Tom Teegarden - San Diego Mesa College, San Diego, CA

Professor: Tom Teegarden

Department: Mathematics

College: San Diego Mesa College, San Diego, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: CALC1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

If you work a full time job you should think twice about selecting him as a teacher. I've already had to drop my other classes in order to keep up with this one. He assigns a quiz after every lecture due at the next class and they are extremely difficult. Tests are also very difficult and include material not covered previously in lessons.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: MATH252
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Honestly don't know how he has such a high rating. Because by the end of the sem. The class is less than half of what first began. I took him for 2 semesters calc 2 & 3. Teegarden will consume any available time you have and make it only for his class. He doesn't teach as much as he provides you notes, to do his daily extensive tests and quizzes.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: MATH252
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Huge time commitment. Not for working students. Take home quiz due every period. Difficult to work ahead as lecture notes e-mailed after class are necessary to complete quiz. 7 exams + take home portion. Easily irritated by questions deemed rudimentary. Teaching style is different from previous courses and he's very particular on how work is done.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: MATH151
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

This professor knows how to solve standard problems; ask him a really good question about a concept and he won't know the answer. People say he's knowlegable but maybe they need to review more basic information.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: MATH151
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

he really knows what he's doing, and he's really compassionate about math. he's always there to answer questions on his office hours or by email. But one thing I have to assure you is that the average ISN'T A- at all, prepare yourself for a lot of tests (6 or 7) 10% each then the final is 30% and HW is 10%. passing his class is time consuming.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: MATH151
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Hands down the hardest math class and prof I've ever taken. But so worth it! It would be near impossible for you to pass without knowing exactly what you're doing. Teegarden is an amazing teacher with a huge knowledge base. Tests are SO hard and Teegarden wants things to be perfect. But if you survive, you'll come out a much stronger student.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: MATH255
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I took Teegarden from calc 2 through diff'eq and he is amazing. Very tough but he gives you everything you need. He is retired and does this because he wants to. He teaches one class per semester, calc 1 through diff'eq in order. If you are mathengineering major and are lucky enough to have your math sequence fall into line with his then take him.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: MATH151
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

If you actually put in work and want to succeed in college take him. If you plan on half-assing the rest of your (attempted) degree, and eventually switching to philosophy because "STEM just wasn't for me", do NOT take this professor.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: MATH252
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Took Calc3 with him and taking his DEqn. Love him. His lectures are very clear if you can keep up with his algebra so Make sure to sharpen your algebra sklls b4 taking him. Daily take-home quizzes, more like graded home work which help a lot in tests. He assigns problems that are hard enough to interest you. Give clear expectations for everything.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: MATH252
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The rigor and effort put into the course is immediately followed by the sheer amount of confidence gained and the appreciation for such a caring, well-prepared instructor. Undoubtedly, a gold standard for teaching math. This beneficial investment into your future and education will make you wish he taught you all of math from day one. A+ recommend

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: MATH252
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Attend class everyday, youll understand the material very well. Take a lot to spend time with the material outside of class time. Choose your schedule wisely. If you him for help, he may tell you that you should of understand the material and algebra. If you like challenges, take him. Feels like an upper division course.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: MATH151
• 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:

Extremely knowledgeable and competent! He encourages the use of office hours and is very prompt with email replies. He emails you your homework grade within 36 hours and emails you your class average and rank after every test. Fast-paced lecturer, and he expects you to be very competent with algebra. Just do all the work and you learn a lot!

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: MATH151
• 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:

Won't sugarcoat it: this class is hard. Tom teaches you what you need and tests you on the concepts themselves; nothing is handed to you. Study the quizzes and practice tests and the actual tests are not bad. If you got an A/B in Calc 1 expect a little more work for that here. Overall very difficult, but he actually teaches and has expectations.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: MATH151
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

The quizzes are based off the notes. He is very clear on what he expects and provides solutions immediately after every test and take home quiz. The practice tests are very similar to the in-class tests but the take-home exams are ridiculously hard. You've been warned.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: MATH150
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

There's over 20 quizzes, due every day. Honestly though, that's what makes test time easy. I really appreciate this style of teaching, you will fail if you can't keep up with them, but if you do, you can't fail. I feel like a really learned it. Quarky guy too.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: MATH151
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Professor T is a hard prof but he really makes you learn your stuff. Be prepared for LOTS of time needed outside of his class to really understand the material. His grading is fair. There is HW due everyday, 7 tests & a final. You are able to drop 3 HW and 1 test. Final is worth 30%. All HW assigned is thru his notes. Save $ and use any Calc book.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: MATH150
• 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:

INCREDIBLY THOROUGH!! great math teacher, but extremely unforgiving (especially with partial credit). you will WORK harder than any other class you have ever had, or you will fail. BUT at the end, you will understand and be able to do math at a superior level that far exceeds anyone taking a similar class. PERFECT teacher for math majors!

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: MATH151
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I love Tom. His class I have to work a lot on it, but I understand the methods. He is a very helpful instructor. You can go to his office to ask in office hour if you do not know how to do the problem

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: MATH255
• 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: N/A

Comment:

He knows how to teach. He's also anally retentive when it comes to algebraic simplification. People are getting tricked into believing that they're actually getting held up to a higher standard. Like I said, he'll take off points for the most frivolous reasons to the point where it becomes absurd.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: MATH151
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

The profound effect that Tom has had on so many of his students' lives really speaks volumes about the type of teacher he is. His class is not difficult, the exam problems are literally identical to the quiz problems. If you pay attention and follow his instructions, you will get an A without question. No other professor cares as much as he does!