Historical instructor

STEPHEN NELSEN

Adjusted rating
RMP difficulty
captured reviews
About this rating

Raw average: 1.38/5 from 34 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

CHEM 345
Quality 1/5Difficulty 1/5
Absolutely awful.... however test are easy compared to other classes; the reason the curve is so low is because everyone is stupid from learning with him. DON'T DO IT. Use class time to go to the library and teach your self, he reads verbatim out of the book anyways and if at all possible sit in on Yoon's lectures and you might learn something.
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CHEM 345
Quality 1/5Difficulty 5/5
Probably one of the worst professors I have ever had. You can not understand when he speaks, he can't write on the board, and his exams are brutal. My advice is to read and memorize the books. He shows you reactions but not WHY they occur, which is what you need to know...Good Luck! Pick a different professor if possible...
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CHEM 345
Quality 1/5Difficulty 5/5
DINOSAUR. This man should be retired. Clearly knowledgeable, just as clear: not made for teaching. His chicken scratches on the board are useless, uses reagents not found in the book on tests. and he mumbles...A LOT. The curve ROCKS but you must be able to teach yourself or you're screwed.
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CHEM 345
Quality 1/5Difficulty 5/5
Terrible... just terrible, worst "teacher" I have ever had, and that includes my forth grade teacher that punched my classmate for having TWO pairs of school scissors in his desk instead of just one (and than pushed him to the ground for crying about it).
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CHEM 345
Quality 1/5Difficulty 4/5
He knows chemistry, but certainly doesn't know how to teach it. Don't go to lecture, you won't be able to read the board or hear what he says. If you can teach yourself, then take his class and benefit from the curve.
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Personal experiences, not a representative survey. Profile matching and captured coverage are shown in the source details.

Classes with STEPHEN NELSEN

No teaching recorded in Fall 2026.

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Recorded teaching history

Distinct courses recorded per term

Explore courses taught by this instructor →
Browse recorded courses
TermCourseTitle
Fall 2012CHEM 346Intermediate Organic Chemistry Laboratory
Spring 2012CHEM 346Intermediate Organic Chemistry Laboratory
Fall 2011CHEM 547Advanced Organic Chemistry
Spring 2011CHEM 345Organic Chemistry II
Spring 2011CHEM 990Research
Fall 2010CHEM 345Organic Chemistry II
Fall 2010CHEM 682Senior Honors Thesis
Fall 2010CHEM 699Directed Study
Fall 2010CHEM 990Research
Spring 2010CHEM 345Organic Chemistry II
Spring 2010CHEM 681Senior Honors Thesis
Spring 2010CHEM 990Research
Fall 2009CHEM 547Advanced Organic Chemistry
Fall 2009CHEM 990Research
Spring 2009CHEM 345Organic Chemistry II
Spring 2009CHEM 990Research
Fall 2008CHEM 641Advanced Organic Chemistry
Spring 2008CHEM 345Organic Chemistry II
Spring 2008CHEM 990Research
Fall 2007CHEM 641Advanced Organic Chemistry
Fall 2007CHEM 990Research
Spring 2007CHEM 547Advanced Organic Chemistry
Spring 2007CHEM 699Directed Study
Spring 2007CHEM 990Research
Fall 2006CHEM 641Advanced Organic Chemistry
Fall 2006CHEM 699Directed Study
Fall 2006CHEM 990Research

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

Instructor identity & provenance 
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