Clark Givens - Michigan Technological University

Professor: Clark Givens
Department: Mathematics
College: Michigan Technological University
Rating # 1
Overview:
  • Course: MA3160
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Comes to class without any preparation, however can lecture about any topic from memory. I got better at math from Clark's classes than any other professor. Try hard, come to class, and do the recommended problems and you will both get an A, and learn a ton.
Rating # 2
Overview:
  • Course: MATH2330
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 2.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Knows his stuff ridiculously well. So well, in fact, that he doesn't bother to explain the majority of it. If you're okay with teaching yourself all the material, you'll be fine. We had a 20% curve--the average was 53%.
Rating # 3
Overview:
  • Course: MA2330
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 2.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
In terms of instruction quality, he is definitely in the top 5 worst teachers I've had. Taking notes is very difficult because he tends to start explaining concepts while explaining concepts, so taking linear notes just leads to a confusing layout. Median score after 2 tests: 106/200. Luckily he curves the average to a C.
Rating # 4
Overview:
  • Course: MA4410
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 4.5
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
I had friends who told me that he was a bad teacher but I honestly must say I like the way he teaches mathematics. He likes to prove the rules we use instead of just saying it as fact.
Rating # 5
Overview:
  • Course: CALCR02
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 2.5
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
guy can't teach, period. He is helpful if you go to office hours, and answers questions, but it's no different than just reading the text. He really knows his stuff, but he is always behind on everything and doesn't teach well enough to comprehend the homework. Only hope is the fact that he grades on a curve
Rating # 6
Overview:
  • Course: MA3720
  • 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:
This guy was really great, a funny and happy guy that made probability orders of magnitude more enjoyable than I ever expected it to be.
Rating # 7
Overview:
  • Course: MA4410
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 4.5
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Clark is quite the character. He's a mathematical magician at the board, and doesn't use any notes for lecture. (Including the upper level things he teaches.) He's precise, concise, and very willing to help if you ask for it. I will be taking more of his classes, for sure.
Rating # 8
Overview:
  • Course: MATH300
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 3.5
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Is completely crazy but knows his stuff
Rating # 9
Overview:
  • Course: MA3720
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 2.5
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Mixed feelings. Givens is a quirky guy, weird sense of humor, very knowledgeable. He writes in all mathematical terms, doesn't say what the variables mean, and teaches his own stuff occasionally. If you do the problems he assigns (not for credit) you'll be fine. HUGE curves, you'll find it hard to fail, but the C range is huge. Avoid if bad at math
Rating # 10
Overview:
  • Course: MA3160
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 1.5
  • Course Difficulty: 2.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
If you don't mind teaching yourself then this class could be for you. For me he was hard to follow. I didn't learn much in the class, but managed to get a good grade. The final was optional, which was nice. If he gives you a practice exam or a handout, study the heck out of it. More than likely your exam will look almost identical to it.
Rating # 11
Overview:
  • Course: MA3284
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 3.5
  • Course Difficulty: 2.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Explains things well, but spends too much time reviewing each class, and is therefore behind. It makes mathlab very difficult, or more difficult than it already is.
Rating # 12
Overview:
  • Course: MA3160
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 3.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
told bad jokes all the time. realyl hard exams i couldn't always follow him
Rating # 13
Overview:
  • Course: MA3160
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 2.5
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Boring
Rating # 14
Overview:
  • Course: MA3160
  • 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:
He did not go to his office hours at all. He does not have his voicemail setup. I had to contact him at his home for information. Hes boring and cannot teach. Avoid him like the plague.
Rating # 15
Overview:
  • Course: MA3160
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 2.5
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
It is essential to read the chapters and do the optional homework to get a good grade in this class. He won't help you very much with learning the material. But he progresses through the course very slowly. Review day before the test is amazing! He basically gave us the exact format of every question on Test 3. Get 70% average on test for an A.
Rating # 16
Overview:
  • Course: MA3160
  • 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:
Great guy, really nice, really reasonable, massive curve, but extremely hard tests...it really all evens out in the end. really smart and makes some pretty crazy corny jokes in class, i like it though. OPTIONAL FINAL!!
Rating # 17
Overview:
  • Course: MA1160
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 4.5
  • Course Difficulty: 2.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Clark Givens is my favorite professor. He is the coolest old man you'll ever meet. He always made corny jokes that he was the only one that laughed at which made it hilarious. He gives hard tests but the curve is AMAZING. He was always willing to help out during his office hours, or he would just talk with you about anything. I recommend his class.
Rating # 18
Overview:
  • Course: PROB2330
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 3.0
  • Course Difficulty: 2.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
he can't communicate the material well, but with a little outside work everything makes sense. his tests are horrible and hard, but his curve is infamous. if you just want an easy A, go to class and write down what he writes down. it's mostly memorization for exams. hilarious in his own goofy way too.
Rating # 19
Overview:
  • Course: MA1160
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 1.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: N/A
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
The problems in the exams are all in the samples or homework. He hands out the keys to all the assignments which is amazingly helpful. He always tells jokes and only laughs on his own. Make to all the classes and try to read the hand-out keys. You will get A!
Rating # 20
Overview:
  • Course: MA2330
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 3.5
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: N/A
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Pretty clear explaining things, but has very hard tests. The curves are really high (like 30-40%!), so you can pull off an A with a 60% or so. I barely remember any of the material from the class though.
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