Overview of UT Austin Undergraduate Housing
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UTCSSA Newcomer and Course Guide
website·Indexed 32 days ago
https://guide.utcssa.net/A comprehensive resource for students at the University of Texas at Austin, provided by the Chinese Students and Scholars Association (UTCSSA). It features a detailed course guide with student evaluations, workload metrics, and professor ratings across various colleges and core curricula, as well as a newcomer's handbook covering essential steps for enrollment, housing, banking, transportation, and life in Austin.
What's inside UTCSSA Guide
Course evaluation for ACC 355/ACC 380K.11 (Introduction to Taxation) with Professor Daniel Fannin
In-person course taken in Fall 2021. This course is described as very challenging for those new to the US tax system. It has maximum ratings (5/5) for workload, reading volume, and exam difficulty. Lecture recordings and extra credit are available.Course evaluation for ECO 304L (Introduction to Macroeconomics) with Wayne Geerling
Course taken in Spring 2023. The course provides lecture recordings and does not track attendance. The professor's teaching level (2.0) and clarity (2.0) are rated low, though office hour accessibility is high (5.0).Course Overview: HIS 315L (The United States Since 1865)
HIS 315L is a common choice for fulfilling history core requirements. Student experiences vary by professor:
- Steven Mintz: Highly recommended. Courses often feature modules with multiple-choice questions and free-response essays rather than traditional exams. Attendance is often not recorded or may even count as extra credit.
- H.W. Brands: Generally considered a 'water course' (easy/manageable). Some sections have no exams, instead utilizing weekly textbook exercises, short lecture responses, and a few 500-word essays.
- Ozanne: Focuses on group projects and essays with moderate difficulty.
Course evaluation for PHL 317K (Introduction to Philosophy of the Arts) with Prof. Kathleen Higgins
Course evaluation for Fall 2021 (In-person). Expected grade: A. Highly recommended for non-philosophy majors interested in art and philosophy. Metrics: Workload (3/5), Assignment Difficulty (3/5), Exam Difficulty (3/5), Teaching Quality (5/5). Lecture recordings are available. Extra credit is available. Attendance is not recorded.Course evaluation for PHL 301 (Introduction to Philosophy) with Ju Zhang
Course evaluation for Fall 2021 (Hybrid). Expected grade: 3.5. Metrics: Workload (3/5), Assignment Difficulty (3/5), Exam Difficulty (3/5). No lecture recordings. Attendance is not recorded.Use the UTCSSA Official Website and Forum
UTCSSA provides two primary web platforms for information:
- Official Website (http://utcssa.net): Provides a concise and intuitive overview of internal departments, affiliated clubs, and specific activity details.
- Community Forum (https://forum.utcssa.net): A platform for accessing archived experience summaries from previous students, finding roommates, coordinating travel, and browsing annual newcomer orientation information.
Student evaluation for M 362M: Introduction to Stochastic Process (Prof. Peter Mueller)
The professor is well-regarded, but has a very heavy accent that may make lectures difficult to follow. Students are advised to rely on the textbook and assignments.Expected Letter Grade: A Workload: 3/5 Assignment Difficulty: 3/5 Exam Difficulty: 3/5
Course review for M 328K: Introduction to Number Theory (Prof. Kidwell Keenan)
Highly recommended professor described as 'divine.' The professor is very nice and gives generous grades on the final exam.Course evaluation for MIS 301 (Introduction to Information Technology) with Professor Joshua Rock
In-person course taken in Fall 2021. Multiple students describe this course as extremely difficult ('devilish') with maximum ratings (5/5) for workload, reading, assignment difficulty, and exam difficulty. One student strongly advises avoiding this course ('Avoid at all costs'). Attendance is recorded.Course Review: CC 303E Intro to Classical Mythology (Katherine Handloser)
An asynchronous online course described as an easy VAPA option. The primary reading is the English translation of 'The Odyssey'. It is recommended for students who want a low-workload course or an introduction to Greek mythology.Course Review: RTF 367K Producing Film and Television
RTF 367K provides an introduction to producing and satisfies the writing flag. It serves as a prerequisite for courses taught by Matthew McConaughey. The workload consists primarily of attendance and a large project divided into five parts, requiring script research and reading.