Western Kentucky University / H / Peter Hamburger

The honors students in the course withdrew due to its difficulty. Half of the test material was not covered in class. Half of the homework assignments were insanely difficult, and required research online in order to figure them out. There is no partial credit for the homework questions. The rest of us left (after the others withdrew) have failed the class. He requires Mathematica usage but won't teach you how to work it. Phil 215 is a required prerequisite for a reason.

He is BY FAR THE WORST TEACHER I HAVE EVER HAD. I am a Math major with a 3.8 GPA and I was lost on day one. If he were only a bad teacher I could live with it but he is also one of the most arrogant pr**ks I have ever met. I will transfer schools before I ever take him for another math class.

After the first day of class, Dr. Hamburger went off track so many times I couldn't even follow the lecture. I asked my advisor what I could do to get out of this class and still graduate as planned, but unfortunately, I needed it for my minor. As a pretty good student, I have never been one to blame the teacher when a student does poorly, but you really should run far away from this teacher.

The course itself is not terrible difficult as far as Math goes. The textbook is exceptionally easy to understand so I figured I could teach myself the material and use him as backup if there was something I really couldn't understand on my own. Hamburger told us everything on the exams would come straight from the book even though some of the homework was discussed NOWHERE in the book (not even the Appendix). The exam was pretty random with about half the material coming from the text and the rest of it from him. Please keep in mind that I could answer any question at the back of the chapters. I lost points on the test because I gave mathematical equations when he asked for "statements." I guess he wanted the equation written out in english. Also, when I asked if he had a solution set for the exam he told me there was no need for one because everything was in the text. I never found it.

Some of the questions on the test were word for word what is on the practice exam but he will not give out solutions for the practice exam nor will he go over all the answers so beware what you study. Also beware of the exam questions. There was a question on there where we had to come up with a formula for given specific conditions. Only there was not a possible answer for even numbers... only odd numbers. When the exams were returned and questions asked about this problem, he realized there wasn't an answer for the even numbers so he told us we should have just given an answer for the odd ones... and didn't try to make any adjustments, or even an apology for asking such a misleading question!

Oh, yeah... all the homework has to be done using Mathematica and Hamburger will not (or cannot) help you learn how to use it... he will tell you to search the help page to figure it out. Very frustrating. I ended up dropping the class because I wasn't learning anything from him and the extra work required to teach myself was hindering my ability to get As in my other 4 classes. Good luck if you HAVE to take him, but do everything you can to not. It's just not worth it.

who gave this guy a job? who gave this guy a position as dept. head? who gave this guy a ride on a boat to America?

he's bullheaded; right even when he's dead wrong. he fails about everyone in the class, isn't much help with the content... the other math professors will shy you away from this class because they know it's complete b/s.

it is funny watching him try and write on the board though. he often erases and says "i am an idiot."

my class started with almost 30; ended with 14, and I know of 4 people that got a C or higher.

Dr. Hamburger is a TERRIBLE TEACHER! His lectures are pointless, boring and off task. When he assigns homework, it is too much in too little time. It is hard and unfair. He also demands that the assignments be electronically submitted. When you ask for help, he talks condesendingly to you and is somewhat rude. He assumes you know everything and when you don't, he talks to you like you are stupid.

As far as grading, he is unforgiving. He does give particial credit but it is few and far between. On tests, if you get part of it wrong, you usually get no credit no matter how much you might do correctly.

AVOID IF YOU CAN!!!!!!!!!