<p>How large are the classes (particularly the computer science ones, but info on others is appreciated)?</p>
<p>For the most part, do the professors teach the classes, or do TAs?</p>
<p>Are there lots of opportunities in classes to socialize, or are they mostly really structured and lecture-like?</p>
<p>Is there a lot of GPA inflation? Like, do teachers "curve" the grades so that most people pass, or does it actually require effort to make good grades?</p>
<p>I graduated this past May with a degree in Finance. Based on my (and other people I know) experience, you will almost always have a professor as your lecturer. TA’s tend to pop up in classes that have labs as they may teach the lab portion.</p>
<p>The class size tends to be largest in introductory classes that most freshmen need for credit (think humanities, history etc.). Even then, you’d be hard pressed to find a class in excess of 100 to 150 students. Virtually every I’ve had ranged between 50 and 100 students. The outliers tended to be considerably less than 50 (upper level finance classes).</p>
<p>Most professors are open to seeing students in their office when they aren’t lecturing. In fact, it helps to get to know your professors at least somewhat. If you have an A- (let’s say a grade of 91) and they see and recognize your contributions in class and hard work, they might be more inclined to help you (say an extra participation/homework percentage) and push that 91.4 up to an A. At the very least, they may be more willing to write recommendation letters for internships or jobs. The flip side is that if you get to know your professors, it becomes imperative that you show up regularly for class and turn in assignments on time…they will start to expect your presence in class.</p>
<p>The professors I’ve had didn’t curve much except in situations where 50-70% of the class failed. The good profs realize that if most of the class is failing and even the upper echelon students are barely passing, the issue is probably not a student problem…but rather a situation where the prof didn’t convey the information in the most effective way.</p>
<p>Usually profs that regularly curve only do so based on the best grade in the class…if anyone gets 100 (or close to it), there isn’t much of a curve. Unfortunately for some, at UTD there will almost always be a high achiever or two (or 50) in your class…so you might get a 2 point curve if you’re lucky.</p>
<p>I wanted to bump this thread to see if any current students have any thoughts on the classes there. I was up there today looking around the school of management and all of the classes were those “stacked” type rooms with the long tables and rolling desk chairs which I love. Are most or all of the classes at UTD/school of management like this?</p>
<p>Any other info would be awesome, thanks.</p>
<p>Hi y’all I’m a bio/neuro double major. Classes are huge at the early levels. My chem 2 class has about 300. But the teachers always teach. The tas just grade and are in charge of labs or problem sessions. Most science classes are similar to the som set up. It’s the humanities classes that tend to be in auditoriums. I’ve never had a prof curve a test. But a bunch of them will drop lowest quiz grades</p>
<p>I’m a ATEC major with a CS minor so I’m taking a crap ton of CS courses. As far as I’ve seen my CS classes are pretty small (20-30) kids, but some of the other courses like sciences and govts can be in the 100-250 range. </p>
<p>Some teachers will attempt to curve, but there’s always someone with a 100 throwing that idea out the door, so yeah you really need to study to get great grades here!!</p>
<p>As far as the TA situation, like utdwhoosh said, the TA’s are normally just graders and teachers of problem sessions for the higher level math courses.</p>