Does anyone have experience with this course and can offer some information as to the types of projects one might encounter, or the way the class is conducted in general? I am already familiar with the way CSC492 works, and I would like to find out what I could expect from 402, to help me decide which one to take. Any constructive input would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

8/23/2005 6:00:52 PM

who is in charge of it nowadays?

8/23/2005 6:40:09 PM

vouk?

8/23/2005 11:34:31 PM

It really depends on who becomes the "advisor" to your group, and that's the best way of putting it. It also depends on who is the instructor for the class.

I didn't take the course myself, but from the people I've talked to, it is a 3-hour course AND a senior design project piled on top of it. You get a little bit more freedom with a choice of topics, so long as it presents a challenge. Still have the oral/written reports like 492. Still have all the other nicetities that go along with 492. Mainly depends on your interests when you take it. If you take 402, take it with at least one other person you know you want to group with. 492 is a bit nicer about going pot luck.

8/24/2005 8:47:47 AM

Are they offering it in Spring '06? I didn't see it in the course listing.

10/12/2005 5:59:09 PM

i'd be surprised if there was a fall/spring semester they didn't offer it.

good advice about taking it with some people you know definitely

the 'class' part of it is pretty easy, so far the hardest thing has been figuring out when they're actually expecting you to do stuff. just make sure to brush up on your 401 stuff before going into the class, and it'd help to be pretty familiar with linux and various security apps/services under linux like nmap, iptables, ifconfig, etc. they use redhat, so you might want to get to know the nuances of redhat if you don't already as well.

as far as the projects go...it really depends when you take it - for us there were a variety of predetermined projects to choose from, and most everyone got thier choice as long as they came to class. as you get further into the class it seems we meet moreso in the projects and less in the 'class' type part of it. i'm not really gonna say much about the projects this time around, because you'll have a whole different set to choose from i'm sure.

10/12/2005 6:14:06 PM

I wish I had taken 402 instead of 492

10/12/2005 8:17:02 PM

yeah i noticed it wasnt on the spring 06 calendar which sucks cuz i was planning on taking it directly after 401

10/12/2005 8:31:05 PM

I'm gonna go ahead and say that I don't like the class. Very poorly organized and structured.

10/12/2005 8:35:40 PM

No kidding, I've geared most of my CSC degree towards networking - I'll be pissed if 402 isn't offered. And if it isn't, maybe we (the networking guys) can get together and convince our 492 professor to let us do a network-oriented project instead. Otherwise, senior design is gonna suck. I took 570 a year or two ago, but I'm taking 405 this semester so I'm up-to-date on a whole bunch of security-type stuff...

10/13/2005 2:35:30 AM

Quote :

"maybe we (the networking guys) can get together and convince our 492 professor to let us do a network-oriented project instead"

He'd probably go for that too. Especially if you give the reason.

[Edited on October 13, 2005 at 1:16 PM. Reason : m]

10/13/2005 1:16:15 PM

Final word on CSC402:

Quote :

"Hey everyone, After lots of confusion it is final that I will be teaching CSC402 Networking Projects in the Spring. Joyce Hatch will be the instructor of record. If anyone is interested in doing there Senior Design course under me with focus on a Security related project (and possibly other Networking topics) you should go see Joyce to get signed up. The class is not available on TRACS but Joyce has her own version of TRACS she can add you to. If you have any other questions about the class or projects, come see me or Joyce. Sammie "

Apparently the ECE department is being a bunch of cheap bastards and refuse to sponsor a networking project course this semester. (CSC pays for it in fall, ECE, in spring). But Joyce, the best advisor ever, is giving us 402 anyway! Cheers!

11/15/2005 12:30:00 AM

any reviews from people that are in csc405 with sammie?

11/15/2005 10:43:03 AM

^ Sammie is a laid back guy, grades pretty easy, gives lots of extra credit, and his lectures are enjoyable. Oh and he gives out candy too. I'm talking about full chocolate bars. I recommend !

11/15/2005 7:23:17 PM

Talk to the instructor in person to find out how he/she is going to structure the class, especially if it's their first time. The incoming instructor took 402 himself and has a good deal of applied networking/security experience. Also understands/cares about students on an interpersonal level ... I worked with him a lot on CSC student organization activities.

11/15/2005 7:50:59 PM

i was referring to actually being qualified to teach - i've been in a class with him where his highest test grade was touching close to a 40 and balik passed him

11/15/2005 9:29:31 PM

Quote :

"No kidding, I've geared most of my CSC degree towards networking -"

If you think you have learned much of anything, then you are in a world of hurt for when you graduate. NCSU is not a networking school (assuming undergrad here because this is about 402).

11/16/2005 1:38:58 AM

^^ Well he seems to be fluent in networking and especially security areas. A few times he has been unprepared for lectures and seem like he didn't know what he was talking about, and couldn't complete problems that he was going over in class. I don't know if he's learning the stuff the day before he teaches it or what.

Phil Emer yesterday in CSC 401 said that he and Hatch would be teaching the CSC 402 class, so I'm not too sure what's going on, can anyone confirm who's talked to Hatch?

[Edited on November 16, 2005 at 8:22 AM. Reason : fdasf]

11/16/2005 8:04:40 AM

Quote :

"A few times he has been unprepared for lectures and seem like he didn't know what he was talking about, and couldn't complete problems that he was going over in class. I don't know if he's learning the stuff the day before he teaches it or what. "

I've seen that way too much. Its one thing with an oddball question from someone, but damn.

11/16/2005 8:43:08 AM

in general hatch wouldn't teach a course like 402 - officially she might be on the books but it'd be "taught" by someone else

11/16/2005 10:58:50 AM

^^^ man come on he said hatch would be the instructor of record but he would be teaching it

11/16/2005 12:31:37 PM

^ my point was Emer would be teaching it and not Sammie.

11/16/2005 12:44:53 PM

I think Sammie is going to help out with it, but Emer is going to be doing a lot of it to. Hatch might be listed for it, but she's not teaching it. Not that it matters who is listed for it, they change profs. at the last minute all the time anyway.

Since it hasn't been said, 402 isn't listed in Tracs. You have to go to Hatch to sign up.

And if you don't know Emer, he is more than qualified to teach the course and is a cool, laid back guy as well. Sammie is awesome as a person, no idea how he is as a teacher.

11/16/2005 6:44:33 PM