This guy is Something else! A student goes to school to learn. But this guy doen't teach anything and sure demands allot. Where did you guy find this instructor?

Pham is horrible. I took this class expecting to learn databases and instead was forced to take a crash course in javascript. we never went into anything other than an overview of SQL. I learned nothing!!

Unless you are willing to study on your own, I wouldnt recommend this teacher. Lectures are not to helpful, projects can be hard and tests are strange.

starts 1st class saying most students will fail, not a way a professor should begin the semester

Our tax dollars at work.. publically funded useless professors. His grading scale is very odd, he's always late and never gives a decent lecture. He goes off on tangents about personal relationships that have nothing todo with databases and teaches his class how to copy and paste in windows hah.

Sorry, simply bad. Late, doesn't teach anything and his tasks very unclear. Don't do it!!!

I overall agree with what the rest of the posts on here. He is not that great of a professor, and don't expect to learn a lot. Projects are very unclear, and he changes requirements on the fly. I got an A in the class and I frankly had to learn most of the stuff on my own. Buy a PHP/SQL book instead

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you'll be better off taking some other class. I had a solid database background, i took DB classes b4. We used HTML more than databases. Can't speak english, can't explain, can't even write his project requirements clearly. look over his class forums for project descriptions see how vague they are.

if u hot an A from him, U R just NOT a HUMAN.

Don't ever take any class with him. If you want to learn something from him, go to the library, get the book and learn for yourself. The worse thing about his class was you must finish the last project, otherwise you fail the class. Don't expect to get help for your project from him.

ew :P , yeah its easy but he's not that well organized its a waste of time if u really dont need it! why did i take it? (i am still asking myself)

Always late, no syllabus, doesn't answer emails, no help with projects, unclear lectures and project requirements, extremely unorganized.

Went to class for the first week then never went again. It's a waste of time... pick a different teacher!

He is horrible. Does not explain the material very well, thick accent, goes blazing fast. AVOID AT ALL COST.

Vague and unhelpful. Hope you already know everything there is to know about databases, because you will basically be reading papers and teaching yourself. Uggh.

Very unorganized. He didn't even give us syllabus. I learned pretty much all from the textbook, not his lecture. He cancelled the final just because he didn't want to spend time reviewing. Try not to take him.

He can't explain clearly. Very disorganized. Barely covers material in class, but hard labs and exams. Dictatorial teaching style. Labs often go ungraded for weeks. Consistently marks CORRECT answers as wrong, and makes YOU submit "correction requests"! Broken English. Heavy accent. Took class despite bad rating; regretted it every meeting. Avoid.

This is an alert to all Computer Science Students. I have taken alot of classes in my days and have never experienced a horrible professor like this guy! This creature is unethical, useless, and will lower your enthusiasm toward CS. I adivse to avoid him at any cost...you will regret taking him...and regret being a CS major!

Can barely pronounce most sounds, let alone form a coherent sentence. Thus the material is not the hardest part of the course, but trying to get anything out of his inane lectures. Hopefully you're good at teaching yourself or collaborating with your peers, because it's unlikely you'll learn much from him.

Speaks in 3rd person sometimes. May seem like he speaks in tongues. Horrible teacher and will come across like horrible human being. We petitioned to the Dean to get him to improve his attitude.

Always late to class, always left early. Forced students to use a broken mess of PHP scripts and frames he likes to call a class website. Exam grading policy is bizarre. Seems to avoid work wherever possible. Often goes off on incomprehensible tangents in broken english. I wouldn't take another class with this professor if you paid me.

This dude is impossible to understand, and goes off on ridiculous tangents, and then doesn't relate them to the material. Duck bowl = double. talks about killing chickens and red lights more than assembly language. don't take this dude if you're teacher reliant, because he antagonizes you for asking for help. grading is very strict, strange as well

He is the worst computer science professor. He cannot speak english, his lectures and not organized and he talks in analogs which make no sense although he could be funny. This is a self-teach class. Although I got an A I felt like I did not learn assembly language - he did not teach assembly until the last five weeks of class.

Worst comp sci professor I've ever had. If you don't understand his bizarre lectures then you're out of luck. Going to his office hours involves him telling you that you're a bad student for not understanding his bad accent and terrible lectures. The book used for his class teaches you about pep8 even though he uses a pep7 editor. Do not take him!!

Wow. I have previous programming experience, this was supposed to be my easy fun class. Has you write programs for quizes in 15 minutes in pseudo code, so you have no aid besides mental tracing to find bugs. Even if your solution has no bugs, you may get 80% because he doesn't like the way you did it - the output doesn't matter. Very unclear.

He is the worst Computer Science professor's I have ever had. The code he provided is broken, his lectures go off tangent, his resources are horrible, and his test don't make any sense. His projects feel like as if you are working on his own projects which were to imporve previous student work. It clear that the projects are to benefiet his needs.

Good luck taking this guy, he will not teach you anything. You're better off learning on your own.

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There is not a single professor in the history of teaching as bad as this guy. You won't learn anything and whatever you do learn does not translate into real life he teaches a programming language that he made up and that doesn't equate to anything. Don't take this class save your money he is the absolute value of terrible.

Funny teacher, has good intentions etc. But his style of teaching is bad. Very hard to follow what he wants. whole class is on his website, which is constantly crashing and not letting anyone study for the exams. this class is full of frustrations and anxiety. :(

Pham's class website is not secured at all. Somebody in my class hacked his website multiple times during the semester and he was reluctant to take necessary action to stop it. Finally we found that our database projects are wiped out after a serious hacking attack. He has no knowledge about database and its security. Not recommended.

It is a strange class with a professor who tries to outsource the whole teaching process to his broken web-site. This class is 2 units but you will get daily quizzes, and 4 final exams. All that testing would not make any sense or relate to the material that has been covered in the lectures.

Take anyone else for this class. Very high fail rate for this class. He is difficult to understand and is not very good at presenting concepts. Relies on his website too much and for exams he will have you write out with pen and paper blocks of code... in a computer class that you use programming software for everything else. Seriously stay away

He is a horrible teacher who relies too much on his broken website. He uses code he gets from google searches, and just has us copy, paste, and modify it. His demands are unrealistic and unreasonable. Not only is his accent horrible, his ability to explain and teach concepts is even worse. I actually blame CSUN for still allowing this guy to teach!

This professor literally Tells his students to google everything. He never responds to his email regarding questions on coding. There is a book for the class, however, he chooses not to go by the book instead he chooses to upload powerpoints with broken links/expired links. His lectures do not make any sense as he uses bad examples.

Copy, Paste and Modify is his motto. He teaches off of pictures he has on his website. He doesn't use a book at all. He teaches matireal that isn't even part of the class. I will say he knows his matireal, but he doesn't know how to teach it properly for us to understand. Do not take this class with him! Just No! Run away.

Please do yourself a favor and do not take this professor. His accent is unbearable, he does not actually teach java syntax, just has us copy and paste code. The homework is copying and pasting code, and the tests are writing code in pen on a piece of paper. Make sense? Didn't think so. If you value your GPA or your sanity, do NOT take him!

I literally made an account just to write about this guy. He does not teach at all, he goes off his broken website, which are pictures only. He makes us google everything. We write codes in class and for HW, but when it comes to the tests its on paper? Makes no sense. What Ever You Do. Do not take him. He is terrible.

This professor might be the MVP of the worst of the worst. He's very vague about his assignments and what's worse is that if the program isn't done in a way he wanted it, expect a low grade. His grading seems to be totally random considering that my classmates would have similar work but somehow their grade would be much better. DO NOT TAKE HIM!

Took him in SPRING 2013, after our semester and complaining to the COMP SCI department, he is no longer allowed to teach seniors. He is stuck teaching COMP 110 til he retires. Horrible professor, I feel sorry for the incoming freshman cause thats there first comp sci class.

He really doesn't have the ability to teach the subject. Loves to ramble. Grades at random. Everything is ridiculously unorganized. Even a great coder can easily fail this crazy professor's classes.

I only went to his class the first month and saw how good he was, and by good I mean in his heavy Asian accent telling me to Google the assignment he just mention 10 seconds ago in class when I ask him to clarify. If you are forced to take him, the tutor that helps during the lab is your best friend.

He is an extremely harsh grader when it comes to anything (homework, tests, and projects). You're program can work just fine and as asked, but he'll find a way to give you a lower grade. Avoid at all costs

He is the worst teacher you can get for this class. I highly reccomend you not to take this class, because one his stubborn and does next accept other options to get a certain answer. Also knowledge before this class can de detrimental, he even says it himself "The more you know, the worst your score is." Basically DO NOT take his class.

One of the worst professors I've ever had. Average test grades are 50 percent or lower. No curve. Programs needs to be exactly the way he wants it even if it works another way. Very horible teacher, most of class is review of the first two weeks. Never told us the book for class. Do not take his class or he will ruin computer science for you.

hardest class i ever took. he is a horrible professor but tries. he gave us extra credit that was harder then the exams so nobody got any extra credit. everyone does so bad a 40% is a D- with a 75% as a A+. if your gona take him heres what you need. 1. go to class. 2. his tests are copys of the old tests on a site he will give you. download them!!

Could not understand him, almost more than half the class was failing, was able to pass by going to tutoring. Mostly just attend class and keep doing the work. But if you can take someone else take some one!

There cannot possibly be a worse professor. There's no book for the class and you have to get by on the things he "lectures" on. Tests are never on what he lectures on. Do not take this class even if it's the only one available. Only thing you'll learn is how to control your anger. He just blames the students even though 90% of the class is failing

Never dare!!

Councilors literally tell you its better to skip a semester than take his class. They're right.

Class is hard. Am considering changing my major. Tests based on the lectures.

If you get him just drop. Doesn't teach, very unorganized, language barrier, etc. Will make you want to drop your major. I don't know why they still keep him around.

By far the worst Professor I have ever had. He is unclear and unpredictable with assignments and especially exams. His expectations are over the top for an intro class. On top of this, he is unfriendly and will not answer students' questions properly. PLEASE take this class at a community college or elsewhere, your life will be much easier.

Take this class at a community college instead. Do not take any chances with this teacher, waste of time, effort, money,etc. He is a horrible teacher who should be provoked of his teaching credentials. Great example of why our education system is a horrible one.

Just nope. All there is to it. Shouldn't be allowed to teach. Don't risk taking any classes with him.

He is one of best professors I had. I learned so much from the fisherman and and soldier analogies he make. Don't listen to others who gave him 1. He is an amazing professor, and this review is to show how much i respect him as professor of computer science. Long live fisherman and the soldier!

Do not take his class only about 10 people pass this class on average!!

Trying to learn a subject like this from him is nearly impossible due to his strong accent. I'm not saying that lightly either. Hes funny at times, that's about the only positive thing I can think of regarding his class. The curve is insane, its about 50% is an A. AVOID if possible.

Out of all the COMP classes i've taken, COMP 110 with Pham was the hardest one. I took it again in the summer and got an A. I really put in the time but felt like I wasn't getting anywhere with this professor. Even the counselors know that he's far below mediocre. Be careful of the tests, he may even use a non Java language to test the concepts!

Avoid Pham, Melara, and Putnam and you'll be great

One of the worst teachers I have ever encountered. He completely obliterated my desire to care about the computer science field for years...

I took this professor on Spring 2015 and you should avoid of talking his class. He doesn't specifically gives details on the assignment nor the lab group projects. Also he expects you to know all of these materials (his way) and if you ever ask for help, he'll just get mad or embarrass you in front of the class. Please take my warning and trust me

TAKEN FALL 2017 AS A PROGRAMMER AND COMP SCI MAJOR After taking this professor for one semester, I highly recommend that IF YOU ARE NOT A COMP SCI MAJOR/ EXTREMELY INTO PROGRAMMING, THIS CLASS WILL BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. His quizzes are rigorous and his projects are twice as hard. I love programming and can attest that this class is difficult

This the worst professor I have had, if you can avoid taking him please do it. His lectures are incoherent half of the time as he will talk about half of the class failing for 30 mins at a time while spouting meaningless metaphors. He will not show how to implement the material, but will require you do it his specific way, but give wrong info.

Speaks English very poorly. Leaves key information out that will lead you to not know what questions to ask. Get friends with Google, because the only learning you're going to do is on there. And beware, because the way everybody else in the entire CS world does some will be different than the way he tells you to.

Pham requires you to do every project the exact way he wants, with no creativity or alternative solutions. If you forget to capitalize a single letter, you will fail a project. Learned nothing from the lectures, usually went online to learn concepts and only attended class to see the project code. Tests and quizzes are easy, be careful on projects.

I cannot emphasize this to you enough: DO NOT take this professor's class. Sit on a waiting list if you have to. Very difficult to understand due to accent. Awful communication outside of class. Sometimes you need to send the same email 2-3 times. The class website is buggy and goes against your favor. Very disorganized class structure. AVOID him.

Do not ignore the warnings from other reviews, this professor is the absolute worst. Have a question or concern? He takes a week to reply to emails (if he even responds at all) and if you follow up in class, he will just tell you to resend. Very difficult to understand. If you don't follow his methods to the exact, he will dock points. Do not take.

If bad teaching was a sport, this man is the Michael Jordan of bad teaching. The class website is the most tragic thing to descend on the comp sci department and my eyes. Literally, because my eyes legit cannot take it. The formatting for the quizzes are extremely strict, and leaves alot of room for small errors. Emails? 5 business days. DON'T TAKE

In regards to code, it's either his way or the highway; his code is extremely tedious & convoluted. The class website is archaic, & always crashes during quizzes & exams. Good luck trying to contact him; he doesn't read emails for 5-7 days on end. This class has made me & many other students consider switching majors altogether, AVOID if you can.

Save yourself and take someone else. It's not worth taking Son Pham. Trust me.

Truly one of the worst professors I have ever experienced, sometimes it was shocking how bad he was. His slides are riddled with grammar and spelling mistakes everywhere. Extremely vague and poorly written assignment instructions. Figuring out what he wanted us to do for an assignment was a hundred times more difficult than actually doing them.

He is AWFUL! Do not take him, I went into this class not knowing a single thing about coding, and yet still don't know. He had NO skeleton when teaching it was literally all so random, you'd think for an intro class you will at least understand the definitions for what is being taught but he gave absolutely no in-depth explanation.

Hard to understand, unclear grading criteria, does not respond outside of class, uses his own website that looks like it was made 20 years ago instead of canvas. Avoid.