DePiero, Fred  

Electrical Engineering

3.55/4.00

32 evaluations


EE 112


Freshman
A
Required (Major)
Jul 2018
Fred is the best professor I have had at Cal Poly and has made his way into my all time favorite professors. I would/will take any class he teaches in the future. Not only is Fred an EXTREMELY smart and capable teacher but is super entertaining and is able to make a kinda dull intro class super entertaining and easy to understand. He wants his students to succeed and his class is designed so that you do succeed but also learn. He is incredibly helpful in office hours and is very approachable and never makes you feel bad about any "stupid" questions. He roots for all his students which I really appreciated. The class itself is super chill and definitely one of the easier classes I took freshman year. Fred has designed his own website called CATE which has tones of practice problems, notes, slides, tutorials, calculators and basically everything you need to succeed in the class. He has weekly quizzes/hw on CATE which you just work through circuit problems and can go to him for help, work with friends, etc. and those make up the majority of your grade so easy points there. We had one midterm in the class and Fred told us in class what kind of CATE problems to do and then gave more help in his review session so it was easy to do well on the midterm and then the final was a little harder than the midterm but still doable and honestly Fred is a super reasonable grader and if you know what you're doing but mess up a little and explain on your paper or something, he will be lenient. I learned so so much in the class and found it so interesting which I relieved with because for EE, this is the first official class and a large part of that has to do with Fred. If you can, take his class, you won't regret it. He is a FANTASTIC instructor, I can't say enough.

EE 201


Junior
B
Required (Support)
Feb 2010
DePiero is one of the best professors I have had at cal poly. his tests are really easy if you do the homework. homework is 4% of your grade and isn\'t due at any time, which might make you not want to do it but i recommend doing it because his tests are almost exactly like the homework. 2 midterms both multiple choice, which might seem tough but his exams are really easy. he definitley knows his stuff and loves teaching. he has lots of enthusiasm and he\'s hilarious, he entertains while he teaches which is awesome! i definitley recommend taking DePiero for EE 201 !


Sophomore
A
Required (Major)
Jun 2010
DePiero is an excellent teacher who presents the material in a way that it is clear and easy to understand. He is extremely helpful during office hours and weekly recitation sessions and will help you as much as you need to learn the material. He really cares about his students and is one of the best engineering professors I have had so far. I would definitely recommend him.


Senior
N/A
Elective
May 2012
Awesome teacher, made circuits easy and prepared me for the EIT. I was worried about EE until DePiero, take him if you can


Junior
N/A
Required (Support)
May 2012
I wish it wasn't a 200+ people class, I had a horrible time learning because the material he lecture is way to simple, and when it comes to the test, the test was harder and it is all based on concepts, and I felt like I was rushing the whole time. You might think 12 questions on a midterm is easy, especially for a multiple choice test, but I was rushing for time. I thought the test is alot harder than the "sample" test he post up, and if you miss one on the test, your grade suffers. Wish I didn't take this class, but he's a really nice person, and the class is suppose to be chill, but I just don't learn well with him.


Sophomore
A
Required (Major)
Jun 2012
DePiero handles this huge class very well. Yeah, it gets boring and you might get lost at times, but that's standard for any lecture hall. DePiero is funny guy and he makes EE way more interesting than anyone else could. The tests are sort of tricky, but if you go through the practice exams and learn all of his tricks then you should be fine.


Sophomore
N/A
Required (Major)
Mar 2013
DePiero is awesome! He is a quirky guy but is hella funny and makes a really dry topic entertaining, even on Friday at 2-3. The first four weeks are basically review of physics 133. The second half of the class is a little weird, but if you do the homework it's not too bad. His office hours our definitely helpful if you get stuck. He assigns 15 homework assignments (about 4 questions each) and they aren't due until the end of the quarter. Only thing that is a little ehhhh about the class is the grading. Homework is 10% and the rest is exams. 40% for your best test, 30% for the second best, and 20% for your worst. All of the tests are multiple choice. The two midterms are 12 questions and the final is 20. The questions on the tests aren't that hard if you do the practice midterms that he posts online (with solutions). Learn the tricks and methods on these and the actual exams aren't hard.


Sophomore
A
Required (Support)
Mar 2014
This is the best professor I've had at Cal Poly. He tapes all of his lectures which are available at any time online, gives quizzes in the form of extra credit so they won't hurt your grade, posts ~10 past exams with solutions for both exam 1 and 2, and gives homework worth very little that exactly resemble the exams. On top of preparing you, he's hilarious and obviously loves his job. I'd recommend DePiero to anyone taking EE201, or any class he's teaching


Sophomore
A
Required (Support)
Mar 2014
At first a wasn't too sure about Depiero, because while his lectures were loud and vivid, he explains and teaches methods of circuit analysis in his own quirky manners, of which do not follow conventional methods. He will however, explain the concept very well and keep students engaged with relatable/real life examples. I later learned other ways to go about the analysis from friends (conventional ways) and understood them much better. But if you follow his "Mr.Monk" rules and what not, you'll be fine too. Grade composed of 10% homework, 90% tests (three tests, highest score is worth 40, next down 30, and your lowest score is worth 20). I really enjoyed his lectures, he handles the 100+ student class very well. A definite recommendation!


Junior
B
Required (Major)
Jun 2014
Professor Fred DePiero genuinely cares about his students. The class has about 100-200 students in average so it might be very difficult to teach, however he knows his stuff. He made the his class system very easy to follow and understanding. He does give out tricky question on his test. His tests are 40%,30%,20% I believe. He grades 40% for the best one you did and 30% for the 2nd best one. I like his teaching style however you do need to put in the effort to attend his class and go to his office hours to ASK questions! He is very easy to talk to and willing to help if you put in the effort. I was so busy with other classes that I did not put in much effort in this class and not finished all the homework that was required. I think this class should of been an easy A if I had more time to study. I kind slacked off. I recommend get to know him in person, he is really nice and very funny teacher here at CAL POLY. I think if my major was EE or deciding on EE this teacher might make me to become one he makes it so fun even though the concept of EE are boring as hell! Welp! Good luck everyone!


Sophomore
D
Required (Support)
May 2015
Although many may say that this class is a breeze, strangely I did not do very well.... Just dont take this class. It sucks.


Sophomore
A
Required (Support)
Jun 2018
One of the best professors I've had so far at poly! Homework consists of online quizzes worth 55% of your grade (not hard). Two midterms and the final make up 45% of your grade, and all the tests are very fair. Has his own circuit analysis website that can generate very helpful circuits and explanations. His lectures are as entertaining as circuits can get. Very much like a quirky/cool uncle and will gladly help if you need it. take him if you can!!! I never liked circuits very much in previous classes, but he made this class fun!


Junior
C
Required (Support)
Jun 2018
201 is a difficult class this was my third time taking the class i failed it twice in the past but got a C with depeiro.he is a great dude and as far i know he doesnt fail you if you pretty much just show up for the exams, his class is easy breezy as he would say and is designed to pass youhe curves as well, like i said i failed it twice with other instructors before but got a C with depiero without having worked any harder, great guy if you are struggling passing 201 take depiero dont think just take him.


Junior
B
Required (Support)
Jun 2018
Just like the guy above me said, if you want to pass 201 take dr depiero his class is designed to make you succeed. i failed this before but with dr depeiro i passed with a B. he treats this as nonmajor course unlike other professors who want to drill entire ee in your head his exams are reasonable and he applies a solid curve i am assuming otherwise i wouldnt have passed. he is very approachable and teaches very well.

EE 219


Sophomore
A
Required (Major)
Aug 2001
Depiero is animated and exciting. He makes it easy for you to go to class and learn the material.

EE 228


Junior
C
Required (Major)
Jul 2004
i do not know who wrote the other postings below and if i did i bet it was one of those teacher's pets or the professor himself trying to get good ratings! he is not that of a great teacher! ok he's good at lecturing but his tests are difficult and take forever and he's horrible at giving u partial credit! plus he expects you to memorize everything! the truth has been told!

EE 251


Senior
B
Required (Support)
Jun 2015
Like your Dad teaching shop class. Very comfortable in front of a large lecture hall and very fun. Do the homework and the exams are fine. However, all MC so if there are 15 questions... then a few missed questions drop you to a B or C so be careful.

EE 302


Senior
B
Required (Major)
Mar 2004
Very nice professor. Very smart! Very willing to help you at anytime. DePiero is one of if not the best professor in the EE department!


Senior
B
Required (Major)
Mar 2008
By far, one of the best EE profs here. DePiero is extremely funny and entertaining in lecture (in a geeky way of course). Yu was going to teach this class originally, but DePiero got subbed in at the last minute. His lectures are very complete, with many good examples. He's really into systems, especially control systems so he's actually excited to teach this course. I thought the text, however, wasn't the greatest and the homework problems were difficult at times. I didn't think his test questions were as hard as the homework. His tests are VERY straightforward. He tests you on a lot of general concepts without going to crazy with math. This being said, his tests still aren't a cakewalk. Go over his notes and read the sections in the book. Very standard. Fred is a super friendly guy who has a lot of experience. Take him and have an enjoyable class.


Senior
B
Required (Major)
Mar 2013
At first everyone was like "Aww man couldn't get into Taufik's section!" Then after the first lecture everyone was blown away. Great professor and very engaged in lectures. Must take this guy!

CPE 330


5th Year Senior
N/A
Required (Major)
Oct 2004
First of all, this is the first quarter DePiero has taught 228 (CPE 330). So the guy below who wrote the negative review might be thinking of someone else. Anyhow, this guy is by far the best instructor i have ever had. Through high school, community college, and Cal Poly this guy sits at the top of the list for the best instructor there is. His lectures are clear and to the point. He knows his stuff and is motivated to teach. He loves his students. Hes like Robbin Williams without all of the drugs. Im still in the middle of his EE 228 (CPE 330) class but i am confident im doing fine. He takes difficult material and makes it do-able.

BMED 349


Graduate Student
A
Required (Support)
Nov 2016
BOYCOTT!!!

EE 368


Junior
N/A
Required (Major)
Jan 2009
this guy is as good of a teacher as brietenbach is bad - which is saying a lot. very high energy and engaging - you won't fall asleep in his class. (imagine jack black in school of rock, but teaching EE instead) he explained more in one hour of lab than my lecture professor taught in a week. unlike most of the EE department, this guy is actually makes a priority of helping his students learn the material. best EE professor i've ever had, it's not even close...

EE 419


Senior
A
Elective
Nov 2001
Best professor I've even had. Always willing to help you understand the material. Test were challenging but fair, grading was also fair. I definitely reccomend him to anyone wanting to learn the material


Senior
A
Elective
Aug 2004
I don't know what the previous guy was talking about. Did DePiero even teach 229. Atleast when he taught the 400 level course he was very nice. The tests were challenging but I could always finish in time and usually before hand. He gave really good partial credit and people did fairly well. I believe 229 is the CPE logic class so I don't know why DePiero was teaching that anyway. He was a great prefessor that would help out his students in anyway that he could. I got the A because I tried hard and did my best and was always at office hours. No teacher pet stuff here.


Senior
A
Required (Major)
Jun 2005
I have taken DePiero for 3 classes now: EE228, EE328, now and EE419. He has been great for all three! Unfortunately he was teaching EE229 for the first (And probably only) time because his specialty is digital and not analog signal processing so he most likely won't be teaching it again, but look for him for EE328 and EE419. He is not an "easy" professor but he makes the material understandable and with a little effort it is easy to get the grade you want. He keeps lectures lively and entertaining (One day he even started doing jumping jacks in class to keep everyone awake and to keep the blood pumping). The tests he gives are thinking tests and very conceptual. Don't expect to memorize the homework problems and get A's on the tests because this will never happen, but if you can think about the concepts you have learned you will be fine. If you are afraid of calculus (which I hope you aren't as an engineer) you don't really have to worry because he doesn't force you to do tedious integration by parts or trig substitution type integrals just to be malicious, but there are some calculus based problems so if you know your basics you should be fine. All in all great prof who really made signals enjoyable for me! Take DePiero if you can!


Senior
B
Elective
Jun 2009
DePiero is the man. He's an awesome, funny guy, and an incredible teacher. You will know what he teaches. Period.

EE 515


Graduate Student
B
Required (Major)
Nov 2004
awesome


Graduate Student
A
Elective
Dec 2004
I've already reviewed him before and nothing has changed, he's still great. The class was a little harder than 419 as in the complexity however at a less of a load so it really wasn't that bad. The first test was rather easy however it took some time before I figured them all out. The final wasn't as easy. When I first got it I wasn't sure if I knew how to do any of the problems. But after enough thought I figured them all out(correctly? well I don't know) Great Prof.

EE 525


5th Year Senior
A
Required (Major)
Feb 2004
Probably one of the best professor in EE department (or in Cal Poly)! Dr. DePiero not only knows his stuff, but also knows the art of teaching. Explains complicated material in the way students can understand. Very helpful during office hour too.


Graduate Student
A
Required (Major)
May 2011
One of the best in EE department for sure. He might waste some time on 'stupid' examples but generally be able to convey the material very well. He is an easy professor, don't worry about grades.


Graduate Student
A
Required (Major)
Sep 2013
Fantastic professor. Lectures are very entertaining, engaging, explanatory and well organized. He will always go the extra distance to help you understand the material and really inspires you to learn. My only regret is that I never took him for any of my undergrad courses.