Richard Wirz
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
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3.5
Overall Rating
Based on 4 Users
Easiness 3.8 / 5 How easy the class is, 1 being extremely difficult and 5 being easy peasy.
Clarity 3.2 / 5 How clear the class is, 1 being extremely unclear and 5 being very clear.
Workload 2.8 / 5 How much workload the class is, 1 being extremely heavy and 5 being extremely light.
Helpfulness 3.2 / 5 How helpful the class is, 1 being not helpful at all and 5 being extremely helpful.

TOP TAGS

  • Tough Tests
  • Uses Slides
  • Needs Textbook
  • Is Podcasted
GRADE DISTRIBUTIONS
35.9%
29.9%
23.9%
17.9%
12.0%
6.0%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

42.2%
35.1%
28.1%
21.1%
14.1%
7.0%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

36.3%
30.2%
24.2%
18.1%
12.1%
6.0%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

24.4%
20.3%
16.3%
12.2%
8.1%
4.1%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

23.5%
19.6%
15.7%
11.8%
7.8%
3.9%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

22.5%
18.8%
15.0%
11.3%
7.5%
3.8%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

23.8%
19.8%
15.9%
11.9%
7.9%
4.0%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

ENROLLMENT DISTRIBUTIONS
Clear marks

Sorry, no enrollment data is available.

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Reviews (3)

1 of 1
1 of 1
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Quarter: Winter 2022
Grade: N/A
March 2, 2022

tl;dr: Fair exams/hw (albeit time consuming), good TAs/discussions. Terrible lectures.

Out of all of the engineering, math, and science professors I have taken at UCLA, Wirz may quite literally be the worst professor I have had.

He is clearly knowledgeable in the topics he teaches in class (He will mention his work history at JPL very often), however, it seems abundantly clear to me that he cares a lot more about his research than teaching.

All lectures are recorded lecture videos from a previous section of the class + a live Q&A session that is usually around 30 minutes. Although this is alright, it is most definitely not an engaging learning environment.

I am normally okay with lecture videos being prerecorded. However, the presentation of the course material is very lazy. Some of the lecture videos, which are quite old have issues (some don't have audio for substantial portions of the video and other technical issues). If we are being given old lectures that have been recorded, having this many issues is just lazy. Additionally, a lot of the topics required on the Homeworks are not covered in the lectures and are sometimes not even present in the reading material. At this point, I only really learn from going to the TA sessions and reading the text on my own. The lectures are useless and rambly most of the time.

The exam was pretty fair. I have no complaints about the quality of the exams or homework.

On another note, the TA's are usually very responsive on piazza (and very helpful in their own office hours).

Helpful?

1 1 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: Winter 2021
Grade: A
COVID-19 This review was submitted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Your experience may vary.
March 29, 2021

Professor Wirz is a really great professor, and for anyone interested in space and space systems this is the most interesting class that I have taken. The exams were timed, but a 72 hour window to do the midterm and final were given. The exams were extremely fair and tested not only a math basis, but a conceptual understanding of things as well. Professor Wirz had all of his lectures pre-recorded so they could be watched on your own time, and helpful Q&A sessions similar to office hours instead of lecture during the normal lecture hours. This format was surprisingly helpful. He is passionate about getting the students to learn the material. This class is nonetheless quite hard and dense, but manageable

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: Winter 2021
Grade: A
COVID-19 This review was submitted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Your experience may vary.
March 27, 2021

Super cool class for anyone going into aerospace, and Wirz is a homie. It's really cool learning from someone so experienced and well-regarded; he works at JPL and is the god of electric propulsion. Homeworks are pretty intense, but super relevant and prepare you well for the midterm and final

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: Winter 2022
Grade: N/A
March 2, 2022

tl;dr: Fair exams/hw (albeit time consuming), good TAs/discussions. Terrible lectures.

Out of all of the engineering, math, and science professors I have taken at UCLA, Wirz may quite literally be the worst professor I have had.

He is clearly knowledgeable in the topics he teaches in class (He will mention his work history at JPL very often), however, it seems abundantly clear to me that he cares a lot more about his research than teaching.

All lectures are recorded lecture videos from a previous section of the class + a live Q&A session that is usually around 30 minutes. Although this is alright, it is most definitely not an engaging learning environment.

I am normally okay with lecture videos being prerecorded. However, the presentation of the course material is very lazy. Some of the lecture videos, which are quite old have issues (some don't have audio for substantial portions of the video and other technical issues). If we are being given old lectures that have been recorded, having this many issues is just lazy. Additionally, a lot of the topics required on the Homeworks are not covered in the lectures and are sometimes not even present in the reading material. At this point, I only really learn from going to the TA sessions and reading the text on my own. The lectures are useless and rambly most of the time.

The exam was pretty fair. I have no complaints about the quality of the exams or homework.

On another note, the TA's are usually very responsive on piazza (and very helpful in their own office hours).

Helpful?

1 1 Please log in to provide feedback.
COVID-19 This review was submitted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Your experience may vary.
Quarter: Winter 2021
Grade: A
March 29, 2021

Professor Wirz is a really great professor, and for anyone interested in space and space systems this is the most interesting class that I have taken. The exams were timed, but a 72 hour window to do the midterm and final were given. The exams were extremely fair and tested not only a math basis, but a conceptual understanding of things as well. Professor Wirz had all of his lectures pre-recorded so they could be watched on your own time, and helpful Q&A sessions similar to office hours instead of lecture during the normal lecture hours. This format was surprisingly helpful. He is passionate about getting the students to learn the material. This class is nonetheless quite hard and dense, but manageable

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
COVID-19 This review was submitted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Your experience may vary.
Quarter: Winter 2021
Grade: A
March 27, 2021

Super cool class for anyone going into aerospace, and Wirz is a homie. It's really cool learning from someone so experienced and well-regarded; he works at JPL and is the god of electric propulsion. Homeworks are pretty intense, but super relevant and prepare you well for the midterm and final

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
1 of 1
3.5
Overall Rating
Based on 4 Users
Easiness 3.8 / 5 How easy the class is, 1 being extremely difficult and 5 being easy peasy.
Clarity 3.2 / 5 How clear the class is, 1 being extremely unclear and 5 being very clear.
Workload 2.8 / 5 How much workload the class is, 1 being extremely heavy and 5 being extremely light.
Helpfulness 3.2 / 5 How helpful the class is, 1 being not helpful at all and 5 being extremely helpful.

TOP TAGS

  • Tough Tests
    (3)
  • Uses Slides
    (2)
  • Needs Textbook
    (2)
  • Is Podcasted
    (2)
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