ECE-495
SPECIAL TOPICS
Offered Fall 2026
Term
Instructor
Overview
Feedback is mixed. The clearest upside is that some students still find real value in the course. Best for students who can handle a demanding pace without needing constant hand-holding.
DepartmentELEC&CMP
Terms offeredFall
Typical enrollment8–27
Semesters of data3
5.6
Hrs / week
42
Responses
72
Enrollment
58%
Response Rate
Evaluation Scores
Overall quality
Teaching, content, and experience combined.
3.9
Intellectually stimulating
Challenges students to think deeply.
4.3
Instructor effectiveness
Explains concepts and facilitates learning.
4.3
Difficulty
Higher means harder.
3.8
Feedback Analysis
Feedback Analysishigh
Analysis based on student evaluations
Based on 99 comments across 5 sections
Feedback is mixed. The clearest upside is that some students still find real value in the course. Best for students who can handle a demanding pace without needing constant hand-holding.
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
Moderate homework load
Homework load looks moderate. The recurring signal is steady weekly work, but not a course that turns every assignment into a grind.
Lecture Load
Lighter lecture burden
Student comments describe this as more discussion-, seminar-, or workshop-driven than lecture-dependent. The lecture burden itself does not sound like the main source of friction.
Strengths
• Instructor ratings are strong even when the comments do not cluster around one obvious positive theme.
Tradeoffs
• Difficulty runs high even when comments do not settle on one dominant complaint.
Best fit for
Best for students who can handle a demanding pace without needing constant hand-holding.
Student Responses
Learned some ECE fundamentals, both software-wise and hardware as well. Understood wiring protocols and how to code with a device such as a pi or esp32.
Fall 2023 · Chen, Tingjun
I learned about IoT systems in a way that I have never before. How to create applicable devices and connect them to the internet.
Fall 2023 · Chen, Tingjun
Combining the works of computer networks with embedded systems to create solutions that improve the lives of those around us.
Fall 2023 · Chen, Tingjun
I appreciate that the labs encouraged me to apply my skills to different possible applications. I learned about one-wire protocols, SQL-based databases, and a lot specifically about ESP32 hardware timer implementation (perhaps too much, this felt like a large overemphasis).
Fall 2023 · Chen, Tingjun
I learned how to build IoT devices from the ground up. This enabled me to utilize sensors and microcontrollers to build devices capable of reading temperature and humidity, among other things. Furthermore, I know how to read a datasheet enabling me to use any type of sensor ever made for my various needs.
Fall 2023 · Chen, Tingjun
Rating History
Rating history
Error bars show \u00B11 std dev
| Term | Instructor | Overall | Difficulty | Hrs/wk | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2025 | Board, John 4.2Rate My ProfessorsQuality4.2Difficulty3.7Would retake79%Based on 35 ratingsClick to view on RMP → | — | — | 2.8 | 16 |
| Fall 2024 | Carin, Lawrence 2.4Rate My ProfessorsQuality2.4Difficulty3.6Would retake36%Based on 14 ratingsClick to view on RMP → | 3.9 | 3.9 | 6.7 | 48 |
| Fall 2023 | Chen, Tingjun 5.0Rate My ProfessorsQuality5.0Difficulty3.0Would retake100%Based on 1 ratingClick to view on RMP → | 3.9 | 3.6 | 4.9 | 8 |
Instructor
Board, JohnELEC&CMP
Also teaches
ECE-250D COMPUTER ARCHITECTUREECE-350L DIGITAL SYSTEMS4.5