Students found that this course provided them with a good understanding of the basics of cryptography. They found that many of the assignments were harshly, however, and that the lectures were more or less copied from the textbook. Students thought that the course would have benefitted from more current, real-world examples mixed in with the PowerPoint slides, and believed that more emphasis should be placed on the content and not the method when grading assignments. The course is recommended for prospective students who do not have a background in cryptography. Students should read the book and be very concise and precise when completing the homework in order to receive full credit.

Students thought their favorite aspect of this course was the professor who they found to be helpful and knowledgeable. They believed that the least favorable aspect of the class was the lack of discussion in class. Students also thought that the class could be improved with a reduced number of writing assignments or by turning the writing assignments into projects. Studentsfelt it was important for potential participants to know that the writing for the class would require a substantial time commitment.

The best aspect of the course was the practical lessons on cryptography. Students felt like they learned a lot and were not overwhelmed by the programming. The worst aspect of the course was the lectures given by the professor, who although being knowledgeable in the subject, had difficulty in explaining concepts to students. The course would improve if there were more practice assignments and simplified lessons on the concepts. Prospective students should have some basic programming skills and be familiar with a substantial amount of math concepts.