Claude Bernasconi - University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA

Professor: Claude Bernasconi

Department: Chemistry

College: University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: CHEM108A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Claude is awesome. I put in a decent amount of time and did very well; however none the less Claude gives practice exams that are almost the same his tests. He is no longer teaching this class anymore, for this is his last year. Glad I had 108A with him!

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: CHEM108A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Claude really wants you to learn the material, sure it's difficult and can be very frustrating at times but he's trying to prepare us for 108b where there is no curve. Overall, the class was difficult and it was hard at times to understand him and his handwriting. Do the readings and homework, do the practice exams, ask the TA's for help.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: CHEM108A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

A challenging course with a challenging professor. Claude definitely wants you to know your material really well, that would be reflected from the practice exams that he posts online before the midterm and the final. Although the class has a very generous curve at the end, you definitely wanna put in considerable amount every day.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: CHEM108A
• 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 very good-natured guy.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: CHEM108A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Fairly boring lecturer and you won't be able to learn the material well enough without fairly heavy use of the book. I also used Klein's textbook because the one assigned for this course isn't that great. He puts up practice tests before each exam which are fairly helpful and has a pretty generous curve at the end.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CHEM112
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Bernasconi is monotone but he knows his stuff. His tests are extremely hard but are completely fair. He gives you practice exams and there are weekly quizzes. Read the textbook and most importantly go to class! Do not expect to get 100% on exams, he gives "trick" questions on purpose to see how you approach them. He is readily available to talk.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: CHEM112
• 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:

I love Bernasconi!!! Not a particularly easy class but you'll do great if you put in the time. :)

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: OCHEM108A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Easy class tests very similar to the tests he posts on ecommons. Memorize the rections and be able to recall them easily. he is pretty funny too

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: CHEM108A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Take my advice: READ BEFORE CLASS AND DO THE HW BEFORE. I can't stress that enough. I went to lecture and didn't read making lecture useless. He basically reviews the book material. Pretty easy grader though. 50% was passing. Tests are like the practice tests.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: CHEM108A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He's really nice, but extremely boring and monotonous. Seems to be tired of teaching. Tests are very straightforward though, so if you go to lectures, do the book problems, and use the book to understand his (sometimes unclear) lectures, you'll be fine. One of those classes where the effort you put in determines how well you do.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: CHEM108A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

An okay instructor. He speeds through the notes at a speed you sometimes can't keep up with, and it may be better to just sit back and watch. He tends to talk into his notes, which means that it can be hard to hear him. His handwriting is also mediocre. Will throw a few trick questions into exams. 50% is a pass, and the curve is fairly large.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: CHEM108A
• 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:

People say Ochem is hard but with Bernasconi it is pretty easy. Read the book, do the homework, and go over the quizzes. Simple class.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: CHEM108A
• 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:

boring, monotone lecturer, but he's old so what do you expect? read the book and you wont need his lectures. Do the hw because he throws in a couple questions on the exam to surprise ppl. Not a hard tester or grader, do and UNDERSTAND his practice midterms and chances are you'll get a satisfying grade.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: OCHEM108A
• 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:

Claude was the best. Tests are very similar to practice exams. Do the homework, because they do show up on the exams! My TA Kelly made the course even cooler. Go to section, do the homework, and you'll get an A. Claude made o-chem super easy. He's a boss!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: OCHEM108A
• 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:

this guy is the teacher to take ochem with. a 60% is considered passing in his class and his exams are very straight forward and fair

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: OCHEM108A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Bernasconi is a great teacher, and his lectures are helpful because they show you what he wants you to know. The people who failed probably didn't do the hw, which is essential. He is fair, you just need to understand the hw assignments and the practice miterms. That's it.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: CHEM108A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I didn't find Bernardi's lectures useful so I just used the book. His practice exams were somewhat similar to the exams, but he always has trick questions which made them pretty difficult. The curve at the end was pretty big though.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: OCHEM108A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

hes not great, but not bad.GRADES VERY VERY VERY VERY FAIR. I got a 65 on first midterm, 68 on second midterm. and failed most of the quizzes with a score of no higher than 3/10 and i passed the class with a B. the practice exams are very similar to the real test. remember to do the hwk occasionally because they show up on the test.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: CHEM108A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Professor Bernasconi isn't the best lecturer in the world but he is extremely fair and generous grader. He gives two practice exams for each test which are exactly like the exam. If you do all the homework and the practice exams you will do very well.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: CHEM108A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Terrible teacher. Lectures are completely useless. Read the book, do the homework and study the practice tests. It was infuriating to discover that whenever our lab prof explained things it was crystal clear.