Bob Jacobsen - University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA

Professor: Bob Jacobsen

Department: Physics

College: University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PHYSICSC10
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Great professor. The lecture wasn't mandatory but he did have interesting demos. Only problem is that the class is 1.5 hrs long which made it very tiring. Exams were very simple as long as you read and do practice tests. I hated my GSI but I know there are great ones out there. Relatively easy A as long as you put some effort. Fascinating subjects.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PHY111
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Great professor, made learning electronics a lot of fun,

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PHYS111
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Great professor. Although the lectures were not mandatory, they were helpful in the lab exercises and also useful and interesting. Really nice, cares about his students, and also funny.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PHY111
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Great Professor, cares about students, clear explanations

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PHYSI42
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Really fun seminar, had a great time. He's an inspiring professor and a pleasure to talk to outside of class. I'd recommend his freshman seminar to anyone, because it's enlightening.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PHYSC10
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

he was an entertaining lecturer, but i didnt learn much from lecture. couldve just read the textbook and would have done equally, if not better, as good on my exams. lectures have awesome demos though, which is the only reason i went besides the quizzes. easy class, great for learning physics if you dont want to learn all the math

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PHYS8B
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

The person who wrote the following couldn't be more correct: "Bob" was a source of frustration all semester. He is a vague, worthless lecturer, and he tests on material not discussed in lecture. His "conceptual" approach is inefficient and confusing... and it goes on from there. I have heard he's better for 8a than 8b, but I didn't have him for 8a.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PHYS8B
• 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's a nice guy, and although not the best professor, he's better than the other Physics professors. Go to lecture, and do the practice exams/HW diligently.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PHYS8B
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

"Bob" was a source of frustration all semester. He is a vague, worthless lecturer, and he tests on material not discussed in lecture. His "conceptual" approach is inefficient and confusing. At some points during exams, I was quoting passages from the book as if 8B was an english class! Get a good GSI, b/c you won't learn s%*# from this guy.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PHYS8B
• 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:

Good professor. He likes what he does. I like that we never have to do integrals and such. He is more concept based and his exams are fair If you read the book (for background info) do the mastering physics BY YOURSELF to actually learn the stuff, and attend lectures and pay attention/understand the demos, you will do fine.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PHY8B
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I just want to say that Jacobsen is terrible at teaching E/M. I haven't taken the first midterm yet but I've never been so lost in a class. His whole "no math" strategy just doesn't work for concepts that are completely math-based. His lectures have no connection to the book or homework. Physics at Berkeley is the worst.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PHYS8A
• 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:

Jacobsen's class is pretty hard, but he is an extremely helpful, likable guy, who seems to genuinely care about the students, and grades fairly. Lectures are entertaining (especially the demos), but do not cover all of the material, so make sure you at least skim the chapters, and, most importantly, work hard on the online homework.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PHY8B
• 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:

He's a good professor at introducing and explaining material. But, not that good at explaining it in-dept and doesn't use math. His tests are fair, kinda hard, but good curve (apparently he doesn't curve), a lot of people do good in his class.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PHYS2B
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

one of the greatest teachers ever, really knows his stuff, you should really take his class. he is extremely dedicated to teaching, you just have to be willing to learn

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PHYS8B
• 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:

A good guy who cares about his students. But he is hard. The first midterm was difficult, the second one was easy, and the final was RIDICULOUS. Final was so FREAKING HARD. I wish he would make the 8 series a little easier, I mean this is physics for life sciences or non-engineering majors. Don't know why he makes it so tough. Labs are a joke.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: PHYS8A
• 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:

I've never had a teacher work harder. Make sure you go talk to him. Especially after class! He'll spend as much time as you want so you understand the stuff.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: PHYS8A
• 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:

Another brilliant Cal family man who CARES about his students. No curve but what does that really mean when he's making up the scale? Oh guess what, physics at Berkeley is hard, can you believe it? At least you can get a professor that wants you to do well and loooves his subject (and his kids (genetic and otherwise)).

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: PHYS8A
• 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:

Cares a lot for the understanding and success of his students, but tests are really hard and I am not saying this because I didn't study and/or don't understand the material. I would overall highly recommend him for his great lectures and personality.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PHYS8B
• 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 very good intentions of giving students an 'intution of physics' and puts a lot of emphasis on conceptual understanding. That aside, his lectures are boring and often involve demos that don't really help. His tests are inconsistent in difficulty, and don't involve much math (do not mistake no math as being easy).

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PHYS8B
• 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:

Don't freak out if he says he don't curve-- he tests very fair and if you are an A student you'll get an A if you are a B student you will get a B not matter what. And do the homework it is one the exams.