Bruce Trace - University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL

Professor: Bruce Trace

Department: Mathematics

College: University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: MATH145
• 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:

Dr. Trace is incredibly intelligent. The downfall of this is he is so far removed from a beginner mindset that he cannot effectively teach the topics. I would only recommend him to someone majoring in Mathematics and really, REALLY into Math Theory.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: MA145
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

This man is fantastic. For MA 145,. He has a grading system where if you make good on the final. There are T/F quizzes weekly that added up to 10% of overall grade. He is accessible outside of class and will do whatever he can to help you make a good grade in the course. Its hard at first to follow along with lectures, but it DOES get better.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: MATH302
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

This class was the easiest thing I've ever taken. The only grade you get is the final at the end of the 5 weeks and it's take home. I never went to class and ended with an A. Would highly advise to take this professor over other options.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: MATH145
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Bruce is a great man, however his class was super hard. The tests were fine, as long as you did your homework, but Bruce would spend so much time on proofs that didn't matter during lectures. Be ready to "get out your helmet and shoulder pads" as he says.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: MA238
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

The best math professor I have ever had. Had him for Cal 3 as well and he was phenomenal, the best at teaching the concepts and basics of each topic for you to get a true understanding of the material.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: MA125
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He's very smart and knows what he's doing, but his lectures are incredibly boring and at times were hard for me to follow. Honestly, I wouldn't suggest him if you aren't the best at math... the only reason I did as well as I did is because I took calculus in high school.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: MATH238
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Great professor all round; Good lectures(technically optional, but there is a quiz every Monday) and easy tests(simple examples of the topics). Online HW can be done for extra credit, and HW assigned in class is purely optional, but helps.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: MATH238
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Bruce Trace is essentially a walking textbook. All of the complex problems come directly from the textbook and make very little sense in the grand scheme of things. The tests are beyond easy if you can sift through the endless theory that he hurls at you.

Rating # 9

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

If I could buy a grandfather, I'd pick Bruce Trace.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: MA227
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I would avoid Trace if at all possible. He is an intelligent man, but his grading policies are completely unreasonable. Did a question completely correct on a test, entered it wrong on the computer, and received 0 credit. I dropped his class and recieved an A+ the next semester from another professor. Not worth the headache.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: MA227
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

You can take tests and do homework, or have your entire grade be the final. Mr. Trace was a great teacher, but only explains concepts in one way. Do not expect to pass if you do not show up to class.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: MA227
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

First of all, I like Trace. He is a good man and definitely knows what he is talking about. However, the lectures are very proof-based and often go over your head. As he says, you often need to "bring your helmet." The good part is that the tests are very simple and much easier than the homework. Go to class and write down the examples, not proofs.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: MA126
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Great at teaching the concepts of calculus, it sometimes went over my head in class, but when you do the hw it all connects and makes sense. I did hate the tests, there were 5 multiple choice and 1 T/F for all of them. So you have to know how to do the basic hw probs and know lecture material.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: MATH227
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Trace uses theory to teach, which may be difficult for someone who isn't used to that. The best way to prepare for the tests is to know how to do the homework as well as examples from lectures. If you want to do well in the class, you should spend time outside of class doing practice problems and try to fully understand the content.

Rating # 15

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Tests are 6 questions, online, multiple choice. A 5/6 is an 83%, so be careful. Other than that, Trace is a good teacher and explains things very well but 227 is tough.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: MA227
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Trace is very intelligent. He definitely knows what he's teaching, but often his lectures are very theoretical/proof-heavy. You need to focus on the homework and less on the notes when studying for tests. I studied my HW thoroughly for tests and finished with an A+. Don't get freaked out by the lecture, and study by knowing the homework.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: MATH125
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Trace is one of the best professors I have had. Makes Calculus easy. Lectures are theory based and in depth but tests are not nearly as hard as homework. tests are short and multiple choice and true/false.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: MA125
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Great professor to have, explains more than necessary for the test. Only problem is that tests are very few questions. Got three wrong on a final and dragged my grade down. Don't overthink on the tests!!!

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: MA227
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Took for MATH227. He explains things way past what you need for test. 4 6-question midterms. You have very little room for error in this class for an A. Loves math and knows everything super well. You just have to figure out what parts of his lectures are valuable for the tests.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: MATH227
• Grade Received: D
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Trace is a very smart man, but his grading method is absolute garbage. 80% of your grade rests upon 28 questions (including a drop test, 34 without.) Dr. Trace does not provide any guidance for his tests aside from the words, "Look at the notes and the homework." Which, you guessed it, are not reflected on the test. Avoid if it all possible.