Steve Rick - University of Wisconsin - Madison

Professor: Steve Rick

Department: TBD

College: University of Wisconsin - Madison

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ECON102
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This class is graded solely off tests and its ridiculous. Also canvas is not weighed properly so youre grade is basically a surprise at the end as very little guidance was give the entire semester. Frankly his lectures are pretty straight forward but exams can be a little complicated.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ECON102
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

The class consists of four main grades: Homework (Worth 10%), Two midterms (Each worth 25%), and a Final (Worth 10%). What he talks about in the lectures does not relate to the book. The only thing from his lectures that show up on exams is his "Blue Boxes". The exams are straightforward, all multiple choice, no trick questions.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ECON102
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He seems like a nice guy and is obviously knowledgable about economics. However, his lectures have nothing to do with the class content & focus entirely on what's going on in the economy today. Does "blue boxes" in his lecture where he puts information that he will make an exam question based off of. Has another job that is clearly his priority.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ECON102
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

This class was suprisingly very enjoyable especially being online. The lectures were pre recorded and there was homework weekly and three exams all together. Overall this class is very doable and in my opinion much easier and more enjoyable than Econ 101! The professor made the lectures interesting and the test were fairly straight forward!

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ECON330
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

This entire class is based out of the textbook and lectures rarely provide useful material. He has a pretty big full time job so it's clear his lectures and work is rushed. Most of the work is done by the TA and your entire grade is based down to basically 3 exams. He's not awful, but definitely not the best.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ECON102
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

he seems like a nice guy but i learned nothing. In fact, Im still not sure if his name is Steve Rick or Rick Steve. Anyways, I did learn that economics is like a bathtub. He definitely knows a lot about economics, he just didnt pass it on to us students.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ECON102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He is a smart dude who doesn't care about his students. He spent probably about 10 minutes one lecture relating inventory to a bathtub, making it pretty clear that he seems to think we don't know anything. He makes many test questions come word-for-word from his lecture slides, ruining much of the incentive to understand the material deeply.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ECON102
• 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:

Worst professor I've ever head. He has another job and it's clear he prioritizes that one instead of teaching, because he is not accessible outside of lecture and he'd upload his lectures days (even weeks) after he was supposed to (for online classes during COVID). Exams consist of "blue box material", which is only available in lecture.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ECON102
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He was just there to relay the information. Nothing more, nothing less. In his lectures he has "Blue Boxes", where each box has a test question in it. The only way to get the blue boxes is to go to class.. so if you skip class you won't have access to the blue box test questions. The exams were harder than expected. Read the book if you're confused

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ECN330
• 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:

Steve is extremely knowledgeable with the banking system and economics in general. The course material is interesting. It can be tricky but the exams are surface level questions from the book. Exams r 80% from book and 20% lecture. I'd recommend going to lecture cuz he has a couple questions on tests that you will only know if you go. Great class

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ECON330
• 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:

If you are interested in macroeconomics, the Fed, the 2009 crisis or the current COVID-19 crisis, or banking you will enjoy this class. He provides a lot of historical and current day backdrop, and it makes the complex banking system understandable. Go to lecture as he has an 'issue of the day' each class that will show up on the test. Very smart.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ECON102
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Steve knows a lot about econ. He is an excellent public speaker as well and lectures are interesting if you're awake early. His lectures merely graze the textbook content but are real world useful. Read the textbook and if you don't understand something, go to discussion. Tests are all textbook and super easy. Fair class, people complain too much

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ECON102
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Passionate about his lecture material, but that material is largely unrelated to the homework and exams. The only material you're actually tested on from lectures are his "blue boxes." Be prepared to teach yourself the majority of the content. Great economist, just lectures for the paycheck and fails to prepare students for exams

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ECON102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

cool professor, if you are interested in economy, follow him!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ECON102
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Probably the most boring lecture you will ever be a part of. Content is pretty easy and doesn't require much work.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ECON102
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Steve Rick is the coolest dude at UW-Madison. He knows a LOT about economics and it shows. MAKE SURE YOU GO TO THE LECTURES! Although they are at 8am, you just gotta drink some coffee and somehow show up; it actually helps. Read the book, and use the practice exams on Cengage.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ECON102
• 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:

Steve Rick is the man, though his lectures are dull if you don't care about the subject matter. He cares a lot about what his students are able to take to the real world. Final was not cumulative but it is worth 40% of your grade

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ECON330
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Steve Rick is not a full time professor, he works for Cuna Mutual, and it shows. Single handedly one of the worst professors Ive had here. No lecture material shows up on the exams, he doesnt respond to his UW email which in specific circumstances is a huge problem. I would never recommend taking him.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ECON102
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He's easy to understand and is enthusiastic about econ, however the only point of going to his lectures was to get the information from his "blue boxes". Nothing else he taught in lecture showed up on the exams. Use the online test prep from Cengage because he basically pulls questions straight from those practice tests.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ECON330
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Rick was great, really knows his way around the banking system. His lectures were well done and abundant with examples. The tests are worth way too much of the grade however and curved so an average on them is a BC. Study previous year exams and be sure to read the book.