Claus Borgnakke - University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

Professor: Claus Borgnakke

Department: Mechanical Engineering

College: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ME336
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Borgnakke is such a great professor. He knows thermo off the top of his head like nothing, so do ask any question you got because he will give you a good answer. He's always willing to help students. Always starts his lectures by asking the class if there's any questions. Overall, enjoyed him very much.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ME336
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Claus is funny and knows thermo like the back of his hand. You can get him going on random thermo topics that he just knows. The class is largely thermo one with some extra stuff thrown in. Overall quite easy and he curves it to a B+.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ME235
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Borgnakke has taught at UofM since the 80s, and is pretty stuck in his ways when it comes to teaching. He will sometimes go off on tangents complaining about the "younger generation". He can be helpful if you ask questions or go to office hours, but you have to force it out of him, because he doesn't get that you are just learning the material

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ME235
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Claus Borgnakke is a very smart professor, and also very nice. However, his lectures tend to be very confusing and hard to follow. He goes through examples very fast- he forgets that the students are just learning thermodynamics and aren't as fluent as he is. Good guy, just not a great teacher.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ME336
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Great Professor. The material makes sense if you work for it. Many students had the solution manual available and just copied the homework. If you have it I suggest doing the homework and then checking your answers from there.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ME235
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Absolutely awful in terms of grades. I did 10 to 20 points above average on every exam and ended up with a B+

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ME235
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Definitely loved the class. Lectures are a little long, and sometimes confusing. You must read the textbook before you come to lecture though. That'll definitely help. He's very helpful at office hours and the tests aren't too bad

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ME235
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Claus is an oldschool type of professor and a genuinely good guy, however, I had difficulty following his logic and his notes were quite confusing. I (and many students) were lost until about a week before the exam when I read the book and caught up. Material isn't too bad, but I recommend reading the book to reinforce lecture ideas.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ME235
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Borgnakke WROTE the textbook so he obviously knows his stuff. The lectures are long, but he usually makes jokes and he's a pretty funny dude. If you do the homework every week and know the material, this class isn't too hard and Borgnakke does a good job of relating what we learn to the real world so I would highly recommend his class.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ME336
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Very clear with lectures, was very interested in subject as well. Exams can be tough but are very fair with what is taught. Ready to help and gives good examples in class that are helpful for homework and exams.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ME211
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Very helpful and accommodating. Will go the extra mile if you approach him for help. Lectures may be confusing, but if you get help after classduring office hours, he will explain things clearly until you understand.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ME336
• 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:

Professor Borgnakke is the best professor I have ever had! He is very clear during lecture and goes through relevant examples. The exams are challenging but he is a fair grader. You will not be disappointed taking a course from Borgnakke.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ME336
• 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:

I had him as a prof in the early 90's. He is a bit tough when you ask questions, but c'mon get over it. Favorite Claus quote: "(in a Danish accent) Are there questions? (no one asks any in fear of being poked fun at)...Well that means one of two things, either you know everything or you know nothing and I know you don't know everything!"

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: MECHENG235
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He explains things well, but makes you feel uncomfortable when you ask him a question. Awful grading scheme. His exams are really tough. Take the other professor offered.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: MECHENG235
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He is very unfair in terms of exams. His exams are much harder than the examples he goes over in class. Also, the class is graded in such a way that it is super hard to get an A, but pretty easy to get a B- or B. Don't recommend him whatsoever.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: MECH235
• 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:

His grading is really hard if your trying to get an A, but if you're aiming for a B-, B you can get that. He curves so majority gets B and very small amount gets As. I learned everything from the book he wrote. Learned not much at all from the lectures. His lectures are really boring, occasional funny moments. DO NOT TAKE HIM!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: MECH235
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He has an awful way of grading exams and the class. His exams are really hard, concepts and problems we never solved. The grading is super inconsistent. Two people could have the same wrong answer and the same explanation, one could get 15/30, another 25/30. I DO NOT RECOMMEND HIM!!!!!! Actually though, AVOID HIM.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ME235
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Hands down worst teacher I've ever had. None of his notes are headlined. His lectures are basically solutions to thermodynamic questions, little to no definitions or explanations. Completely uncoordinated with GSI's. His exams are random, hard and contain situations never done before. Smart man though(he wrote the textbook..)just not a good teacher

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ME235
• 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:

Borgnakke is a great professor in the classroom- he explains material clearly, works through many examples, answers questions, and generally keeps class interesting. Outside the classroom, however, he is disorganized and frustratingly unreliable, not scheduling midterms until the prior week, not coming to office hours, and never replying to emails.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ME235
• 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:

I recommend him and found him to be very fair and lenient. His textbook is very helpful as well. He usually starts lecturing before the lecture technically starts and often lectures past the time it's supposed to be over though.