Paul McCord - University of Texas at Austin

Professor: Paul McCord

Department: TBD

College: University of Texas at Austin

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: CH304K
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I took this class to fulfill one of my science requirements. I took AP Chem in HS and personally thought it was very easy, but I know a few other people struggled. I barely tried and got an A and made 90s-100s on all of the tests. The tests are multiple choice and the final is optional if you are okay with your grades from your other exams.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: CH304K
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

It's not an easy class but it's also significantly easier than Chemistry for STEM majors. There's probably an easy science credit, but McCord is fun and his expectations are clear. He's a solid choice to fulfill your natural science credit.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: CH304K
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

McCord is a funny guy but he taught 304 (for non-majors) like a regular chemistry class. Many of us have had no chemistry experience and were left scrambling, with test questions being "aimed to make students fail" and an all-over-the-place teaching style. I ended up teaching myself and barely scraping by. Not for my major, this took up all my time

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: CH305
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

CH305 with McCord was honestly so much better than I thought it would be! As someone who struggles with Chemistry, I feel like he kept it to the basics and made it easy to understand. He wrote the online textbook himself and it's super short and FREE! Do the homework and read his book and you should be fine!

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: CH304K
• 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:

This was the worst class I have ever taken. I signed up for chemistry in context for a reason... I am not a chemistry major. McCord gives us the same exact work as general chemistry. The TA has told us the tests are designed for us to fail. What is the point in this? He doesn't teach; he just shows off his textbook website DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CH304K
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I have no idea whats happening most of the time. And I have a 4.00 gpa. For now.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: 304K
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Chemistry in Context... but where's the context? DON'T take this if you're a non-major looking for an easy credit (unless you're naturally gifted in the art of chemistry). He assumes we already know what he's talking about, blowing through lessons with no structure and teaching it like an advanced course. I just wanted to learn about global warming

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: CH304K
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Although the class is somewhat difficult, I felt I learned a lot about chemistry and science in general. McCord is humorous and has a great personality, very approachable. Tests are easy if you study and you can pick the grading style which benefits you the most.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: CH304K
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I'm supposedly taking Chem 304k which is a "non-science major level" chemistry class, but it this is NOT true. He teaches- if you'd even call it that- like if we are taking Chemistry 301 (science major level). His teaching method is confusing and too fast paced for students not majoring in science. Worst professor I've ever had. DON'T take him!

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: CHEM304K
• 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:

Do NOT take Chem in Context with McCord unless you have a realllly strong science background. It is the SAME material as Chem301 so just take it with Laude instead. Attendance counts for a very small percentage (5%), homework for 5%, and then tests for 90%. The office hours and review sessions didnt help me. Just take 301... please.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: CH305
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He just doesn't know how to balance the difficulty of a class for nonmajor students. TBH the 304 I took last year started 1min 60 sec. And we are having tests that average around 75 every time. And he said that is just right of the level. That's way more difficult for the students who seriously didn't know chem well.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: CH305
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

If you're just trying to get your science credits out of the way and don't have a propensity for chemistry, DO NOT TAKE MCCORD. He taught the majors classes for like 15 years before teaching non-majors and it shows. He's currently "teaching" us organic chemistry and my engineer boyfriend can't even figure out what's going on. Not worth your time.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: CH301CH302
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Amazing professor. His lectures really make you understand chemistry conceptually as opposed to just plug and chug type of stuff. He's a solid choice for those who are actually wanting to learn rather than get an easy A.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: CH302
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Great lectures that will teach you a lot. A decent amount of homework but not too difficult or too long. He's a good professor if you're wanting to actually learn about chemistry without having a stressful experience.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: CH301CH302
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

McCord is an amazing lecturer. He writes notes as he lectures which is more engaging than staring at some slides. He seems to have a bad rep that's not deserved. It's probably from students who don't want to put in the work. I managed to get an A- with absolutely no previous chem knowledge besides the ALEKS. Take him if you want to actually LEARN.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: CH302
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

The people who hate on McCord just don't try. The required LE's and HW's really prepare you for the tests, and his lectures are always well organized. He has a blunt sense of humor, but he's also a genuinely kind man who makes Topo Chico for his wife and cares about you truly understanding the material in office hours. Deserved that promotion.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: CH301CH302
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

A great professor would recommend.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: CH301302
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Mccord is an extremely funny, sarcastic, but great lecturer. He takes notes in class so it's extremely easy to follow his teaching. He'll tell you exactly what questions will be on the test, sometimes even pulling example problems in class. His tests can be hard, but just study, practice, use koofers and you'll do fine. Give him a promotion pls

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: CH302
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

McCord is a solid choice for someone trying to learn actual chemistry. I took Laude for CH301 and got the easy A but I wanted to learn some actual chemistry so I switched to McCord for CH302. As someone who never took AP Chemistry in High School this class is doable as long as you put some time into studying. Overall, McCord is down to earth.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: CH302
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor McCord is a very nice man who knows his stuff and is misunderstood by many. He is made out to be UT's pitt-bull of Chemistry, but the truth is that he is far from it. I wrote this review because I heard the pain in his voice when speaking about his course evaluations from last year. He deserves better.