Richard Tontz - California State University, Northridge, Northridge, CA

Professor: Richard Tontz

Department: Economics

College: California State University, Northridge, Northridge, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ECON161
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

3 midterms and an exam. Lots of online HW as well. VERY hard class. You need to read everything and review every day to pass this class. The professor can be nice and also very rude to students.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ECON307
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He is a nice guy, but not an engaging instructor. He has a scripted lecture he is filming each class, so lecture is not interactive. Ambiguous grading system, but curves everything. Had no idea what I had in the class until final grades were posted. Overall, easy A if you go to every class, take good notes, and study a bit. Never used the book once

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ECON161HYBRID
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Overall the professor knows the subject well. He can be extremely boring and get off topic but he knows how to come back to his main points. He does care for students and wants the best for them. I would not take him again because of his random rants that have nothing to do with economics.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ECON160
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Class consists of 3 exams, including a midterm and an accumulative final. Records all his lectures and provides notes for every chapter. However, I would still use the textbook and not dependent on the notes. I enjoyed his lectures because he gave realistic examples of the topics we covered.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ECON307
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

make yourself a favorite and DO NOT take him, the average grade in his econ 307 is C, han assign sit so you can change your sit after that. 3 exams. 1 project paper due to end of semester so you dont know the grade for that paper. his exam is tricky and his class is always be recoded. If I did not need this class I would never take it with him.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ECON307
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I took this class because of the high reviews here. The only reason he has a high score is because its a super easy class. I didnt really learn anything new or meaningful in that class. I was really looking forward to taking it, but I personally dont just take a class just to get an A, I actually wanna learn something in the process.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ECON160
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Professor Tontz lacks the ability to simplify material. He tries to illustrate the material by giving examples, which fail when he goes into rants. He considers people who have money smarter than everyone else. Glances over class material during lectures, and exams do not match the videos or his study guides. Take him at your own risk.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ECON161
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Professor Tontz is a decent person and is very good in using computers. He posts all lectures so you don't need to attend classes but if attend you will get a chance of knowing several answers from midterms or final. He clearly states what you need to do in the beginning of the semester in order to succeed. I would definitely recommend him.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ECON160
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Tontz has 3 exams in the semester and grades harshly on them. His exams are based of powerpoints, class notes, and live lectures but, when you take the actual exam it's confusing because what you study doesn't match up with whats on the exam. His study guides are no help and he is just an overall tough grader.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ECON310
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Tontz's amazing! I took his Econ 310 Hybrid Class for Summer 2017. There's a LOT of material. However? Tontz NEVER leaves his students guessing, as to what material will be on his exams. ALL the materials that you'll need to do well, will be on Moodle (video lectures, Topic Review Lists, Powerpoint Slides).

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ECON310HYBRID
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Took his class during the Summer, got mid-40's on the two midterms, highest grades on both in the class were 80/100. Cumulative MC only final and research paper -- ended up getting a C. Test questions come from lecture/online notes. Not math intensive AT ALL -- basic math used. Qualitative research paper. Easiest 310 econ professor imo.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ECON161HYBRID
• 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:

His class was really boring, the majority of students playing with their phone/laptop while he is giving his lecture. The only reason students were attending is because he gives some answers, but if you have a friend just take the answer and do not attend the class at all. difficult tests and not straightforward. I do not recommend to be honest.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ECON161HYBRID
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

i'm continuing my comment (below), if you think he's boring, it's not cuz of him, it's probably the subject, cuz there is lot of theory. He's a really good guy, and would be glad to help someone who cares to learn the subject. He teaches at USC, and I can tell how his lectures are much better quality-wise, than many others I've heard before. Reccom

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ECON161HYBRID
• 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:

You HAVE TO understand the course, memorizing is not for this class. His lectures are high quality, full of realistic examples, and very organized. Best part of this class is that he records the lectures, provides notes for you on moodle so you can later rewatch'em. Read the book prior if you wanna make your life easier. Not easy but not impossible

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ECON161HYBRID
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He's an awesome guy that can make any topic sound interesting. If you do the assigned reading and attend class, you'll be fine. Reading is a huge help understanding topics and it really isn't too much. His exams make up the bulk of the grade and some things he mentions in lectures are not mentioned in the book, so I recommend going to the lectures.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ECON161
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

One of the best professors I've had. He really knows what he's talking about and his exams aren't that hard if you re-read the book at least twice. He does curve and helps out as much as he can.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ECON160
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Grade is based on 3 tests which have nothing to do with the study outline he gives. The lectures are not clear on the subjects, and don't coincide with his power points which don't coincide with the tests. Don't take him if you are looking to understand this course, or pass with a medium amount of work.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ECON160
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Hes a terrible professor, he cancels classes often and has canceled two classes right before an exam. His lectures doesn't make sense most of the time. It's already november almost to the end of the semester and i haven't learned anything

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ECON161HYBRID
• 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:

Overall, clear and knowledgeable professor. You need the book for the Aplia quizzes, but focus on his powerpoints to do well on the exams. Make sure you pay attention in class because he gives examples of what will show up on the exam.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ECON307
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

hybrid class half online half in person. He has recordings of every lecture on moodle, and he delivers half of those lectures in class. You could just show up on test days and watch all the lectures online (attendance not required). 2 tests, 1 research project, 1 final, no Homework. Test 1 based on lectures, test 2 & final from textbook and lectur