Steven Izen - Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH

Professor: Steven Izen

Department: Mathematics

College: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: MATH321
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Does not test over what is presented in the class. Try to avoid.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: MATH223
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

The comments below tell the full story - Professor Izen is a very hard teacher. His tests are hard to complete in the allotted time and there isn't a curve. If you intend to earn an A in this course, you must have a thorough understanding of the material presented.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: MATH223
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

tough but rewarding izen himself is comparable to a gremlin

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: MATH223
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Izen gives great and clear lectures for MATH223 (although you still need to read the textbook for further clarification). His homework and exams are pretty difficult, and earning a good grade requires a good amount of work.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: MATH223
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

If you have the option, avoid taking Math 223 with this professor. His lectures are incredibly hard to follow, so most your understanding of the material comes from studying on your own. The weekly HW he gives is outrageously difficult and long (he grades HW for accuracy). Moreover, his tests are very long, and he gives almost no partial credit.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: MATH223
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I can see how you wouldn't enjoy his class if you don't actually care about learning, but for anyone who takes education seriously he's an excellent teacher who will certainly challenge you. The tests are hard but with the way he grades, you don't need super high scores as far as percentages in order to get a decent grade. Focus on the homework.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: MATH223
• Grade Received: D
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I joked with my friends this semester that I took my engineering classes at case and my math class at MIT. Professor Izen is incredibly smart but unless you are gifted at math you will not do well in his class at all. He gives out incredibly long homework assignments, and you must have TOTAL mastery of the material to do well on his tests.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: MATH223
• Grade Received: F
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Seriously the hardest class I've ever taken. The class is basically graded on the final and 1/3 of our class failed the final. No one got an A. If you really care about math then he's your guy and he knows his stuff but it's way too hard for a basic gen ed for engineering.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: MATH227
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

One of the hardest class I have taken at Case! He's not a bad professor, he's actually good, but he does give a lot of HW weekly, and his exams are really long and difficult. He know a lot, not only about Math, but also about other topics. He made Calc 3 more difficult, but also more interesting. If you want a challenge, this is your class.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: MATH227
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He teaches and grades according to his own standard so don't expect him to curve if anyone does well. Beware for those who just did okay in CALC II honors, the people who do worse drop to regular calc 3 and you will quickly become the lower category.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: MATH223
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He's a good teacher and teaches the material well, but his tests are very difficult and he doesn't really give much partial credit

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: MATH227
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Great teacher, very helpful and gives very thorough lectures. One of the hardest graders I've ever had though. Average on tests was around a 55 and there was no curve. There wasn't a single A given out for my class

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: MATH223
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Do the homework so you know what is going on. Tests go above what you have learned and are incredibly difficult. You can do well without turning in homework or attending class but enjoy your failing grade.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: MATH223
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Izen is easily one of the best math teachers I've had. He teaches math conceptually so that students actually understand the math and aren't just solving formulaic problems. Tests are tough but if you do the homework (mandatory) and the review problems (non-mandatory but definitely helpful) they're manageable. If you want to learn Calc 3 take Izen.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: MATH223
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

His tests and homework's are long and hard. The very first class he said "if you want an easy class, you should switch out of this section." I thought it would be ok and that I would just have to try hard, but I should have just switched. He is very smart but moves very quickly and doesn't explain things well. He can be kind of rude sometimes.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: MATH223
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I don't know how I feel about Professor Izen. He seems strict, but at the same time he seems like a good-natured dude. His grading can be harsh, but sometimes it's super lenient. There's definitely a LOT of work involved; the homework is hard, and it counts as an exam grade. But the exams themselves were fair. You'll definitely learn Calc III.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: MATH227
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This was an honors class, and you will work for your grade. Though it is tough, you really feel like you are getting the exposure you need to learn the material at a deep level. There is daily homework and it is returned quickly. Tests are graded tough, but they are all curved. Izen really cares and will help wherever necessary.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: MATH223
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Test average in mid 60s curved to a B, Half the class failed the FINAL with the median being a 114.5 out of 200. Based on these facts avoid the class like EBOLA!

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: MATH223
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Lectures are very helpful and you will understand the material quite clearly if you listen. On the downside, his tests are very hard, and you will have quite a bit of homework.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: MATH224
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Rough grader with a large homework load and hard tests. You have to be really ready to learn, but if you take the class seriously you will undoubtably know the material.