Plan ahead for courses where students have earned lower grades.
Lowest historical GPA first. At least 100 letter grades over the five years through the selected term. Grades reflect past outcomes, not workload or a guaranteed result.
47 courses
Ranked courses have at least 100 recorded letter grades.
Covers DC and AC circuit analysis, including nodal/mesh methods, Thevenin/Norton equivalents, op-amp circuits, transient response, phasors, and power characterization.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Steven Fredette
Weekly homework was frequent, and in-class exercises were difficult to finish. Exams were online, fill-in-the-blank, and offered no partial credit.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Machine Organization and Programming introduces computer system structures and C programming, focusing on low-level performance impacts like virtual memory, caching, and assembly.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Hina Mahmood
Projects were lengthy and required students to start early, while exams were fair and mostly theoretical.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Introduction to cryptography covering secure transmission of digital information, distinguishing perfect from computational security, and introducing technical aspects.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Eric Bach
Homeworks were difficult but interesting to work through, while exams were reported to be easier than the homework assignments.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Circuit Analysis covers DC and AC circuit theory, including resistive networks, op amps, transient responses, phasors, power, and transformers.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Bulent Sarlioglu
The flipped format required studying before class, and the material demanded a mix of memorization and application that could stack up quickly if you fell behind.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Introduction to Optimization covers mathematical optimization from a modeling and solution perspective, focusing on formulating discrete and continuous optimization problems and equilibrium models.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Michael Ferris, Laurent Lessard
Homework assignments were difficult and time-consuming, with one student noting they would ruin their social life, while another found them helpful for learning.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Digital System Design and Synthesis covers HDLs like Verilog/VHDL, automated synthesis, advanced design principles, timing-oriented synthesis, IC layout relations, and design for reuse.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Anthony Gregerson, Michael Morrow
The semester project was reported to be a significant amount of work that challenged students, requiring them to avoid procrastination. One student noted the project would challenge them significantly but was ultimately worth the effort.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Covers time/frequency domain analysis of signals and systems using Fourier, Laplace, and z-transforms, plus sampling and convolution.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Eduardo Arvelo
The course required students to work through in-class activities to learn the concepts needed for exams, supported by pre-class video lectures.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Electronic Circuits I covers modeling, characterization, and application of semiconductor devices and integrated circuits, focusing on diodes, transistors, and op-amps for linear amplifier design.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Daniel van der Weide
Online quizzes were due twice weekly before lectures, covering material not yet taught. Students reported that homework and tests required self-study from the textbook because in-class examples were trivial or absent.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Microelectronic Devices covers semiconductor characteristics, physical mechanisms, and circuit modeling of solid-state electronic and photonic devices, plus microelectronic processing principles.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Luke Mawst
One student rated the difficulty level as 2, though this was attributed more to the dry nature of the subject than specific workload intensity.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2023–Spring 2026Covers logic components, Boolean algebra, combinational and sequential logic design, digital subsystems, and computer organization.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Setareh Behroozi
Homework assignments were challenging and time-consuming, requiring significant effort. Students found the class became much easier when they actively collaborated with their group and attended discussion sessions.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Electrodynamics I covers vector calculus applications, static and dynamic fields, Maxwell's equations, dielectric/magnetic materials, and transmission lines.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2024–Spring 2026Introduction to microprocessor architecture, operation, and application. Covers programming, address decoding, system timing, I/O, interrupts, DMA, and RAM interfacing for microcontrollers.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Joseph Krachey
The class is described as heavy on coding and self-directed learning, often involving lengthy datasheets and in-exam coding. Significant effort is expected for homework and the final project.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Introduction to Artificial Neural Networks covering theory and applications including MLPs, CNNs, RNNs, SVMs, and genetic algorithms for control, pattern recognition, and object detection.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Pedro Morgado
The course had a huge workload with many homeworks, exercises, and a group project. The first half was very difficult without a strong background in Linear Algebra or Calc 3.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026A laboratory course covering electronic device characteristics, operational amplifier applications, and feedback circuits through hands-on experiments.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Mark Allie
A past student noted that the class did not expect much comprehension, requiring students to simply show up and build circuits.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Covers energy storage/conversion, force/emf production, and coupled circuit analysis for systems with electrical and mechanical inputs, applied to motors, generators, and transducers.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Pia Strampp
Students found the workload manageable and less demanding than other introductory ECE 3-level courses.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2023–Spring 2026Introduction to Computer Engineering covering transistor-based logic, Boolean algebra, combinational and sequential logic design, computer organization, and introductory assembly programming.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Shayne Wadle
Students noted that homework was the primary basis for learning and was very similar to exams. Some found the homework difficult even with lectures, requiring significant independent work outside of class.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026An introduction to the physical principles underlying solid-state electronic and photonic devices, including elements of quantum mechanics, crystal structure, semiconductor band theory, carrier statistics, and band diagrams. Offers examples of modern semiconductor structures. Prior experience with MATLAB [such asE C E 203] is strongly encouraged but not required.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Irena Knezevic
The grade was determined entirely by three exams, which were curved such that an 85 percent resulted in an A.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026State Space Systems Analysis covers matrix methods for solving state-variable differential equations, focusing on stability, controllability, observability, and controller design.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2023–Spring 2026Matrix Methods in Machine Learning covers linear algebraic foundations including SVD, regression, and regularization applied to classification, clustering, and neural networks.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Robert Nowak, Eduardo Arvelo
Homework assignments were challenging but graded on completion, while summer terms were described as crammed and intense.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Intro to signals, information, and computation in EE. Covers Fourier series, DFT, sampling, digital filters, and coding for signal manipulation.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Bernard Lesieutre
Exams were described as fairly straightforward if students completed the review assignment and period exercises. Preparing adequately for class was considered sufficient for success.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Hands-on Introduction to Robotics covering concepts and tools for robotic systems, including actuators, sensors, manipulators, and control systems.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Peter Adamczyk
The course demanded substantial effort outside of class time, as classwork alone did not provide a deep feel for the code or mechanics. One student suggested that mastering Linux and ROS before enrolling would have made the material easier to manage.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2025Computers in Medicine covers microprocessor-based medical instrumentation, emphasizing real-time ECG analysis through labs and projects involving biomedical digital signal processing algorithms.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2023–Spring 2026Introduction to Computer Architecture covers processor design, instruction sets, control structures, memory management, caches, and I/O structures.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Setareh Behroozi
The course was described as extremely hard, particularly for undergraduates, with one student noting it made their brain hurt. TAs and the professor went the extra mile to break down difficult concepts.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Covers sampling, reconstruction, DFT spectral analysis, FFT, z-transforms, FIR/IIR filter design, signal flow graphs, and filter implementation in digital signal processing.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Robert Nowak
Homeworks ranged from time-consuming to nearly impossible, and tests were difficult. You had better know MATLAB really well, as it was expected.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026VLSI Systems Design covers MOS devices, IC fabrication, topological design, graphics layout, circuit simulation, system timing, and a design project.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Umit Ogras
A major project accounted for approximately 50% of the grade and was described as time-consuming.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2023–Spring 2026Software Engineering covers designing and modifying large software systems, focusing on processes, architectures, design patterns, and testing, with a substantial team-based programming project.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Scott Swanson
Lectures and reading materials were described as tedious, but the class required consistent effort to get value from the content.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Covers probabilistic, algebraic, and geometric data models, mathematical analysis of learning algorithms and optimization methods, and ML applications.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Grigoris Chrysos
Homeworks and exams were challenging but commensurate with the proof-based, graduate-level nature of the class.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2023–Spring 2026A laboratory course covering Kirchhoff's laws, inductors, operational amplifiers, and frequency response through hands-on circuit assembly and measurement.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Mark Allie
The labs were described as lengthy, and the final test was open book, open note, and open internet. However, students noted that the practice bench exam did not resemble the actual exam.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Covers semiconductor device modeling, amplifier feedback analysis, and CMOS digital circuit design.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Giri Venkataramanan
Students described the course as not the easiest and requiring a lot of work, though they found the effort completely worth it.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Electro-acoustical engineering covering sound wave principles, analogies, and transducer materials/techniques including microphones and loudspeakers.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2023–Spring 2026