Stephen MacDonald - University of Southern Maine, Portland, ME

Professor: Stephen MacDonald

Department: Mathematics

College: University of Southern Maine, Portland, ME

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: MAT290
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Very good man and willing to help but it is a demanding course. Have to have a good understanding of math definitions, proves of set theory, field axioms and field of real numbers. The text book I found to be difficult and can't find another one that would be easier to understand.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: MAT290
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Foundations is a very hard topic to wrap your head around, no matter the professor, for most this is the intro to proof writing. I ended up dropping the class the first time & retaking. Not a subject that you can do well in unless you are constantly working at it. I found him humerous, fair & genuine. Work hard and do all the hw & you'll do well :)

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: MAT290
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Loved the class and the professor :)

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: MAT290
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

This is a whole new style of Math. Be prepared to take on challenging mathematical proofs & concepts that are far different from the computational math most students are used to. As for Prof. MacDonald; although, sometimes, his teaching speed was an issue for me, he will do his absolute best to assist you to understand the topics at hand.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: MAT153
• 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:

Prof. Macdonald is inconsistent with grading (I watched him give a classmate partial credit on several quizzes; I received none) and his lectures are usually difficult to comprehend. I stopped attending and my average increased substantially because I wasn't concerned with what he was actually teaching. Not indicative of a good professor.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: MAT290
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Sometimes loses his train of thought, and rarely has working markers, so if you sit in the back, your screwed. Overall, tough class. He has little office hours, but he's consistently there and will always help you, even through email. Tests are tricky. Uses the book quite a bit, but assigns his own problems. Overall, not bad.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: MATH290
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

very helpful and includes all students

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: MAT290
• 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:

The WORST. Math majors should switch to computer science and take discrete over two semesters rather than endure such an abominable experience. I entered the class excited, and left wondering if I could ever wish such cruel fate upon even the worst imaginable enemy.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: MAT290
• 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:

Disregard the few who laud this professorâ??they only think highly of him because they can learn simply by reading the text. Others learn differently, and thus need good instruction. This guy loses track of his arguments, confuses himself, and keeps erasing fresh notes BEFORE moving onto an empty, adjacent chalkboard. He even forgot where he was once

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: MAT290
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I had McDonald for Foundations of Mathematics. While a lot of people dropped out throughout the semester or got low grades on tests, I can attest that his grading was fair. My solutions were often unusual but got the credit they deserved. Anyone who says his explanations are unclear should take note that many times it takes time to absorb new mat.

Rating # 11

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Prof. MacDonald is a good man, and exactly what a good teacher is. Disregard the kids here that are tweaking out at him - if you really want to learn, you'll do fine in the class. He always, always, always wants to help you get there.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: MAT153
• 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 often skips steps to get to the point, but can mess up during those skipped steps and lose the student's understanding.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: MAT290
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He is very set in his ways. If you have trouble comprehending concepts he makes you feel foolish. I was interested in the subject but he made want to drop out.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: MAT152
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Very knowledgeable and fluent in his subject area, but could do better in introducing new concepts

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: MAT290
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

His class can move quickly but it's only overwhelming if you dont put the work into it. he is extremely helpful outside of class and has plenty of time availible. it's a tough class but he's a good teacher and he really cares about the students.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: MAT153
• 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:

Talks a little fast some times. Truley excited about the subject. Willing to help outside of class time.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: MAT152D
• 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:

DO NOT TAKE THIS GUY. HE RUSHES THROUGH EVERY SINGLE CLASS BECAUSE HE THINKS WE'RE BEHIND. EXPLAINS STUFF SO FAST THAT UNLESS YOU ALREADY HAVE REVIEWED SECTIONS AND KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING, YOU ARE GOING TO GET LOST SO FAST. I RECOMMEND TAKING HU OR IRISH OR WHOEVER BECAUSE MACDONALD IS THE WORST PROFFESOR I'VE EVER HAD FOR MY MATH TEACHER.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: MAT290
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He is much better than many other math professors at USM. He may sometimes sound confusing, but he is willing to answer questions and try his best to make things easier. I definitely reccomend his classes.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: MAT290AND252
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

If there is one thing in your life your life you must do, it's not have professor macdonald. He is the most awful man ever! He flies through subjects that he shouldn't, I can not read his writing and he's just plain hard! So much for him retiring...

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: MAT152
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

he asks questions to us in class just to tell us we are wrong and then explains it himself in formal terms. wishes he could talk faster when what he needs to do is explian the concepts and speak clearly. Helpful outside the classroom if you have the time.