Jacob Morris - Santa Monica College

Professor: Jacob Morris

Department: TBD

College: Santa Monica College

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PHYSICS21
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Very tough class, but I think he is a good prof. Lots of homework, but it's good practice.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PHY21
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Exceptional professor, but tough love! If I could go back in time to get an A, I'd begin looking at and working on the hw before the semester starts; Google "smc physics morris" - his website has the syllabus and hw (coming out of this book; ISBN: 9780471804581). On tests and quizzes he likes to combine hw and lectures; record lectures if you can

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PHY21
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Do the homework and try not to fall behind. The labs are conceptual and very time-consuming but take them seriously because usually, they come in handy for answering quiz questions and learning. Tests are all curved. Total of three exams plus a final. 5-6 quizzes, at the end of the classes. His class is similar to a top university class. not easy.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PHYS212223
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The physics 21, 22, 23 series is hard, and Morris is probably one of the harder teachers. That said, he is also the best teacher I have had. He knows his stuff practically with his eyes closed, and he wants his students to do well. Take advantage of office hours and actually work hard and try hard. His class is extremely rewarding.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PHY22
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Physics is hard, so was this class, but Morris was really helpful. He's not a typical professor, he makes weird jokes, talks sarcastically and mostly thinks faster than he talks. Really helpful in office hours. EVERYTHING is curved so you don't have to do everything. One of the best physics teachers in SMC.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PHYS21
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He's really hard. I tried to understand his lectures but it was impossible. I asked him questions and he would respond sarcastically or say that I should've learned a long time ago. You basically need to teach yourself this class.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PHYS23
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This class is meant for a serious student. The homework is not similar to quizzes or exams. Quizzes are also not similar to exams. The exams are extremely difficult but curved. I would recommend taking this class with a different professor.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PHY21
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

You have to work hard to earn your grade! He is a good professor and gives plenty of examples however it is in your best interest to have taken at least through math 7 to understand his math. If you work hard and ask questions when things aren't clear then you can pass. Do the homework as well. All the little points count.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PHY21
• Grade Received: F
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Very unclear grading criteria. Ask questions during office hours but never answers, he just solves the problem. Hw way too hard and long from which u don't learn anything. Ask questions in class and he gets annoyed. At the end of the course I'm walking out with a very poor knowledge of mechanics which I love. Even though I studied 4 hr per day

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PHYS23
• Grade Received: D
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Morris is an intelligent man. Too conceptual. Minimal computation. Expect diff eqn and calc III done. HW are hard, confusing, time consuming. Minimal feedback. Expect conceptual quizzes and exams. Hard grader. Curves grades. Course based off his lectures. Disorganized. Pray a lot to God and good luck to get a decent grade.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PHYSICS21
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Overcomplicates simple concepts teaching you basically how he interprets them rather than what they actually are. During lecture he would derive an equation in seconds so it's impossible to follow its work. Tons and tons of hw which is so hard you don't even understand them material in the end. Always went to office hours but he never answered my q

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PHYS23
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Expect a lot of homework, but it'll help you understand the material. Exams are hard, but curved. Does a good job of explaining concepts and derivations, if you need help with problem solving go to office hours. Always very helpful, and seems to have an encyclopedic knowledge about physics, even stuff way beyond the course. Ask lots of questions.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PHYS23
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

His course is professsional for engineer. But for me, i don't like the course material very much. His lecture is a little fast, so do read the University Physics book ahead of time. Try to do homework as soon as possible. They are pretty sizable. Lecture, lab and homework is hard. Test is a little easier than those. Easy grader though.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PHYSICS23
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

His lectures were clear, his tests were always on covered material, and his grading was fair with a well-explained curve, but what I really appreciated was how he did the labs. He always made sure to go from group to group asking how we were doing and giving us advice or corrections. He responded well to questions, and though harsh, was fair.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PHYSCS24
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Absolutely avoid this guy who can't even teach. You'll regret it. When A professor makes it hard and can't teach clearly does not mean is a good professor.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: PHYS21
• Grade Received: Audit/No Grade
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Probably one of the worst teachers at SMC. He gives insane amounts of homework and it's impossible to get another higher than a 60% on the tests. If he didn't curve, the entire class would fail. He also make you derive every equation for the tests and the labs. Do not take him if you want to have a good GPA.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: PHY21
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

TOO MUCH HOMEWORK. Had to drop from too much homework, was costing me grades in other classes and it's only 5% of your grade. Oh but you need that 5% because of how the exams are graded.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: PHY21
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Expects you to do only his coursework for the semester because you won't have time to do work for any other class. Do not waste your time!!! Like other reviewer say a lot of people drop, like 90%.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PHY21
• 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:

most of class dropped

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PHY22
• 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:

So much homework your eyes will burn pretty much sums up my experience and just overall not a good teacher. Most of the class dropped so keep in mind that if you take him you may end up having to retake the class if you drop and lose a semester. There are several great physics teachers here, I'd recommend taking them.