Stacy Sparks - University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX

Professor: Stacy Sparks

Department: Chemistry

College: University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: CH301
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Prof Sparks was a great lecturer and her tests were simple to do well on. You can find past tests online/from orgs that will help prepare you for her tests. She drops some HW/LE grades so it's real easy to get the full credit for those, as well as reef. I will be taking her for CH 302 this coming semester.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: CH301
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I loved having Sparks for Ch301. You can tell shes very passionate about the subject and genuinely wants her students to do great. For exams, you need to know all the material to be able to interpret and answer questions. Theyre usually 20 questions. The final was a lot harder than the exams. Lots of opportunities for bonus points though.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: CH301
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Be familiar with basic chemistry concepts before taking this class. Lowest midterm is dropped. Chem is hard, but she offers lots of materials to help. Really engaging lectures with lots of demos. She is really passionate and wants to see her students succeed. Great professor!

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: CH301
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

pretty good prof. lectures are recorded which is great if you miss class or need to review lectures. no textbook, but there is a course pack you'll need to purchase. most of your grade comes from 4 tests (1 drop) and the final. participation is key if you want your grade curved at the end.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: CH301
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Chem is hard so you gotta work on it to understand it. Though not the best lecturer, she's fine. Also, she drops the lowest midterm. No curve but do-able.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CH301
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

This is a flipped classroom so you have to know the basics before you come to lecture but she does a great job of explaining difficult concepts. Lectures are recorded and there's a lot of review materials available. Exams are challenging but not unfair. The final was pretty easy. It's an easy A if you study.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: CH301
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I wish I had more time to invest in this class, but nonetheless, she was an amazing teacher. Reasonable, good at explaining, and her tests were easier than other chem teachers. Last test was rough, but thats thermo for ya. She had cool demonstrations and is honestly all you need in a good teacher.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: CH301
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The only reason why I'm getting an A in this class is because of Gabe and Albert (her TAs). She's a good teacher, but chemistry is very difficult for me.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: CH301
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Sparks is an amazing prof! She explains the necessary concepts during lecture and is really helpful during office hours. Prepare for her tests, but know that you will do good by studying! Highly recommend

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: CH301
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Sparks is a real solid lady. 4 tests and the last one is the hardest with one final, and homework's are a breeze because you get three tries. Her TA's are great and she's also a really great person that wants you to pass and learn a lot. I've heard about the other chem classes and their questions on the tests are a lot harder than Sparks, take her!

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: CH301
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Sparks was a great lecturer and the class was overall really easy. Take notes on the online modules.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: CH301
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Sparks has really interesting lectures and does a lot of demos that help you put what we learn into actual scenarios. You learn the material before coming to class through the learning exercises and then she explains everything in class. if you pay attention and do HW it's an easy A.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: CH302
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Sparks is a solid choice for a chemistry teacher. Honestly chemistry 302 is such an easy class that you don't even need a teacher for it, but if you did Sparks is better than most. She is very nice, and gives decent lectures. Tests are quite easy if you do the online extra practice.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: CH302
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Sparks is a great choice compared to the other chem teachers. The hw and les can take time, but if you really understand them you will do good on the tests. Its a flipped classroom for the most part, but so are all the other chem classes. Take Sparks, it will be work, but shes a good one.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: CH301
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

The eight tests required a student to stay on top of their knowledge. SI sessions and test review sessions will help you succeed! However, I failed the final and my grade dropped a whole letter grade. The final was much harder than all of the tests!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: CH302
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Sparks is very nice & helpful. This is a flipped classroom so you have to teach yourself a lot from the LE's, and her lectures are just to review & clarify things. Try to understand the LE's, Sapling, & extra practice problems & you will do well. There are a lot of resources to help.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: CH302
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I am by no means a chemistry person.... and Sparks lectures weren't the best. However, office hours are very useful and she really tries to help you out. I would take her again as long as she wasn't teaching chemistry.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: CH301
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Spark's class is by far the most organized class I have taken. I had her for CH301 in the fall and decided to take her for CH302 again in the spring. All of the learning material is on Canvas: lectures, practice problems, homework, etc. The tests are fair and she offers bonus points. She also drops your lowest test and some homework grades.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: CH301
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Great professor. Honestly cares about the course and her students. She's very helpful in office hours, even tries to remember your name every time. She explains things pretty well. Plenty of sources for help. As long as you do the LE's and homework, it's not too difficult of a class, but studying is required of course. Demos are always fun.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: CH301
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Super easy class, I didn't pay much attention in class but went to the office hours before the test and got 100s most of the time. You lose attendance points if you don't do the reef questions but if you make friends in the class they can just text you when she asks the questions and you can do them from home.