I'm taking Sam Chyau this quarter and although I'm not to great at math, I have begun going to his office hours and he really just is an amazing guy. Even though his lectures could be a little confusing, he still always helps. You might want to go to Office hours if you want A. Great prof, hard class

Good Prof, a little confusing took it fall 2014. However, very helpful if you go to his office hours.

Does not really give you time to ask questions in class, and if you do, he doesn't answer them fully sometimes. Also, it is very difficult to study for tests and quizzes in his class, since he teaches differently from the book. His questions on the testsquizzes are structured differently from the book.

Great Guy Great Teacher Awesome at office hours

He is a really awesome prof! He is super helpful, and will go out of his way to make sure you pass. His office hours are really helpful, and if you take the time to go to them you will definitely pass!

Easy as long as you pay attention in class; he goes over the material and reviews it many times over and over until it's clear. His quizzes are conceptually exactly the same as example questions he goes over in class

I learned a lot and much better than anyone I have ever had. They should tenure him before harvard and stanford comes calling.

Lectures: very helpful with example problems exactly like the quizzes. Catch: only does 2-3 examples per lecture & the textbook doesn't give good problems. Use the textbook for basics but it's no help on the quiz (office hours are very good, he is flexible!). Beware: true or false questions. Midterm and final are harder than quizzes. Quiz per week.

Hardest class I've ever taken, but he's a solid choice if you're looking to learn. He is always available for office hours. Weekly quizzes got very stressful, but his quizzes are usually like the example problems during lecture. Super inspirational, hardworking, and passionate. Overall, favorite prof so far! P.S. Buy him a twix bar!

Amazing professor who truly cares about his student's success. Never had a professor who cared as much. The Friday before the final, he held EIGHT hours of office hours. He makes sure you have all the concepts down solid and ready for the next class. Lots of extra credit opportunities. Took him for both 1040 and 2110. BTW, he loves twix bars!

His lectures are amazing, his grading criteria are very clear, he teaches well, and overall he is really caring and nice.

I loved this professor! He spoke and wrote very clearly, so it was easy to understand. His lessons are usually easy to understand as long as youre paying attention and participate to make sure you get it. Grade depends on your test scores only. (He is a lil musty but super nice guy)

He's one of the most clear and enthusiastic professors I've taken. He's almost always at office hours as long as he isn't teaching class, and replies to emails super fast. He also grades really fast, but with that said. My class seemed to think he was really difficult so if math isn't your strong point or if you don't need math; he is a little hard

Professor Chyau went out of his way to help & motivate me. He's so caring, patient, & helpful in office hours that I began to love math. His passionate lectures and examples gave me all I needed! His enthusiasm made me want to study. My friend said he was hard, but she didn't stay in office hours like me. Take him if you want to learn & love math.

Professor Chyau is incredibly helpful & patient (& brilliant!), more than any professor I ever took. I was failing earlier in the semester because I wasn't focused, but when I started going to his extra free office hours & asking questions, my grade improved & I ended up with a B in the course! Any other instructor would have quit on me, not him.

Chyau was one of the best professors I have ever had! He is very happy to help during office hours and will do anything he can to help you. Through him my passion for math expanded and I find it fun. His homework and tests are hard so when it comes to finals it will seem so easy. I would definitely take his class again!

Professor Chyau is a real gem when it comes to teaching. His lectures are clear and even if they are not, he will be happy to explain the concept in office hours! I was first scared to go to his office hours, but he was so welcoming and happy to help me that it became a common occurrence. I highly recommend taking him!

His precalculus final was the hardest test I have ever taken. He has a ton of pretty hard quizzes. Homework is optional and is very similar to the tests. One of the best math teachers I have ever taken-his lectures are fantastic. He is SO generous with his time. Overall, an amazing teacher but very difficult.

Professor Chyau is the best professor I have taken so far. Sure his quizzes are hard, but if you sit in his office hours (even if you dont have a question) he will explain everything and is very understanding and receptive to your gaps of mathematical knowledge. Highly recommend him if you are willing to learn math and not just know math.

Professor Chyau is such an amazing professor, he is the number 1 professor anyone wanting to pass calculus 2 while also understanding the concepts thoroughly, should take. He has over 18 hours of office hours to help students, and does not require questions to attend, simply show up and you're able to just do HW with him there to help. He is a God

Professor Chyau is SO dedicated to teaching math. If you want to really understand math, he's the professor to go to. If you just want to take a class to fulfill a requirement and get a good GPA, he's not the one for you. Boy oh boy was his class hard. Quizzes and tests are so stressful. If you have questions though, he'll be in his office hours.

This professor is probably one of the best that I've taken for math. He's very clear and cares a lot about you understanding the material, but his tests take some work. Like, you need to really know the topic, not just bits and pieces, so if you're just taking this to check off a GE, he's probably not for you.

Prof. Chyau was a fantastic teacher for Math 1040. His office hours were very generous, and he had them 13 hours a week, including during finals! His HW is very similar to the exams, and some parts are exactly the same. He stresses understanding, so the course is demanding but nowhere near impossible. Above all, Prof. Chyau wants you to succeed.

prof chyau is one of the BEST profs i have ever had! i'm an eep student and i really liked how he was so accommodating and made SURE that we all understood the material! what matters is that you show your work in that class and you make sure you ask questions when necessary. he honestly deserves more than a 3.8/5 rating; he's an amazing prof!

Professor Chyau prioritizes understanding. Based on this, many of his "homework" and tests were significantly more complicated than the lessons taught. Super tiresome class, I would recommend it, but if you are trying to fulfill a GE requirement, find somebody else.

Prof Chyau really cares and wants his students to succeed. He doesn't just teach formulas but shows us the logic behind it. He has extremely generous office hours and really wants to help. I'm an EEP student and really struggled initially but he never gave up on me. Besides the math itself, Prof Chyau gave me the confidence I needed to learn math.

professor chyau is the best math professor i have ever taken. if you want to truly learn and understand math and the concepts behind formulas, take him. he is dedicated and wants his students to succeed. his class is incredibly challenging and hard, but he holds office hours every day for over 5 hours. he is always there to help, and he is amazing!

just amazing

Professor Chyau is a godsend. He only wants to see his students learn & thrive, and he makes every possible effort and sacrifice to help you. Each week, he holds 13 office hours for us, and 40 before finals! Though it was all remote, his passion for math and teaching shine like stars as he delivers all his beautiful lectures. I love his proofs! <3

I took Prof. Chyau's classes 3 yrs ago, but still he helps me whenever I have a math question! He's the most dedicated, inspiring, brilliant professor you'll ever encounter. I made the right choice joining EEP because I had the chance to learn from him. I bet he'd make a killing if he taped and sold his awesome lectures. I fell in love with math!!!

I wish Prof Chyau taught every single one of my math classes. The way he links real world things to math (think soda machines!) is pure genius. He's so generous with his time and focuses on understanding concepts rather than correct computations, so I don't freak out on tests. His homework is most amazing preparation for tests. I miss his teaching!

awesome !!!!!!!!11

It's heartbreaking how underappreciated Prof Chyau is! He is the ABSOLUTE BEST professor I ever had. Clear, detailed,organized lectures. His proofs are SO BEAUTIFUL! He writes all his own HW, MUCH better than the book's. Do them & you'll learn SO MUCH, then quizzes & MTs will be a breeze. Who else stays every day till MIDNIGHT helping me w proofs??

Best prof ever! His Calc class was boot camp w a cool motivational coach, not a rough drill sergeant. If you take him & put in the work (a LOT), you'll understand math concepts more than you EVER imagined, he makes it fun. Go to his OH & do HW, he won't stop till you get it all. But don't bother just for a prereq or GE requirement. No pain no gain.

It's my fault I didnt get the grade I wanted cuz I didn't put in all the work it takes to ace his class, but Prof Chyau is SUPER DUPER AMAZING. All the office hours he offers (from morning to midnight each day before mt's and finals!!) blows my mind. So passionate about math and teaching, but purdy hard, so don't take if u only care bout GE credit!

DUDE IF YOUR NOT AN EEP HONORS KID, DON'T TAKE HIS 1040! Not his fault, those honors kids always ask smart questions so he gives them hard examples and wierd proofs they love but no one else gets n they always go to his office hours too so same thing. He's genius, works hard, explains great, but obsessed w math so only honors kids love him

Why do people here say don't take chyau for general ed? I'm in his 1040 right now, this prof's BEST for u if u go see him if u need help. He's like always there sitting waiting for u to come ask questions. if u do, he'll help u with everything u need! I'm not good at math, but now I like it. so enthusiastic, clear, helpful!

Buy him a lunch, a Twix bar, and something from a soda machine, and visit him in office hours. He doesn't eat or even stop until he answers every single student's questions, no matter how late. He's not just a math prof, he's a father figure. He inspires us with his passion for math and teaching. Wish every professor was like him.

His office hours are insane, he answers all your questions and help you with every detail if you ask him, every day especially before midterms and finals. And he's a university celebrity now! His homework is awesome prep for tests, since homework probs and concept questions are much tougher. Nicest prof ever, lots of partial credit for work shown.

Buy him a huge box of Twix, he so deserves it!!! Best professor I've ever had, so patient and helpful, clear and brilliant in lectures and office hours. Quite challenging but always fair, and he's the most generous professor with office hours (14 hours a week). He values concepts and proofs over computations, so I learned so much more!!!!!

With his awesome teaching talents he should be teaching at Ivy Leagues. CSULA is way too lucky that he's teaching here, he deserves so much better treatment for everything he's done for us. He doesn't get paid for the extra 13 office hours per week that he gives us, but he does it anyway because he loves helping all of us. So so so amazing!

These reviews are not fake! Professor Chyau is an amazing math professor! He is patient, organized, and grades for effort. best math teacher ive had Homework,quizzes,exit slips are only offered in class, so u have to go. Two-three are dropped each semester in case u do miss, but overall he values attendance and effort. SO MUCH OFFICE HOURS

I shouldnt badmouth chyau bc he works realy hard and is genius at explaining math and helps u, but seriously if you arent one of those genius Honors kids who always ask him complicated questions and love proofs and details, just expect to either fail or drop. Gave daily exit slips, so I dropped, too hard for ppl like me, honors kids worship him

If you aren't genuinely trying to learn and show up for each day of class then I wouldn't recommend taking his classes. There are daily hw, exit slips, and weekly quizzes but its definitely doable. You don't have to be smart but just genuinely willing to try. Ask questions if you don't understand! either out loud or after class. hes chill and cool

I took prof chyau's 4550 2 years ago and I learned more than ANY other class I took. His passion is off the charts when he lectures! So clear n helpful w tons of office hrs. True there's lots of hw, but it helped me learn and prep for quizzes n tests so much. Too bad it got cancelled this summer, I was gonna sit in n watch him teach it again!!!!

I had no idea math was so amazing (and yes super difficult) until I took this summer class with Professor Chyau. He just makes math so stimulating, clear, and fun to learn. Mustve taken him forever to create all those problem sets for us, but they're so helpful. And he's in his office hours all day to help us, which no other professor did.

I took Professor Chyau this summer, and I am so so so thrilled to take him again in fall! He's the most patient, organized, enthusiastic, brilliant, selfless, and yes super challenging professor you're likely to meet from what earlier years of EEP tell me. They all miss his teaching, and I know why. He is just amazing, and I learned tons from him.

I agree with my Honors Academy classmate in the previous review! I'm not really a math girl, but Prof Chyau really planted a new interest & fascination with math that I never knew I had! Lots of people wanted to sit in his class, because his lectures are just amazing. And if you add all the free extra office hours he holds, I couldn't ask for more.

Professor Chyau was not only a brilliant professor who gave me more knowledge than I ever imagined, but he is also one of my greatest mentors. He's opened doors for me and supported me without pause. I'm so happy that he still is always here for me even if I'm not taking one of his classes this semester. I miss him so much. I

He's great enthusiastic at teaching math, so I def see why the young kids in class like him. They answer his questions so fast and are comfy showing off their skills on the board after lecture. But it's awkward for me I'm no math whiz like them, and his class examples and proofs and concept questions are hard. Show all steps or lose pts, real picky

Professor Chyau's EEP Math1040 certainly is the most demanding math course I've taken. But he's the hardest-working and most generous professor with his time (HE GIVES OVER 20 OFFICE HOURS/WEEK BTW)!! He's super fair; all of Quiz #1 was nearly verbatim from his homework!! I'm learning more math than I ever imagined. So can you, if you do the work!!

Took Chyau last year, a true gem! His tests take lots of work, time, sacrifice, but he's very fair because he helps you nonstop in office hours. Now I'm taking Calculus, I totally get why he worked us so hard to build a solid math foundation, so I'm grateful. But if you only want a class for credit, don't waste his time or yours, take someone else!

Professor Chyau is CSULA's greatest asset. Each lecture is magnetic, especially his proofs. What I learn from him, I shall never forget. He grades generously if you show your work, even if there are errors in it. His quizzes take substantial time & work, but he's always available to help you. Each year of EEP says the same, and I see why.

Three years ago, I took his Modern Algebra class. His mentoring & instruction changed my life. He puts so much extra time & energy to help you. His proofs are crystal clear, captivating, detailed, and passionate, as he breaks it all down in layers with multiple colors. I hope other EEPsters take his courses in the future. CSULA doesn't deserve him.

Professor Chyau is tough, but fair. Be ready for A LOT of extra credit. The max score on his quizzes averages around 56 out of 50. His lectures are clear, and be ready to take notes. He spends a lot of his time in office hours and he will take the time to meet with and help you. Overall, I recommend you take his class if you have the opportunity.

Chyau is a true godsend! No doubt his EEP 1040 requires great time/energy. But the time that students must invest is nowhere near the time/energy Prof Chyau invests in free extra office hours into the late of night and preparing amazing lectures with proofs and tons of practice for students. Give him tenure before Harvard n Stanford start calling.

ISTG when Professor Chyau lectures, I lose track of time! His organization, enthusiasm, clarity, and mathematical brilliance are off the charts, seriously! Ask him any math question, you'll see. And no one is more generous with his time than Professor Chyau! My parents still think I'm kidding when I tell them how late he'll stay to help us!!!!!

I'm so disappointed in my classmates who bash him just cuz his class is very rigorous, especially those who don't even bother coming to class! Yes ProfChyau's class is hard, but he definitely helps me learn and master math, which is more than I can say for any other professor I've taken. He deserves more appreciation & respect for all his work!

Because he pushed, inspired, supported, and taught me in his Precalc class last semester, I have a HUGE advantage in Calculus this semester, and I am going to remember, appreciate, and apply all his teachings when I'm in future undergrad STEM classes, in graduate school, when I'm getting my PhD, and for the rest of my life. Bless Professor Chyau!!!

Chyau has amazing ability to explain concepts with proofs, and always crystal clear. I love how he makes math fun and interesting with all his enthusiasm and love for math. Classic examples are the soda machines and marriages. He wasn't that hard tbh, because there are never any surprises on his quizzes and tests. Great guy, glued to office hours!

Professor Chyau greatly enriched my education. He lectures with brilliant fun enthusiasm that I can't encapsulate with words. When I joined EEP last year, I doubted my ability to thrive, but Chyau's class made me a better student, motivated to learn, work hard, and read his vibrant math proofs! To say any less of his teaching would be too unjust.

Amazing, more brilliant than any other prof I've ever had, esp the one I have now. My calculus prof just gives us formulas half asleep, so I ask Prof Chyau instead, and he clarifies everything and proves all the formulas for me in 15 minutes. So I come to him with all my math questions, and he explains them all. I'd rate him 6 out of 5 if I could!!

Lectures are fun n enthusiastic, you feel his love of math when he talks. Love his soda machines! Quizzes/tests are just like hw, so no surprises. Writes the nicest rec letters, always helps me. Because of his class, I'm going to do a double major with math or at least a math minor, and I have fingers crossed that I'll take more classes with him.

Professor Chyau is an amazingly superb professor, possibly the best I'll ever meet!!! His lectures were so magnetic, enthusiastic, and crystal clear! He supports us to no end with all his unbelievably extended office hours! I learned so much in his class. He challenges us to really think, so his teaching style complements my learning style so well.

Brilliant professor, loves Abstract Algebra! You hear it in his voice as he proves all the theorems, which he explains clearly and thoroughly. I should've taken all my upper division math courses with him. There's heavy HW, which is good since he'll copy/paste all test questions from homework or lecture, so there are no surprises. Loved his class!

He's unlike any other professor I've ever had because of the passion he shows when he lectures, and it makes me want to work extra hard. He has very high standards though, so if you're not strong with proofs, you should take someone else. He loves answering questions, so ask about anything you're unclear about. I learn so much from him, so amazing!

If you're into pure math and proof (like me), take Professor Chyau! If proofs aren't your thing, then you'll probably dislike his class. He's extremely tough, but always fair because everything on his quiz is from the homework or lecture, word for word. He's very chill and approachable. Overall he's fantastic, I think! His lectures are a godsend!!!

Professor Chyau was an amazing professor during Honors Academy. He was accessible and his lectures were amazing! The proofs were a lot of fun and the quizzes weren't too hard. The homework is all you need to study from. Definitely recommend!

Totally agree! I loved Honors Academy and I loved Chyau's Math 1040 even more. The hardest class I've had in EEP so far, but he made it worth the work because of everything he did and his contagious love for math. An A finally means something. Lectures and HW are key, so he spent countless hours polishing both. Does he live in office hours?! LOL

Professor deserves tons of respect. He stays all day in his office helping me with HW, real chill. Took a while to get used to all the worksheets that he wrote himself and weekly quizzes, but it pushed me to really learn calc2. Writes great quiz solutions, even teaches you things you shouldve learned in precalc and calc1, which is cool. Funny too.

Take him! He has really high expectations, so first make sure your solid with precalc if u take him for calc. His worksheets take lots of time and effort so never procrastinate. But he's sharp as a tack in explaining concepts, crazy passionate about math, and super helpful in office hours no matter how late, a great professor! I learned so much!!!

I got a C+ but that's because I sacrificed my grade to go out with friends, each time being roughly 1%. Test every week, more opportunity to fail and it not being heavy on the grade. Pay attention and be prepared to do lots of work to know the proof. Lots of paper HW to keep you sharp. Smells a bit funky admittedly but just breathe from your mouth.

A bit sensitive about students ditching whining or not doing hw, thats cuz he puts all his time and energy into teaching and grading. Math excites him. Bet if I did all worksheets + never skipped class I couldve aced every quiz cuz there just like the worksheets and class probs. Want to learn, take him. Calc 2 & physics are a breeze thx to the prof

What I absolutely love is his lecture style. He's really detailed, organized, makes it a conversation with students and proves everything. He goes kind of fast to give more examples. His examples are great help for his worksheets, which are pretty much copied onto quizzes. Definitely taking him for Calc 2. The coaches in math gym recommend him.

To be fair, I like his class cuz he does much more than he needs to so he's faster, more rigorous, more HW and quizzes but he also makes me learn a ton more than other profs. If u like math and challenge, take him. If you just need the class for credit, then don't. IMHO he should drop his no makeup quiz, calculator, or late HW rules. But he's fair.

Tough but really smart professor who explains math really well and wants to help students learn. His problem is he won't accept that most of us at this school are bad at math and don't share his interest in studying hard to learn it, though he works so hard. If he gave less hw, I think more students in the class would still come, now only half do.

Dont get me wrong hes a great professor and if you take him and study real hard you'll learn a LOT. Hes super devoted to his job for sure and he knows how to explain problems and concepts real good when you ask him. BUT tbh you should only take him if you really want to learn math, NOT if you just need credit. So much hw, no calculator, no makeups!

Hes kinda odd cuz he gets excited with hard problems in wkshp. Love his lectures! My bf whined cuz Calculus 2 HW took so much of my time, but I def learned a ton from the professor so I see why he pushed me. He made Calculus 3 much easier, so I strongly recommend him IF youre willing to study, do hw, and master Calculus, NOT if you just wanna pass.

He's reasonable with due dates if you have good reasons and discuss it beforehand. His lecture style is fantastic. Wish hed give more hints on the worksheets because some problems do pick your brain. If you take him, never miss class and definitely take his workshop since he picks problems just like the worksheets and explains them great, it helps.