Charles Akemann - University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA

Professor: Charles Akemann

Department: Mathematics

College: University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: MATH34A
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Everyone says bad things about him and I feel bad. He genuinely cares about his students and he is a cool guy if you get to know him in office hours. Lectures are pointless, he isn't the greatest lecturer but he does try. Easy class if you go to CLAS and do the homework. Tests are VERY fair and straightforward. Put in the work and youre fine

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: MATH34B
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

DONT TAKE CHUCK! He is a terrible teacher! I had taken AP Calc in high school, and the material he taught in 34B made me confused on how to do topics i had already been taught in high school. Tests are hard, and he is a terrible lecturer

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: MATH34A
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Chuck is by far the absolute worst professor I have ever had, and will ever have. The amount of homework he gave was absolutely ridiculous and his lectures were pointless. Starting at UCSB with this class was awful. I ended up acing both midterms and the final, but that was because I took CLAS and would go to drop-in too. AVOID CHUCK IF YOU CAN.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: MATH34A
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Chuck is a nice guy who genuinely cares about the success of students. His grading is fair, and test problems are from homework, so do the homework. However, he is not a good teacher. He knows the subject very well, but does not know how to teach it. The class is extremely difficult. Concepts are skipped and lectures are confusing. TA helpsuccess.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: 34A
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

I took this class because I needed to complete the 34A/B series or 3A/B series. I was told that 34 series would be easier. While this may be true normally, this man is the worst and most confusing prof EVER. The only reason I got a decent grade was bc I took calc in high school. Just do yourself a favor and wait for another prof. I regret it.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: 34A
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Akemann is great at math, but not so great at explaining topics in a way that everyone can easily comprehend, which means you have to go over reading yourself or with your TA. Class isn't hard at all if you keep up with coursework.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: MATH34B
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

People give him a bad rap but he really isnt that bad. Yes, of course the class is hard but its very predictable. He only uses homework problems as test questions and youre allowed a notecard cheatsheet on tests. Lots of homework, clas is a must. Overall, he does care about his students and wants to see everybody succeed.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: MATH34B
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

I made this account solely because its a saturday night and we have an inhuman amount of homework due but couldnt start earlier because we had a midterm friday that does not cover material on this homework. If you are looking for the worst professor you could possibly choose, then youre in the right place. Dont go to lecture, and pick the Head TA

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: 34A
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

If you can take this class with another professor PLEASE do so, do not ignore his very low rates. His lectures are basic calculus that hardly relate to the hw. Each week he assigns 40-80 math problems and the level of difficulty is ridiculous at the rate he teaches. He's a nice man, but highly do not recommend if you already struggle in math.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: MATH34A
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Dont take him if you dont have to! He assigns a lot of homework, doesnt know how to teach. Just reads the PowerPoints but doesnt explain how he got the answer. Skips steps and assumes you know what your doing. No need to show to lecture because all he talks about is losing weight and goes off topic.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: 34A
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Totally doable A! Attend lectures & print out lectures slides before lecture! Go to CLAS it's a lifesaver! Extensive hw but DO IT it helps I promise. GO TO HIS OFFICE HOURS! He will literally gladly spend his time helping you understand the hw problems on his chalkboard! Really nice guy he's there to help. Can use notecard for midterms & final.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: MATH117
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Chuck gets a bad rep from a lot of people taking 34A/B because they aren't serious about math in the first place. He is an extremely knowledgeable guy with a funny sense of humor, and makes himself very available outside of class. More than happy to help students out with HW or concepts, as HW can be quite hard. Makes the math fun and interesting!

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: MATH34A
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Took his class my first quarter at UCSB. Kind of regret it. He sucks. Wait for another professor to teach this class, if you can. I did alright, but only because I took calculus in high school. If you have never taken a calculus class before, I really don't recommend!!!!!!!!!!!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: MATH34A
• Grade Received: F
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

WORST professor at UCSB. He is an abomination to this university. Don't go to lectures, just go to CLAS. He does not explain anything fully in class. Chuck makes the math so much harder than it's supposed to be. AVOID AT ALL COSTS!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: 34A
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

don't go to lecture if it isnt helpful to u! use that time to work on hw. if u want to do well all you need to do is sign up for CLAS, and actually try to understand all the homework problems the best you can. He puts all the hard problems from homework on the tests, but if you know that and study them it is ez. you also get an index card for exams

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: 34A
• Grade Received: F
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

If you like struggling to understand the words coming out of a persons mouth youll love Chuck. The worst teacher Ive had in my life. If you like doing 80 plus word problems for homework a week while every other math class has 25 be my guest. Even worse taking this at the same time as chem. This man has to leave teaching

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: 34A
• Grade Received: F
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Anyone who wants to take this guy... dont your gpa will tank. Ive literally heard from other professors that hes one of the worst teachers on campus. Went to all the lectures and CLAS workshops and still didnt pass. He honestly made me consider dropping out from the stress my first quarter. This man shouldnt have a teaching degree.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: 34A
• Grade Received: D-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Came into this course really excited. The very first the whole lecture hall has no idea what hes even trying to explain. This man literally shouldnt have a teaching license for how little he actually teaches. Showed up to almost ever lecture. The only upside is you can laugh at the velcro shoes he wears. Literally the worst teach Ive ever had.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: MATH34A
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

I have no idea why Chuck is even teaching. He is the worst professor at UCSB. You will not learn anything in his class, so sign up for CLAS and go to the dropin hours for CLAS as well. You dont have to go to any lectures and you can still pass.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: 34A
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

I have only taken 3 courses at this university, but I can assure you that Chuck is and will forever be the worst professor that I have ever met. It isn't necessarily hard material but Chuck is so uninspiring that you will, for the first time in college, think about dropping out.