Wayne Curtis - Pennsylvania State University

Professor: Wayne Curtis

Department: Chemical Engineering

College: Pennsylvania State University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: CHE340
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Curtis is a genius. The connections he makes between many different engineering concepts completely on the fly is astounding. Taking notes is a waste of time. Just listen to him. The class is a test of if you're smart and can think critically. Not if you can absorb material or learn equations. Tests are difficult but cant be studied for.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: CHE340
• 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 most important thing to know about Dr. Curtis is that he has extreme ADHD. The only thing that bounces around more than his lecture slides is his the narrative it follows. He is clearly able to take connections and comparisons between bioengineering and just about anything, it's just that he wants to tell you every one that pops into his brain.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: CHE340
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Took course in spring 2014. Can't believe he is teaching. He should focus on research.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: CHE340
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

An absolutely awful professor in every way imaginable

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: CHE340
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Really tough professor because he expects a lot from his students. You will learn a lot and be a better student for it though.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CHE438
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

DON'T TAKE if: - You learn best from textbooks/solo work, can't do lectures - You were weak in CH E 210-330 DO take if: - You want to see the 'big picture' - You want a good bio-based engineering POV His lectures are rather informal. If you want to do well, make sure you pay attention/take notes, and review a bit before each class.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: CHE340
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Professor Curtis embodies everything in a bad professor. He's very busy and largely unavailable. His lectures are very scattered and unfocused and, thus, very unclear. The same is true for his assignments, which he gives randomly. He gives pop quizzes which, along with tests, are very tough. I would avoid him at all costs. One of the worst.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: CHE340
• 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. C is not like your other professors. He is focused on using logic and common sense to solve engineering problems. Very refreshing after doing so many bland textbook problems. I learned more in this class than I ever had before. Overall, tough class, but so worth the struggle.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: CHE340
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

This is the hardest college class I have ever taken. Just be prepared to hate the class at least the first month or two. But then one day you will walk into class and realize that Curtis actually is extremely bright and you are learning a lot. Just give it time. It takes a lot of work but anyone can get a good grade in this class

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: CHE340
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Make sure you make notes in class or record the lecture. The exam is 5 hours long. The quizs are meant to kill you if you are not a genius.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: CHE340
• 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:

This guy is a genius. However, he can't teach because he is very, very disorganized. He is also a very busy man, hardly answering emails, and hardly ever in class. His teaching method is elitist and not effective as he himself has seen as of my class, and I would avoid his class if possible. Also, don't cheat and be sure to ask questions in class.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: CHE438
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Yes, his classes are difficult but you can learn more from Dr. Curtis than any/all of the other teachers. Every bit of ChE knowledge I have acquired can be accredited to Dr. Curtis. Show him you're interested and make the most of his classes; he's one of the few who actually cares about his students.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: CHE438
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He may seem like this arrogant, crazy guy that you can't possibly handle at first, but you'll find that Dr. Curtis is actually one of the best professors in the department. Don't try too hard- let his lectures absorb first and be smart, not tedious with his exams and homeworks and you'll be more than fine. Grades on a curved scale.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: CHEME294
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He has to be the most awesome guy. He is very interested in getting to know you as a person and catering the research to your strengths. The man is ALWAYS available to talk to.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: CHE340
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

What makes Dr. Curtis a poor teacher is not his credentials, but the man's character. He is arrogant. He believes his teaching methods are superior to other professors at Penn State. I found them to be inefficient. Yet, he continues to teach with ignorance, unaware that many students despise him, myself included.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: CHE340
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

the guy is a freaking genus, the course is very hard but if you tried hard and stayed with the material you will learn a lot. you can learn a lot from professor Curtis, he is very helpful if you ask. he failed me twice but am not complaining cause I didn't do shiit.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: CHE340
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

awsome

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: CHE340
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

terrible!!

Rating # 19

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Extremely intelligent and disorganized. Frequent quizzes, infrequent but very long homeworks, insane tests. Material is VERY DIFFICULT: review before every class, attend, ask questions, start things early, find him and ask more questions. Always available on IM. Grades on HUGE curve. You will learn a lot, but it will hurt! Recommended.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: CHE330H
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Only interested in research and just teaches because required. unorganized, unavailable; notes unclear/ hard to follow. tests and HW are discouraging and absurdly difficult. problems are underdefined and ends up changing hw requirements up until the hw is due. Many classmates complained to dean. avoid if possible. most frustrating class taken.