4.3
Quality3.3
Difficulty86%
Would Retake118
Reviews86%
Would Retake
118
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
73
4
27
3
6
2
7
1
5
What Students Say
“Without a doubt, one othe best professors”
ECN101 - 5.0 rating“You have to read this comment”
ECN101 - 5.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
10%
Textbook Required
8%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B+
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.22 avg changeRatings by Course
ECN101AND135
5.0
(2)ECN101AND134
5.0
(1)ECN1BV
5.0
(1)ECN001AV
4.7
(7)ECN101
4.5
(43)Difficulty by Course
ECON101
5.0
ECN135ECN134
4.2
ECN1A
4.0
ECN001B
4.0
ECN134
3.8
Reviews (118)
very straight forward. As for exams, you will do fine as long as you do the homework and practice exams.
.Pretty straightforward. Do the homework, understand the lecture slides and you will do well
Extremely entertaining and enthusiastic lecturer. Extremely responsive to questions and quite knowledgable. Rambles a little but is fairly good at explaining difficult concepts.
Super awesome prof. Wish he would teach more classes at Davis. Take him! He's hilarious!
Lectures are really fast but provides PP notes online to review. HW problems helped for tests as did practice exams. Don't prefer his format for exams (mix free respose & MC) I did worse than I expected on all exams given. Nevertheless, entertaining and approachable teacher.
My only criticism is that for the short answer portion of his exams there is too much subjectivity in grading.
One of my favorite econ professors! He gives practice midterms that are very similar to the tests. The midterms and final are not cumulative. Also he is a very enthusiastic lecturer which makes it very easy to stay interested and awake.
Great professor. Good lecturer! 2 midterms, and 1 final. 2 hw are graded with check or check plus. The class is interesting and class ain't hard, but the final is really hard not becuz he didn't teach well, it's becuz the subjects that on the final are hella complicated and hard. Overall, midterms aren't hard, but final have to put more effort init
I love Stimel! He's a very passionate and clear lecturer. Class is very straightforward, midterms are very similar to the samples. If you keep up with the homework (just do them, there's only 3 assigned, and they're not checked for right/wrong) and readings, you will get an A. Nice curve at the end.
He releases practice midterms/exams that are full of errors (I think he does it on purpose). The only way to know is if you go to class.
He is clear and passionate about his course. His powerpoint cover everything you need to know and he doesn't just mindlessly read from them. lectures are awesome, but feel long. Assigns homework and they resemble the test very closely
The test is not an accurate reflection of the material learned, no matter how hard you study he asks trick questions so you second guess yourself. Everyone I know studies super hard for this class but does horrible on the multiple choice. He should just stick with free response if he is going to write questions the way he does.
Dr. Stimel is one of my favorite professors. He is articulated, informative, and humorous. I really enjoy his lectures. During his office hours, he is patient and helpful to every student. His exams are tricky sometimes, especially Multiple Choices. His MC questions really test your understanding of materials, instead of memorization.
Amazing professor. Professor Stimel is a great professor and has a very fair grading scale. His tests are a little bit heavier on multiple choice than short answers, so they can be a bit confusing and hard to study for. However, if you put some effort in it, getting a fair grade is doable. He's easily approachable and is very encouraging.
Stimel is easily one of the top econ profesors at Davis. Gives you plenty of practice exams that are very similar to actual exams. Makes the material easy to understand and is very intelligent! Definitely try to take him.
The class was straightforward. Prof. Derek makes everything clear and simple. There isn't much homework. Recommended!
He created his tests to be tricky especially his MC. I worked hard for his class the most and I still didn't get a decent grade. The Curve is not that high compared to other classes. He is also hard to communicate via email. The TAs are very helpful and engaging. You really need to study for this class in order to get a good grade.
He's the worst professor I've taken so far. He's confusing and his tests are nothing like the sample exams he posts online so don't even bother doing them. DON'T get the book, it's a waste of money, you're not going to use it. He doesn't explain a lot of stuff during lectures so you'll need to be asking tons of questions on piazza/during office hrs
I think hes a great lecturer and professor. However, his tests were so tricky and confusing. Certain answers just didnt really match up with what you learned in class at times Hes really active on Piazza though, so if you have a question hell answer it right away which is nice.
TAKE STIMEL FOR 1B. His lectures are extremely clear, he does a fantastic job of explaining complex concepts, and he's very active on piazza so he's always available to answer questions. The sample exams aren't identical to the tests by any means but if you understand the actual concepts behind the questions they're very helpful (I think).
Very good lecturer. He posts many sample exams on canvas, but the actual tests are a lot harder. They are still helpful because they give a clear example of the structure of the actual tests. There's a lot of information and he covers it really well. 3 homework assignments that reflect the exams very closely. Overall, I highly recommend this class!
Very good professor who definitely knows his stuff. He posts lecture videos after each class, which makes attendance optional. Tests were a bit tricky, but the curve was generous as a result. He's a good guy, and I'd definitely take him again given the opportunity.
He's a great professor that really cares about how you should learn and approach investment banking. He goes well into detail about the topic since this is pretty much his specialty. Workload is fairly light, but tests demand a lot of attention to understanding concepts. Like usual, you have to work for the good grade. Overall, he does a great job.
Stimel is the best Intro to Macro choice in the UCD selection. He makes material very simple. His first test was a reflection of the material, the second wasn't tbh, which I assume he did on purpose to bring down the class grade a bit. Overall, if you understand the concepts, you'll do well.
Best economics professor I have had at Davis. Very clear lecturing and very straightforward. Must attend lecture in order to get the full scope of the material. Practice exams very similar to real exams. Obviously you have to study, but otherwise this class should be a piece of cake.
BEST ECON PROF. Very clear -posts powerpoints before lectures, lectures follow powerpoints completely, tests based off lectures. Discussions helpful to review material. Three homeworks, based off completion. Stimel is a great lecturer as well, providing some humour & keeps things interesting. Amazing course. Am taking a course with Stimel again.
He is definitely a great lecturer but the exams are really challenging and tricky. Make sure do lots of prepares before exams.
You have to read this comment! He is one of the fairest professors I've ever seen in UCD. His lecture is following a clear logic pass, course materials are rearranged by himself, which is going to make student easier to study. He does have lecture videos, abundant review materials. His actual exam is close enough to the practice exams.
Stimel is a great econ professor. He is hilarious and really wants his students to succeed. He's really organized and has three practice exams for each test, which is similar to his real tests. However, his tests are challenging and you have to make sure you really understand the material. He utilized Piazza well and responded to questions quickly.
Awesome lecturer, very helpful during office hours. 3 homework assignments graded for completeness. 2 midterms. Focus on the practice exams, they are almost identical. Warning: Exams have lots of questions related to theory so make sure you understand. Just knowing how to do the calculations won't suffice! Gives you equation on exams. Average curve
This was my second class with him, hes an amazing lecturer. He explains everything very clear and concise. Exams are okay, not the easiest. Theyre similar to practice exams. He is very responsive on Piazza if you have any questions. I enjoyed his class and he has a decent curve. I would recommend taking him.
Lectures are straightforward. Exams are all multiple choice. He gives out lots of practice exams too which are similar to the real exams. 8/10 would take again.
Best teacher ever in UCD Econ departement. If you have a chance to take his course, don't miss it. His courses to me are the MUST TAKE.
The lecture is amazing and the hws are very similar to the exams.
THE CURVE IS EVERYTHING! He is a great professor who deeply cares about students understanding the material. He makes an effort to have everyone pass the class. My 66.12% turned out to be a C+ That's how wonderfully generous his curve is. Tests are similar to practice and homework is graded on completion; not right or wrong. Overall, recommend.
Great professor who presents the material in a way that students can easily learn. His exams were quite challenging but if you study your notes you should do well.
One of the best teachers I have taken. Breaks things down clearly in lecture, records his lectures so you can watch online and posts lecture slides. 3 homework assignments 3 written assignments (400-600 words very easy). 2 midterms and one final. If you can do the practice exams you can do the tests. The whole class is organized and no surprises.
Honestly, this professor is underrated on this site. He is very professional, caring, and organized in everyway possible to help student succeed. He will be more than welcome to go above and beyond until everything is clear before moving on. He speaks loud and proud each lecture to keep us paying attention. Without a doubt, one othe best professors
Great prof. He really knows how to explain concepts clearly. He posts slides and his lectures online which is really helpful. Homework is ok with both written and some problems. His midterms (2 of them) and final are easy as long as you do the practice ones to which he gives a lot. Curves at the end by a bit too much in my opinion but whatever.
I love Stimel! He makes topics very clear and is eager to help during office hours. His midterms weren't too bad as long as you review the homework and do all of the practice tests. I recommend starting the homework early and going to office hours if you have any questions on it. Getting the textbook is pretty unnecessary.
stims is a'ight
This is my second class with Stimel and I LOVE him! He is one of the best professors at UCD. Definitely understands the material, goes out of his way to explain concepts clearly, and is always willing to help out students in need. Lectures are always recorded and tests are based off practice quizzes which he give ample of. Definitely take him!
Great Professor!! He goes over the material very well and willing to explain things to help his students get a better understanding. Take advantage of those office hours. Recommend you to the discussion because of the extra review. Can be a bit difficult, but stay on top of your work and you will do just fine. Lecture is recorded so review that to
Derek Stimel is a phenomenal lecturer. He covers the material in a way that makes sense to nearly all students, which is highly unusual in the economics department at UC Davis. Additionally, his lectures are video recorded making it much easier to review lecture material before exams. Highly recommend taking any course with Professor Stimel
Really well-rounded professor. He's great at explaining certain concepts with basic examples and will take more time on harder topics if needed. He's very responsive to in-class questions. Grading tries to make sure that you have some advantage and rewards more for the midterm you did better on. Overall, solid choice and easy to understand.
Probably one of best Econ professors. Such funny, organized, clear lectures. Lecture capture but better to attend in person. Three homeworks graded on completion. Two midterms and final, all fair and three practice exams provided for each. So many resources, great course layout. Always posts slides on Canvas too.
He is one of my favorite Econ professor. His lecture is amazing and easy to understand. 3 homework, 2 midterms, and final. Practice exam is very similar to the exams.
He is a great pro that lectures are easy to understand. 2 exams and final, gives a couple of practice exams which are so much helpful! tests are similar to the practice exams. Not a lot of homework but definitely take notes!
He is not a strong lecturer and goes off on tangents often. I learned more by studying his practice exams and his lecture slides on my own than any of his lectures. Discussions were surprisingly helpful, but your grade in this course is more dependent on the amount of time you spend studying the material and practicing problems on your own.
This is the first time I had Stimel as a professor and he is honestly one of the best econ professors out there. He explains concepts with many examples, which makes it easier to comprehend and understand the material during lecture. He also holds review sessions before every exam, so be sure to go to those!
Great lecturer but the material isn't the easiest. He provides a lot 3 practice exams which look exactly like the midterms and responds fairly quickly to questions especially before exams
Good lecturer, he is very clear and simplifies the material nicely. The practice midterms are essential for doing well on the midterms because they are very similar. The MC on the midterms will either save your grade or end it, they are heavily weighted (too much in imo) so missing one hurts, but the class isnt too difficult not to get a decent gra
This class was very difficult but Professor Stimel was a great lecturer and made concepts as clear as possible. Exams were pretty difficult but if you attend discussion and do homework it was pretty manageable. He is also very helpful if you need help outside of class. 2 midterms and a final
I've had him for ECN 1AV, then 101 and 135. I'm currently taking him for 134 as well. His lectures are very clear and his exams aren't tricky. Assignments are doable and prepare you well for exams. Go to lectures or at least watch them bc what he teaches is on the exams. I wish I could have him for all my classes. I understand everything he says!
Pretty good professor. Material was very hard. Lectures are clear and I felt like I learned a lot. Tests were fair.
This is my third time taking Stimel. His syllabus is very simple and clear. Weekly asynchronous lectures and 5 homework assignments throughout the quarter. 2 open-note exams that are similar to homework assignments and practice exams. The class is very math-heavy so be comfortable using and manipulating all of the formulas in his powerpoints.
Got the highest score in final exam. He suspected me and reported me to the judicial affair.
He should give us more time to take the midterm exams and final assignment. Practice exams and weekly discussions are very helpful. Overall, take him but it is not easy A.
Professor Stimel is the best professor I have had at UC Davis. He is bubbly and really cares about his students. I am his biggest fan and I have taken every class that he offers at Davis (ECN 1B, 101, 134, 135) and got As in all of them. Go to his office hours and he really will help you if you need it. HIGHLY RECOMMEND TAKING HIM!!!
Stimel is awesome! He gives you everything you need to get a good grade in the class. All questions on homework and exams are covered in detail at some point in class, so you are never lost or unsure what to do . Highly recommended.
He NEVER replies to students' emails, don't choose him....
3 non-cumlatives exams with the highest getting 15% extra weighting. Rest of the grade was homework, extra canvas questions and some surveys. Textbook useless, best studying method is to go over lectures again and really take note of every minute detail and example. Well taught course but tough material. No real curve, 92+ was an A, 90-91.99 was A-
Took this class in the pandemic-era, accommodating in the sense that it had 3 exams, the highest one being counted for an additional 15% of your grade. Super nice and accessible professor; however, his lectures are tough for visual and reading/writing learners. He gives no notes! The slides are just in points and you have to listen to him intently.
Awful professor. Is not dedicated to his students and it shows. Dont take him.
Online class with recorded lectures. Prof Stimel answered e-mail fast and is super helpful in office hours. Very clear videos.
Great professor. Only around 50 min of lectures per week. Lectures are clear, concise, and highly engaging. Class was very simple and low-stress.
Extremely well organized. Modules with recorded lectures, slides and weekly quizzes on the material referred to as "homework". Course material based on chapters of textbook. Weekly quizzes are not easy. Timed, 1 hour, all multiple choice midterm and final exams are difficult with many questions worded tricky. Final is not cumulative.
I've taken Econ 101, 134, and 135 and I can say that he's one of the best prof in the economics department. 100% recommend going to his office hours. He doesn't make you feel dumb when you don't understand a concept. When watching lectures, make sure to take notes because his slides don't include all important info.
Similar format to his 135, heavier on arithmetic over concept, with 3 non-cumulatives exams each worth 15% and your best given extra 15% weighting, the rest of the grade being more or less free points. Stay on top of lectures and absolutely practice problem solving. Very accommodating during OH. Highly recommend.
Definitely a good professor. He explains everything very well. Course grades mostly depend on exams. Speaking of ECON upper classes, the courseload is not that heavy. He's cute and told us do not to eat too much candy the day before Halloween.
I had Professor Stimel for 1AV and then again for ECN 101, he explains everything so clear and gives good examples. If you understand the hw and the practice quizzes then you're going to do good on the tests. He is a very approachable professor and always answers any questions. His class is not hard at all but you do have to study.
Mostly everything on the tests is covered in lecture. Class isn't difficult if you are consistently practicing and keeping up with lecture. He's incredibly good at teaching and very fair with grading policy. Grading on the actual tests is pretty strict, but then again the tests are straight-forward.
Best UC Davis econ professor, bar none.
The class had a very clear structure. Professor Stimmel is very knowledgeable on the topic he teaches. The lectures took an average of 50 min to watch per module. Homework is a breeze if you learn the material and exams are similar to practice exams. Overall, a great experience, and highly recommend it.
His lectures are really great. His lectures are really useful, and open notes in tests. Although sometimes his courses make me want to sleep because of his speed, he is accessible after class. When he explains to you in person, it's more clear than the videos. His courses are worth it and you can learn a lot!
A really good professor!! His class's tone is kind of makes me sleepy, but he expains concepts greatly. He gives you credits by Respondus or survey, reducing tests less percentage. Tests are not that hard. It is difficult to obtain full scores, but with other assignments with full scores, you still gan get an A!
Prof. Stimel provides a very clear structure for the class. You watch a couple of lectures (~10min avg.) a week and answer questions within the video. Homework is easy if you understand the material. Exams are VERY similar to practice exams which the TA's go over beforehand so take advantage of that. Recommend to anyone.
Clear lecturer, everything is organized. Just read book, watch lectures, then do the quiz.
great prof I took him for both 1AV and 1BV, but beware he doesn't curve at all. he wouldn't round my 92.93 up to a 93. I would still take him again but that hurt my feelings
Explains concepts very well. Is also patient and accommodating to students. Would love to take this professor if he teaches other courses.
Prof Stimel explained concepts super well and thoroughly! He posts sample exams for midterms and final which make studying super streamlined. Hes funny during lecture and super helpful when you ask questions. Take him if you can!!
Hes a great prof. BUT check your exams when you get them!! I had to submit both my midterms for regrades, the second one had 10% deducted for no reason. Grader error. Always check your exams.
Really nice professor! Take him if you can.
Really liked the format of his class and teaching style. Stimel is super accommodating towards students. He is consistent with his exams, so study and do the practice exams and you will be okay. I would take other courses taught by Stimel if I could.
Best Econ professor ever! Love the way he provided practice exams, including finals. Homework was based on completion. TAs were all very supportive in terms of explaining concepts; try attending the discussion sections if you can. Very caring and inspirational professor!
Professor's lecture makes the concepts easy to understand, but the content he taught is extremely difficult. ECN 134 tends to be more toward math because it has too many formulas. ECN 135 tends to be more conceptual because it has too many complex concepts. The exams are just a few similar to practice MT. Those classes are NOT easy!!!
The exam is 4 pages, 3 pages are all conceptual question, only one page has calculation. 15 multiple questions and two free response questions are all different from practice exams, only one page has calculation part is similar to exam. I am not good at concepts, I like more math calculations. Avoid this course if you like more math over concepts!
The exam is not directly similar to practice exams. Even if the exam is all based on math, the wording in free response changes a lot, which makes the exam very confusing. If you want a straightforward class (the exam is similar to practice exams), this is not the best class for you.
Material for this course is difficult. Lectures are very clear. Exams are similar to the sample exams. Professor is overall excellent.
It's a heavily conceptual course. To do well, you need to understand and memorize every single sentence in Slides and what Professor mentions in class because the practice exams are less similar to the actual exams. Complex and tedious concepts of banks, federal reserves, and policies. Overall, a very challenging class, and no one gets full points.
I wish the Professor can teach an easier upper ECN class in the future. Those two classes are one of the hardest classes in ECN. The topics are very different from the usual economic class. They are Financial concepts and policies. The Professor teaches well and the grading is fair. However, the exams are very challenging. Even a pass needs effort.
Very good professor, even the best professor I ever seen in UC Davis. The lecture is very clear and provide recording in media gallery, useful in exam reviews. Not much homework, provide sample exams before 2 midterms and one final. Very kind person.
Took 135 and 134 at the same time. 135 required about twice as much studying, and I still received a worse grade. Requires HEAVY memorization. However, Prof Stimel is very accessible outside of class. Rating 5 stars because he does his job well, and much of the class seemed to perform better than me so my grade wasn't his fault by any means.
Took both in winter. Homework ok graded on completeness. Exams tough but ok. Lectures good. He recorded them but I found it better to go but 8 AM was brutal. He answered tons of my email before exams, LOL so points for that.
This class is like half macro and half supply and demand. Stimel's lecture is super clear and organized. Exams were based off lecture. Nice guy, good class.
Take him if you can!!!!! The best Prof ever!!!
Stimel is an engaging professor who knows the content, but he goes on tangents at times, and also speaks a bit fast to my liking. He is super helpful during OH, but still struggled in understanding the concept. Don't take 134 and 135 together, it's a heavy workload! I did poorly on my 134 final, but decent on 135. Little to no curve on final grade.
honestly it was a bit difficult to grasp concepts since it was an online class, but he explains things well in lectures. tests were hard so be sure to take as many notes as you can to prep
His lectures are a bit of a bore sometimes but it helps you understand the material. Tests are somewhat hard and tricky but if you print out the homework and practice modules to look through during your exam you should be fine. No curve which sucked but overall pretty good teacher and a pretty fair class.
Dont take him.
Professor Stimel is a very good professor. He is very willing to provide help and explain questions even during weekend. However, he speaks too fast during the lecture, so it's hard to concentrate. He doesn't write some theories' explanations on the slide, but he will test, so you need to listen carefully. The test is very confusing sometimes.
This class to me was very easy to understand compared to past econ classes I have taken. There are a lot of office hours which I found useful since homework can get tricky sometimes. We had 2 exams (which were open note). Prof. Stimel provides a lot of resources for you to do well in class. I suggest printing out notes and practice for exams.
Take Macro with Prof. Stimel! The class was graded by weekly a 20 multiple choice question assignment (2 lowest scores out of the 8 get dropped), a short typed response, and one chapter of reading. There is a mid-term and a final as well. Just take good notes, do the practice exams, and look over the additional practice problems he provides to pass
The class is simply based on weekly quizzes, weekly writing assignments, and two midterms (no final). This class is very easy as long as you dedicate like 3 hours to watch and take notes on the online videos and take the quiz. There is a textbook but I never opened it and I am happy with my grade. Would recommend this class
Easy class as long as you do the HW. The 2 midterms are very similar to the practice midterms. No final. Many office hours available for help.
Weekly hw was fairly simple, lectures were mostly interesting, and there were two midterms (not cumulative) which you can use notes on but it is proctored. The practice midterms prepared you well as did all of the work in my opinion. I would recommend him for econ classes!
Professor Stimel made Econ 1A super simple and straightforward. His homework and exams are a little confusing, but definitely not impossible. His expectations are perfectly reasonable and the workload is light. Definitely recommend. Just know that the lecture quizzes tank your grade more than it'll raise it.
good professor; all the content is on pre-recorded lectures but can be unclear sometimes. lot of opportunities for more points but i do not like how the class heavily relies on 2 exams; very easy to pass but a little difficult to get an A if you do horribly on the first exam; prof also holds helpful office hours but his penmanship is very sloppy
Professor Stimel's lectures explain everything fairly well. Honestly, if you take good notes, and make sure to study the two practice exams you're given, by the time you get to the final about half of the questions will be pattern recognition at that point. The questions in the final are like 95% similar to the practice exam. Great prof!
Amazing professor. So brilliant when it comes to banking, finance, and macroeconomics. Answers all questions. Answers emails quickly (every other professor I have had takes forever to reply, or never replies to emails). ECN 135 - money and banking was so fascinating and it was by far my most favorite class I have taken in college. So interesting.
Online lectures can be unclear, but the professor holds helpful office hours. Grades rely heavily on 2 exams, but the class is manageable with good notes and practice. unstuck study was a lifesaver for study prep.
One of the best econ professors I have ever taken. Breaks down jargony topics well, homework and practice exams reflect real exams and he gives you all formulas needed, takes input from students, answers questions well, can be pretty funny
He knows what he is talking about and loves doing it. I passed this class with a breeze because it made everything easy to understand wold recommend.
not bad but no curve
It is a really difficult class, but prof Stimel was passionate in the lectures. There were lots of concept to remember. The OHs are useful for exams preparations.
Overall an enjoyable course, great lecturer, gets to the point, keeps me engaged. Two midterms, the highest one counts as an additional 15%. Beware there is likely no curve, as the professor keeps the class average at a B, according to department policies.
Very straightforward lectures, reachable outside of class, offers 3 versions of practice before each exam, plenty of practice problems. Tests cover materials taught in class, his slides are straightforward too. He replies to email pretty fast and always makes me clear. Strongly recommend his class!
Funny & straightforward professor & class, & I learned a lot! Light workload. Rep the practice exams, to do well in the class. Likely a curve applied at the very end (including when I took the class). Three HWs (pretty easy) + 3 brief surveys (each taking under 5 mins to finish). The final was surprisingly difficult, so keep an eye out for that.
Class Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
10%
Textbook Required
8%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B+
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.22 avg changeRatings by Course
ECN101AND135
5.0
(2)ECN101AND134
5.0
(1)ECN1BV
5.0
(1)ECN001AV
4.7
(7)ECN101
4.5
(43)Difficulty by Course
ECON101
5.0
ECN135ECN134
4.2
ECN1A
4.0
ECN001B
4.0
ECN134
3.8