The class average on the last midterm was a 30%. He has a thick accent and its hard to understand. He doesn't speak loud enough. All of his slides are just equations and he doesn't define the variables.

All of the hw are from MasteringPhysics which is not helpful and feels like very hard busywork . Hw is worth 40% and can boost your exam score 10-20% based on your homework grade. Exams are worth 50% and are fairly easy. All his lecture are just him reading off the lecture slides of the book. 50% Hw score 90% exam still almost failing yay

Worst professor I've ever had. Gives you 3-4 days to do a weeks worth of homework. Homework doesn't help with the extremely difficult exams. Last midterm's average was a 30%. Lectures are useless. Just reads off slides. Also, he assigned a masteringphysics assignment due the day after the final. He assigned it 5 days before the final.

The rating below me wanted to put difficulty as a 5 but he messed up this professor is the worst.

Chong Kim is one of the worst professors at SDSU and its a shame he is the only professor teaching PHYS196. He merely reads off the board and his handwriting on HW solutions is ineligible. Also assigns homework to be due AFTER the final exam. Avoid taking this course if he is teaching it, you will learn 100x more in your physics lab. Truly awful.

His lectures, study guides, and homework do not reflect the exam/quizzes. He is helpful during office hours BUT he laughs at you in class if you say the wrong answer. I am usually a straight A student but failed every exam/quiz including the final. However, his grading scale is forgiving.

Worst lectures I've ever had to attend dont take this prof if you can avoid it

Professor Kim understands fully what he is teaching but can't seem to get it across to his students. Everyone is lost or not paying attention in lecture due to his ramblings and his clear lack of care for teaching the class. The homework and tests are always extremely more complicated than anything he teaches.

One of the worst professors at this university. It brings him happiness when students fail his exams.

actually the worst!

Horrible professor. Went to class everyday and took notes and taught myself the information from the textbook and still failed exams. Literally doesnt care about the students and wants students to fail.

Literally doesnt know what hes doing. Just reads off the slides, and seems content with failing as many students as possible. Take at a CC if possible.

He is actually one of the worst professors Ive ever met. you cant understand a single word he says not only bc of his accent but he adds syllables toalmost every word so good luck understanding anything. I skipped through the lectures to get the answers to the questions I taught myself everything else. weekly hw, 3 quizes, 1 final. basic lessons

I had to teach myself the material by looking at solutions on Chegg. I don't think he ever gave us any formulas or taught us how to do the math but he certainly loved to show us how to derive equations (which we never used). That class was so hard, my friend that was really good at physics got a B! I hope someone else is teaching that class by now.

As SDSU students we pay thousands of dollars a semester for our education. Professor Kim makes me feel like my money is wasted. He copy and pastes the textbooks onto a slideshow presentation then just reads the presentation. He does not actually teach just regurgitates material that he expects you to know. DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS!!!!!!!!!!!!

He was honestly a bad teacher. He would read off the slides and probably thought he was teaching us something. He made attendance mandatory with iClicker and you would get a letter grade drop if you missed a certain amount of lectures. He also only graded on a bit of homework and the 3 midterms with a final. You will have to teach yourself.

Definitely one of the worst professors I've had. Reads off his slides like a book and doesn't even stop to let you write them down. Whatever is taught in class has no relevance to the homework so you will need to be your own teacher. His office hours are confusing and unhelpful, mostly consists of "what is so confusing". Average test scores is ~40.

The professor can't speak English well and his lectures are not easily understood. He also is terrible at answering questions if he can understand the question in the first place. Lectures just shove equations into you without good explanation. Much better off just learning everything from the textbook.

Random pop quizzes. There is no textbook so you can't teach yourself the material. Exams are 15 questions and each are worth 7 points. Poor grammar so exams are confusing. Hard grader on group projects. Unintentionally embarrasses students who don't know the answer. Must have chegg and quizlet. Only some questions from the study guide are on exam.

Unless there is absolutely no choice take this class online in the summer or at a cc. You can always take the lab separately after. I am a normal A-B student and this class is hard. The prof teaches basic level knowledge then tests you on complex knowledge. Think of 2-3 chapters of knowledge then only 6 questions in 50 min!

Truly the worst teacher of any kind I've had dating back to preschool. Do anything you can not to take him. Will literally say no if you ask a question or for help. Unreachable outside of class. His "teaching" consists of reading off horrid slides he hasn't changed in years and yelling at his students for getting exam questions wrong.

This is the worst professor I have had. Lectures are mandatory, not understandable, and a total yap fest. I dread getting out of my bed in the mornings MWF. Averages before any curve on exams are less than 60%. Exams feel luck based. Professor Kim can't even perform simple integration. If you ask a question, the answer is "how do you not know".

I would rather drop out then take another class with this professor. Save your mental health and just don't do it.

I will never recover as he has taken my will to live. He clapped me so hard my diameter will not return to normal size. Goodbye cruel world. Good luck

Ended up at phycological services. I was then transferred to a psych ward. I don't recommend.

Chong Kim is the worst professor that I've ever had not only at this school, but in my life. His "lectures" are grade A yap sessions that don't help with anything, homework or tests. He only reads from slides and CANNOT explain the material when questions are asked. He's extremely bad at teaching and/or doesn't understand his subject.

Tests barely correlate to the class problems or homework. You'll only succeed if you make study groups & understand all the content. Tests are 6 questions; he started off giving no partial credit but everyone was failing so he had to go back retroactively. I'm a good student & this class was awful, if I had the option to take it elsewhere I would.

Professor Chong Kim was one of the worst professors I have had in my 3 years of being here at SDSU. Do not take this class with him, I would strongly recommend taking it with another professor. Avoid at all costs.

Big 'ol meanie that had to give us partial credit on all the midterms to keep us from failing. Lectures were him reading the slides, and the tests weren't based on the HW. Curve was awesome tho, it raised by grade by 10%.

Despite taking necessary precautions by purchasing my 50 Chong Kim posters from the bookstore prior to the start of the semester, he still clapped all of us. Pulled out of bed 3 days a week to attend class was like an episode of Beyond Scared Straight. Just another traumatized STEM student who survived physics but at what cost? Good luck friends.

Seems nice but lectures were bad and class seemed kind of useless. For exams study the hw and the example problems in slides. The average test scores were failing grades, the only reason I passed was because he curved the exams. The curve was very generous, think 0% to a 47% (real life example). When the class fails something, he blames students :)

This is one of the worst professors I have had at SDSU. Reads off lecture slides and still manages to make zero sense. Literally just spends the whole class yapping. Laughs when over 300 students fail the exam and blames it on us instead of recognizing that he cannot teach. Take this course during the summer if you can with a different professor.

Professor Kim clearly wanted the best for his students, but his lectures were unhelpful and hard to understand. His accent is strong and his lectures would go over the basics and then test us on complex questions. Homework was about 10 online questions a week. Don't bother asking questions either he will just laugh and claim it's simple.

This class is the worst class I have taken. Everything about this class was frustrating. He was unapproachable, did not answer questions, and just read from his slides every class. Random pop-quizzes and does not have explanations for questions students would ask in class. This class was extremely frustrating and almost impossible to get an A in.

Understanding this guy is half the challenge of this class. His accent is insanely hard to understand half the time. The homework and test half the time have no correlation and his lectures are insanely hard to follow when 1. You can't understand him and 2. He just reads off slides that pop up 500 different equations at once.

Although this is a calculus-based physics course, DO NOT expect him to explain any math or walk you through the equations. "It's simple really, guys." He WILL brush off your questions in class, and will not hesitate to answer your question with the wrong answer. Do not expect to understand this man, his accent truly is unintelligible.

I genuinely wish there was an option for negative stars because this professor deserves them. Absolutely terrible at teaching. Lecture disorganized rants rather than helpful lessons. Tests complete nightmare. If you value your GPA, your sanity, or your time, steer clear. Hands down, the worst professor I've ever encountered. DO NOT TAKE AT ALL COST

Chong Kim is not a good teacher. He puts more effort into his outfits for each lecture than his slides. His tests consist of questions that were never brought up in HW or in lectures. He uses iclicker so you have to come to class. Do not take this teacher is you do have to.

I would rather be forced to discover physics for the first time then learn from Chong Kim. Terrible class, rude and sarcastic about poor student performance, and tests don't match any material from slides, lectures, or textbook. Just drop out if hes you're only option

He assumes everyone understands and says, "This is easy," while just reading off slides. He also blames students for the horrible class averages. He is rude, judgmental, and does not care about the success of his students. For a class that so many engineers have to take, the teaching is horrible. Take in the summer or at a community college. 0/10!

Cannot understand this guy's accent. Mix that in with pretty tough material and it's a nightmare. His texts are extremely hard and questions are poorly worded. Average on the 3rd midterm was a 30% and he had to drop it. Take any other professor, even if you have to wait. He also only reads off slides and is almost always late to class. Ts pmo

Professor Kim is a smart physicist/engineer, but he has absolutely no clue of how teach. His lecture consists of him deriving equations which are just given during exams, so his lectures are completely useless. Oh, and they're mandatory :) Second, his accent makes understanding him virtually impossible and I sat in the front row. Avoid at all costs

Bad lecturer. Do not take him if you can help it. Homeworks aren't too difficult, but they don't prepare you for the tests. Do textbook problems to prepare for them. Class average on most recent mid term was 30%.

Expect monotonous lectures where Emperor Kim just pops up slides with page long derivations and full of equations, and barely explain them. The latest midterm had an average of 33% which says a thing or two. The main saving grace of this class is lectures are posted online. Self study, learn the HW, and it's not so bad to pass the class.

He's not good. Attendance is mandatory and part of the grade. The exams have nothing in common with the homework. Lectures are hopeless. I took electricity and magnetism at community college and retook it for fun this semester, but I think his class actually made me dumber...

If you dont love yourself and want to find less hope and joy in waking up every morning, I recommend taking this class. Not only is Chong Kim disrespectful to his students, but he genuinely cannot teach. He admitted to being on opioids during class as an explanation for why his lecture was so confusing. He can and will ask you anything on the test

One of the worst professors ever. I went to his office hours, and he insinuated that this class is more difficult for me because I am a woman. He also told me that the only way for me to pass was if I went back in time and "actually studied". He expects way too much of his students and assumes they just dont study hard enough.

This was a really hard class. Exams are nothing like what you see on hw or class. Average for midterm 3 was a 33%, get ready to see your grade tank!

I don't think there could be a worse professor, even if they tried. Lectures are absolutely useless, exams are nothing like the homework. He just assumes no one studies hard enough. Tried to meet with him for office hours he was never available. Why even teach?! Take this class at a community college. DO NO TAKE HIM!!!

Dr. Kim clearly knows what he is talking about, however his methods of teaching aren't practical. He takes time to derive every equation, which is useless for non-engineers. Tests are heavily weighted, and covers niche content that isn't explained on the slides. I'm a straight A student, and this class tanked my GPA despite putting in the work.

The professor is not a teacher he's a reader. His provided materials like lecture slides and homework are almost nothing like the midterms he writes up. Even when I got my midterms back I still could not answer the questions using his materials alone. This topic is very hard and it doesn't help that the professor makes it even harder.

Chong kim does not care if his students live or die, pass or fail. Chong Kim will throw you random stuff on the lectures and expect you to know how to do it at PHD level, all the while saying, "It's so easy guys." He gives test questions that are incredibly hard and not from the homework/textbook/his lectures. ONLY take him as a last resort

I don't usually leave reviews for professors but this guy sucked so bad I felt I had to. Lectures are just reading off of the slides and are totally pointless to go to. Tests are so egregious, you can study the homework and the review posted by the TA and still be clueless mid-test. Last midterm average was so low that he had to drop the test.

One word, AWFUL. Reads the slides, then asks, "easy right?". Never explained anything clearly. I'd rather chew glass than take him again. Avoid at all costs. If he is the only option, change your major or drop out. WORST PROFESSOR EVER! Pray he curves the grade!! Because if not, most have no chance, not because of lack of effort, LACK OF TEACHING

class average on an exam was never passing, with the lowest average being 33%. Entire classes graded by 10 homeworks, 2 midterms, and 1 final. L teacher, likes to test you on things he never taught.

why do cs majors have to take this class

Avoid at all costs. In the curve we trust

The exams were nothing like slides and hw. It was hard. Wouldn't take it if i dont have to.

Do not take with Chong Kim, if possible take with a different professor or at cc. Most of your grade is based off of 3 midterms and a final. His lectures are incoherent and his accent makes it difficult to understand. Content on the tests are nothing like the lecture or hw. Save your sanity.

bro is not real

Worst professor I have EVER had. Literally just reads off of confusing slides and is always saying "so easy right". The test questions are so random and the last average was 33% and he still blamed the students rather than his teaching. He is so unhelpful and doesn't seem to care about his students in the slightest. Just take it at community.

The lectures are awful and you would be better off skipping, yet attendance is mandatory. The tests also feel completely luck-based. There will be a few questions that are fair, but most are only solvable if you've seen them before, so the only real way to pass these tests is to do as many practice problems as possible.

Can not understand him, I took both physics classes online during the summer and passed. I can not pay attention because he talks slow and I got lost easily.

(PHYSICS 180!! It wouldn't give me the option to choose.) The worst class I've taken. I can hardly understand him and he isn't thorough with explaining the confusing things he puts on the lecture slides. I've heard people in passing say that taking physics in high school was a lot easier.

Wouldn't curve an average midterm grade of 38

He's a nice guy, but an awful professor. The exams were unnecessarily confusing, and there really isn't a way to prepare for them efficiently. He tells us to study the homework, yet it's not like the test questions. The averages have been 30-40 on every exam, and he still won't curve it. Do not take this class with him. (or any class tbh)

Very tough grader and the exams are way too difficult for what he teaches in class. His lectures aren't clear and accent is too thick.

Class was miserable. No test average was passing, and he made it impossible to succeed. The tests are confusing and worth most of the grade. He is hard to understand, gives no partial credit, and never curves—even when the class average was 38%. Tests don't match the material and expect calculus. Always said he made tests easy. He was wrong.

if you hate yourself then this is the class for you. kim is hard to understand, terrible at teaching, reads off his barely understandable slides, tests having nothing to do with slides, doesnt curve tests, attendance is mandatory, is always surprised we do bad at midterms somehow, this man needs to be fired. pls take physics in the summer.

TAKE HIM ONLINE OVER THE SUMMER!!! His online summer course was 8 weeks and had 3 exams. There were weekly homework assignments, but the exams were lightwork. Horrible professor, but online made the class an easy A.

I would drive to class without a seatbelt on.

he just graded the final and the average was 108/200 bro

Consumed 100mg of adderall in hopes of overdosing before class

Don't take him, trust me it ain't worth it. Tests are extremely difficult and lecture heavy. When the class does bad he says "class that was so easy, how did you all do so poorly?". You'll have to do a lot of self-teaching to get a good great. TAKE ANYONE ELSE

ughhh where to begin. this prof was the kindest man ever, but i couldn't understand him. love him with my heart would eat lunch with him but would never take his class EVER. literally dropped this class because 1, tests were hard, 2, i couldn't understand him (he has a heavy accent)and 3, its physics. aka torture.

guys i loved him like hes so adorable, but like i'd rather chew glass than take his class. geniuelly would take nightquil at night and mix it w melatonin so i could miss his quizziz.

He has a heavy accent, which doesn't help his "read directly from the lecture slides" style. He really doesn't help with anything in the class as far as prepping for exams, no reviews, no practice tests, no formula sheets. He also did not respond to emails. The averages for the 4 midterms and the final were all below 55%. Avoid at all costs.

Does not reply to emails. Attendance is not mandatory but there is at least one pop quiz a week, they are graded terribly. Easy course, not great professor.

very nice professor, but his lectures and exams are extremely hard. do not take this class unless you absolutely have to. lectures were extremely confusing and exam avg ranged from 30-40%, with little to no prep other than with the homework. even with tutoring and self-study, this class is very hard

bro really curved our grades less than 3% when the averages on tests were under 50%. arrest him immediately.