2.9
Quality3.1
Difficulty50%
Would Retake104
Reviews50%
Would Retake
104
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
25
4
20
3
16
2
28
1
15
What Students Say
“His handwriting is like a five-year-old fingerpainting”
MATH121 - 1.0 rating“Horrible professor, doesn't care about his freshman students”
MATH165 - 1.0 ratingClass Info
Attendance Mandatory
67%
Textbook Required
90%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.75 avg changeRatings by Course
CALC180
5.0
(1)IDS201
5.0
(1)MATH160
4.1
(15)160
4.0
(1)MATH160165
4.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
MATH150
5.0
CS260
5.0
IDS201
5.0
MATH181
5.0
MATH161
4.3
Reviews (104)
Excellent Teacher!! One of the best teachers I've had.
No Comments
Great teacher, keeps class fun and interesting.
He's really eager to teach but he has no organizational skills what so ever. Everything is so confusing because he goes off in tangents!
Lowman's math class rules
Good teacher
very cool guy
Lowman is easily distracted. When he gets lost doing a problem, the rest of the class will also follow. He provides a very generous curve though. Exams are very close to the handouts he give. He is also approachable.
funny guy to watch. kinda stupid. doesnt really know math, but easy class. i think he grades easy
Very good teacher. I had him for math 160 and 165. Both times, i got an A. The tests are very similar to the handouts he passes out. He is also funny.
A really cool teacher!
He gave good notes and made sure to do at least two examples of a problem. As long as you go to lecture, practice homework probs, and ask questions at discussions you will do fine. Must study though for tests but are almost exactly what he gave you to practice with! He's really nice too!
MUST GO TO CLASS. As long as you go to class and do the practice problems that are assigned the class isn't too hard. He's kinda strange but also funny. Good teacher.
This guys is an awesome professor...show up for the day he does the test review and you should be all good ...
You people are crazy! This is one of the worst professor's here! He does problems like 10 times, and is all over the place! Luckily it is an easy class to begin with.
Lowman is an easy grader, and he provides a very generous curve. His examples in class will later show up as time items so make sure you attend his class most of the time. He is funny yet he is somewhat in his own weird universe.
Lowman is a goofy guy! "ANYWAY...." His tests are based off his "special assignments" so theyre not that bad! Def a good class...recommend it to anyone.
This guy is awesome, but beware of the TAs that don't speak english! Just go to class and you'll be fine. Even if you don't do homework, just go to his review sessions and look at the tests, and you'll ace the final. YOU CAN HAVE AN F THE ENTIRE COURSE, BUT IF YOU GET AN A ON THE FINAL, YOU GET AN A FOR THE CLASS! The final isn't hard, either.
Lowman is the most CONFUSING teacher I have ever had. He sometimes goes half an hour into a lecture solving a problem, and then has to start over because he chose a bad problem. I just read the paper during class because I learn more that way.
Not easy class, but he gives exams exactly like sample exam, just different numbers. So, if you practice on sample exam, you can get a good grade.
Lowman is an all around good teacher. He cares about his students and keeps the class in check by refusing to let people leave early and whistling very loud if people are talking (which I appreciate). He moves through the material fast and expects a lot out of students. Good teacher, good insights, and challenging.
great professor. rambles a lot during class but the exams were super easy
He curves your tests at the end of the semester and makes your final grade your class grade if its larger than if he were to factor it in. Good teacher, just make sure you do his special assignments, most tests mirror them. Also has a great sense of humor, always saying some smart little comment at everyone.
So CONFUSING. Unless you know calculus do not take him. Got A ,but only because love math and worked on my own.
If you ever took calculus in high school it is completely unneccessary to attend the lectures to this course. If you attend all your discussion sections and do well on your quizzes you'll be fine in this course. Also, actually DO the practice exams he puts online because the actual exams are usually pretty much the same thing.
I LOVE PROF. LOWMAN! He takes a bit getting used to, but when you do, he's great. He gives practice exams that are EXACTLY like his exams. No graded homework, just some quizzes in discussion. Pretty good at explaining things, but he's a little twitchy.
Better than some other math professors, but he tends to get too caught up in math theory and often forgoes the actual teaching aspect. His explanations are confusing. I suggest Lia Liu instead for MATH 160 or 165 if you have the option
I think he means well, and he is very knowledgable, but he is extremely hard to understand. I don't think he does a good job of explaining things.
Prof. Lowman is a great teacher. He genuinely wants all students to do well in his class and throughout the semester he’ll drop some motivational nuggets to push you. Work load is not bad, there’s two special assignments, 2 exams, final and weekly quizzes in the discussion.
very very caring professor; genuinely wants you to learn, tries his best to explain so that EVERYONE understands. if you get an a on the final, he gives you an A in the class. very very nice person, shows humanity which is unusual at uic.
he confuses himself. You basically had to teach yourself the course. The good thing was that he let you retake tests and all the exams practically had the same problems we did in class so go to class its really important!
Super easy class. He would like to teach you. He would like to teach you even pay extra hours until you can solve all your questions. I got 100 on these three exams.(not kidding) If you want to get A, remember know how to do on his assignments, you will get score=100. He is funny and nice guy.
WORST PROFESSOR AT UIC, does not know how teach pre calc. even though the class is very simple. This professor is easily distracted and does not know how to work the overheads. takes him 40 minutes to explain one problem(i have actually timed him). do not sign up for his class!!!!!1
He is not a good teacher.Of course you have to study by yourself the course.I'm sure whoever takes him he is going to regret it.You won't understand much of what he is doing.His exams are kind of easy..
He is awesome. You might think he is rambling about something meaningless, but everything he says turns out to be very important.
Genuine professor, he wants his students succeed.
He's a nice guy. He might go off on many tangents in class but he does want you to do well in his class. His sample exams are always the same as his actual exams. He just switches up the numbers but its the same concept.
He's a nice guy but just doesn't make sense at all. It takes him a whole class to do one problem. He gets off track allllll the time. When he does problems he'll ask the class if he's doing it right because he doesn't know which is ridiculous. Spare yourself and pick a different professor.
He is a pretty easy teacher. He gives you an assignment before each exam that is similar to the actual exam. Do the assignment and you will do good! the discussion is more important than his lecture.
Mr Roy Lowman being mentioned as a "nice guy" doesn't remotely justify promoting him as a good lecturer. I can't argue that he isn't caring, but his pedagogic skills fail on all fronts. In my entire academic career, I've never come across a lecturer so incomprehensible and unorganized. Nor have I walked out a lecture hall so disappointed.
What a cool guy..but not a very good teacher. I feel bad because he's very funny but not really because this class was super hard. So much work. He confuses himself in class. Luckily I had a good T.A. Other than that I was better off not going to lectures.
He is a pretty strange man but he has great intentions. His lectures were pretty unorganized and hard to follow but before every test he gave out a "special assginment" that was exactly the same format of the test only different numbers!! take these assginments seariously and you will do well on exams.
He's really helpful if you need anything, if you need him to, he'll sit with you for hours at a time to help you understand and finish the projects. Although, if you really need that much help, you shouldn't be taking MCS classes. He's classes are easy as long as you attend classes, he gives plenty of examples and will go over them multiple times
Do not take him if you need to pass business calculus. He is super strange and goes off topic all the time. you never understand what's going on or what he is teaching. He's TA's are really helpful, but it does no good if the professor himself isn't. Tests are fairly close to his study guide, but that's about it.
Lowman is a confusing teacher and will talk a lot during class but he has a good curve. I would recommend going to class everyday and doing the optional HW. In the end its math either you know it or you don't...
The class is not really hard considering that the textbook will be your best friend for the semester. He takes forever on problems that students already understand. His special assignments before an exam or quiz are helpful. Overall if its between lowman or the other guy.. your best bet is the other guy!!!
Not a very good professor. Very jumpy. Fun to watch though.
AVOID! All over the place with his lectures. Class average for tests is around 60% or less. Skips from idea to idea. Will have no tests or quizzes for weeks than bam you have a special assignment, quiz, and test all at once.
If you take this class, be prepared to fail. He has no idea what hes talking about half the time, dont really know who allowed this previous ballet dance teacher a spot in teaching COLLEGE CALC, You take 2 exams, 4 quizes, 5 hw, 1 extremely hard final exam. GL on that. Youre not gonna learn anything in this clan, and commit suicide to youre GPA. GL
the class was easy, the HW was long and boring though, esay final in which if you get an A on you get an A in the class, he is entertaining to watch
I suck at Math, I received a D in Precalculus and yet somehow managed to get a B in this course. Show up to lecture (he does random checks) and ask him questions if you don't understand it. He is a little boring, but he makes things as easy as possible. Don't bother with the book, his examples and formulas in class make Calculus seem like 2+2=4.
Lowman is by far the most amusing professor I have had!! Course was extremely time consuming but he was willing to spend time helping students with projects. Very nice guy and grading was fair. If you put in enough effort youll do good.
He's a cool guy, very...interesting. Lecture and test can become very dull and tedious. Sometimes it seems that he planned the entire semester in a few minutes because quizzes come days after a test etc. TA-Find Jonathan, he's the coolest TA I've ever had.
Very unclear at times but has a generous curve on the final exam
Lowman is a very entertaining guy. He is an okay teacher but he talks very fast. If you took Calculus in high school then 165 is kind of a breeze. But always do the special assignments. Go on his website also because most of his quizzes are from previous years worksheets. Overall good curve at the end.
He writes his notes messy, but still somewhat comprehensible. He talks really fast and sometimes he'll make weird side comments about how "you should know this" or "it's your fault if you don't read the chapter before lecture." Nice guy, but not very good at teaching. About 80% of his class failed his last exam and he won't curve til the end.
Dont listen to these business majors who cant spell. we all know business majors are a bunch of cheaters and can't do simple calculus. mr lowman is a good teacher with his unusual way that works. the man is give you plenty of opportunities to get a good grade. would take him again over anybody.
Plenty of students complain about Lowman, I did too before, but once you accept that math is not difficult unless you work at it you're good. He is very sincere and cares about those who are willing to learn. Paying attention and a good TA is key. I had a crappy TA that contradicted what Lowman taught in class. I'm going to miss this guy!! LOL!
He speaks very fast during lecture so make sure you keep up with him. I received a high A in the class but i mainly think this is because I did all the practice exams from cabreras website to study for exams. He is very nice and will help you if you need it. he also ends up curving a lot at the end of the semester
Terrible professor! He is passionate about calculus, but his teaching manner is preposterous. Don't take this class unless your prepared to work REALLY hard on your own, because lecture will not teach you the material. He gives a HUGE curve at the end of the class, but it doesn't make up for his lack of teaching skills.
He does not explain the material clearly, which explains why the average for this test was very low (around the 40s). He talks wayy too fast, and he expects you to know anything. Can be a little harsh at times. But still, AVOID THIS GUY!
Prof. Lowman talks fast, have sloppy notes & speak of random things, but he teaches the material well. He review previous lectures which really helps if you missed anything. You will spend lots of time with your TA so hopefully you have a good one unlike me. But Lowman is helpful and oh he expect you to know basic concepts for pre-calculus so yeah
Go to lecture and discussion and you should be fine.
Lowman is a great teacher, he explains everything well, doesnt cover to much nor too little, starts with the basics then works his way up, covers what you need to know, good examples etc. He knows what is up and prepares you well!
excellent professor.
Nice guy. if you have him, go to his office hours. it was hard to understand him in class because he uses a computer to do math and his handwriting is hard to read. Goes off topic in class a lot. TA's made up for the lack of what was taught in lecture. Be prepared lol
He's terrible. if you can avoid having this professor, I'd do so at all costs. He does not explain very well, the examples he offers don't really explain much, and he is condescending and rude to the students. DON'T TAKE THIS PROFESSOR!!!
Very hard to explain and to keep him on track. Falls off track easily, but helpful one on one. speaks very fast. id avoid if possible
One word. HORRIBLE. Seriously the worst teacher I have ever had in my life. Serious. For the love of God, avoid him at all costs. If classes are too full, I would rather wait another semester that to have him as a teacher. Yes, he is that bad. But if you are unfortunate enough to have him, enjoy teaching yourself calculus!
His exams are easy, same as the study guide. very unclear in class and gets off topic way too easily. uses a computer to write so it looks like kindergarden handwriting. Loves "Maple" and loves to use it in class even though we can't. don't EVER take this class
I do not advise you take this professor. Very Uselss. Does not teach. Dont get me wrong, hes a really chill and nice guy but horrible teacher. If youre looking to really understand the concepts of the class, DO NOT TAKE HIM, AVOID AT ALL COSTS! Not to mention, today is our final, and he did not prepare us for it at all.
Literally the worst professor i've ever had. The only things I learned were from my foreign TA. Gets off topic. Uses useless programs the whole class. Very illegible hand writing. Scolds people if they leave early wasting class time. Never take him! Please!!
Alright, this professor during lecture classes gets off topic and wastes about five minutes on random stuff. The exams are almost the same as the special assignments but adds couple tricky problems. Mathlab is optional but recommend that you should complete it because it's like 5% your grade. Honestly, don't take this professor.
if you want to fail or teach yourself the subject then take him he will take care of that. he doesnt teach, he does what he wants in class. it is better if you just teach yourself thats what i did.
Chill guy. Doesn't teach much but projects are really hard. Be prepared to take the course and work hard. Class is rewarding in the end, but only if you have a little background experience in computer science and are willing to apply yourself. Don't buy the textbook(s). You don't need them at all. You'll learn everything in labs from the TA.
Avoid if possible. This guy can't teach anything. Talks about random subjects during class that's not class related. You will be learning everything by yourself.
This class is about problem-solving as much as programming. You are going to have to put a lot of time and effort into this class to succeed. Mr. Lownan is one of the most underrated teacher at UIC.
AVOID AT ALL COSTS! His handwriting is like a five-year-old fingerpainting. He stutters, mumbles, and talks about random things instead of teaching and answering questions. The only reason I passes was because of my TA. BUT his quizzes and exams were pretty much the same and were easy.
Was good for most of the semester but really messed me up in the end. I went to turn in my final project but didn't accept it and said he would give me a 0 if I didn't work on it the weekend after final exams. If you take MCS260, be ready for this possibility. Otherwise, lecture and coursework is as hard as you would expect for computer science.
If you have never programmed before then this is NOT the class for you. He expects you to understand the logic and ideas of programming before you start the class. Has an extremly disorganized class. Assigns the exact same projects and exams as previous years. this class is a very easy A if you memorize code segments which is contradictal to CS
Nice Guy. Fair Grader. Bad Teacher. Goes wayy off-track while teaching and is disorganized. You WILL have to teach yourself. Then again I am an engineering major so am used to it and could get an A. Has bad handwriting but is helpful after class. Sometimes spends hours with students. A DIY prof. with reasonable expectations. Not for everybody.
DIY Prof. Helped me realize the amount of material I'm able to learn outside the classroom. I spent 3x more time on this class than my other 2 classes combined, and in the end it's well worth it. If you are serious about computer science, take his class. If you're not, then look for an easier professor. Long projects, hard tests. Lenient Grader.
it takes about 30 minutes for him to answer your question that would literally take 5 minutes to answer. If you are going to get extra help from him. be prepared to spend about 2 hours either waiting for him to answer other students' questions or answer yours forever. He just never stops talking
Professor Lowman actually knows what is going on in industry and is probably the best adviser on campus because he doesn't fluff things. There are no surprises in his classes, in MCS 260 he mentioned what was on the exam for three weeks. If you fail his class you didn't go to his lectures or try to get class notes.
i used youtube a lot to learn many topics since he rushed through certain topics
Always goes off-topic. Doesn't teach that well, and falls behind on lectures. Gives no pop quizzes (more of a bad thing, doesn't prepare you for the midterms)
He is a professor that never teaches. He goes off on personal tangents and doesn't stop talking. He'll start teaching 45 minutes into class. DONT TAKE! honestly.
LEctures - He is inddeed all over the place. However, I learned a lot. He always there for you if you have questions.
Horrible professor. Unless you're a person who's good at math (which i'm not) you're going to struggle. He's a scatter brain who can't explain things well at all. He also can't answer simple questions without going off on tangents. He's a nice guy but awful professor. Best way to do well is by having prior experience with calculus in High School.
He skips in class, literally, not even joking. Worst math professor on the planet. Never finishes examples, tries to explain the most important material in the last minute of the class. Absurd HW due dates, there is no set time or date when HW is due, it could be on Tuesday, Sunday or Wednesday, no logic whatsoever. AVOID AT ALL COST! DON'T TAKE.
If you are struggling in math and have to take for business, I would not recommend taking him for math 165. He basically goes over theories and does not provide enough example. He does waste time during lecture. He does not follow his own syllabus. Weekly quizzes are decent.
Avoid at all costs. Horrible professor, doesn't care about his freshman students. Not concise when answering questions, unorganized. Came with pre-written hand notes and just scrolls through them. Expects you to understand key concepts immediately then apply them to complex problems. No help from him or the TA. Discourages questions from students.
He is the most confusing, erratic, inconsistent teacher I have ever had. I regret taking him. In a few occupations I have seen him get in arguments with students who criticize the way he does things. He does not have office hours but allows students to see him after class (good luck with that). Tests make up your grade. Nice guy, god awful teacher.
He gives you all the lectures
Business calc should be an easy class, but not with Lowman. Very unclear lectures, threw TA's under the bus, frequently late for his own class. Got into arguments with students and not approachable.
Should be an easy class, you'll have a quiz every thursday and mandatory attendance every tuesday as part of your quiz grade. Lowman is late for his own classes, and doesn't teach the subject very well. It's as if he expects you to have your textbook in front of you as you follow along. Recommend getting a better professor.
He was the best math teacher I have ever had. Very helpful and makes sure you understand the material. If you go to class everyday and put in the time and effort, you will pass.
Absolutely boring, not a good teacher, rambles in class and easily gets off topic. Discussions are the only help. In class quizzes and attendance points.
His rambling was the worst thing possible. I hated his class simply because of the rambling that he would do for the class and the simple fact that he wouldn't focus on the class itself. In fact, he would just expect you to rely on the TA, which was no help. Overall, worst math professor. However, incredibly lenient in turning in late work.
Very good professor. Gets distracted a lot, but overall A+.
The topics covered in this course is pretty straightforward, the math itself isn't hard at all. You just have to pay attention to details and learn the steps. The professor himself is a bit interesting, talks fast in lecture and tends to linger on subjects that are irrelevant. Has weekly quizzes and homework which can be tedious, but helpful.
He was not clear at all. I had to teach myself and even then it was a lost cause. The TA I had was rude and did not seem to care if you were falling behind. He assigns a lot of problems on MyMathLab.
Nice person but his lectures are very dry and he's sometimes hard to follow since he goes on tangents, luckily he gives a lot of practice out before exams and is somewhat of a lenient grader.
Not bad, gave 5 homework assignments. Midterm was take-home (albeit very difficult) and final was open notes. Very, very generous curve at the end.
Class Info
Attendance Mandatory
67%
Textbook Required
90%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.75 avg changeRatings by Course
CALC180
5.0
(1)IDS201
5.0
(1)MATH160
4.1
(15)160
4.0
(1)MATH160165
4.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
MATH150
5.0
CS260
5.0
IDS201
5.0
MATH181
5.0
MATH161
4.3