Historical instructor

DONALD PASSMAN

Adjusted rating
RMP difficulty
captured reviews
About this rating

Raw average: 4.05/5 from 61 quality ratings. The adjusted rating blends this with the UW review average (3.66/5), weighted as 20 additional ratings. Smaller samples stay closer to that average. Each captured review is counted once in the prior; this does not correct who chooses to leave a review.

RMP profile ↗ · All captured review dates; profile matched by name.

What students say

Original student reviews · all captured dates

MATH 221
Quality 2/5Difficulty 4/5
He isn't clear about any of the material he teaches, and he messes up all the time and says "ah well you know what i mean." I didn't learn anything, yet my TA was helpful. I took AP Calc BC in HS, but only got a 1 on the AP exam b… Read full reviewShow less
He isn't clear about any of the material he teaches, and he messes up all the time and says "ah well you know what i mean." I didn't learn anything, yet my TA was helpful. I took AP Calc BC in HS, but only got a 1 on the AP exam but the class is fairly easy, tests are kind of hard-just make sure you know how to do every type of problem in the HW
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MATH 222
Quality 3/5Difficulty 3/5
His lectures were extremely dull, and rarely helpful; I learned more from the TA and the textbook (A GOOD TA IS KEY). His tests can be a bit rough, so watch out. Do the practice exams. Homework was not graded in my section, but that's based on TA's decision, not professor. Final was not cumulative. This class was tough, but not unreasonable.
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MATH 222
Quality 4/5Difficulty 3/5
The content of this class is tough, but his exams are fair. His final is not cumulative and HW is not graded! Get a good TA, do all of the HW and practice exams.
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MATH 222
Quality 3/5Difficulty 4/5
Fairly average prof, spends a lot of time on proofs in lecture because he is fascinated by math but doesn't work out examples, and the questions he puts on the exams are often more difficult than the ones assigned as homework. With a good TA you should be fine though
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MATH 221
Quality 2/5Difficulty 4/5
Lectures are generally boring. He goes through proofs rather than going through examples. The exams questions are much more difficult than the homework. Would not recommend.
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Personal experiences, not a representative survey. Profile matching and captured coverage are shown in the source details.

Classes with DONALD PASSMAN

No teaching recorded in Fall 2026.

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Recorded teaching history

Distinct courses recorded per term

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Browse recorded courses
TermCourseTitle
Spring 2012MATH 742Abstract Algebra
Fall 2011MATH 221Calculus and Analytic Geometry 1
Fall 2011MATH 741Abstract Algebra
Spring 2011MATH 222Calculus and Analytic Geometry 2
Spring 2011MATH 990Reading and Research
Fall 2010MATH 221Calculus and Analytic Geometry 1
Fall 2010MATH 340Elementary Matrix and Linear Algebra
Fall 2010MATH 990Reading and Research
Spring 2010MATH 221Calculus and Analytic Geometry 1
Spring 2010MATH 742Abstract Algebra
Fall 2009MATH 741Abstract Algebra
Spring 2009MATH 542Modern Algebra 2
Fall 2008MATH 222Calculus and Analytic Geometry 2
Fall 2008MATH 746Topics in Ring Theory
Spring 2008MATH 742Abstract Algebra
Fall 2007MATH 221Calculus and Analytic Geometry 1
Fall 2007MATH 741Abstract Algebra
Spring 2007MATH 742Abstract Algebra
Fall 2006MATH 222Calculus and Analytic Geometry 2
Fall 2006MATH 741Abstract Algebra
Fall 2006MATH 941Seminar-algebra

Teaching history may be incomplete. Course pages contain course-specific feedback and citations.

Instructor identity & provenance
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