught. Genuine guy and best professor in the CS department, easily.

Generally a good professor, although could provide more in-depth practice problems to questions, bc the lecture ones do NOT help with the guided homeworks, which are VERY difficult under a time crunch. But you will learn a lot. A lot of it pointless, but a lot that is not. Feels like he's along for the ride with ya. And he makes bidenxtrump jokes

Homeworks can be very difficult, but concepts and exams not bad. Start homeworks early and go to TAs for help.

Dr. Arena is by far the best professor in the CS department, no questions asked. Algorithms is obviously a very tough course but if you take it with Arena you WILL do well!! His tests are significantly easier than Johnson's and his lectures are easy to follow. The uploaded videos were a LIFE SAVER so if you miss class, just watch those!!

Professor Arena is by far one of the most caring CS professors I've had so far. Algo is a hard class, but Arena is always readily available for office hours and provides opportunities for a lot of extra credit.

Good professor overall -- lots of room for extra credit, good slides, and actually cares about his students.

There is nothing more to ask for. One of the best professors at Vandy. very chill and very caring.

Professor Arena is a great teacher and really cares about this student. Algo is not an easy class but Arena wants his students to do well and is a great teacher who will help you if you go to him (you'll be fine in this class if you put the work in). Definitely take Arena for every class possible!

Fantastic class and professor! I feel so much better prepared for technical interviews. The person who wrote that his slides on Brightspace have a mistake isn't looking at the right slides. He even said in class those slides come from his old online course. The current semester slides are on TopHat.

Awesome prof, class not too bad. Tons of in class extra credit, and attendance not required but he gives a tophat grade and gives questions every class. Easy if you pay attention.

He is solid good. Explain concepts so clearly. Love him

the chillest chiller who ever chilled.

If you can take Arena for any of his classes I would wholly recommend it. He has a great teaching style and his exams and assignments are all extremely doable. Easily best professor in the CS department

Arena is the absolute GOAT of the CS department. The best professor I've had in STEM classes. The most down-to-earth, hilarious, and caring professor you'll have. Lectures are incredibly entertaining, and he is always doing everything he can to be available for students. He genuinely wants to see everyone succeed. Take it with Arena if you can!

great teacher, always willing to help, homework are tough, exams are fair, gives extra credit, overall great professor

super great dude. always willing to listen and help out. lectures were easy to follow and clear. tests and homework are very fair

Awesome professor. Difficulty of the class will vary by person, but I'd say its an interesting class that's not too stressful while still challenging your thinking. The homeworks are spaced out enough so that you have time to work on them and ask questions to improve your understanding. Opportunities to participate in class for extra credit too!

Best CS prof in Vanderbilt.

Great prof. One of the most human in the department. Truly cares about the quality of his lectures and improving his teaching and it shows. Professor Arena I hope you're reading this so you know your students see and appreciate the effort you put in

I never write these but Professor Arena is by FAR the best CS professor I have had at Vanderbilt. He truly cares about creating a class where anyone can succeed and giving so many extra credit opportunities that honestly help so much in actively practicing the material. If I could take every CS class with this man I would.

This guy is AWESOME. Truly one of the best professors I've had at Vanderbilt. His quality of teaching is great (definitely a bit fast, but he made it pretty interactive and interesting so it was easy to follow). He also gives a ton of extra credit opportunities. Definitely, definitely take a class with Arena if you're pursuing CS!

Arena is an amazing prof who truly cares about student success. The class is challenging but manageable with the help of resources like the free textbook and tools like Unstuck AI. Definitely worth taking if you can!

Best CS class I've taken and probably the best CS professor I've had, up there with Roth. Definitely not an easy class but it is intellectually engaging.

Arena is the goat. Take him if you have the chance!! This class is hard but Arena makes it fun. Grading is fair and he gives extra credit a lot.

All the reviews are real, I had Arena as an advisor and for algo this semester and he was great. I think people have to think the course is hard if they have other professors. Only graded by homework and exams with not extra credit but grade modifying assignments (can bump half a point or two). Lectures cover everything included in hws and exams

Chill teacher but algo is kind of a lot of work. Just study a couple days before the exams and you'll be fine

Good, but not as life-changing as people make it out to be. Arena is great professor: cares about students, covers the material well, down to earth, relates the content to concrete examples. But frankly, half the students don't show up to lecture and just learn from TopHat.

Algorithms is a difficult class, but to pass a technical interview, you're going to need to know many of the skills taught in this class. The homeworks are quite long, time consuming, and challenging, so make sure to start early. Dr. Arena has some great slides, and tries his best to give as much help as he can at OH and providing extra credit.

The goat, if you have the opportunity to take a course with Dr. Arena absolutely do that. He is funny as hell, an extremely talented lecturer, exceptionally fun and nice. He even showed up to a student's music performance after promising to do so because he wanted to support his students. Great guy and prof.

Truly the GOAT. Most chill dude ever, decent extra credit, good at explaining difficult concepts easily, is very down to earth. If you put in effort you will do well.

One of my favorite classes. I learned so much and Prof. Arena was always very encouraging and down to earth. He often stayed after class to go over questions or discuss the HW with me and was fast to respond to emails.

Disagree with the review about not needing to hear about his daughter's life. I think it makes his lectures much more personal. Professor Arena, I hope you get your daughter some Jamba Juice over the summer by using a topological sort to find the longest path there, because you need the extra time to write an optimal substructure proof.

Funny prof, relates a lot of what you learn with the real world. Also really inspirational, makes me feel like AI truly isn't going to replace us. Lectures are really well done and digestible, he gives plenty of extra credit if you volunteer for participation or do well on exam reviews. Also will work with you closely if you go to his OH