Duane Kouba - University of California Davis, Davis, CA

Professor: Duane Kouba

Department: Mathematics

College: University of California Davis, Davis, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: MAT016A
• Grade Received: Audit/No Grade
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Kouba is an all around great professor. He may move fast during lecture, but as long as you do your (optional) homework, you won't get lost. A very fair class graded on three midterms and one final. Kouba offers so many opportunities, such as extra credit, test curves, & office hours. A very respectable, hilarious, and caring professor altogether.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: MAT016A
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Im not a morning person but I signed up for his 8 AM class anyways and let me tell you that being in class that early was worth my time. Kouba is a great professor and actually cares about his students. You usually get extra time on his exams and theres alot of opportunity for extra credit points too! His exams were fair nothing too shocking.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: MAT016A
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Kouba is awesome. I'm terrible at math but he explains things so you'll understand them and gives a lot of optional practice to help you get it. Go to lecture, do the homework, go to him with questions, you'll do fine.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: 16A
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Kouba gave really interesting lectures. I bought the suggest textbook, but never used it. The homework is optional, but I would suggest you do it, same with showing up to lectures. If you show up to lecture, take good notes, and do the homework, you should be able to pass easily.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: MAT016A
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Taking Kouba's class was the best decision I could have made. Math is usually difficult for me and I never took calculus in high school, but I got a high B in his class. You should really do the homework, don't let the fact that its optional make you not do it. His tests are usually pretty fair, only one midterm was hard but he gave us a FAT curve.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: 16A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Kouba is a genuinely good person that tries to make class not miserable. His tests are hard but his grading scale is pretty fair. He also moves very fast so if you don't do the homework you're going to be lost and there are no homework grades only 3 midterms and a final. However he doe post practice test online and offers extra credit.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: MAT016A
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Whether you find math easy or hard, you are in good hands with Kouba. The way Kouba presents the concepts in lecture makes it crystal clear and sometimes even fun to figure out. Always keeps you on the edge of your toes. Office hours are a lifesaver, has extra ones on weekends before exams. Intimidating at first, but genuine & great sense of humor.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: MAT16A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Best math teacher I've ever had! I hated math in high school but only because I couldn't understand it. Not with Kouba. I grasped the concept quickly and how to apply it to actual problems. He made math seem easy to the point where I only went to office hours once even though I had him for two quarters. And there's a generous curve. Take his class!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: MAT16B
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Very clear grading structure. Gives lots of homework, but make sure to do them/keep up because they prepare you for exams. Overall an amazing professor!

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: MAT16B
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Kouba is one of the best professors I've ever had. His lectures are clear, well organized, and straightforward. He also truly cares about the success of his students and has office hours everyday of the week, including Saturdays. Hw is optional but recommended to do. In conclusion, he is a total gem. Take him if you get the chance to.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: MAT22A
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I've taken Kouba for two courses: MAT21C and MAT22A. Both were taught really well--like everyone says, Kouba is a fantastic instructor. He has engaging lectures where he teaches you everything you have to know for the exams. Disc. section was not very helpful though--stopped going after a few weeks. Just focus on homework to prepare for exams.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: MATH16AB
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

You won't find a better professor than Kouba at Davis. THIS MAN IS A LEGEND. I had him for two quarters and I was actually excited to go to Calculus! Hilarious, SO MANY OFFICE HOURS, and explains concepts crystal clear. I can't express how much I'll miss him!

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: MAT22A
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Very straight forward grading scheme, Very kind professor. I worked 40hrs/week when I took 21C and went to any office hours I could, once i walked in 20 mins late to a midterm and he let me make up those 20 mins in his office right after. He cares about his students and simplifies the content to be easily understood. OFFERS EXTRA CREDIT

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: 16B
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

The class is structured in a very clear way, 3 exams worth 100 points each and a final worth 200 points. The grading is based on a generous curve, and he's a good teacher. He's really just mean and intimidating to talk to one on one, he makes students uncomfortable and comes off as rude, at best.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: 16A
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Kouba is a great math teacher and is very clear on his expectations. He doesn't use Canvas but everything can be found on his website. Homework is optional so I never did it. His lectures were fun and entertaining and was one of the best math classes I have ever taken!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: 17B
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

A very typical college professor. Organized, grades based on tests, and clear outline of material on exams. Do the homeworks, it helps you in exams a lot.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: MAT016A
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Kouba is definitely the best math teacher you are going to find here. He is constantly offering help with the subject and makes class fun with his humor. He gives out candy during office hours that he holds 7 days a week. Definitely take him.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: MATH16A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Kouba is the greatest! Hilarious and really easy to understand! I loved going to lecture!

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: MAT16B
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

BEST MATH PROFESSOR. Kouba knows math and he makes fairly difficult concepts so easy to understand. Had office hours 7 days a week and was very approachable and open to helping students. It's so refreshing to have a professor be so clear with students. Also offers extra credit and gives out candy! A true gem!

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: MAT021A
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Kouba is an awesome teacher! He gives great, clear lectures with TONS of examples. Lots of OH, even Saturdays sometimes. Intimidating 1-on-1 but helpful. 3 midterms worth 20% each and a 40% final. Practice tests are fairly similar to the real thing but the XC problem on each test is always very hard. Easy B w/ minimal studying. HMWK HELPS A LOT