James Branson - University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA

Professor: James Branson

Department: Physics

College: University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PHYS2D
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Took physics 2D expecting some interesting and valuable discussion on the theories of quantum mechanics. Let me tell you, Branson is a legend who has worked on some groundbreaking projects in the past. However, in his advanced age, the man has gone a little senile. His lectures consisted of 25% relevant information and 75% stories of his youth.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PHYS2D
• Grade Received: INC
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

If you don't want to pass your course, take his. He is like an old monk that keeps talking uselessly every single minute in his class. If you want someone like that to waste your expensive tuition and to destroy your final GPA by his tough-as-hell quizzes, then take his course with no hesitation.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PHYS2D
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I really don't want to attend lecture because it's extremely boring. But for extra credit, I have to persuade myself to attend...

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PHYS2D
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dreadfully dreary.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PHYS2D
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

HW not graded can be difficult. His lectures are filled with physics jargon not appropriate for an intro course. His slides can be confusing to decipher. Go to class for extra credit and write down answers. If one decides to take his class find a good online resource to actually learn the material and study the heck of the practice materials.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PHYS2C
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He is an awful lecturer, and the only incentive to go lecture is for clicker as extra credit. Yet he gives 50% A and provides free e-textbook and homework. If you like self-study via reading practicing HW and you want good grades while doesn't depend on professor, then pick him.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PHYS2C
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Lectures are awful because he can explain nothing but simply read slides and show you formulas. If you work on the homework problems hard, it is not a mission impossible to get As and Branson offers generous clicker extra credits. Choose him if you want easy A, and have someone else if you really wanna learn Physics though.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PHYS2C
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

All he does is stand in front of the room and reads off slides which are useless. He never does example problems and simply shows equations from the sheet. Clicker questions in class are extra credit, but this requires you get them right in the minute he gives you. Its not worth it especially if you kinda need to know physics. Just don't take him.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PHYS2C
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Worst professor at UCSD. Hands down. I can't believe how terrible he is, doesn't know how to lecture, only reason anyone goes to class is for the extra credit clickers. He also can't explain anything if you ask.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PHY130A110A
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Branson is an eccentric character. If you read beforehand, the lectures won't be so confusing. His online notes are pretty helpful. Do the work! Good professor, and I'd take him again in a heartbeat.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PHYS2C
• 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:

I really wanted to like Branson. You can tell he loves physics, and he brings some of that passion to lecture. But his lectures were dry, his delivery was mediocre at best, and I didn't get much of anything from lecture (aside from extra credit from clickers). Quizzes (4) and final were fair, and homework was abundant. Take someone else for PHYS2C.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PHYS2C
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Lectures are pointless except for the clicker points. Besides that, he is a really nice guy and shows concern for his students. Quizzes are based off the homework so the class is not too difficult

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PHYS2C
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Worst professor at UCSD. Avoid at all cost. I cannot believe a M/W/F can spend so much time in front of you, but teach so little. He talks a lot in class, but it's literally just useless words. The ratio of information to words he speaks is probably close to 0.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PHYS2D
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

If you want to get a good grade for PHYS 2D, then take him. He offers 15 percent extra credits via clikcer questions. Quiz problems are directly from the sample quizzes. Final is a little bit hard. Lectures are boring and each lecture slide contains too much information. You won't learn too much but still can get a good grade.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PHYS110A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Not helpful at all. He avoids answering questions by blatantly changing topics or simply refusing to answer. There was not a lot of homework for this class and two midterms, so not a huge amount of work. However, his lectures are not engaging and his examples are not helpful at all. I would avoid having to take him again at all costs.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: PHYS2D
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Modern physics is really interesting but hard to understand at first especially if this is your first encounter or your interest is low. Lecture slides are very confusing, and his lectures are also confusing. However, do the practice quizzes, go to problem-solving sessions, answer clicker questions and you will almost certainly get an A.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: PHYS2D
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He's a good professor. I recommend him. Do the HW, and you should be fine for the quizzes. He will curve generously, but don't take these positive ratings for granted though. Do the HW, attend class and you got your A.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: PHYS2D
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Super nice gentleman. He cares about his students coz he himself leads the problem solving session. He wants his students get the best result. He gives 15 percent extra credit from the clicker. The quizzes and final are easy, very similar to the homework. By the end of the class, 50 percent of the class get B+ or higher. TAKE HIM!

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PHYS2D
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Branson's not that bad of a lecturer, if you can stay awake...I suggest printing his lecture notes out before lectures, as clicker points will become key to you. Do the homework, as the quizzes are pretty much the homework.Also, if you know someone who took his class before , make sure to ask for their quizzes...

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PHYSICS2D
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He's super smart and he doesn't really explain anything because he believes they are too easy,