Current instructor
Original student reviews · all captured dates
CS435 was very enjoyable. Lectures were well organized & helpful. Not recorded, so attendance was necessary to learn the content well (but not required). Homeworks are difficult but interesting to work through for someone interested in the subject. Exams are easier than HWs. Bach is available plenty outside of class and is very helpful during OHs.Rate My Professors ↗
CS787 advanced algorithms is a hard course. Prof Bach made the course approachable. He was willing to explain the topic and answer questions, whichever is asked at class. He definitely made it less intimidating to learn. Workload is average (2 hws + 1 exams).Rate My Professors ↗
Professor Bach is a nice enough guy, but he is a terrible professor! He presents the material without any real clear direction, and half the time stands in front of what he just wrote, making note-taking a nightmare. The homeworks are impossible, but the exams tend to be a little easier and you can muddle your way through them. AVOID!Rate My Professors ↗
Bach is quite good. He's a little old school and only lectures on a chalkboard, however, he tries to put up relevant material on the website. He's slow to grade, but overall, a very good professor who knows his stuff. He also writes his own fresh problem sets fresh every semester with novel problems and takes feedback actively for classRate My Professors ↗
Extremely difficult professor, all of the material is presented at a ridiculously high level. A lot of the times I looked up alternative lectures. Homework is near impossible, and expects you to know terminology and material covered in CS240 (i.e. proof techniques), despite the fact that it's listed as optional. At least the exams were easy.Rate My Professors ↗
Professor Bach is kind and clearly very knowledgeable regarding cryptography, but in no way does it translate to being a good instructor. He works strictly on a chalkboard, covers his work most the time, explains complex ideas in vague symbols, has confusing lectures, and assumes us to understand his proofs before he trails off. AVOID AT ALL COSTS!Rate My Professors ↗
Personal experiences, not a representative survey. Profile matching and captured coverage are shown in the source details.
COMPSCI 681 is an individual study course for senior Computer Science majors to complete honors theses under faculty supervision.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
No recorded grade history
COMPSCI 699 offers directed study projects for junior and senior students arranged with a faculty member.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026COMPSCI 790 is a Master's Thesis course for graduate students, focusing on independent research and thesis completion.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
No recorded grade history
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
No recorded grade history
COMPSCI 899 is a pre-dissertator research course for master's graduates preparing for doctoral dissertation work under faculty supervision.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
No recorded grade history
COMPSCI 990 is an advanced mentored reading and research course for students with dissertator status.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
No recorded grade history
| Term | Course | Title |
|---|---|---|
| Fall 2026 | COMPSCI 681 | Senior Honors Thesis |
| Fall 2026 | COMPSCI 699 | Directed Study |
| Fall 2026 | COMPSCI 790 | Master's Thesis |
| Fall 2026 | COMPSCI 799 | Master's Research |
| Fall 2026 | COMPSCI 899 | Pre-dissertator Research |
| Fall 2026 | COMPSCI 990 | Dissertation |
Teaching history may be incomplete. Course pages contain course-specific feedback and citations.
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