Randy Harris - University of California Davis, Davis, CA

Professor: Randy Harris

Department: Physics

College: University of California Davis, Davis, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PHY9HD
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Harris came back to teach my 9HD class after retiring the previous quarter, and it was amazing. The man is brilliant, cares about his students, and just awesome in general. Sure, it's not an easy A (you have to work for things), but it's doable and enjoyable.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PHYS9B
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He's a decent professor. I'm not much of a lecture person (i like to read the textbook and think by myself), but he seems really understanding of people and seems to answer even the dumbest of questions politely. I thought the concepts were difficult, but the curve is huge. Exam averages were low because half the people ditched his lectures.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: 9C
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Excellent lecturer, and very clear. He does teach by example which works well for me but not everyone. Homework is tough, but if you do it without looking up the answers and really understand, you will do well. Midterms are similar to hw, so best way to study is to redo the hw.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PHY9B
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Amazing professor! very knowledgable about the subject. He even wrote a book for PHY 9D. and he is very respectful to students very patiently answer questions

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PHY9B
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Harris is easily the best physics professor you could ever find at Davis. He may seem awkward at first, but he knows his stuff and has an amazing attitude towards his students. I heard he might be leaving soon, which makes me sad beyond words. Take his class while you can. And I'd recommend sitting in front row to absorb all his awesomeness!

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PHY9C
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Amazing professor. He's very passionate about the subject and the lectures are always interesting. Tests and homework are difficult, but fair. Would definitely take again.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: 9C
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Very respectable guy. His tests are super difficult, but very fair. Anything from lecture, hw, or discussion can be on a test, so review everything. He always invites questions and encourages even the simplest ones. Highly recommend him if you want to learn, but not if you want an easy A.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PHY9D
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Solid Lecturer. 9D is the hardest of the 9 series in my opinion, it seems to be the weeder class to separate out the physics majors from everyone else. Still, tests were fair and quizzes are a joke as long as you did the HW. If you can find the solution manual to his book for cheap get it, it'll make the class easier.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PHYC9C
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

You are required to go to lecture because of iClicker questions, but you don't learn anything. The rare examples he does may be on the test. You don't learn in lab or discussion but one test question is drawn from each. Online homework is fairly challenging but you can find most answers by google. A very poorly structured class.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PHY9ABCD
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Harris is a great professor. He lectures very clearly and is very engaging. Even through 4 classes with him, it was still interesting listening to him. 9D was an especially good experience since he wrote the book for the course and was very knowledgeable in the subject.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PHY9C
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Harris is one of the best professors I have ever had. His lectures are straightforward and easy to follow. Tests are hard but the grading was fair. Lots of Mastering Physics HW, but if you take the time to actually do it you'll do fine. Overall hard class but great professor!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PHY9C
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He's a very intelligent guy, but his style of lecturing just doesn't work as well for me as I would like (had him for both 9B9C). He mainly writes examples and equations on the board, but talks his explanations at you, and if you're not a great notetakerunderstand physics, you're gonna have a rough time. Very difficult tests, but faiR

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PHY9C
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Harris teaches through questions, but doesn't really write much on the board. The stuff he says in lecture could be helpful if you have a decent understanding of the topic already, but if you haven't read ahead, its useless but mandatory. He is a "good" professor but his teaching style didn't work for me. HARD test compared to other 9C classes.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PHY9B
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I think he's overrated as a lecturer. He's good, but not as good as everyone makes him out to be. His exams are okay. The type of problems on his exams are similar to his homework and discussion sheets. If you can understand those, then you'll be fine.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PHY9B
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Tough tests but nothing unreasonable. Good professor overall, if not slightly over-rated.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: PHY9B
• 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:

Great Lecturer, really gets students involved. Tests are really difficult but amazing curve.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: PHY9B
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Solid.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: PHY9D
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I don't understand why students are so in love with this professor. Most of class time was wasted on Clicker questions and incorrect student answers to them. His office hours were helpful, but he had trouble explaining concepts beyond the related formulas. His questions were also difficult to interpret at times. Generous curve on exams.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PHY9B
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Great lecturer, but you will need time outside of class to fully understand the topics. Exams are very difficult, so expect raw scores between 30-40%. There curve is very good, but if you work hard enough and go to office hours you could probably get a high B or possibly an A.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PHY9AC
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He's very enthusiastic and clear in lecture. Exams are difficult but are generously curved; they're mostly based on lecture examples and discussion problems. His classes may be challenging but you will learn well. Even after 3 classes with him, Harris was still just as engaging and fascinating to listen to and learn from.