Juergen Kast - University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC

Professor: Juergen Kast

Department: Chemistry

College: University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: CHEM333
• 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:

The worst course ever. The lectures were incomprehensible, and inconsistent. The average of the first midterm was 52%, the second, 45%, and the final exam, 53%. I think the course was pretty much a huge waste of time. They ended up giving most of us B, because they feared we'd revolt otherwise. This course shouldn't be a required part of biochem.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: CHEM333
• 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:

Avoid this course unless you have to (BIOC/CHEM majors). The theory of spectroscopy requires knowledge in quantum mechanics yet they neglect to teach it and teach the course half-assed. It leads to a lot of student misinterpretation as to what is required knowledge or not. The final was near impossible but course overall was scaled so much...

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: CHEM333
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

His spectrochem class is hard as hell. I guess it's not entirely his fault, because the content itself is demanding, but you really have to work hard, prep well to have a chance. The midterms and the finals are tough too.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: CHEM333
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This class requires a lot of work to be done outside of lectures.Pre-lecture readings are definitely important if you're going to class, as Kast's lectures can be difficult to understand, especially with the lecture notes that are mainly just pictures from the textbook. Midterms and exams are EXTREMELY difficult.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: CHEM333
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The notes were decent, and the primer textbook helped fill in most of the gaps. His e-mail replies were great as well. Good idea to split the class time into lecture material and working problems. The final was hard as hell though.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CHEM333
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

very hard to understand overall, changes his mind often. Will purposely make hard questions to screw everyone over. Very unclear about what would be tested and difficult to get a hold of.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: CHEM333
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He tried...However we had to find our own way to figure things out. He helped by suggesting certain problems and posting answers on WebCT etc....but his lectures + notes were more confusing than helpful.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: CHEM333
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

notes ok clear. lecture ok clear. not bad of a prof. lots other ones are worse. i hate the machine part of the course though. and he really tried to keep us awake at 8am. just that he doesn't have enough time to teach towards the end and have to stuff the material to us in a hurry.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: CHEM333
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Kast may not be a good lecturer, but he certainly is a good scientist, and has the capability to stimulate his students to think, rather than merely memorize facts. We can't expect profs to teach us everything like they used to do back in high school. It's about time we start to learn on our own

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: CHEM333
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

There is no point in going to class because his notes, unbelievably, makes more sense than what he says, so don't let him confuse you even more. Do the work book problems and maybe consider getting the textbook for additional clarification.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: CHEM333
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Midterm was not very hard. He seems to understand what he is teaching and assignments were fair. Quite helpful in his office hours too. Still, it is an 8 am class.. zzz. Oh, his final seems pretty ok. Structures were solvable!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: CHEM333
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

His notes are unclear and he doesn't go over them in too much detail. He's more helpful during office hours.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: CHEM333
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Words cannot express the contempt I hold for this man. UNCLEAR LECTURES/NOTES. Let me put it this way: I'm studying for the final right now and I have had to download lecture notes off the internet from OTHER UNIVERSITIES numerous times to understand the basic concepts.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: CHEM205
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

His notes sound really confusing if you don't do the readings. They make good sense AFTER you understand the material. His notes are only good to use as review.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: CHEM205
• 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:

Ugh! Nice guy, cares to make improvements in his teaching, wants us to understand the material, conscientious, provides notes online--he's just not a very good teacher! Why, oh why don't they require profs to know how to teach?

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: CHEM205
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Just a really bad lecturer with no confidence. Makes circles around questions you try to ask him. The course itself requires time to understand it. Get into Deo Jangra's class or Chen's.