Donald Passman - University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI

Professor: Donald Passman

Department: Mathematics

College: University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: MATH741
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Simply the best

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: MATH221
• 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:

He isn't clear about any of the material he teaches, and he messes up all the time and says "ah well you know what i mean." I didn't learn anything, yet my TA was helpful. I took AP Calc BC in HS, but only got a 1 on the AP exam but the class is fairly easy, tests are kind of hard-just make sure you know how to do every type of problem in the HW

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: MATH222
• 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:

His lectures were extremely dull, and rarely helpful; I learned more from the TA and the textbook (A GOOD TA IS KEY). His tests can be a bit rough, so watch out. Do the practice exams. Homework was not graded in my section, but that's based on TA's decision, not professor. Final was not cumulative. This class was tough, but not unreasonable.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: MATH222
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

The content of this class is tough, but his exams are fair. His final is not cumulative and HW is not graded! Get a good TA, do all of the HW and practice exams.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: MATH222
• 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:

Fairly average prof, spends a lot of time on proofs in lecture because he is fascinated by math but doesn't work out examples, and the questions he puts on the exams are often more difficult than the ones assigned as homework. With a good TA you should be fine though

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: MATH221
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Lectures are generally boring. He goes through proofs rather than going through examples. The exams questions are much more difficult than the homework. Would not recommend.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: MATH222
• 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:

Enjoys proving everything in class, but fails to demonstrate how to do any of the homework problems. If you haven't taken calculus before, be prepared to teach yourself most of the material. Having a decent TA is a must because lectures do not help clear up confusion at all.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: MATH221
• 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's not good at teaching and is pretty boring. Sometimes he cracks funny jokes. If you can take a different prof, do it, it will be easier for you.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: MATH221
• 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:

Lectures are boring. Tests are hard and very harshly graded (generous curve though. I got a D- on both midterms but they were curved to a C). Lots of self teaching involve. Would not recommend if you're not good at math.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: MATH221
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Very dull and boring lectures. You'll spend most of your time on facebook or texting. The course is an easy B for anyone who took AP Calc AB, and it helps to have a good TA.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: MATH221
• 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:

Passman is a nice guy. Lectures can get extremely long. Be careful, he doesn't always emphasize things you really need to know for the test! The homework isn't bad but the tests are very in depth questions so make sure you know everything backwards and forwards. Grading is fair, TAs grade but your grade is based on 2 midterms and a final.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: MATH221
• 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:

Passman is kind of a funny guy. He loves his proofs and spends most of the classes on them. The only problem is that he never explains them clearly and he almost never gives examples of actually problems. Tests could be very difficult, outside tutoring was necessary as the TA was even less clear.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: MA221
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Passman is another reminder that UW Madison is focused on hiring researchers, not professors. His exams (the entire grade) are barely related to the homework, and often ask you to do things that are shown in a single example in class. Avoid at all costs. He is kinda funny, but lectures are terribly boring.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: MATH221
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Passman is alright for this coruse which is not that hard. This course more depends on your TA as mine sucks. He is alright in explaning the materials but can be very boring

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: MATH542
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I've had 3 terms of algebra with him. He seems to have little respect for students based on his jokes and "acts" like he's so tough as to be unapproachable. Material-wise it isn't demanding enough, at all.I regret taking him as I'll have to retake it or self-study to really have a solid understanding.One of the final questions:compute a determinant

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: CALC221
• 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:

Don't get me wrong, the guy is nice, but his exams have nothing to do with the homework problems, and your entire grade is based on two midterms and final. The curve is pretty harsh, and if you have a bad TA like I did, then you're screwed for the rest of the course. Expect to do a lot of self-teaching.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: MATH542
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I'm going to have to disagree with everyone else here. I found Passman to be an ineffective teacher. We didn't cover nearly as much as we should have in the course and we went over trivial things way more than useful things.Doesn't write proofs in lecture, just a few scattered words on the board. He is funny though, so I guess that's a good thing

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: MATH222
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He is a great professor! The class and subject are pretty difficult but he only makes you know what he covers in class. So just make sure that you go to class and you will do fine.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: MATH222
• 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:

Super easy class. Passman is a funny prof. A lot of jokes. No need to hand in homework. Grades based only on exams. Final is not cumulative and exams are very easy.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: MATH222
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Awesome Professor. Probably the best math professor I have had at Madison yet! He has a rather dry sense of humor that makes the class enjoyable. Exams arn't too difficult just do the homework and go to class!