[{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:55:34.976737+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTMwNTM2NDU2","source_instructor_id":"rmp:802342","instructor_name":"Andrei Caldararu","course_label":"MATH542","course_id":"MATH 542","course_uid":"course_60c2767a206a079d3af2a1a4","review_date":"2018-10-02 12:29:56 +0000 UTC","comment":"He is an amazing lecturer. He makes math classes fun because he understands the essence of each mathematical ideas well and articulates them to the students really well too. He knows a lot of history regarding to math, this makes him a perfect teacher. Grade could be tough but if you like math, he is the best. Take Abstract Algebra with him.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/802342","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":3.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:55:34.976737+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTE5Njg2MDU2","source_instructor_id":"rmp:802342","instructor_name":"Andrei Caldararu","course_label":"MATH542","course_id":"MATH 542","course_uid":"course_60c2767a206a079d3af2a1a4","review_date":"2012-01-07 17:15:52 +0000 UTC","comment":"Lecturs are okay. Grades extremly harah","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/802342","quality_rating":3.0,"difficulty_rating":5.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:43:27.660032+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTM5MjA5Mjgy","source_instructor_id":"rmp:1769534","instructor_name":"Dmytro Arinkin","course_label":"MATH542","course_id":"MATH 542","course_uid":"course_60c2767a206a079d3af2a1a4","review_date":"2024-04-19 04:46:08 +0000 UTC","comment":"A phenomenal professor! Very clear and provides plenty of motivation! Couldn't wait for the lectures every week because I was learning so much in each of them! \n\nAlso, he engages you as a student by asking questions and inviting participation. I think it's the ideal way to teach a course, though it takes a very capable professor to teach this way.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/1769534","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":5.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:43:27.660032+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTI5MjU0NzA5","source_instructor_id":"rmp:1769534","instructor_name":"Dmytro Arinkin","course_label":"MATH542","course_id":"MATH 542","course_uid":"course_60c2767a206a079d3af2a1a4","review_date":"2017-12-18 09:16:14 +0000 UTC","comment":"Dima is one of the nicest profs in the math dept. Hes passionate about algebra, and hes fun and engaging, both in office hours and lecture. His exams can be tough, but he gives big hints and useful practice problems. Overall would recommend.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/1769534","quality_rating":4.0,"difficulty_rating":3.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:43:21.784234+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTE3MTA1ODg4","source_instructor_id":"rmp:152258","instructor_name":"Donald Passman","course_label":"MATH542","course_id":"MATH 542","course_uid":"course_60c2767a206a079d3af2a1a4","review_date":"2010-05-03 00:26:14 +0000 UTC","comment":"I've had 3 terms of algebra with him. He seems to have little respect for students based on his jokes and "acts" like he's so tough as to be unapproachable. Material-wise it isn't demanding enough, at all.I regret taking him as I'll have to retake it or self-study to really have a solid understanding.One of the final questions:compute a determinant","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/152258","quality_rating":3.0,"difficulty_rating":3.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:43:21.784234+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTE1OTA4MTcw","source_instructor_id":"rmp:152258","instructor_name":"Donald Passman","course_label":"MATH542","course_id":"MATH 542","course_uid":"course_60c2767a206a079d3af2a1a4","review_date":"2009-05-28 16:48:27 +0000 UTC","comment":"I'm going to have to disagree with everyone else here. I found Passman to be an ineffective teacher.  We didn't cover nearly as much as we should have in the course and we went over trivial things way more than useful things.Doesn't write proofs in lecture, just a few scattered words on the board.  He is funny though, so I guess that's a good thing","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/152258","quality_rating":2.0,"difficulty_rating":2.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:30:01.508155+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTQxMjg5ODcz","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2967013","instructor_name":"Joshua Mundinger","course_label":"MATH542","course_id":"MATH 542","course_uid":"course_60c2767a206a079d3af2a1a4","review_date":"2025-05-15 04:38:48 +0000 UTC","comment":"Algebra II is extremely hard class that covers a bunch of materials, but Prof Mundinger managed to cover every subject very clearly. The midterm is poorly deigned because nobody had enough time, but he ended up offering to replace it with the final, which is perfect in difficulty. Overall a solid and understanding professor.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2967013","quality_rating":4.0,"difficulty_rating":4.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:29:19.159502+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTM1MTM3NzI3","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2521051","instructor_name":"Justin Sukiennik","course_label":"MATH542","course_id":"MATH 542","course_uid":"course_60c2767a206a079d3af2a1a4","review_date":"2021-10-19 22:33:00 +0000 UTC","comment":"tough grader","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2521051","quality_rating":1.0,"difficulty_rating":5.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:18:02.961128+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTMyOTM3MTA3","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2575442","instructor_name":"Michael Kemeny","course_label":"MATH542","course_id":"MATH 542","course_uid":"course_60c2767a206a079d3af2a1a4","review_date":"2020-02-27 15:03:53 +0000 UTC","comment":"He tries to teach at a level that is inappropriate for the given class. He often will ask the class questions during lecture and no one will be able to answer them. When he lectures, he normally talks to the board and stands directly in the way of what he is writing so you cannot see. Unhelpful office hours.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2575442","quality_rating":1.0,"difficulty_rating":5.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:16:19.143219+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTE1NDg4NzUy","source_instructor_id":"rmp:1079222","instructor_name":"Mustafa Kalafat","course_label":"MATH542","course_id":"MATH 542","course_uid":"course_60c2767a206a079d3af2a1a4","review_date":"2009-02-25 18:31:38 +0000 UTC","comment":"Examples are useful, tests and syllabus are fair, and always available for extra help.  I would highly recommend him.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/1079222","quality_rating":3.0,"difficulty_rating":2.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:12:32.915236+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTM5NjMzNjI1","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2846901","instructor_name":"Paul Apisa","course_label":"MATH542","course_id":"MATH 542","course_uid":"course_60c2767a206a079d3af2a1a4","review_date":"2024-07-20 04:36:57 +0000 UTC","comment":"Lectures are smooth and uniquely inspirational. Paul is passionate about the course content and genuinely cares about whether his students learn the math. He covers many more interesting topics in depth than usual. This of course makes the homework and exams challenging but also the class worth taking. He is generous on grading and extra credits.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2846901","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":4.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:12:25.084074+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTI3OTUxMjg5","source_instructor_id":"rmp:952212","instructor_name":"Paul Terwilliger","course_label":"MATH542","course_id":"MATH 542","course_uid":"course_60c2767a206a079d3af2a1a4","review_date":"2017-03-27 10:31:06 +0000 UTC","comment":"Didn't really say much except for what was being written on the board. Homework was entirely out of the book and was unrealistic in expectations. They were due every week and could easily take 20+ hours to achieve partial completion. Exams were somewhat easy but unrelated to homework, didn't know what to study for.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/952212","quality_rating":3.0,"difficulty_rating":4.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:01:22.516210+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTQyMjU2ODAz","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2043547","instructor_name":"Tonghai Yang","course_label":"math542","course_id":"MATH 542","course_uid":"course_60c2767a206a079d3af2a1a4","review_date":"2025-12-15 07:54:49 +0000 UTC","comment":"The average of the midterm rise from 64 to 71 at the end of the semester. Even given the fact that a lot a lot of Students quit after the midterm, there is no curve on the grades. The workload is way more than 3 credits. ","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2043547","quality_rating":1.0,"difficulty_rating":5.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:01:22.516210+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTQyMjU2NTg5","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2043547","instructor_name":"Tonghai Yang","course_label":"math542","course_id":"MATH 542","course_uid":"course_60c2767a206a079d3af2a1a4","review_date":"2025-12-15 07:23:03 +0000 UTC","comment":"His lectures are awful. No lecture notes, not organized at all. He leaves a lot of homework and seldom provides the solutions in time.The exam scope he gives is very unclear, with almost everything taught and hundred of problems.He is a very tough grader and nearly 1/3 students in his class flee after the midterm. Avoid him at all costs.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2043547","quality_rating":1.0,"difficulty_rating":4.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:01:22.516210+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTQyMjM5ODM0","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2043547","instructor_name":"Tonghai Yang","course_label":"math542","course_id":"MATH 542","course_uid":"course_60c2767a206a079d3af2a1a4","review_date":"2025-12-15 07:22:23 +0000 UTC","comment":"Prof Yang is nice. Nothing against him personally.\n\nContent:  400 pages of Dummit & Foote from Ring (p. 222) to Galois (p. 640), including difficult topics like Module Theory.\n\nWorkload: 12 weeks of homework with no lecture notes and selected solutions.\n\nDifficulty:  Exam averages were low (71.55 and 77.14), yet a 90 overall is required for an A.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2043547","quality_rating":2.0,"difficulty_rating":5.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:01:02.366500+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTMxOTEyMjMx","source_instructor_id":"rmp:1653279","instructor_name":"Tullia Dymarz","course_label":"MATH542","course_id":"MATH 542","course_uid":"course_60c2767a206a079d3af2a1a4","review_date":"2019-05-19 17:04:49 +0000 UTC","comment":"She always begins a class with what she taught last class and gives a lot of examples, so it's easy to catch up in the class. Her homework is not too hard but interesting, so it's worth to spend time on it. Even though I'm not a big fan of algebra even after taking this class, I think she did a good job on teaching and recommend to take her class!","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/1653279","quality_rating":4.0,"difficulty_rating":2.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:00:24.146487+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTQyNzYwNzAy","source_instructor_id":"rmp:1503053","instructor_name":"Uri Andrews","course_label":"MATH542","course_id":"MATH 542","course_uid":"course_60c2767a206a079d3af2a1a4","review_date":"2026-03-31 16:23:48 +0000 UTC","comment":"There's definitely a lot of homework, but he's very flexible with it and quite accommodating. Lectures are superb and he explains the content very clearly. Andrews is also just an incredibly kind person in general. I absolutely recommend his course.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/1503053","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":3.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:00:24.146487+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTM3OTgzMTcz","source_instructor_id":"rmp:1503053","instructor_name":"Uri Andrews","course_label":"MATH542","course_id":"MATH 542","course_uid":"course_60c2767a206a079d3af2a1a4","review_date":"2023-05-24 13:40:08 +0000 UTC","comment":"[MATH 541] Prof Andrews really understands the course content and often entertains his class. However, his homework are on the tough side (10+ proof-based problems per week) with no exam reviews given. Fortunately, in a stark contrast, exams are easier. Self-completion of the homework (no outside assistance) can pretty much guarantee an A on exams.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/1503053","quality_rating":4.0,"difficulty_rating":3.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:00:24.146487+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTIyNTU5Mjcw","source_instructor_id":"rmp:1503053","instructor_name":"Uri Andrews","course_label":"MATH542","course_id":"MATH 542","course_uid":"course_60c2767a206a079d3af2a1a4","review_date":"2013-12-15 08:13:19 +0000 UTC","comment":"He is a very talented lecturer.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/1503053","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":3.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:00:24.146487+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTIyMDU0NjYy","source_instructor_id":"rmp:1503053","instructor_name":"Uri Andrews","course_label":"MATH542","course_id":"MATH 542","course_uid":"course_60c2767a206a079d3af2a1a4","review_date":"2013-08-14 21:52:05 +0000 UTC","comment":"Uri does a fabulous job of explaining and teaching math concepts to mathematicians. Unfortunately, he tries this approach with engineers and other folks who don't have the same mindset. Notice for which classes he gets good reviews, and for which he does not. As for his teaching 542, he's clearly a logician, but still does a good job.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/1503053","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":2.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 15:57:30.110885+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTM3MzY1MjA3","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2539834","instructor_name":"Yousheng Shi","course_label":"Math542","course_id":"MATH 542","course_uid":"course_60c2767a206a079d3af2a1a4","review_date":"2023-01-22 18:05:37 +0000 UTC","comment":"Yousheng is a great guy and very approachable during office hours. He cares about the students doing well in class. The final exam was quite difficult but his grading is quite generous. He is very easy going and down to earth unlike many other professors at the math department, quite snobby and arrogant. Take him and avoid Laurentiu Maxim.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2539834","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":4.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 15:57:30.110885+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTM2NDg0ODYz","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2539834","instructor_name":"Yousheng Shi","course_label":"Math542","course_id":"MATH 542","course_uid":"course_60c2767a206a079d3af2a1a4","review_date":"2022-06-24 01:45:49 +0000 UTC","comment":"Lectures are a dry, worse version of the textbook, which is bad news because the textbook he picked is no good. Handwriting is unreadable both in the answer keys and on the blackboard. If you ask him a hard question he skips everything. If you ask him an easy question he crawls through it. Grading/exams was really generous tho.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2539834","quality_rating":1.0,"difficulty_rating":3.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 15:57:30.110885+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTM2MzM4MDc5","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2539834","instructor_name":"Yousheng Shi","course_label":"Math542","course_id":"MATH 542","course_uid":"course_60c2767a206a079d3af2a1a4","review_date":"2022-05-14 14:45:53 +0000 UTC","comment":"Yousheng cares about his students and their success in the course. Math 542 is a tough and difficult course. However, his lectures are very clear to follow. The office hours are very useful and he does a good job on explaining how to think. His grading criteria is different but he is a good instructor for advanced math courses. Highly recommended.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2539834","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":4.0}]