James Murphy - Santa Monica College

Professor: James Murphy

Department: TBD

College: Santa Monica College

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: CHEM11AND12
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Murphy is a grump, but DEEP inside he really is a sweet heart. I hated him at first and got a B in chem 11 but once I understood how to actually study for a chemistry class, I got an A in chem 12. Its chemistry, its not going to be easy. He gives you all the tools you need. Dont be intimidated by his rudeness. He has a special in my heart. Lol

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: CHEM12
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Can be a grouch but know he'd be rudely interrupted (loses his train of thought), asked repetitive ?'s, or asked unrelated ?'s. If you make it passed that then you're in for a solid Chem semester as A's and B's are doable, so long as you make some resemblance of an effort. Don't be discouraged from taking him or the dry lectures (its chemistry!).

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: CHEM12
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

We were moved to online but it is unacceptable when you cannot enroll for your next course because he wouldnt follow the class syllabus. I passed the class but wasn't able to enroll during enrollment due to a late update in the gradebook. He is very unclear and his tests don't necessary match the notes. Hand writing is BAAD and is impossible NOTREC

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: CHEM12
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

The class was remote, making it way more difficult. Professor was not very good at teaching online because all he did was write out the notes on the screen as if we were in class physically. Notes were messy, and sometimes I didn't even know which section in the chapter we were in. Didn't discuss the lab thoroughly, making the reports 10 times hard

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: CHEM11AND12
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I took chem 11 with him in person and chem 12 remote. First quiz is always hardest and first exam is always easiest. Take a good look at recent years' old exams because they are very similar to his actual exams especially for free response. Lab discussions help a lot. Prioritize canvas problems before bc hw problems are usually not super helpful.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CHEM11
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

His grading scale is such a joke. One simple mistake on any quiz or test will start from -3 points. Three exams, four quizzes, ten lab reports, and a final exam. It is super hard to get full points on each lab report(believe me), and if you are deducted more than 53 points out of total, say goodbye to your A. Just Stay Away From This Class.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: CHEM12
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Nah. You won't learn. He discourages questions by dismissing it with "read the textbook" or saying condescending statements such as "if you think about it". That type of response discourages students from actually wanting to learn. Any class you take with murphy will result in you teaching yourself the material and making things more difficult.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: CHEM12
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Murphy is a pretty good professor; he explains everything clearly but unfortunately he spends a lot of time writing everything on the board. If you want to get an A it would be better to read ahead and start on the hw and practice exams as soon as possible. He's more than willing to help but it has to be outside of class during office hours.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: CHEM12
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Horrible teacher & mean person. He is sarcastic when you ask questions, grades based on if he likes you or not, and his lectures are absolutely useless. He spends so much time talking about concepts he says we don't need to know and barely spends time on problems which are what the tests and quizzes are made up of. Definitely avoid if you can!!

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: CHEM12
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This is not the ideal Professor who takes time to help students succeed, but rather pushes you away when needing help with questions. Adding on to his lack of help, he grades harshly but helps those he favors. It is awful to say that the majority of the class dropped as he encouraged the students to do so after handing back the tests with a smile

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: CHEM11
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

<3

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: CHEM11
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Please don't. He was probably the rudest teacher I had at smc. Gets irritated when you ask questions and doesn't end up answering. Sometimes doesn't even look at you and doesn't respond when you're talking to him face to face. Doesn't care about his students passing. An A isn't impossible, he just makes you hate chemistry and hate coming to class.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: CHEM11
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I was late for the first day of lecture and lab, and he remembered me forever. He teaches good calculating methods, really clear, and he gives no homework. However, he has few quizzes and exams which made you have a less chance to climb up if you fail one of them....

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: CHEM12
• 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:

I loved Dr. Murphy, but I think you have to be generally interested in chemistry to enjoy his class because he is a bit monotonic. But he is a great teacher. Learn the "practice problems" inside out, go to office hours and pay attention to problems he gives in lab and you will do fine on the exams. Labs are chill.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: CHEM12
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He is amazing. I definitely recommend to those who know how to study for science classes. He is a little bit unorganized but he's fair. He cares a lot about sigfigs on lab reports. Three exams plus a final but you can drop one exam. 5 quizzes worth 25 points each, you can drop one. Plus drop one lab report. We also had long breaks during class.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: CHEM11
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Murphy is an overall good professor. He's good at lecturing the material and he goes over some concepts multiple times. To do well, you must do the practice problems he posts. He drops your lowest test, quiz, and lab. He is extremely helpful in office hours and will answer any question you have so don't be afraid to approach him. A really nice guy.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: CHEM12
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Murphy is an amazing professor. He gives you all the resources you need to succeed in his class. Do the practice problems in the book along with the practice problems he assigns and make sure you understand what you are doing. Also if you need help ask for it, he is willing to help!

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: 11
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He is really hard and the chem before I got B and with him I need to retake chem 11 . His does not go over the examples that are gonna be on the test. He lectures good but does not help on the exam

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: CHEM11
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

His lectures have close to nothing to do with what is going to be on the tests. When you ask him for help he gets irritated and doesn't explain clearly. If chemistry comes natural to you, take him. If not, I would suggest finding someone else. He assumes that you remember EVERYTHING from chem 10 and he refuses to review it.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: CHEM12
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Murphy is one of the best professors I've ever had. Really knows his stuff, I don't think I saw him look at paper through the entire class. He may have, but I didn't see it. A wonderful professor, moves fast. He is quite fair, and just expects his students to actually absorb the material. Hindsight says I should have attended more frequently.