Merle Hopkins - University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA

Professor: Merle Hopkins

Department: Accounting

College: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: BUAD280
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

pretty good teacher. it is a tough class but as you get more comfortable with the material it gets easier. Curve is pretty big too. tests are same as handouts and quizzes he gives you.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: BUAD280
• 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:

Prof Merle is a really nice guy. I think he makes accounting much easier than other prof - part of this is that he doesn't use the book. he has his own handouts which are honestly easier that what the book has to offer. he puts up recordings of his lectures which you can watch later. his quizzes are take home and exams are not very difficult

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: BUAD280
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

This class is really fair - you have to go to lectures and do the worksheets, but the tests are basically those worksheets. He's funny and obviously kind, makes accounting enjoyable and understandable.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BUAD280
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He records all of his lectures and posts them online and if you go to his office hours he is more than willing to help and spend the time to make sure you understand the material. His tests use the full time but are very similar to the same as the ws he gives in class but with different numbers so if u know those really well you will get an A.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: BUAD280
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Hopkins doesn't take attendance but he randomly collects homework and passes handouts out so you can't skip. The tests aren't that difficult but you have to work fast because they are content heavy and there isn't partial credit for math errors. His curve is very fair and he is always in his office hrs. No need to buy the book. Study the handouts!

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: BUAD280
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Hopkins class is interesting. He strays away from the other 280 professors by not using a textbook, but hes succesful in doing so because he knows and can explain the material extremely well. Hes also very accessible outside of class and going to office Hours can do wonders. Only downside is his lecture, while very helpful, are so borin

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ACCT509
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Attend his lectures regularly and make notes in detail. For me, that's all it took! No assignments, no quizzes. Only one mid-term and one final exam which included questions very similar to the ones he solved in class.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ACCT370
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Merle is one of my favorite teachers at USC. He makes learning accounting enjoyable because you can tell he loves it and thoroughly knows the information. He provides 100s of worksheets he made himself and teaches with tons of stories that make the class easier to sit through. Loved the class because of him and would highly recommend!!!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ACCT370
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Hopkins is a great professor. He really knows the material and does his best to ensure that his students understand it as well. He takes the time to do many examples in class for practice. Though attendance isn't mandatory, strongly recommend on attending all lectures. All problems on exams come from material learned in lecture.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ACCT370
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Merle teaches a lot of material and gives his students the resources and guidance to succeed. Its a pretty tough class since its a ton of material and hard to comprehend/learn. He is very helpful in office hours and the tests are what he teaches just twisted,so you must understand the concepts instead of just memorizing practice problems. Great guy

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ACCT370
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Merle is definitely a good professor in Accounting department. He is humor in the class, and always has little stories about his friends or students. And you will get enough chances to get familiar with all types of questions that would appear on the exam. Yes, the exam is tough; however, as long as you review all the questions, you will be fine.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ACCT370
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Merle is experienced and knowledgeable-- always gives you the clearest explanation he's found. Not very energetic, but he can be funny sometimes. Had to work considerably outside class on weekly take-home quizzes and mostly-optional hw. The curve saved me.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ACCT370
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Merle's amazing. The second midterm's hard for me. Don't know about the final yet. I would definitely take his class again.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ACCT525
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Merle was one of the best Accounting professors I've ever had. He is funny, but keeps the class fast-paced. You definitely need to pay attention during class, but he gives a lot of handouts so you're able to practice once class is over. If you're serious about learning Accounting, you should take any of his classes. If not - find someone easier.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ACCT370
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

No doubt about it, 370 is a tough class. However, Merle is an intelligent man and an excellent lecturer. He has spent years pondering ways to explain the concepts in ways that are easy to understand; I believe he really wants to make the material accessible to his students. I have great respect for this man, and I would certainly take him again.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ACCT370
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Merle is a very good professor, but his class is extremely challenging. You need to study really hard for each of the 2 midterms and the final exam. He gives you the tools to be successful and is a good teacher, but he goes through a lot of information very quickly. Definitely take Hopkins, just be ready to work!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ACCT370
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Had Merle for 285 and now again. 370 is a big step up from intro in that he goes much faster through the material and more in depth. Go to office hours if you need help, practice the worksheets, and study hard for the exams (2 midterms & 1 final). The 370 curve is MUCH better than 285's. Definitely recommend!

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: BUAD285B
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Hopkins is an average lecturer who is easy to understand. His lecture notes have absolutely no organization and serve more as a platform for him to write down his thoughts though. Ask to clarify often. His exams are relatively straightforward but he grades like a nazi. It's either right or wrong and he has a condescending tone.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: BUAD285A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Very tough class with tough exams but Hopkins is pretty clear with his explanations and is usually very helpful if you come to him with questions. He also supplements his lectures with interesting anecdotes from his long history as an accountant. Tough to recommend such a hard class but he's solid.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: BUAD285A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Decent professor. Buy the workbook and practice the worksheets for midterms (4 total, which includes a non-cumulative final). Lectures don't come from book so go to class. Helps you out a lot in office hours. Class gets progressively harder/trickier. Final was extremely challenging and he didn't teach us some of the stuff on it.