Thomas Richards - University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND

Professor: Thomas Richards

Department: Mathematics

College: University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: MATH265
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

His lectures stray off of the material he actually puts on the test. There is no homework, only tests, and weekly quizzes. He does not give out any extra credit or chance for retakes. He also doesn't allow a note card or cheat sheet on exams so get ready to memorize a TON of stuff!

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: MATH166
• Grade Received: D
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Calc II is a difficult subject that'll take a large amount of time to understand, even if you have a great teacher. This guy's lectures are hardly any help, so unless you have a very large amount of time on your hands, or already know some Calc II, don't take this with Richards. You'll be doing pretty much all of the learning on your own.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: MATH165
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He was a nice guy and he knew the material well. He just wasn't good at teaching it. When you take his class, you end up teaching yourself. Unless you spend every waking hour studying mathematics. I'd suggest taking someone else.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: MATH255
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Unless you want to teach yourself the entire class don't take calc from Richards.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: MATH207
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I needed a linear algebra course for graduate school preparation and found this one online taught by Prof. Richards. His notes are very helpful and clear, and he's quick and responsive to emails and grades homework and exams quickly. The material was not hard. It introduced me to a lot of important concepts!

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: 308
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Richards always provided study guides for the tests and quizzes, which was really nice. The study guides cover a lot of material, but if you do a short write up and review each topic, you will be golden for the tests and quizzes. If you show up to class consistently, you will win brownie points, and that will pay off at the end of the semester.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: MATH165
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Don't take Calc from Richards! All his class consists of is memorizing theorems verbatim, which doesn't actually help in any real applications, let alone higher level courses. Oh, and I DID get an A in the class. It only required 30+ hours a week of studying, memorizing theorems, and doing suggested practice problems. And then I barely got an A.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: MATH165
• 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: N/A

Comment:

The class was very difficult, but honestly, the professor was quite easy to work with. He gave a good amount of partial credit, was willing to round up scores close to the next letter grade, and would help with any questions that you had.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: MATH165
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Guys never take this teacher..he is an awful one and have the hardest exams with no partial credits, CalcI is an easy class but he makes it appears difficult..stay away from him if you want to get A or B in the class..

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: MATH266
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This course was very poorly taught and weighted heavily on exam scores. Certainly there are other ways to gauge a student's intelligence through the length a semester than by doing so via sampling skill a handful of times on exams.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: MATH255
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

One of the worst professors I've ever had. Talks to the board and covers it while he is talking so you can't see what he is writing. The material doesn't make any sense when he teaches it and when you ask questions he just makes you feel stupid. Very little partial credit given.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: MATH165
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

HE has paper homework!

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: MATH266
• 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:

Little partial credit on tests

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: MATH265
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This guy gives very little partial credit for anything very difficult tests, not helpful when asked questions. Stay away from him if possible.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: MATH265
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Teaches concepts well, easy to understand, but the amount of concepts and formulas you're expected to remember is overwhelming. This class was more about remembering a semester's worth of formulas than learning calculus. Most profs allow a formula sheet; they realize that being able to use & understand them outweighs memorizing them - not this one.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: MATH265
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

The material covered in class was minimal, however the expected knowledge for tests was vast. Combined 10 book sections into one exam. When the majority of the class failed a test, he assumed we all just weren't trying hard enough.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: MATH165
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Awful teacher. Doesn't give credit where credit is due. Very difficult to get points. Confusing when he teaches because he messes up constantly as well as use symbols and notations without going over them first. Tried to talk to him out of class, didn't help. If he is your only option, drop the class, otherwise switch out! Awful awful awful!

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: MATH166
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This guy is the biggest jerk I've ever met. Stay away!

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: MATH308
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Very nice guy, knows his stuff. If you need help, go see him. He is more than willing to help. His class is not easy, though. I highly recommend showing up for class. If he knows you're trying hard, you will likely pass.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: MATH266
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Very good professor, made Diff Eq very easy!