Catherine Duane-Lennard - University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA

Professor: Catherine Duane-Lennard

Department: Mathematics

College: University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: MATH0220
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Cathy is such a sweet human being, and she really cares about the success of her students. However, she often makes many mistakes in lecture, so it is a guessing game as to whether or not your notes are correct. Her tests are basically homework questions and are not hard. The only bad thing in this class is that you basically teach yourself.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: MATH0120
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Somehow I passed her class and only attended half of the lectures and nearly failed every exam. If you end up with Cathy, just know that everything weighs on the final but you'll constantly worry and wonder about your grade in this class. I highly recommend you steer clear and try to get ANYONE but her.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: MATH0120
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Despite popular belief, I actually enjoyed Cathy's class. The class exam averages were extremely low, but a lot of the questions came straight from the many optional practice problems, which you should do. I also used the book to study but it is not a necessity. I had a pretty extensive calc background but felt that her class was pretty fair.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: MATH0120
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Business calculus was hard, and it did not come off easily. Cathy is a tough grader, the exams are rough, but I feel much more confident after the class. The TAs will always suck for any math class. Visit her, and she will help you. Do the extra work, and you will do well. To get better at math, you have to do math, and she makes you do it.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: BCALC0120
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Literally the worst teacher I have ever had in my life. She whispers, stands in front of the board so you can't see, and talks insanely fast. She teaches you nothing and our class averages on exams were always F's. Everything weighs on the final but you'll still be stressing over the class ALL the time. In shock that someone can be this awful.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CALC120
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Does not follow the departmental schedule. She will spend days on irrelevant materials. She also tests you on things she hasn't taught or quizzes you in really obscure manners. I had to rely on my ta a lot for the course. If you have the time to put into learning a lot yourself not a bad teacher. However if you want a strong math base do not.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: MAT0120
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Do not take this professor unless you have extensive background knowledge of calc. Her lectures are confusing and made up of mostly proofs, and you won't be able to see what she's written on the board. Her tests also have nothing to do with what she says is on them.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: MATH0120
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The midterms will be very tough but they prepare you for the final. I only took pre-calc in high school and stilled passed her class. There is a quiz about every other week in recitation, the TAs grade them. Tests are graded by her and she is adamant about you visiting her if you don't do well. You can fail each midterm and still pass the final.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: CALC0120
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

So here is the thing: her tests are way harder than her lecture. Her TA professors usually suck. She requires your attention, and wants to teach it her way. But, if you choose to go along with it, she is really willing to help. Going to her office hours helped so much, and talking after class helped a lot. If you put in the work, she will help.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: MAT0120
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Failed all the midterms, but she allows you to replace your in term exam average with the grade on your final if you get a better grade. Got a B on the final and pulled a C in the class. DO NOT TAKE HER.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: CALC0120
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Worst math teacher I've ever had. Lectures almost entirely spoken in theoretical terms and makes zero effort to make a survey calc course more accessible to non mathematics majors.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: BCALC0120
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Took calc in senior year of HS, passed with A, still had trouble. Three inclass exams I got all Ds but I PROMISE the final was so much easier than any of her tests. Got a B in the class overall ( basically had to reteach myself everything before the final). She talks fast and her exams consist of combining 3-4 concepts in one question. Super hard.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: BCALC0120
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

She doesn't use blackboard so it's kind of confusing through email. Confirm that our first test average was a 41% for the entire class, and she showed disappointment when we didn't understand, instead of slowing things down. I dropped the class because I couldn't keep up. I never went to office hours because I felt uncomfortable with her attitude.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: MATH0120
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This class is the equivalent to giving a toddler a rocket ship and expecting them to be a rocket scientist four months later. Anyone giving her a good rating is falsely equating being tough to being a good teacher. On multiple occasions I was belittled in office hours.1st test: mean 41% median 36%. Beyond unclear with her grading for tests/overall.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: BCALC0120
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I did not like Cathy, she wasn't super helpful when I went to her office hours and she talked down on you when she would explain things. However even if you have an F all year, if you do well on the final you can still pass the class. Also the textbook was a stupid purchase because we barley used it.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: MATH120BUSCALC
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Cathy goes through material very quickly. Overall the class was difficult for me. I took Calc in high school which helped me immensely in her class. If you did not take calc in high school, good luck. The tests are not easy. They are often very different from the problems she does in class or those on her practice exams. Final exam is key;)

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: MATH120BUSCALC
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Hardest class ever! Awful professor. I went to her office hours all the time. She races through the material, and erases what she's written on the board so quickly it's hard for you to write things down. The online homework doesn't relate to the practice exams/ exams at all. The textbook is straightforward unlike the exams she gives. Good luck!

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: MAT0120
• Grade Received: F
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Hardest class I've ever taken. Cathy is the worst professor I've ever had. She goes through everything so quickly -- it's impossible to understand almost anything in class. You'll have to do A LOT of work outside of class in order to pass. Class average was about 50%-60% on each exam. Went to her office hours several times but she wasn't helpful.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: MATH0120
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Three midterms and a final. Midterms are EXTREMELY challenging (46%, 48%, 45%). She purposefully makes everything unnecessarily hard. Luckily, she doesn't make the final, and she lets your score replace your exam average. Other kids weren't so lucky. Course covers all of calc except trig. STAY AWAY, TAKE SOMEONE ELSE FOR BUSINESS CALC.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: MATH120
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Cathy is challenging, but it is possible to receive an A. If you do all of the practice problems and really try to understand the material you can get an A. Also, the final isn't too difficult as it is departmental. You are better off taking Cathy for Buscalc than the other professors at Pitt.