Doug Copely - Sacramento City College

Professor: Doug Copely
Department: Science
College: Sacramento City College
Rating # 1
Overview:
  • Course: PHYS420
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 1.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Copely sucks at teaching, and he basically sent us notes instead of holding lectures during the semester (lazy approach, which may explain his overweight physique). His grading is strict, and he assigns difficult homework which makes his lecture notes basically useless. Overall, just another lousy physics "teacher"
Rating # 2
Overview:
  • Course: PHYS420
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Dr. Copley is a super nice guy overall. He def holds his students to high standards, this class isn't easy. Lectures were pdfs, weekly discussion/lab recitation with an in class worksheet (for points) and a weekly optional 45 min live lecture. Exams were only an hour long which was the worst for me. No assignments from the book.
Rating # 3
Overview:
  • Course: PHSY410
  • Grade Received: A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Lectures were non-video, just pdf documents which kinda stinks but does provide youtube videos to watch. Graded by weekly homework assignments, bi-weekly labs, zoom worksheets, and exams. Exams were kinda difficult as he only gives you an hour to do it but they were open note/book. Homework was the hardest part in my opinion even harder than exams.
Rating # 4
Overview:
  • Course: ASTR310
  • Grade Received: WD
  • Overall Rating: 1.0
  • Course Difficulty: 1.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
He was ok before quarantine. I had b-. But during quarantine, he did the next exam totally different with 50 multiple choice for 30 minutes. Not practical. Failed class right after failing exam. He's not worth it. His teaching, communication and empathy sucks so much. Never dealt with a teacher like this before. I shouldn't have to retake the class
Rating # 5
Overview:
  • Course: PHYS350
  • Grade Received: A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
I have never worked so hard and broken down so many times than in this class... but I would do it again. HW is a lot- take it srsly bc it will help on exams. Book is blah- supplement with KhanAcademy. Utilize tutoring services and OHs. You meet a lot of profs who become jaded about teaching, but Copely is an exception. You WILL learn physics here!
Rating # 6
Overview:
  • Course: PHYS430
  • Grade Received: B
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Probably the toughest professor I took at Sac City, but I respect him. As an engineering major, I appreciate how he sets this class at a certain standard. I learned a lot from Dr Copely. I took an easy prof for PHYS420 and I didn't learn anything. I tried for my hardest B's in college but I can say he had taught me the most.
Rating # 7
Overview:
  • Course: PHYS420
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 1.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
The training wheeles are off. hope you did well in Calc III you will need it for Gauses Law in the begining of the semester he flyes through it. I talked to a lot of other students and they dont like him
Rating # 8
Overview:
  • Course: PHYS420
  • Grade Received: A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Contrary to what many people say, Copely's tests and quizes DO follow what he gives in lecture and HW. I was part of the class that did every HW problem and attended every class and I was pleasantly surprised every quiz. Sure the HW takes some time, but its expected of higher level classes. Copely is probably the best physics prof at Sac City.
Rating # 9
Overview:
  • Course: PHYS420
  • Grade Received: B
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
He bases exams after discussion work, and the final off of past exams and grades them very fairly. The only reason you wouldn't do well in this class is if you never pay attention to lectures, or never go to discussions. I really enjoyed this professor and would recommend him.
Rating # 10
Overview:
  • Course: PHYS420
  • Grade Received: B+
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
I took Copely for both physics 410 and 420, and wish I could have taken him again. He has energy and is passionate about the subject. He is very friendly and approachable and really tries to assist students. He is a generous grader and that really helped my grade since I usually understood the material but messed up the answer
Rating # 11
Overview:
  • Course: PHYS420
  • Grade Received: B-
  • Overall Rating: 1.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Does not prepare students adequately for tests. He says the quizes are dirrectly from the homework but they aren't, some of the problem weren't even for the lecure or textbook. He says "some you will familliar with and some you wont be familliar with". Then talks down to the class about failing it.
Rating # 12
Overview:
  • Course: PHYS420
  • 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:
Lectures dont explane anything more than the textbook. Homework consumes all of your time, so no time to review and the quizes are very. He talks down to the class like we are all lazy students who must not have studied. Other students have told me going to his office is a waste of time. I get some help out of it, but still fail but the quizes.
Rating # 13
Overview:
  • Course: PHYS410
  • Grade Received: B
  • Overall Rating: 2.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Copely is a nice guy but he doesnt seem to convey any interest in helping you succeed. His teaching style works for a very small subset of people and if you arent one of those people then you will need to look elsewhere for help. He says he is always available in office hours but seems to get impatient and rushes people out.
Rating # 14
Overview:
  • Course: PHYS410
  • 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:
Avoid this professor. His lectures are fast and not clear. His exams are very difficult. He writes his own HW problems, and does not use the textbook.
Rating # 15
Overview:
  • Course: PHYS420
  • 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:
His lectures are amazing, very helpful & inspiring. The hw isn't collected, but pretend it's being graded for accuracy or you won't do well on the biweekly quizzes. Carefully re-read every example in the book, the hw, & the discussions prior to each test. Don't take it with 10 additional units of 400 series math/science courses: you won't get an A.
Rating # 16
Overview:
  • Course: PHYS430
  • 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:
His teaching makes you excited about physics & is very clear. But there are mistakes in the textbook answer key & he forgets he didn't assign reading. I got an A by going to office hours weekly then re-reading every example in the book, homework assignment, & discussion notes before every test, & memorizing all the week's formulas for the quizzes.
Rating # 17
Overview:
  • Course: PHYS420
  • Grade Received: B
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
Copely is heavy on integration techniques and expects you to be able to derive a specific equation given little information, however, this makes you understand the material on a deeper level. He is willing to help outside of class and if you pay attention in class and actually work on the homework the class wont be too hard. Lab att. is mandatory
Rating # 18
Overview:
  • Course: ASTR310
  • Grade Received: A-
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
There is barely any homework in the class and your entire grade is based off 3 midterms and a final. Do not take this class unless you really do feel like spending a large portion of your time studying. But if you take good notes and pay attention to the syllabus you will do well.
Rating # 19
Overview:
  • Course: PHSY410
  • 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 got an A by re-doing from scratch every homework assignment, every reading assignment, and every discussion assignment that was fair game for the test before every test and making sure I 100% understood every problem and reading assignment the first time too. That's pretty much what you have to do for an A. The reading is hard. Also, VERY fun :)
Rating # 20
Overview:
  • Course: PHYS410
  • Grade Received: A-
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
I got a hard-earned A. His discussions are much more helpful than his lectures to prepare you for his VERY difficult exams. My study method helped me a lot: I picked out the hardest exercise problems I could find in the textbook to try to solve them. I highly recommend using the solutions manual for aid.
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