James Mueller - University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA

Professor: James Mueller

Department: Physics

College: University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PHYS1351
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He's a really nice guy, just not a great lecturer. They are pretty hard to follow and just sitting there watching him derive maybe 2 different problems for an hour and 15 minutes doesn't really feel useful. The textbook however, is very well written and helped me so far with his class.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PHYS0081
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Im surprised this dude is still allowed to teach physics classes. His lectures are pointless because you learn absolutely nothing. His homework is unreasonably difficult. Our whole class did horribly on the midterm, so much that we had to each individually meet with him to go over it. He is nice though, just cant teach for crap.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PHYS0175
• 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:

This class was the bane of my existence during second semester. He was very boring and having it at 8am just made it the much more unbearable. He was a really nice guy if you talked to him in person, but I wasn't a fan of his teaching style. I really liked physics going into the class, but came out never wanting to take a physics class again.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PHYS0175
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Mueller is a nice person and he is willing to help you. However, he simply is not an effective teacher. Lectures tend to be uninformative as he just clicks through slides. As well he rarely does any actually difficult example problems nor explains things in a manner which you'll understand. The class itself wasn't terrible though.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PHYS0175
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Mueller was a good professor! His grading scale is really nice 90 for an A, 85 for an A-, 80 for a B+, etc. His exams were very fair and often resembled the exact practice questions, homework, and clicker problems we did. He is very helpful outside of class. Not the best lecturer, this didn't affect me since I knew material from AP Physics C.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PHYS0175
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Mueller was ok - I had him at 8am M/W/F so I really despised seeing his face by the end of term. He doesnt curve but has a different grading scale so 60 is a C-. His exams are odd, and though I always feel like I prepare well before them, I usually dont do well. Average prof, but I recommend Dr. Nero for 0175 if you can take him

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PHYS0175
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I only decided to write a review because I don't like seeing this guy get so much hate. He explains things clearly and as long as you keep up with the homework (which is mandatory so its impossible to fall behind) you'll be fine.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PHYS0081
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Mueller was a great professor. You need to put time and effort into this class to learn, but it is rewarding to do so. He keeps lectures interesting.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PHYS0081
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He's a really kind man, and his stories make the class more interesting, especially if you're not particularly physics-minded. Tests and the material are difficult, but if you do the concept checks in the book, the homework questions, and the clicker questions, you should be fine! As far as having to take physics goes, I'm glad it was with him.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PHYS0081
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

If you are looking to get rid of a gen ed, just take physics 1. It's honestly the same difficulty, but the professors are so much better. He rambles in class and does not do a good job of explaining things, nor does he really care how well the class does.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PHYS0081
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Do NOT take this class. He rambles, and is condescending when people get things wrong. The entire class did poorly on the first exam, and he didn't really care. Doesn't explain things well at all; tests are much more difficult than lecture material.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PHYS0081
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The only thing good about this class was the formal--weekly(ish) homework, two midterms and a final. The homework was easy, but reinforced very little of the lectures. He rambles in lectures, and, in the later material, assumes we know more physics than we actually know. I would avoid this class to fulfill a requirement

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PHYS0081
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

good teacher and teaches the concept of physics doesn't worry about the math

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PHYS0175
• 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 is not a good teacher. Seriously, the tests are hard, there is a TON of homework, he doesn't explain things well, and he thinks he's hilarious. He does a couple decent demos, but you can do those on your own. Avoid him.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PHYS0175
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I mean, he's definitely not as bad as everybody says....the class in general covers very difficult material, and the pace he teaches at is the pace required to learn it all within 4 months. The homework can be difficult but prepares you well for the tests, which are relatively easier.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: PHYS0174
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Mueller is probably one of the worst physics proffesors in the school. Avoid him at all costs. That is unless you have already taken a calc-based physics class (or are good at algebra-based) then go ahead and take his class, you'll breeze through it. His tests aren't hard if you know the material beforehand, but he can't teach to save his life.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: PHYS0174
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

worst experience of my life. avoid him if possible!

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: PHYS0174
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Not a good professor. Wastes a ton of time in lecture with irrelevant stories. Helpful at times in office hours, other times can be condescending. Tests are difficult, quizzes are a breeze

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PHYSPHYS
• 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 helpful in person, but never really covers how to apply the concepts to problems during the lecture. If he just finished the examples instead of leaving them with "You guys can do it from here, right?"..

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PHYS0174
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Just don't take his class. That's the best advice possible. He can't teach at all. His homework problems are impossible and tests are extremely difficult.