ECE-350L
DIGITAL SYSTEMS
Offered Fall 2026
Term
Instructor
Overview
Feedback is mostly positive. The strongest signal is that students say they actually learn something useful. Difficulty runs on the high side even without a single dominant complaint theme. Best for students who want substance, not a disposable elective.
DepartmentELEC&CMP
Terms offeredSpring, Fall
Typical enrollment33–70
Semesters of data4
7.4
Hrs / week
83
Responses
214
Enrollment
39%
Response Rate
Evaluation Scores
Overall quality
Teaching, content, and experience combined.
4.5
Intellectually stimulating
Challenges students to think deeply.
4.6
Instructor effectiveness
Explains concepts and facilitates learning.
4.6
Difficulty
Higher means harder.
4.0
Feedback Analysis
Feedback Analysishigh
Analysis based on student evaluations
Based on 241 comments across 4 sections
Feedback is mostly positive. The strongest signal is that students say they actually learn something useful. Difficulty runs on the high side even without a single dominant complaint theme. Best for students who want substance, not a disposable elective.
Student Reports
How hard is the A?
A is doable but not automatic
The signal here is more do-the-work-and-you-should-be-fine than easy-A chatter. Students do not describe the A as automatic, but the evidence also does not paint grading as punishing.
Homework Load
Heavy homework load
Homework load is one of the clearest friction points. Students repeatedly describe assignments, readings, or problem sets as time-consuming.
Lecture Load
Lecture-heavy
Lecture load looks real. Students talk about dense or central lectures, and staying on top of them seems necessary rather than optional.
Strengths
• Students repeatedly say the course teaches something concrete, whether that is content mastery, research skill, or a strong foundation.
Tradeoffs
• Difficulty runs high even when comments do not settle on one dominant complaint.
Best fit for
Best for students who want substance, not a disposable elective.
Student Responses
how to build a processor, how to use Verilog, how to use Vivado to upload to FPGA
Fall 2023 · Bletsch, Tyler
I gained experience working on a real engineering project with classmates I understood the basics of a processor Learned how to better approach coding assignments, and got better at testing
Fall 2023 · Bletsch, Tyler
Skills - Verilog coding, writing test benches, FPGA development Methods - multiplication and division algorithms, Quine McCluskey algorithm Knowledge - efficient adders, finite state machines, CMOS design, error correcting codes
Fall 2023 · Bletsch, Tyler
FPGA skills, Embedded development, lab skills.
Fall 2023 · Bletsch, Tyler
logic minimization, how to build a processor, how flip flops work
Fall 2023 · Bletsch, Tyler
Rating History
Rating history
Error bars show \u00B11 std dev
| Term | Instructor | Overall | Difficulty | Hrs/wk | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 2025 | Board, John 4.2Rate My ProfessorsQuality4.2Difficulty3.7Would retake79%Based on 35 ratingsClick to view on RMP → | 4.5 | 4.2 | 7.8 | 70 |
| Fall 2024 | Bletsch, Tyler 4.8Rate My ProfessorsQuality4.8Difficulty2.9Would retake95%Based on 44 ratingsClick to view on RMP → | 4.6 | 3.6 | 6.9 | 47 |
| Spring 2024 | Board, John 4.2Rate My ProfessorsQuality4.2Difficulty3.7Would retake79%Based on 35 ratingsClick to view on RMP → | 4.5 | 4.1 | 7.3 | 64 |
| Fall 2023 | Bletsch, Tyler 4.8Rate My ProfessorsQuality4.8Difficulty2.9Would retake95%Based on 44 ratingsClick to view on RMP → | 4.5 | 3.9 | 7.5 | 33 |
Instructor
Board, JohnELEC&CMP
Also teaches
ECE-250D COMPUTER ARCHITECTUREECE-495 SPECIAL TOPICS