Steve Zera - California State University San Marcos, San Marcos, CA

Professor: Steve Zera

Department: Business

College: California State University San Marcos, San Marcos, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: FIN321
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Future finance majors, If you don't pay attention, trust me you will not pass. Lectures can be VERY boring, but you need to understand this class because you will be taking him again for FIN421. There is a study guide for the first quiz from the finance society, for the 2nd exam. Youtube options and learn this stuff! Essay is just written notes.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: FIN304
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

All Accounting and Finance majors have to take him for FIN304. However, these 2 are the REAL business majors, so u should be fine. Exams are based entirely on lecture, book isn't necessary at all. If you're in a joke major like MGMT expect to have a C or F by the end. U have to be a numbers guy for the midterm and understand concepts for the final.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: FIN321
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Absolute waste. Call SDSU, UCSD, USD, or Ashford and ask if they will let you take this class over the summer. Convince them to let you take the class that follows it over the next summer, since you MUST take him for two classes if you are a finance major. He says take notes on everything, but he does not let you record him. Goes off topic 2 much.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: FIN321
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

It's not hard to pass this class, but you only have two chances. Two tests, multiple choice (say what), and that's it. No homework, book or assigned readings, although the final is based on his options book. Your only hope is to rewrite you notes on a daily basis. Don't take for 304. Only take if you must (FIN MAJORS). I'm sorry.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: FIN304
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This class is very very hard, half of the class fails. the grading is base on the midterm and final thats it! no textbook only notes,memory and ask questions. There is no homework or practice homework, no presentations, no papers. You must be good in calculus ,algebra and economics. He is a great person makes you laugh. you must be good at tests!

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: FIN321
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Take excellent notes, he speaks fast but ask him to repeat if you need clarification. Grade based on midterm and final only. Allowed 5 formula cheat sheet for exams. 2500 word paper is assigned, but is not weighted towards your grade. Goes off on tangents sometimes to talk about random stuff (i.e.: his accounting days lol)

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: FIN422
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Read his book and take great notes. He is fair in his grading. Midterm was about options and modern portfolio theory. The final was based off futures. Just take notes and study them because they are on your test.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: FIN304
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Excellent professor at CSUSM. His lecture the exams. The class will be very difficult if you're not an ACCT or FIN major. Mid-term is heavily based on TVM that are 12 pg long problems. Do not buy book. Do every TVM problem once a day once you learn them. Final has less math but is harder. 50% fail rate Slackers WILL FAIL. Always ask questions.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: FIN302
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Winter intersession. 50% of your grade is attendanceparticipation. He will only give you 90% of that part of the grade because he "wants to make you work for an A". The other half of the grade is the final exam, which you need at least 50% on to pass his class. Also requires 2,500 word essay based on notes. Overall, it is worth it (only 1 week).

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: FIN302
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He made the class fun as much as finance can be. Goes off topic a lot but depending who you are you may or may not like that. Didn't use book at all just notes and problems done in class. Take the inter session only if you plan to study, passed the class and was worth it. Class isn't easy but pay attention and take good notes and you will pass

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: FIN321
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

If you're a finance major at CSUSM then you'll come to find that Dr. Zera is the chairman of the finance department, and he is the only professor that teaches FIN 321 and FIN 422, so you have no choice. He's a genius man and actually pretty cool despite what some may say here. He's a unique character. Just take in the experience and get through it.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: FIN422
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Much better than FIN 304. Dr. Zera is awesome. He's friendly, funny, and professional. Very easy class. Grade is based on one comprehensive exam and one spreadsheet creation project. Attend every class, he gives point for attendance. Again, this class is much easier than FIN 304, I SWEAR.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: FIN304
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Absolutely no book necessary but you need to attend every class with this guy. He's tough and I know there are some bad ratings here but this is just a tough course period. He's pretty funny and a unique teacher that you'll like more as the semester progresses on. Take him for 304 if you like learning by lecture rather than just by book.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: FIN302
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

His winter intersession course was very challenging and time consuming. The course consisted of a summary of all of the notes taken in class and a final exam. The summary was worth 50% and the final was worth 50%. His final exam was very hard and most of the students had to guess on a lot of the questions. Overall, he is very nice and very bright.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: FIN302
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Very difficult winter intersession class. Note summaries are 50% of the grade, 95% highest possible. Multiple choice final for the other 50% of grade. He says you don't need the book, so I relied on my notes and I didn't feel prepared for the final. No assignments are given, so you may need to take the initiative to practice on your own.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: FIN304
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

No textbook (which I liked), fast paced and challenging class. He is passionate about finance and tries to get the students into it. Take good notes and study your notes. The grade is based on midterm and final. All the questions are based on his lectures and problems he does in class. I got a B+

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: FIN304
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Very SMART and FUNNY and expects you to be like him. He encourages you to study a lot in order to pass the class and be successful in Finance. No hw, quizzes, extra credit nor projects. Your grade is based only on Midterm and Final. I don't think the book is necessary. It will confuse you. Just take good notes and STUDY, STUDY & STUDY. I got a C

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: FIN304
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He constantly talks about subjects not even remotely related to the class - like his childhood, dog, etc. Admits most of class will fail, does not prepare you for exams, tells you to "google it" which was the only way I passed at all. I had to teach myself, but he doesn't go off any book or recognizable pattern.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: FIN304
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Do not take his class. Trust me.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: FIN304
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Zera is super-knowledgable, super-nice -funny guy. Only one of those things are true. Actually, he's nice and funny in that 'accountant'-type of way. ProTip: read-up on some calculus and statistics before taking the class. Write down everything. And write it again two or three more times. Everything he says will slowly make more and more sense.