Stuart Smith - California State University - East Bay

Professor: Stuart Smith

Department: Mathematics

College: California State University - East Bay

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: CALCULAS1304
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

If you have him for a lower divisions class, and trying to learn just basic Calculus, then you are going to have a bad time. 99% of the people in our class had a shaky background in math, and he insulted us everytime we didn't know the answer. INSULTED US. Stay away if you don't know math.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: MATH1304
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I graduated from Cal State Hayward in 95 - he was my favorite teacher at Cal State. Glad he is still teaching.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: GR
• 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:

It boggles the mind just how knowledgeable Smith is in so many diverse areas of study in both mathematics and physics. If he could single-handedly teach every class in the curriculum, I think we would all be sure on our ways to Field Medals and Nobel Prices :] I think everyone should try to learn as much from him as they can. The man is a genius.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: 6331
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Smith will give you all the skills you need to succeed (not only in his course), but he will certainly not hold your hand. He is very good at motivating students to motivate themselves. Some might mistake his jaded attitude for bitterness, but you just have to show that you're up for the challenge and not waste his time with complaints.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: 6331
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He's very talented, runs a hard course, and pushes students to learn. He also spends upwards of 30 minutes of class time every day telling the students how they don't know anything and that the graduate program is a failure. This time would be better spent teaching material, thus fixing said problem.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: MATH3600
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Extremely knowledgeable in all fields of math. Injects humor and history in his lectures. Gives A LOT of homework and his tests are equally algorithm-based and prof-based. Know your stuff, ask questions, make a study group, but most importantly, have fun. Smith was the hardest teacher I've had, but I'd take him for all of my classes if I could.

Rating # 7

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Dr. Smith's lectures are some of the most interesting and insightful ones you will ever hear. He has deep knowledge not only of the technical details of the subject, but history as well, and will teach you not how to mindlessly crunch numbers, but the actual meaning and importance behind the concepts. If you really want to learn, take his classes.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: MATH999
• 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:

I had mathematical physics, PDE, and Nonlinear ODE with him and he is one of the best teachers I've had as an undergrad grad student in math. His math teaching is 99% unobscured, and he doesn't gleam over details and will teach you the real thing. He is one of the few professors I've met who is truly honest and dignified in his profession.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: MATH3121
• 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:

Wonderful professor. He truly cares about his subject and his students and it is a pleasure attending his lectures.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: MATH1305
• 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:

Prof S. seems to either do two things to his 1st/2nd year studs; he either inspires them to take lots of math or they become a psyh major. Anyway, if you are trying to have fun to skate through college stay away from this guy but if you actually want to learn, work hard, get an education take him. He really teaches you how to prepare for a test.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ALG4000
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Smith gives the best lectures you will ever receive in mathematics. However, the lectures are intended to present a sense of purpose to the material, but they do not give you the mechanics you need to actually do anything meaningful. Only take a class from Dr. Smith if you are already fairly competent in the topic.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: MATH6331
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Smith is an excellent prof. You will learn many interesting things in his class, and of course you need to work hard.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: MATH3100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

The lectures are pretty decent, but the tests are impossible. On our last midterm, the average test score was a 62. That means, before the curve, the average student failed the test. The problems aren't difficult as the previous poster said, he just does not give you nearly enough time to do the test. I was able to *attempt* about 3/5 of it.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: MATH6100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

good teacher but the hardest teacher i have ever had in my life. the homework given on a daily basis is unreasonable...only take him if you can devote your time....

Rating # 15

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

No Comments

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: MATH6250
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

If you aren't part of the groupies, you probably won't like him as a teacher. Assumes that you have a ton of spare time on your hands to learn outside of class as it his class were the only class you were taking. Grades are based on how well the class does. Even though its less than likely you will can an A in his class, you at least do learn something about differential geometry and topology. His classes are very tough. I've had him for 2 graduate courses.

Rating # 17

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Enjoyable class to be in. Talked about some applications of what we were learning. Kept his teaching style interesting.

Rating # 18

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Dr. Smith is the best teacher I have ever had. This guy knows more about math, its history, and applications then anyone i have ever met. You need to work hard, but you will learn alot.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: CALCULAS1304
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

No Comments

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: MATH1301CALC
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Very good teacher, takes the time to fully explain homework problems. A bit hard on test grading, but like he says its not whether you get a good grade or not its if you actually learn something. Dr. Smith is a very good teacher and extremely brilliant, if you fail his class then calc isnt for you