Thomas Zerger - Saginaw Valley State University, University Center, MI

Professor: Thomas Zerger

Department: Mathematics

College: Saginaw Valley State University, University Center, MI

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: MATH162
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Calc 2 is brutal, but with Zerger it's doable. He gives partial credit just for attempting problems, and he curves exams. His take home quizzes and webworks assignments are harder than his actual exams, but he still gives lots of partial credit on the quizzes. Some chapters he explains better than others, but still an overall great prof.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: MATH223
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Tom is one of the nicest teachers I've had so far at SVSU and seems like he wants his students to succeed. His fault, however, is that he teaches the content in a way where he expects you to think like he does. The homework will take you many hours, sometimes just for one problem, and his tests are complicatedly worded. Expect to teach yourself.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: MATH162
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Tom is probably about average in terms of teaching skill, BUT he is about the nicest guy in the world. He is great about giving partial credit on quizzes and tests, and he curves exams frequently. Very approachable guy, and tries his best to help when he can. I would take him again if I had any more math classes.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: MATH082
• Grade Received: F
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

he was such a boring lecturer and extremely hard to get in touch with. I had a hard time with math and he didn't give help me when I asked for help. I wouldn't recommend.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: 132A
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

TOM, oh boy. Don't expect to succeed unless you have prior stats knowledge. He just writes a bunch of equations on the board all hour with little to no explanation. BE WARNED tests and exams may only be 6 questions long but have MULTIPLE parts to them. While he can be reached in office hours, he just repeats the question and expects you to get it.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: MATH132A
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Zerger wasn't the most entertaining professor. I found myself zoning out during his lectures. However, he is very helpful and willing to answer all of your questions in or out of class. He wants you to succeed. Show up to class, do the homework, study the content, and you will be fine.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: MATH132A
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Worst math/stat professor I ever had. Goes too fast and acts like we know all the stats terminology. Doesn't really engage the class, and just writes a ton of stuff without really explaining it. He seems like real nice guy but as a teacher, he's not the best. DO NOT TAKE HIM

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: MATH140
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I have had Zerg for 3 separate math classes at SVSU, and while I'm not good at math, I loved him. He knows his stuff and is always willing to help both in class and outside of class. His quizzes and homework are harder than the tests, and often the tests are just the quizzes with different numbers so study from those.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: MATH132A
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He is a really nice guy, but he is not the best if you are not confident in your mathematical abilities, like I am. Your grade is based off of take-home quizzes (which are very hard and time consuming) and exams. Apparently he gives out a lot of extra credit, but I never got any opportunities for it.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: 132A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Mr. Zerger is a very nice man, but I do not think I'd take his class again. Extra credit is VERY rare in his class. He moves really fast during the lectures and is sometimes hard to follow. His exams are very tough. Just a very hard class in general.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: MATH261
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Zerger is a very nice guy but his homework "quizzes" are nearly impossible. There were many times where none of the tutors could figure out the problems after days. His lectures can tend to be a little boring. He made Calc 3 much harder than it needed to be, I had a very difficult time in this class and I am a math major.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: MATH261
• Grade Received: D
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

LONGGGGG hard homework assignments. Will make you work hard in calc 3. Very hard grader and not much help outside of class. Will not give any extra credit or anyway to bump up your grade. Hard concepts and of your not willing to devote 100% of your studying time do not take.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: CALC2
• 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:

zerger is a great prof. i learned so much from him. he's clearly very smart and knows his material well. always willing to help and is very helpful if you go to his office hours. he also curves a lot so thats a plus. definitely recommend

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: MATH120B
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He helped me clarify issues with Matrices that I had trouble with in high school precalc. Don't let these ratings fool you; don't assume that you'll pass his class without effort just because you're known to be good at math. But his assignments were too time consuming; practice with them, and you'll do very well.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: MATH120B
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Zerger helped students as long as they asked questions, don't be afraid to. As long as you come to class and pay attention you will be fine. Very nice professor who does his job well.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: MATH140
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Zerger is great at making sure you understand things before moving on. Don't be afraid to ask questions! Sometimes he assumes everyone understands after he speeds through one or two examples, but if you ask him to slow down, he will. Really smart guy, very nice too. The class moves quickly so don't get behind. Do most of the optional homework!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: MATH162
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Zerger is awesome. Calc II is hard, but Zerger was understanding and fair. Take-home quizzes are hard, but in class tests/quizzes are significantly easier (so if you can do the quizzes, you can do the tests). Also curves quite a bit. Would take again.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: MATH162
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

This class was challenging, but Zerger was good. He gave hard quizes that were done at home, but the he tells you what to study and what will be on the exams. I'd definitely take him again.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: MATH162
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Zerger was a really tough professor but he is also a very good one. I really had to work hard to do well in his class but it really paid off and I learned so much.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: MATH162
• 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:

Extremely helpful, homework is hard but you can get help on it. Tests and quizzes are easier. Go to class, take notes, ask questions and youll be fine