Russell Clark - University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA

Professor: Russell Clark

Department: Science

College: University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PHY212
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He teaches the lab lecture and this was an absolute nightmare to attend since it was an hour of him making jokes and making the stage his catwalk. This is solely for attendance but the actual lab was great. Those pre-lab quizzes were also a pain so yeah

Rating # 2

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

His examples are often tedious but are representative of the exams, which are just as hard as any E&M section. People complain that they're too hard, but his examples prepare you well. That being said, he was impersonal and slightly rude in office hours, but I only cared about his teaching ability.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PHYS0175
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Probably the worst physics teacher for engineering physics, I really wish I took either Nero or the night class. Lectures are very boring and he tells terrible jokes that no one laughs at, especially at 8 AM. Exams are difficult and you have to self-study a lot because he will spend an entire class (with most confused) on 3 problems. Take calc 3.

Rating # 4

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Despite what other student's say, Dr. Clark's class is fine. Lectures are kind of dry but it's not unbearable (physics at 8am, what else would you expect) Weekly homeworks are not too hard and online feedback helps for actually learning the problems. Exams are fair and there is decent extra credit opportunity for each of the midterms. Nice guy.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PHYS0111
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He is funny and keeps his lectures interesting. However, there is a disconnect with the lecture and the homework material, because I had to spend almost every day in the resource room getting help. I STILL didn't do well on the tests. Tests are ALL multiple choice, which stinks, because there is no partial credit. Homework really helps your grade.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PHYS0111
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Only has 2 exams and a non-cumulative final. 3 homework assignments due each week but the TAs go over them in recitation and they're worth as much as an exam. clicker questions in lecture and quizzes each week in recitation. I learned more from the TA but Clark goes over examples in class and really is a pretty good option for an already hard class

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PHYS0174
• 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:

I know lots of people that were in my class last semester that did not like the way that Dr. Clark taught. He teaches off of powerpoints and then does example problems that can sometimes be a little tedious. His lectures may not have been that interesting, but that were effective. Paying attention in class should give you a good understanding.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PHYS0174
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

If you can figure out which formula from the sheet to use and know how to plug numbers into an equation on your calculator, his exams definitely aren't hard and he doesn't trip you up with the options. If you keep up with the homework and practice with the given formulas, it's not that bad. His lectures are super dry and boring but it's physics...

Rating # 9

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Exams are extremely difficult. He takes the most difficult questions from the test banks for his exams. Grades extremely unfairly. He says don't panic when exam averages are near 60%, but you should. He hardly curves. Sets the class average in the end to a C- (failing grade). Lectures are convoluted and unnecessarily difficult to follow.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PHYS0174
• Grade Received: C-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Lectures have very little to do with what's on the exam and are only worth going to just for the lecture questions. Curves way too unfairly. Definitely would not recommend.

Rating # 11

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Two assignments per week are fine because there are only five or six problems each assignment. However, the lectures are boring, and his explanation of concepts is dry. He says that he is going to curve the class based on the percentage; however, he kept his curving method a secret, so none of us really know what grades we are getting.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PHYS0174
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

NO extra credit. NO curve. NO review session. 2 homework every week. make physics harder to understand. lecture is not clear

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PHYS0219
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Like someone else said, he teaches the lab as well as anyone else would. The labs are really trivial and if you don't get an A you probably just didn't try. Attendance is mandatory to lectures but it's 40 minutes once a week so just go. If you're a Physics major I'd suggest just taking 0520 with another prof. If you're not, don't worry he's fine.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PHYS0174
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Its physics, its going to be hard. Clark tries his best to make physics fun, but two homework assignments every week make it difficult when paired up with other classes. Its hard, but just get through it.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PHYS0174
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Lectures are often convoluted and the examples he uses are not always very good. Most of your learning's gonna be from outside lecture. Nice guy very enthusiastic about the subject and I found him to be available outside of class. Don't fall behind on the homework it catches up to you quick.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: PHYS0174
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Clarke makes physics even more harder than it already is. His lectures are hard to follow and he doesn't explain concepts well. The tests are hard but you can use your book. The worst part though is that he is pretty secretive about how he grades, saying that he will curve the class, but he keeps your current grade a mystery. Very Frustrating

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: PHYS0174
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Clark is the cliche strict college professor. Mind numbing exams, no review sessions, zero extra credit, and loads of difficult homework. He is also extremely impersonal during office hours, and I felt like I was a bother to him for just being there. Physics is rough no matter what but he doesn't make it any more bearable.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: PHYS0174
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

i don't really enjoy his personality he's a little rude and demeaning in my opinion but he's very smart. the tests are too hard compared to the homework. at least he posts all of his notes online as powerpoints

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PHYS0219
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

This class was supposed to be an easy A. The formal lab report was the death of nearly everyone's grade though. It was not graded well and this class is honestly just a waste of time. Dr. Clark was bearable as an instructor for the course though. Gives you all the notes and the lab manual. Lon Capa is still the worst.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PHYS0174
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Clark is funny whe n giving lecture s, but his lectures were notvery helpful and clear. Also his exams were so hard that the average was around 50s !! Not recommended.