Stephen Drum - Orange Coast College

Professor: Stephen Drum

Department: TBD

College: Orange Coast College

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PHYS285
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He goes kinda fast so the best way for you to learn is to record lecture & draw the powerpoint in your notes. Exams are getting unpredictable but more than 65% of it he will cover in lecture (I think the department is giving a hard time for being too easy on students so he's doing this lol). anyway, you'll be missing his class when u're gone!!

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PHYS280
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He allows a cheat sheet for the test, generous with partial credit, give generous curve, graded labs easily. But his lecture were very boring, but he does take his time to go through the problems. His test is an extremely harder version of the question from the homework and the lecture. There is 1 makeup labs.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PHYS185
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Took him during the summer. He always seemed super tired and much of his lectures were very boring. He did crack some jokes here and there to keep it fresh. Easiest physics professor I've taken so far. He let's you have a cheat sheet. Typically at least 1/3 of the tests will consist of example problems from the notes. Maybe different numbers.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PHYSA185H
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He allows a cheat sheet in the test, very generous with partial credit. Do the assigned homework and understand the example in the lecture because they are similar to the problem on the test. His test are very hard. Lab is easy. He also take the time in class to answer questions.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PHYS185
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Test questions are much more complex than the examples given in class&the majority of the non-assigned homework problems didn't seem to reflect what was in class/on the test. In his lab, his expectations are often unclear and you are left feeling unguided. Calculus has never been more unnecessarily confusing than in this class.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PHYS185
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

The class was great, but does require a lot of focus, considering it is physics. The cheat sheet comes in handy for every test, the homework is helpful, and PAY ATTENTION to the problems in class.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PHYS280
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Drum's a decent professor. Took him for 185 and 280 and got B's in both even though I don't think I could have gotten a B with any other professor. Allows a calculator (can be graphing) and cheat sheet on ever test. Very generous with partial credit and has a great curve system : > 60 C, > 70 B, > 85 A. Do the homework

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PHYS185
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Great guy. Focus on the problems that he goes over in class. Do the assigned hw if you could, then you will be fine. Lab is easy, just follow his instruction.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PHYS185
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

This guy is totally checked out. He seems like he just doesn't really care about the job, honestly. If you need calc based physics but you're not going into a field that really uses it, take him. I don't really understand anything but I got a good grade.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: A185A280
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

His lectures are average, occasionally they're interesting. Exams are mostly based on examples from the lecture, not the homework. He's probably the easiest out of all the Calc-based physics professors to get an A in. Take him if you want the highest chance of getting an A, but you won't learn much unless you work really hard.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PHYSICS185
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

OK professor overall, his lectures are hard to understand so I studied by myself or met a tutor a lot of time. Also, homework is a world apart from his lectures which made it inconsistent and frustrating.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PHYS120
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Took this class over summer, will definitely take the second class in the Fall with this professor.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PHY120
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He is a good professor. He take rolls but it is not count in grade. The lectures are amazing and he will ask you to vote for the answers. If you don't understand, just ask, he is really patient. I'll take it again.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PHYS185
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He goes over the simplest concepts in lecture that give you a false idea that you know what is going on. He lets you use a cheat sheet on the exams so I would cram as many problems and solutions from the book as I could. Do yourself a favor and stay on top of practice problems since they are not due and similar problems are on the exams.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PHYS185
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Easiest physics teacher you will ever take, his A is 85% and he just have 4 exams each worth100 and 10 labs that is worth also 100 you wont learn any thing from him SELFSTUDY

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: PHY120
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Drum is overtly smart and doesn't simplify concepts or problems well in class. His tests are no notes, no book, no questions, all on your own. His grading curves greatly in your favor though. The homework and participation are essential to getting an A in the class.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: PHYS120
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Lectures are very interesting but are short so you must do practice problems at home and ask questions if you don't understand. Prof is a lenient grader and gives lots of partial credit. 4 midterms, 10 labs. My only complaints are that the test questions can be vague and that he never handed back labs.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: PHYS130135
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I took two of his classes... It is just too easy to get an A. I am not physics major( these two are only physics classes I have ever taken.) I went to his office hour and asked homework questions that I did not get. He is very very helpful. I got 98% for 130 and 96% for 135.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PHYS185
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I had him a semester before I transferred to a University. If you think he is hard think again a university will be much harder. Anyways Drum did not really go over the calculations that much in lecture so you will have to self teach it. His exams were tough but gives partial credit. Generous curve. Got a B. Labs helped my grade a lot.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PHYS120
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Best physicist I've ever had!! I took his class over the summer and it went quickly! Definitely do the homework problems that he assigns, take notes in class, and pay attention to the conceptual questions. I used to hate physics in my high school, but after taking Drum, physics has become more interesting and understandable. Take him for an A!!