Mark Peczuh - University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT

Professor: Mark Peczuh

Department: Chemistry

College: University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: CHEM2444
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

DO NOT take this class with Peczuh. The course is already insanely difficult, but he just makes it unbearable. Averages on both exams were around the 60% mark and there are NO curves, even though he knows everyone is struggling. Quizzes are on iClickers, where you're given mere seconds to choose a response. Final is standardized, too. Avoid!!

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: CHEM2444
• 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:

Simply put, do not take this course with Peczuh. Orgo 2 is already a rough class, but he just makes it soo much worse. No curves, poor lectures, 45 seconds per quiz question, and a standardized final exam. Other professors like Sotzing not only give bonus points (20% of an exam from HW), but offer lower grading scales. TLDR with this guy, raw score

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: CHEM2444
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

People don't realize that in orgo you have to consult the book; the professor can't hold your hand through everything. Peczuh is a pretty decent teacher. Clicker quizzes and exams. The only complaint is he spends way to much time on mechanisms in class and tends to forget to give different situations of reactions.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: CHEM2444
• 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:

A lot of people like him because he's like a father figure but at the end of the day, you'll have to read the textbook. I'm always so lost in class and don't realize what he's talking about until I review it later in the textbook. Basically, you self-teach yourself the material and you better teach it well because there's no curve.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: CHEM2444
• Grade Received: D
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Idk how I made it in this class. I took Orgo 1 with Beshir got a C- then took Orgo 2 without retaking orgo 1 (big mistake). Peczuh overall had 15% Hw which was easy to get an A in if u used resources, 5% clickers. But Quizzes were really hard and exams were terrible. Lecture slides barely helped. A lot of this is self learning. Wouldnt reccomend

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CHEM2444
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Orgo 2 just has a ton of info that you have to go over, but Peczuh did a good job with teaching the important sections. The final exam is the standardized so make sure you stay familiar with Orgo 1. Quizzes/exams are always more difficult than you think, so it takes a lot of time to prepare. But he is very good at explaining concepts so take notes!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: CHEM2444
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I loved him as a teacher and I wish that I can take more classes with him. Throughout the class, it was obvious that he really cared about his students understanding the material. His jokes are pretty funny and he maintained a good class environment. It is essential that you read the textbook and you should be fine if you read!

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: CHEM2444
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He's okay. Not my favorite but its Orgo 2 there's nothing good about it. There's online homework and sometimes quizzes (which were hard). Clicker Q's for participation and have to go to certain amounts of recitation. Hated that the final was a Standardized Exam. Really have to put in the time for this class. Read ahead if possible!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: CHEM2444
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

As far as Chemistry professors go, he is a great one. The subject itself is very difficult but he does a good job explaining it clearly. You will still have to study and work very hard to learn the material and pass. His lectures aren't too unbearable and he posts notes and extra material online. He uses Clicker questions to grade participation

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: CHEM2444
• Grade Received: INC
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Hasn't taught Orgo 2 in several years and it shows. He's the kind of professor who says he has office hours, but doesn't really want students to come. Does all his notes by hand on the computer and goes through them rapidly, assuming it's understood within seconds and it's innate. Homework is pretty hard, exams are iffy, final is the US Chem one.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: CHEM2443
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Took in Fall 2011. What made it so difficult was the fact that he did not go in order of the chapters. He went Ch. 1,2,3,4,7,4,7,8,7,5,6,8 and barely hit ch. 9. He said "I'm trying to make a connection". His exams were straight forward but hard to follow when he went out of order. Read the chapter and do all assigned questions.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: CHEM2443
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Orgo is inherently difficult, which is why he can sometimes get a bad reputation. This class is not for anyone who's hoping to just sit there and be taught and get an A. Read the textbooks, do EVERY problem in the book, and pay attention in class and then you'll get an A. Try to take it with him if you can, he's the best in the dept.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: CHEM2443
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Peczuh made this course so manageable. His lectures were straightforward, organized, and easy to follow. He was extremely helpful during office hours and recitations! I wish I could take orgo II with him too! One of the best profs!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: CHEM2443
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

exams are very hard. asks questions that he did not fully cover in lecture. you have to teach yourself alot of the material. his huskyct page was very unorganized. would not recommend. orgo is extremely hard to begin with, PZ did not help.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: CHEM2443
• 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:

This class requires that you read the textbook and try lots of practice problems, but overall its not bad. Peczuh is extremely intelligent and funny at times. Going to the optional recitation is a must though or office hours!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: CHEM2443
• 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:

Peczuh is good at teaching the material he goes over in class and it is clear. You are required to read the textbook cover to cover and do all the problems to do well on exams though. He is helpful in office hours though and will try to get the material across. Not impossible to get an A.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: CHEM2443
• 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:

This class requires a lot of independent work. If you read the textbook before class, and do the problems he suggests, you will be much better off. He didn't emphasize points that he would include in the exams, and was not readily available to meet with. Take his optional recitation class, that was very helpful.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: CHEM2443
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I would not take this class with Peczuh. He does not present the information in a clear way and his exams are way harder than the other professors. I learned more from my friends with other professors. No help in office hours either and barely any scale.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ORGANICCHEM
• 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:

Peczuh is a great organic professor. A brillant doctor whose knowledge is astounding. If you leave lecture understanding 30% of what went on your doing better than most. Read the book and take many notes and you'll do fine.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ORGANIC
• 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 really doesnt lecture for college kids. he lectures as if hes giving a presentation to chemists. i got a tutor because it was just too hard, but he is a truly nice guy and made the final relatively easy.