Mirley Balasubramanya - Texas A&M University at Corpus Christi

Professor: Mirley Balasubramanya

Department: TBD

College: Texas A&M University at Corpus Christi

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PHYS1401
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

In eight years of taking college courses (I have a M.S.), he was the worst teacher I had. You could hold your hand up for the entire duration of the 50 minute class and he wouldn't answer your question. You had to wait until your lab day to ask questions about the lectures.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PHYS2426
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This professor is extremely knowledgable and can convey difficult material in a way that is easily understood.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PHYS2425
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Bala has a rock solid grasp on the concepts required to teach this class. He also explained complex subjects slowly and clearly, encouraging students to participate in a discussion by answering his open questions. I approached Dr. Bala several times with general physics questions and he was more than eager to go over any physics topic I wished.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PHYS1401
• 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:

Dr. Bala is an excellent professor overall. If you like topics/subjects explained very plainly, matter-of-fact, Dr. Bala is for you. He doesn't spend a lot of time like many professors stumbling around with useless data. If he presents something, you should assume it's necessary. I recommend taking Dr. Bala if you care about learning.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PHS4353
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I took this class from Tarleton State. It was taught using interactive TV. He is an extremely knowledgeble professor. His lectures were interesting and clear, and I could follow in a few minutes what I did not understand after hours of reading the book. His exams were difficult and the homework long and time consuming.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PHYS1401
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Best professor I have had, very difficult assignments, but explains everything so well that they are manageable. He curves heavily as well.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PHYS1402
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Just came out of Exam 1. Good questions. You are ready if you worked on the quizzes yourself, not if you always got tutor's help. Really great professor, well informed and humorous.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PHYS1402
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Extremely good and thorough. enjoyed the class very much. He makes you think. Course requires persistent hard work.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PHYS1401
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

The best professor I ever had. Uses notes but not text books. Very helpful in assisting with quizzes. Expects high level of motivation and problem solving abilities.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PHYS1401
• 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:

Physics the hardway. Bala wants students to really master physics. He makes it hard but does offer extra credit.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PHYS1401
• 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:

Balas a smart man and teaches his class assuming his students are also smart and/or willing to work hard. He could make his class more straight forward i.e., write his own homework problems and teach and test his class based on those examples. He curves the class considerably and gives plenty of chances to earn extra credit. Physics 1 I got an A

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PHYS1401
• 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:

Tests are ridiculous. I spent most of my time guessing--got 5/12 on most tests--which isn't an awful grade in Bala's class. Go to CASA for the quizzes, the tutors will help you out, especially Shehryar. Just keep going and you'll pass--I pulled a C and I didn't really study much (was taking two other math classes at the same time!).

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PHYSI001
• 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:

If you want to take his class, then you have to have some experience with physics. Otherwise, you'll have to teach yourself which will be time-consuming and almost impossible since you'll be busy with your other classes. He can't teach and he's all over the place. Ask him a question and he'll just confuse you more. Sometimes he doesn't even answer

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PHYS1401
• 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 class is flat out ridiculous. Make sure you do well on the quizzes. Be prepared to spend your entire semester in the tutoring center.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PHYS1401
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Here's the deal. He will make you work. He does not appreciate students who want to be told answers. He teaches to the top of the class (his words) so that no one is unchallenged. I struggled mightily, having little math background, but gained more than avg. If you are humble, he is extremely kind and helpful. No room for pride in his classroom.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: PHYS2
• 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:

Do all of the quizzes by yourself or in SMALL groups. After spending many hours struggling on quizzes, his tests seemed like a joke. 15 questions, only 12 gets you a 100. If you got through the quizzes it is easy to get 15 right (125 on tests grades) Even if you don't, there is tons of extra credit. Anyone who did poor did so because they are lazy.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: PHYS1
• 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:

Bala refuses to answer questions in lecture. What more needs to be said? Teachers should bother to teach, not stand in front of a class and work through problems and expect students to fully understand phys concepts. Lab with him is tolerable but still the only redeeming part of this class was the extra credit, otherwise 75% of students would fail.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: PHYS2425
• 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:

Horrible. There were times he didn't show up for class because he was too busy attending a meeting or WHATEVER! Doesn't teach and doesn't help at all. Try to get Parmley if you can.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PHYS2425
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Taking his class is like taking a math-intensive class when you aren't a math person. Trust me. You have to put in the work to understand difficult concepts. Don't complain when you get a bad grade but are a lazy student. He's open to answering questions after and outside of class. Getting a cal-based physics textbook helps a bunch.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PHYS1401
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Awesome teacher, totally clear and willing to help!!