2.8
Quality4.1
Difficulty46%
Would Retake181
Reviews46%
Would Retake
181
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
36
4
32
3
31
2
28
1
54
What Students Say
“If you thought orgo 1 was hard, orgo 2 is just on an entirely different level - at this point I feel we've learned probs 200 diff reactions/reagents/mechanisms and all his tests are cumulative so you can't forget anything”
CHEM224 - 2.0 rating“Not sure what the person below me is talking about - orgo 2 with him is probably the hardest science class at hunter - I even think bio is easier than this”
CHEM224 - 3.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
39%
Textbook Required
0%
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B+
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-0.27 avg changeRatings by Course
CHEM12000
5.0
(3)CHM120
4.0
(1)ORGOCHEM120
4.0
(1)CHEM12O
4.0
(1)CHEM244
4.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
CHEM12O
5.0
CHEM121
5.0
ORGO2
4.5
CHEM224
4.2
CHEM222AND224
4.2
Reviews (181)
There are four tests and one cumulative final. Professor Hamann's EXTRA CREDIT HW will help you to prepare for the tests as well as his review slides. The test format is included three parts: multiple choices, draw chemical reactions, and short answers. Make sure to study hard. ^o^
If you can keep up with Professor Hamann's lectures, you will have fun in his class! His language, tone and vocabulary is top notch! His knowledge in this field goes beyond due to experience. He always come to class half an hour early for anyone who needs help with anything. If you're reading this Professor Hamann, keep doing what you're doing!!!
The best professor I've ever had!!! I will definitely recommend Professor Hamann to every student who wants to learn and UNDERSTAND chemistry! He is clear, funny, knowledgeable, educated, helpful, and encouraging! Just follow his lectures, read book and slides, do home work, participate during the lectures and you will get it!
Professor Hamann is the only professor for CHEM120 and if this class is a prerequisite for a prospective program, study and work hard. His lectures are confusing and long so make sure to review the slides and read the textbook to help your understanding. Very much a DIY course with a focus on memorization rather than understanding.
This is a tough class but this professor breaks things down so well that anyone can understand. And he is very knowledgeable and straightforward, which is something to respect. Anyway, you definitely should be reading and practicing on your own to do well, but he is fair with what he expects you to know and wants you to do well.
This professor was extremely amazing for basic organic chemistry. He tried his hardest to be very clear with what we need to do and know. Once you take his passed test it is very easy to learn how to study for his exams. If you need help go to him for extra help he is very helpful! Great professor!
Kinda goes off topic during lectures sometimes but it was pretty good. Homework is harder than exams, and a lot of exam questions were repeated. His curves are amazing tho
He made his tests harder and harder as the semester went on. I truthfully couldn't believe how difficult he intentionally made his exams to pass without a curve. I consider him completely thoughtless upon his students because he wouldn't go out of his way to answer questions about his exams. Don't take him! Save yourself the trouble.
He is one of the BEST professors I ever had. He cares about his students so much and wants his students to learn. He increased my love for organic chem. His exams are fair. Study for this class and email him if needed (he replies quickly). Teaching skills are on point! In the end of the day, this is organic chem so take this class seriously :)
Make sure you read lecture slides, textbook, do the homework and extra practice, you will pass his exams. Great Professor.
Professor Hamann is a nice person but that does not mean his class is easy to pass. TWO DIFFERENT THINGS. So with that being said, I have never studied so much in my entire life and I already have a bachelors degree in another area. Be prepared to come ready to class having read the text book and printing out all lecture slides before class.
Professor Hamann is great at what he does. He is extremely helpful but he makes sure the student does their part as well. You need to work for the grade and by that i mean, doing all the homework, reading before class, really learning the material rather than memorizing. I came into orgo pretty terrified but came out like it was a breeze.
Hamann is great but you have to work if you want the grade. Orgo is hard itself, he doesn't make it that much harder. iClicker questions, 4 tests, 1 final, Sapling HW, & extra credit. He curves and gives partial credit on tests. Use the TB, go to lecture, review your HW, take GOOD notes. Don't just memorize the material, understand it.
Organic Chemistry is a hard subject to understand but Professor Hamann honestly made it soooo much simpler for me. You do have to work for you grade because the stuff is heavy material and you can't just not study. If you do all your sapling homework, come to class to do iClicker questions and study daily, there is no way you would fail.
Professor Hamann makes a really tough subject manageable. Orgo is not easy, but the way he explains things in lecture helps. You do have to study and put in work, but the Sapling homework helps and if you do the supplemental homeworks before the exams (like you are supposed to!) a lot of the questions are similar.
"I don't pay attention to students with Cs &Ds" - Hamann. That should say enough about how he is. Lectures are pointless but forces you to go with clicker questions. I worked harder for this 1 class than other entire semesters. Slept in class and got an A. Read the book and slides for the last test. Half the class would fail if not for the curve
Prof. Hamann is genuinely passionate about chemistry and is eager to help students. Go to office hours and see! His class is challenging, but if you do all the work: the sapling, the extra credit, the reading and the studying, you will do well. It may seem like a lot of work throughout, but it does pay off. It's hard but you'll learn. do the work!
Great Professor, I took him for Essentials of Organic Chemistry, obviously a really hard class, but he gives plenty of opportunities to pass, gives a lot of extra credit and grades very fair. Really nice person, and is really enthusiastic about organic chemistry. Its not an easy class, work hard and you will get the grade you want.
I loved Prof Hamann! At first he was a bit difficult to like but once I got to know him I really started liking him. He's a great guy who actually cares for his students, if you need help go to him. He will give you extra credit, if need be. He's a great guy, he's got me interested in Orgo. Recommend reading the chapter before class. But def take!
Professor Hamann is absolutely amazing. He is very knowledgeable and extremely nice and understanding. This is college and this is also organic chemistry therefore you must work for your grade. However, he is always in his office and takes the time out of his day to help you understand the material. Just to top it off I found him to be handsome.
His tests aren't as difficult, it's the way he asks that makes it difficult. Study study study though. Go to his office to ask questions, he's a lot clearer when you're with him one on one. He drops the lowest test grade and replaces it with the final grade if it's higher, but take the other tests seriously! The final is cumulative so it's harder
The worse professor that I encountered at Hunter. Boring, long lectures. Adds many trick questions on exams (makes it impossible to understand). Unless you have great knowledge of Orgo or took Orgo before, do NOT take his class. He doesn't care about his B, C or D students so pretty self explanatory. I feel bad for your GPA if you take his class.
His lectures are little bit boring, but overall he is a very good teacher. He cares about his students and encourage them to learn. Exams are not difficult, but tricky. You need to carefully read the questions and be focused.
Personality-wise, Hamann is enthusiastic and hilarious. He's extremely passionate about the subject. The class was difficult, however. He teaches lots of extra material which is interesting in its own right but excessive for an undergraduate class. To do well on his tests, you really need to have a knack for this subject to begin with.
I really liked this professor. If you come PREPARED to lecture, you'll have a much better time. GO TO OFFICE HOURS!!! He is extremely helpful and will answer any questions... just make sure you come with specific questions. This class takes a LOT of work, so be prepared. But there is no reason you should do poorly if you actually put in the effort
I LOVE chem, but with prof. hamann its just a big mess. talks WAY too much about things not important to the class (youll hear "but you dont need to worry about that" like 6x/lecture), trick question on the test, useless info on his slides, brags about his credentials. i respect his qualifications, but he'd be better as researcher- not a professor.
AMAZING CURVES THAT SAVE YOUR LIFE! Gives extra credit for exams. But its a lot of material so make sure you pay attention.
god bless the curve. at one point, the class average on a test was 48%. I say no more.
u need to put a lot of work in in order to do well in this class. Study all of his old exams, sapling questions and also ALWAYS do supplemental hws. He will curve each test so dont worry but just be prepared to work
It's not an easy class and you have to put in work to get a good grade. With that being said, the curve is amazing making it a bit easier to do well. There are also opportunities for extra credit. Textbook is not mandatory but it definitely helps. Prof. Hamann is a very nice guy. If you reach out to him he'll help you out.
Honestly prof. Hamann really puts a lot of effort to make his students succeed. He gives a huge curve and countless opportunities for extra credit. I didn't read the textbook religiously and got 90's on all 4 tests. That being said, chemistry is not a subject that comes naturally to me, so there's plenty of potential for all students to do well.
Nice guy, awful professor. His lectures aren't clear at all, and his powerpoint slides don't make any sense . I felt that even with studying all of the materials he gave us, like the recommended reading, reviewing the homework, and completing the supplemental homework I was never prepared for his exams. Be super careful when you take this professor
The prof is a nice guy and he helps you if you reach out to him. It's one of the toughest classes I've taken but the challenge kept things interesting. You can tell he cares about his students & He even remembered my name out of a 300 student body! yay
He does care about his students and will help during office hours however the power points are confusing and the best way to learn is basically from the textbook so BUY IT. also you better hope everyone does poorly on the tests so you get a high grade and a much bigger curve. i didnt know wtf was going on during class but i managed to get a b lol
This professor I would not recommend to anyone. He is one of those kind of professors that uses slides but at the same time doesn't take things slow with his students. For his homeworks he wouldn't know what goes on them since it was on the computer. He really isn't much help when it comes to helping students out.
Professor Hamann is decent. This was a very tough class, but if you review the slides all over again and go to his office hours, it can do a great deal for you. The class is boring and you need attendance because there are clicker questions that mark your attendance. Overall, I got an A- in the class by just watching videos and reviewing notes.
Go to all the lectures. His slides don't always explain everything so you have to listen. Daily iclicker qts are part of your grade. If you want an A, get the textbook (I found an older version online), which will help organize what you learned via lecture. There's online homework almost weekly, and he gives lots of opportunities for extra credit.
Read the book, do the problems assigned. Attend the lectures, and you should be okay. He is a very fair grader. He curves as well. So practice and know the assigned HW problems well and you will do good. He is a decent guy, and responds to emails quickly. So I recommend him for orgo.
You cannot teach organic chemistry from reading off of powerpoint slides. You don't learn anything in lecture lol. Homework is graded on an "attempt to learn", which is bs. Exams are challenging & you need to put in a lot of work outside of class to get a good grade. He is kind and generous with grading & curves, and is available for any questions.
Professor Hamann introduces himself as "not that picky" but he is the pickiest person I have ever met. He has admitted to not like crediting "perfect" scores on anything, holding his pride over a student's effort. He actively looks to remove points from tests, homework and lab-related work. Attend lectures, study lots on your own and do as he says.
He's a great guy, terrible professor. His slides are difficult to follow, so you'll really have to read the textbook and self-teach. He makes the tests so that they're challenging even for the A+ students (4/5 in a class of 350+) -_-. Basically, you have to teach yourself and the you depend on the curve to pass the class.
This is a very tough class. If you do the supplemental homework and all the assigned sapling work with an intent to learn then you will do okay.
Prof Hamann is passionate about orgo but he's more suitable for doing research than teaching. Despite that, he is very accessible and will help you if you approach him during office hour. Lecture is not helpful, yet very nice guy with an intend to help students. Lots of extra credit is provided.
Professor Hamann was amazing. He is humorous and caring. He tries his best to really make you learn the materials so his exams are quite difficult. He always gives back the test on following lecture so you can learn from your mistakes. He really makes you work for the grade, but I felt like it was worth it as I've learned a lot from him.
This class was so hard and you really have to put in effort to learn. He gives a lot of homework but honestly its a key to doing well in his class. Reading the textbook is really helpful. He has a curve to help you pass and do the supplemental homeworks and workshops are really helpful too.
He is not good lector , he cant explain material clear. He all time says Its easy!
Prof Hamann is an amazing prof! He can definitely be very challenging but he is humorous and really does care about his students. You will have to work for your grade but he does curve his tests. At the end of the semester, you will definitely have a strong grasp on orgo.
Hamann is a great guy but not the greatest professor. It's hard to teach students organic chemistry by reading off ppt slides. Tests are brutal but the curves are really nice. He offers extra credit but it is a lot a work to get an extra 2 or 3 pts on a test.
lectures are extremely boring. the only reason why I did well in this class was due to the curve. He purposely wants students to fail his exam since this is THE class that decides whether you get into nursing or not. homework is difficult. be prepared to spend at least 3 hours a day trying to understand "easy" concepts.
Terrible. If you want to pass his class go to his office hours. He is a really harsh grader and would take off points for anything as little as a arrow for a mechanism. He hates the textbook and builds more arguments over why the textbook is incorrect instead teaching the material. Smart knowledgeable guy but terrible teacher
I thought he was good prof. Its a lot of homework and textbook reading but he gives out extra credit at the end.
He curves grades generously, but has "notoriously" difficult exams (which he's proud of). Hands out a lot of helpful extra credit, gives back exam grades very quickly. He is tough, but he is fair. iClicker Q's are provided via PPT way before lecture, so you'd be wise to review them beforehand to ensure correct answers. READ THE TEXTBOOK AND STUDY!
Learned more about his life than actual material. He goes of on tangents and then proceeds to skip all his slides because he there's no time. He loves making his tests super hard which would be great if he actually taught something. He seems chill as a person and he curves pretty nicely but seriously the worst prof I've had in hunter.
Can't teach to students who haven't seen the material before
He's a nice guy and cares about his student. I had no idea what he's talking about in class. His teaching style makes the topics seem a lot harder than it was. Be prepared to study and teaches yourself. His exams are extremely hard. I personality never read the textbook and only study his slides.
Alright, I'm gonna be an outlier here but I thought Professor Hamann was great! He truly cares about his students and their learning. I did well in his class and here are the few things I would recommend if you want to do well: don't miss any of his class, READ THE TEXTBOOK(really helps I swear) and go over his slides before and after every class.
Provides a lot of extra credit, homework is lengthy, slides are helpful but the textbook will be your greatest resource. Genuinely cares about his students and knows literally everything about his fireld. Tests are kind of hard and he doesn't really tell you what to study, curve is nice if you need it
Professor Hamann is brilliant and clearly knows the field extremely well but is too smart to be teaching. He is not great at getting the ideas across and helping with hard material. He makes himself available anytime you need. I was missing an exam and he allowed me to take it whenever I wanted. His tests are impossible but the curve really helps.
Hamann is a very smart man and is clearly passionate about his field of work. However, I learned nothing from the lectures and had to teach myself everything from the textbook. The tests were very hard but the curve helped a lot. 4 tests and a final.
This class almost gave me a stroke. I was really stressed w/ this class specially because its so hard and he explains the slides/lecture vaguely. I suggest you brush up on chemistry before taking the class, form a study group, go to tutoring and read the text book. The exam curve is a miracle and life saver. you learn on your own in this class.
This professor is extremely educated in his field and is very respectful however, you will be learning on your own. During lecture I was not able to retain anything or get a grasp because he is just quick. If the class did not have over 300 students in it I would have probably been able to get a much better grade. Huge class + orgo failure.
By far the best professor I've had at CUNY. Tests are difficult, but he curves. He provides detailed answer keys to recitation hw's & ex credit which clarify a lot. The ex credit is lengthy & difficult but it preps you for his exams. He's always available for q's, and is very caring. Orgo requires real dedication but he will help you succeed.
One word. EASY EASY EASY EASY EASY EASY EASY EASY EASY EASY EASY EASY EASY EASY EASY EASY SUPER EZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ I love organic chemistry! GOOD LUCK FUTURE STUDENTS!
Professor Hamann is a pretty good professor. Very knowledgeable and I felt like I was really able to learn the material well. Yes, you must study hard and read the textbook. Yes, you have to do homework online. The tests are pretty difficult but he curves a lot. He just cares about his students. I would definitely take him again.
Read the TEXTBOOK! It is not enough to read slides. The exams are SUPER SUPER HARD! There are a lot of questions come from textbook and he often points out the wrong parts from the textbook. Don't take him unless you have to.
Some questions repeats in every test from past ones: 4 exams, one final, iclicker counts, and sapling hw. The work load is heavy. Only slides doesnt help: READ THE BOOK. I wouldnt say the test was the hardest if u read slides+book. Needs memorization for diff. structures and rxns. He gives huge curves and extra cr after each test!
A very uncaring teacher. During the times of the pandemic, he would not take into consideration my personal issues and wouldnt round up my grade by 1 point. Very cocky teacher as well.
Professor hamann knew his stuff. His lectures were pretty interesting and I was able to learn a lot from his slides. The pandemic really made the class more difficult though. Your main source should be the textbook, do all the questions on the back of each chapter, and youll make excellent progress in his class. I got in the HBSON thxs to him.
His curves are a blessing but the class was hard. Just try to do well because the tests will be curved. Very respected in his field and he knows a lot of Orgo. I think I would have done better blog I didnt take it in the summer.
Do not take this professor, he forgets a lot of material so when he is grading your material it could be right but he will give you 0 points for it. He is very arrogant and egotistical, he inisists on grouping students on if they are A or C students and grades them based on how he thinks he should give them. Tests are nothing like his slides.
Dr. Hamann was a real gem! Yes, the class is insanely difficult. And yes, he can be a tough grader sometimes. BUT, Dr. Hamann WILL work with you. Don't come into this class (with a C in orgo 1) thinking you're going to ace this easy. You Wont. Literally just put in the work (!!), READ THE TEXTBOOK!!!! and attend lectures, and you'll do well.
As a person he was very optimistic towards his students and a very nice person. The class was hard because the subject can be difficult to understand but he curves all the tests which really helps. Study his slides because some examples from the slides show up on tests. Iclicker questions, 3 tests and a final. Hard class but doable.
This was a really difficult class to get through with the covid transition online, at first he didn't do any online lectures and just let us for a month do it on our own just the textbook, the slides, and discussion board. This was not ideal for organic chemistry and it made it more difficult than it already was. buy the textbook pdf for $20 though
He's an amazing professor, but you have to work hard for a good grade. I had him for an 8 week session during the summer online and it was really intense, but he's really helpful and curves each exam.
One of the hardest professors at Hunter. His exams are impossible, his supplemental homework is impossible but if you do well he thinks thats weird and WILL 100% give you a 0/5 on it... so pretty much you need to so terrible on the supplement hw to MAYBE get a few points.
DO NOT TAKE HIM UNLESS U HAVE A SOLID FOUNDATION OF ORGO 1! Nice guy but impossible HW and Exams. The dude even admitted to put things in the exam that we might not even know. If you score above 95, he will fail u. shows how much he does not believe in us. Take Chatterjee
VERY VERY VERY VERY HARD PROFESSOR. Supplement Homeworks was impossible. I spent hours on that homework and only got 2/5 extra points on my exam. He is very witty and straightforward. His lectures are difficult to understand. Sometimes he goes way too in-depth. He's a smart guy who has years of research but I would take someone easier.
Why on earth would you want to take him? Are you alright? Do you need to see a psychiatrist? Unless Chatterjees class isnt available no idea why you would consider this guy. Dude probably thinks he is mentoring bunch of PhD students. Disappointing stuffs.
Intelligent guy but you have no room to breathe. The exams are insanely hard but the curve makes up for most of it. Homework and scheduling is very tight and very difficult. Have a light schedule for this class or skip Prof. Hamann entirely. If the lectures supplemented my reading instead of leaving me more confused for the exam.
This class is way to hard. If there were no curves, only 2-5 students out of 100+ would get As. A good amount would drop by march. Take this as your only science class or you will suffer.
If I could go back in time and change professors, I would. He is a horrible professor, he said he cared for our individual situations during the pandemic but squeezed in 3 chapters in less than two weeks so we could stay on track for an exam. He also explains too much unnecessary information and doesn't explain anything clearly.
you will be teaching yourself and won't matter because he creates his own exams and puts unnecessary things into his lectures. if you aren't ready to put in 10 hours a day to teach yourself his type of orgo, don't take the class. the material isn't difficult like you could do well if it was Wiley only its him.
I feel dispirited and helpless in his class. If I study harder, I get a lower grade. If I use more supplements, I feel more confused. His exams have become less of "do you know this" and more of "how fast are you at completing exams" - when he makes it so long he can't even finish grading. My love for chemistry has officially deteriorated.
Explains easy topics in a difficult way. Casually introduces new topics like we already know it w/o explaining the basics. Adds topics not in txtbk or other sources so you have to rely heavily on his ppt. He made his tests harder and longer bc it's open book and online. Will give you 80s on HW that uspent hours on cause he felt like it. He's nice.
Avoid him at all costs. He doesnt use textbook because its not good enough and if you do use the textbook and put an answer from the textbook he will mark you as wrong if it wont work in real life. Teaches as if this class is a grad class. 5 tests. Grades based on how he feels without any rubric. He grades everything by hand
Genuinely one of the worse professors in the chemistry department. His lectures are disheveled to say the least. He'll test on minute details that he doesn't articulate well or sometimes even cover. You'll be self-teaching heavily. His homeworks are a pain and there will be decoy questions, or just poorly written ones. Homework grades seemed random
Take anyone but Hamann! Seriously! He grades hw based on what grade he feels you deserve. His lectures do not align w/the textbook at all & his exams do not reflect his hw. He constantly accuses the class of cheating & will give ZEROS if he thinks you cheated & then you must prove to him that you didnt to get your grade back. Sorry excuse of a prof
Hamann's goal for this entire semester was not to teach but find cheaters. Its online, what do you expect. Students will get help however they can. This class is harder than you think. Your hws will be like exams and nothing is multiple choice on anything. Don't take him, take another professor. But if you do, you can pass if you study super hard.
His grading is extremely subjective. Sometimes youll get more points than deserved, sometimes youll get less points than deserved. Just depends on how his mood is for the day. His tests are set up with extremely difficult questions that if youre able to answer, its an automatic red flag to him that youre cheating! Do not take this professor!
Amazing prof. absolutely take him. his tests are exactly his hw and slides, and open book, so you can get all the answers from them.
Exams are super difficult, but his homework is straightforward. Lectures were okay, but his exams were something else. He's a nice guy, but he went in on his exams. Exams are all open all day so there's the bright-side to him. Be careful if you do take him.
His exams are very difficult so beware but they do test what is covered in lecture, textbook, and homework problems. Great guy to talk to as well. The people giving him bad ratings below simply did not put in the effort necessary for an organic chemistry class and expected to be spoon-fed the material and the answers.
Whoever thinks we were looking to be spoonfed answers is on another planet. The guy would go on tangents for a half hour and breeze through complicated material. The exams would sometimes be like homework sometimes be something completely different. 0 feedback and a crusade against cheaters instead of offering actual guidance.
I don't expect to be spoon fed the answers & most people know that they are not entitled for something they don't deserve I hope. He does not convey his knowledge well, annoying bc he adds extra material that can't be googled so u cant learn them well. He clearly knows a lot so i don't see the point in him just not letting us understand him. avoid.
No clear grading criteria for HW so u won't know why u got points off. Grades 600 people. Same for exams but it's more limited. U can email but no guarantee. 5 exams vary in difficulty, don't trust what he says about the difficulty. Feels like he's in control bc he can just take points off, no explanation & u just take it, ans key doesn't help.
Every lec felt like a review rather than learning new concepts. No one expects to be babied but atleast teach the basics. Reading the book I realize how much detail he didn't cover in lec but he expects u to know for tests/HWs. U have to match the txtbk w his ppt. It was an inefficient use of my time. That time could've been used to actually learn.
he is very articulate in his lesson presentation and is a very fair grader. People won't put in the work and complain and his rating reflects that, but he is a very good professor that isn't too strict. Obviously put in the work to get a good grade but overall a gem.
Dr. Hamann talked a lot about day drinking and never really lectured. He would just point at things and call them cool or he did this reaction in industry. His grading criteria are very weird because he grades you on how he feels you did rather than how you actually did. His exams are hard and long and take forever to grade and you randomly 0
This prof made the class way harder than it needed to be. Teaches as if to grad students. The HW is so long & difficult that you disengage & decide not to do it. I would have aced the course if I had done the HW. I worked with a private tutor (PhD) who said "this is the hardest orgo I have ever tutored & I've been teaching for five years." Avoid.
Repetitive but he grade u based on how he feels more than ans key. His curves are irrelevant bc he's mostly in control of ur grades and he deducts points without reason. Talks about cheating A LOT, I get it but it feels like he's directing it at everyone. The sadism really shows. The material is learnable but he teaches it poorly/too casually.
Dr. Hamann is very nice to students and he is so passionate in teaching. He does care about students. But his homework and exams are super heavy, remember. they are extremely heavy and difficult. I like him, because he is so patient to all my questions and give me extra office hour. I appreciate him to make me become a more hard worker.
To be honest if you really work hard you will do well. He is a VERY lenient grader and a good person overall. His class prepares you very well for the DAT/MCAT as long as you pay attention and study. His slides were kinda confusing but if you take advantage of the resources he supplies you will do well. Tests are very similar to the HW and slides.
Makes a LOT of accommodations and great communicator. Is pleasant. Read the textbook, review slides, look at what makes a rxn unique. Always has naming/ solubility/ bp on exams. If you need help ask HIM. Gives a ton of opportunities to help you succeed. First exam is easiest, try to get as high a score on it as possible. Very interesting to talk to
Dr. Hamann is overall an amazing human, he is a very interesting person. He accommodates students a lot and helps you in every way. His class isn't an easy A class but you learn a lot from him. His curves are also very helpful to the students, don't listen to the bad reviews. The grade you get is only up to you and he helps you along the way.
Honestly, this class wasn't too bad. The curve was massively generous: you pretty much start with +30 points on your exams with a decent curve so as long as you understand half of the material you basically pass. Exams are similar to HW
not bad at all. i personally did not find his lectures useful and learned everything from outside resources. that being said, his exams are fair and his curves are amazing. he gives outlines before each exam and the final was easier as well. he also takes improvement into consideration
Hamann is a great professor, human, and all-around nice guy-- but he's a bad lecturer. He teaches new material as if it were review; use outside resources (like textbook) whenever you can. He's really nice, accessible, and passionate about teaching and orgo. He takes the extra mile to teach us. Plus, he gives VERY generous curves.
Prof Hamann is a great lecturer, though sometimes the concepts can be very dense, but that's why you should read the textbook prior to lectures. His homework assignments prepare you for the exams, as they are more difficult than the exam, usually. He is also available through office hours, email, etc. Overall, I loved Orgo and my experience in lec.
To be honest, Hamann is a very caring and nice guy. He just can't teach and expects us to know all this stuff from before. Lectures are useless and slides are mad confusing. Overall, you have to self teach. I would recommend using the textbook or organic chemistry as a 2nd language (VERY VERY helpful). Does give amazing curves.
Read the textbook before lecture and do a lot and all possible practice problems!
Below-average professor who loves going on tangents about his life and lectures way too deep on the material relative to what's tested on the exams. Exams are all simple concepts that can be best understood with the textbook. Don't rely on lecture. The textbook is your friend. Curves. I am taking again, but will continue to self-teach.
Hamann is a nice man but a really sloppy teacher. Lectures are largely useless but he tells you what topics the exam will cover, so you can review the book and google online resources to nail down what you need to know. The most important study materials are the past exams - he tends to use exactly the same questions over again.
Prof. Hamann is very understanding of how the class as a whole is doing, and does what he can to help you. I would recommend staying on top of the readings so you know what he'll be talking about in class. I would definitely take him again.
Lectures are absolutely useless, as well as purposely misleading. Will at times claim that you do not need to know something for the exam, but will then include it on the exam. Many times reactions contain components that were not used in the homeworks, books, or lectures. He expects you to regularly go beyond his class to seek information.
He makes the course unnecessarily harsh for students and lectures us as if we are Ph.D. students and expects us to know information without giving us background information. The tests don't reflect the homework or the textbook. If you want to get an A+/A in this class you have to be first a prodigy in organic chemistry.
orgo 2 is definitely harder than orgo 1. i didn't find the lectures helpful, and the homework was a lot harder than the exams. however, the prof was acommodating with generous curves and the final exam
Prof Hamann is a very kind person, but not a great lecturer. Orgo 2 is hard and his explanations don't make it any easier. However, he is extremely accessible outside of class and clearly wants to help students any way he can (even though he isn't always great at it). Pay attention to his slides; he pulls test questions from them.
what a mess. He's from industry so he was bad at explaining to non-orgo professionals. Everything was confusing. He made his mission catching cheaters. Homework and exams were soo hard. I worked so hard to get a good grade. It's possible but i had it online so now it's way harder. He expects everyone to know everything as he doesn't explain basics
Hamann, you better get your shit together and teach before you end up like Maitland Jones
TA Serah Essang is awful. Be cautious about the TA's that you sign up with on blackboard and if you cannot find a class do not settle. The labs are not so bad the problem are the quizzes, or should I say exams. Because they are not quizzes. There are very small curveballs on her quizzes and not with the chemistry but with the spelling. Its not fair
His lectures often do more damage than help. Presentations often cause confusion. He also tries to encourage not to rely so much on the textbook, which that in itself is confusing. His tests are heavy, gives a curve.
the book "organic chemistry as a second language" is a huge help. Professor himself professes a lot, teaches chemistry at a solid 6/10. Go to class to learn how to "think orgo", but you have to actually learn the orgo yourself at home. He's SUPER accessible, if there's any professor whose office hours you should be going to, it's his.
I recommend buying Klein's organic chemistry as a 2nd language and working those problems along with the textbook BEFORE starting this class to ensure you have a solid foundation. this class is fast paced and if you're seeing it for the 1st time it can be v overwhelming. the good news is his exams are doable if you've truly grasped the content
The class was A MESS. CANNOT TEACH (!!!) and often goes on tangents during lectures. I would suggest reading the textbook before class, or you will get lost and confused. You are better off learning from the textbook and online sources. On the bright side, he does office hours almost every week and gives very generous curves on exams for Orgo 1.
Professor Hamann is very caring towards students and will help you if needed. That being said, his lectures and slides are little to no help. This is a self-taught class, and it's very gruesome. The only saving grace is a little outline that the professor gives 2-3 days before the test, which depicts what the testing material will be on.
His lectures and office hours are useless. I recommend doing all the textbook problems & redoing them (esp b4 exam). Also do hw & rec problems, he tends to use similar questions on the exams (sometimes).If you can study the textbook before starting the class. Understand the concepts & constantly do practice problems!! orgo is all about practice!
Lectures are useless unless you read ahead. VERY accessible after class, has review sessions every Sunday, office hours, and responds to emails fairly quickly. Provides an outline a few days before the exam to tell you what's on it (it is pretty broad though) He is more helpful outside of class than in lecture, so be sure to ask questions! CURVES
To learn and nail things read the textbook instead of attending lectures, a very generous curve and fair final exam, but lectures were useless. I had to rely on the TA to understand basic concepts and office hours were useless, but a nice guy to talk to.
Being laconic pros: +good curving system (power curve) +nicely organized blackboard setup, all materials are ordered +sunday zoom office hours Cons: --absolutely worthless verbal lectures (just singles who can keep on track during his stage performance) -absolutely worthless lecture slides (too bulky, too busy) -goes against txtbook sequence
Very disorganized lecture style... in fact, lecture was ultimately useless. Exam averages pre curve usually below 50% like yeah orgo is hard but when the vast majority are failing with no curve I think the prof is partly responsible
This class is basically self taught as are most Hunter STEM courses. Hamann is a good guy you can clearly see he wants students to do well but you can't just make orgo easy.... it's inherently a difficult subject that a lot of ppl either don't have the time, study skills, or intellect for
He's a really good guy at heart you will work with you to help you get the grade you want. That being said, this class is very challenging and is not for the faint of heart. STUDY and you'll do well - you don't have to do perfect on exams because they are curved but you should shoot for at least 70% raw for an A-
nice guy but the lectures were just not it. he speaks inaudibly and expects you to have read the textbook chapters 2x before coming to lecture. exams have a pretty nice curve. aim for 80% raw or higher to get A or A+
Very difficult exams... when exam averages are in the 20s and 30s (which they have been twice now since orgo 1) it says more about the professor than the students.
I got a B in his class because his curves were insane. I could confidently say his curves are the only good thing about his class. For exam 4, I literally got around 20 but he curved it to 80. This seems good but trust me, I did not learn a single thing there. He also kept staring at my chest and he does that with other girls literally disgusting.
If you thought orgo 1 was hard, orgo 2 is just on an entirely different level - at this point I feel we've learned probs 200 diff reactions/reagents/mechanisms and all his tests are cumulative so you can't forget anything. While his free response exams give more room for earning points, he'll also take points off for the slightest errors
Also took CHEM222 with him. His class is not hard at all compared to other science classes at Hunter. Be prepared to briefly read through the textbook chapters and definitely review and understand his slides. Exam questions were straightforward as long as you understand his slides. Tips: write down all the mechanisms in a place
Not sure what the person below me is talking about - orgo 2 with him is probably the hardest science class at hunter - I even think bio is easier than this. Maybe like 10% of the class attends lectures because they aren't helpful, I still go because it forces me to keep up with the class
Maybe if his lectures were less of a supplemental tool and more of actual learning, then this class wouldn't be as hard as it is. The exam curves are very helpful, but at some point he should realize why half the class fails/withdraws. Just study the textbook/other resources all the time and pray for the best on your exam. At least he's a nice guy.
exam 3 avg: 32/131 (24%)--> curved to 67 exam 2 avg: 48/147 ( 33%)--> curved to 68 exam 1 avg: 96/165 (58%)--> curved to 80
His lectures are very confusing and his tests are difficult. I took him for two semesters and struggled to understand the material. He often diverged from the textbook and did not sufficiently elaborate on the new concepts.
These comments are not all true and kinda over exaggerated, Haman is not bad at all and is actually very understanding even lets u make up the test if u cant make it How to receive a good grade: review and do his HW, look over his lecture slides write down his reactions because some of his aren't in the textbook, read the textbook and that is all!
As much as ppl like to blame him, it's really not 100% him. orgo 2 is hard af, much harder than orgo 1 which was already hard. it's like asking a prof to make a quantum physics class easier... u can't bc it's just the subject itself. had to drop bc wasn't putting in the work but I think it's possible to do well if ur very dedicated.
Very accommodating, saw students were struggling, and asked what he should do differently to compensate. However, his exams are needlessly hard, doesn't really test your understanding of the material, rather if you paid attention to some random niche reaction in his slideshow. He's a nice guy but teaching isn't his strong suite.
Got an A+ in orgo 1 & 2 with him & now tutor both. Tbh I only got these grades bc I sorta became obsessed and have done 1,000+ problems by now. His exams (esp in orgo 2) are hardcore but with regular/daily exposures to material they can be mastered. If you want an easier way out honestly save urself the stress & take Wu. *Understand* AND memorize
His personality and accommodations (Sunday sessions, online exam reviews) make it seem like he wants the best for us, but his exams say otherwise. I get that orgo is supposed to be hard, but Hamann's orgo is def much harder than other orgos at hunter. Legitimately panicked before and during every exam and I knew my stuff
He really does care, he provides Sunday zoom sessions to help us out and answer any questions we might have. The class is just hard though but nobody said it would be easy
biggest advice - start learning content before class begins to get a head start. it's all new material and it's very fast paced so you can't get away with half assing it like you could in gen chem. it's a difficult subject but it's very rewarding to understand it. you must study regularly otherwise you will fail even with the curve
Phillip Hamann is the lesser of evils in the chem department. Only because he curves. But lay low because he is racist. His lectures are good, but his slides are bad. He explains things simply, and concise which is good for overly complicated topics like Orgo. But his exams use the complicated words so you have to learn them. Hope this helps.
Orgo II was a lot harder than Orgo I. If you can, take it with Wu. Hamann goes out of the textbook and includes more mechanisms than what the textbook has. His exam curves are similar to Orgo I. He might curve slightly at the end if you show improvement; my borderline A- was curved to an A. If you take chem biochem, you will miss Hamann.
Orgo is a really hard course, so if you fall behind, then it's really hard to catch up. But his lecture and reading the textbook really helps. Plus he provides Sunday zoom sessions before exams to help us out. Answers any questions we have outside of class. The curve is also not bad. As long as you practice, you won't fail.
People don't want to hear it but orgo 1 with Dr. Hamann is the easiest orgo at Hunter. Other professors will have exams full of super hard mechanisms and trick questions but Dr. Hamann keeps his 222 exams light (not true for orgo 2). I've tutored orgo so I know the variation in exams across diff professors - he is def the easiest for orgo 1.
One of the worst classes I've ever taken at Hunter. Prof doesn't really teach, goes off on a lot of tangents of random stuff about his life. When he does teach, it's super confusing and convoluted. His notes/lecture slides aren't helpful either. Only good thing is he curves HELLA--only reason that I did decent (cuz majority did bad too)
Overall he's a caring professor who really wants to help his students succeed. He went above and beyond to provide supplemental material, be available to students, etc. The only problem is that his lectures are very convoluted. I always walked out of lectures feeling more confused about the topics. I had to rely on my recitation instructor to teach
As far as his material, he is all over the place, vague and looney. He will not test you on the material you covered in the lecture, but then test you on it for the final. Compared my grade to females in the class, they failed the exam but got curved 20+ points. When he would only give me about 2 to 3 credits for my exam.
You can tell he cares I just don't think his method of teaching is all that effective. Thankfully, one of the TA's was amazing and pretty much carried the whole class with their instruction and supplemental materials. But yeah Hamann isn't bad and his curves are really nice - it's just his lectures that could use some work
If you want a good grade in Orgo, you have to be willing to put in the work. Go to every lecture, and do all the recommended textbook reading/hw suggestions. Don't miss a single recitation, and you will get a good grade. Nothing on the exams was a surprise, and he curves very generously if he sees that most students struggled on an exam.
his lectures are all over the place and the material he covers in lecture is rarely in his exams. don't bother reviewing the textbook, because it won't be on the exam either. he is nice and is clearly passionate about orgo, but he cannot teach. take it with anyone else if you can.
He might seem sweet and caring, but you will forget that after you get your tests back. His lectures are nowhere near his exams and the whole class is kinda relying on the grades of recitation and lecture, even if you do well in recitation and in middle range in lecture exams, it's not gonna help. he just reads off his slides, he cannot teach.
I had him for both chem 222 and chem 224. He curves a lot because he removes a lot of points while grading them exams so wtv but he is not bad at all when u see your final grade.
4 exams and a final. Should read textbook to understand content and then his slides for exams/review. Strong curves for hard exams. Must do recitation/textbook practice questions to really get the material. Orgo 2 is a lot more memorization than Orgo 1 so practice is important.
Hamann is nice, exams are tough. There is a curve but depends on how the whole class does. 4 exams and a final. Everyone did well on an exam and he threw curve balls on the final. Be prepared to do the work. He is one of the better orgo's at Hunter.
Overall nice person, but cannot teach. Halfway through the semester I found that I was getting better grades studying on my own from the textbook. Recitation is very useful for your final grade. I had him for Orgo 2 for the first time as a transfer student, his exams are hard to get used to and puts material not on lecture or textbook on the exams.
I had him for Orgo 1 and 2 and learned later in the course that learning off of the textbook is better way for me and going back to his slides. The exams were doable but be sure to study, there are a few tough questions.
Read the textbook and pinpointing high yield topics on his overwhelming 60+ powerpoint slide for each lecture. His lectures wouldn't be information compounding on previous topics and I had a hard time trying to connect/reason through the information. He made orgo dreadful and was a bit condescending. Best to find a different professor. Good luck!
take a different professor for orgo. he goes off on tangents and doesn't teach well.
If I could give negative stars, I would. It's hard to imagine someone less suited for a teaching position. Has no basic teaching skills or any empathy for students. Doesn't finish lectures before exams, doesn't listen, needs to retire. AVOID THIS CLASS!!
He is definitely bad at teaching & he had 40-80 slides for each lec, the best way to pass this class is go to the tutor & read the textbook. Using different techniques on the exam that he didn't teach count as cheating, for some exams u don't even have time to finish it cuz it's too much, using his example to show an example on exam u get no credit
It is mainly a self teaching course, but Prof Hamann gives good hw and the textbook practice problems really help for exams. It is a difficult course and you have to put in a lot of hours on your own, teaching yourself and especially doing practice questions from the hw and his previous exams online in order to do good.
Evil. If you are 0.5pts away from a letter grade he will not give you the higher grade. After exams, I'd go ask questions on things I got wrong and he'd give barely any feedback and I'd leave still confused. Even if you give a correct answer, he'll mark it wrong cuz its not the one he was looking for. Doesn't have students best interests in mind.
can't teach a thing ! very pretentious….. had to rely on my rec TA and some tutors who could use plain language to clearly explain complicated topics. never saw him draw a single structure or mechanism. has students worst interest in mind. belongs in a lab not a lecture hall miserably trying to teach
If you weren't able to get an A+ you're just not that smart / didn't take it seriously. His exams come straight from the slides / hw so it's extremely easy to do well if you genuinely put in the work
Extremely pretentious / gets upset at student success. Epermit or take someone else. The TAs are godsends tho
Horrible lecturer and grades inconsistently on exams (one friend got 5 points, one got one point on same question). He did try to make exams slightly easier more people were failing, which is nice, but he is very subjective and is not a good teacher at all. I suggest skipping lecture, reading the textbook/workbook, watching videos, going to rec.
Could not pay me enough to have to ever retake these classes again. Best way to do well is read the textbook before each lecture or else you will be confused. Hamann curves pretty nicely, but the exams definitely are tough. If you go to his office hours Hamann is really nice.
Exam heavy class like all Orgo classes. Lectures not the most useful. Recommend reading the textbook as a supplement and mainly focusing on his slides. Sometimes puts unfair, not seen before questions on his exams or questions that are about one small part of one slide that was unnecessary to truly test our understanding. Office hours accessible.
One of the better orgo 1 professors at Hunter. Read the textbook before lecture and after lecture review his slides. Many of the test problems are directly from the slides. Not the best lecturer but his tests are based on the lecture slides. Did most of the learning on my own. A little pretentious and not the best at explaining if you are confused.
He is very generous with grading and the curve but it's hard to keep up with lectures. Reading the textbook way before class is needed if you want to be caught up and do good bcs he goes fast. It's easier to get a better grade with the other prof bcs of the pace, but I think you learn more in Professor Hamman's class bcs tests are all free response
This was by far the hardest course I have taken and Prof. Hamann did not make it any easier. The tests are all written out and the curve is nice however, he does not teach. Lectures are constantly reading off of slides so at some point people stopped going and just watched YouTube videos to learn. Hell ;)
one of the worst lecturers ever, but his curves are generous. There are also a lot of resources to pass the class and exams. YouTube vids are helpful to learn. He's also nice when you speak to him one on one.
He gives a generous curve, offers students to take exams online if they are unable to in person due to circumstances, cares about teaching and how well his students are doing. People that complain just never put in the work. Some complain despite him dropping their lowest and being generous with exam remakes. Class is exam heavy. Study hard.
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