Hurley, Sean  

Dr. Hurley purposely makes all of his tests and homework not only harder, but longer than any other 212 class. He knows his stuff very well, and as long as you ask questions he will slow his pace down. All the notes you will ever need are on his website and you can print them right out. Do your homework and study for exams, you will do good, and plan on showing up to class. It is not easy, but you will be ready for 213.

Professor Hurley is a really cool guy. He does go kind of fast, but if you just ask him to re-explain it slower, or tell him you don't understand, he'll totally make sure you understand. He's great in his office hours (he's ALWAYS there), he gets right back to you if you email him; he'll pretty much help you any way he can. All of his lectures are online- but still go to class. It's good if you print them out before the class, then you can just go along with his lecture during class (otherwise you spend the whole time writing as fast as possible and you can't really ask questions). His homeworks are extremely time-consuming, but he will go through the whole thing with you if you go in early enough, and the tests are way easy if you understand the homework- they're exactly the same as the HW except shorter. Do the papers!! If you want to learn it and be prepared for 213, take him- oh and he's really fair when he grades, too. But if you just want an easy A, don't take him.

Hurley is kind of hard, he gives TONS of homework and its due every week, he does give you extra time before it is late which is cool. His tests are long and can be hard if you haven't poured over the 12 page study guide for the week before hand. He is available in and outside of office hours and was almost always accessible there but I always felt like he didn't want to be bothered, he is kind of socially awkward if he's not lecturing. His tutor was nice but not too helpful because she didn't know teaching methods he was using, so it was kind of unreliable going to her. He will take the time out to explain something if you are having trouble with a concept but every other person I have talked to that has taken other teachers did not have nearly the amount of homework or papers (but you have the option to do papers if you are not doing well).

Professor Hurley is the best professor for this course. This is one of the hardest courses in AGB and Hurley does a really good job explaining the material in a way that is easy to understand. This is my second time taking the course. The first time I had professor McCullough and it was awful. Hurley gives 3 midterms, instead of the weekly quizzes (which are just as long as tests) that are given in the other classes. This allows you a longer time to learn the material and get some help. You need to get a 70% average on the 3 midterms or you automatically fail the course. However, if you do not get the C average on the midterms, Hurley gives you a second chance by offering you a chance to get a 70% on the final. The other professors do not do this. This course takes a lot out of you and it is very time consuming. So be ready to put in the effort. There are 4-5 homework assignments, which you usually get about two weeks to work on and a lot of the material is not lectured on. However, Hurley does give some time in class to work on it and he is very helpful when you do not get something. There are also 3 one-page papers which are not very hard. They are on analyzing data and creating a story based on the data. Overall if you can take Professor Hurley, he is the best choice for 260.

Hurley often gets a bad rap, but in reality he's a good professor. Many students are scared off on the first day after Hurley explains how difficult 313 is and how he is widely regarded as the hardest professor in AGB. Take this with a grain of salt however, because if you stick around the class is not nearly as dismal. If you have strong math skills 313 is a breeze. I would have gotten an easy A, if I hadn't elected to take the course CR/NC. If math is not your thing, this class will be challenging, but certianly not impossible. From what I hear, you're much better off taking 313 with Hurley versus MacDougall. If Hurley has a downside, it would be that he assigns a lot of homework and his exams are way too long. His syllabus states that he "routinely" gives both pop and announced quizzes, although our class recieved neither. The homework takes forever, but by all means do it!!!!! The tests have the exact same type of problems as the homeworks, so if you do your homework and understand it, you are probably guaranteed at least a B on the exams (one midterm, one final). If you have any questions regarding the material, Hurley is aguably one of the most accessible AGB professors. He is always in his office during office hours and often times spends a majority of both Saturday and Sunday in his office, where he is more than happy to help you out. In conclusion, Hurley is not nearly as bad as everyone says, so take him for 313 and get it over with!

Dr. Hurley is the most arrogant asshole I have ever met!! He makes you feel stupid when you ask a question, and gives you an unreasonable amount of homework. He has no idea how to motivate his students. I dreaded going to this class every monday through thursday the entire quarter! I am warning you, don't make the same mistake as I did!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dr. Hurley is a great professor. He assigns a lot of homework, but its so you understand the material. If you can get through the homework, and understand it... you will do really well in the class. The key is doing the homework, his tests are very similiar to the homework. He explains things very clearly, and if you don't understand he will always make time to meet with you. He's a fun teacher, I would highly suggest taking this class with him.

i think he's a ok teacher. i think that he wants the students to understand so he's happy to help. he goes over any questions you might have on the homework in class and he's always around for office hours. i didnt think he was that approachable...he seemed kinda irritated that i needed a little bit of help. anyways, i havent finished the class yet, but i shoudl get an A. i got a 95 on the first midterm and i think really well on the second one. there is a lot of homework...they take a long time, but he has student helpers who have the key and will help you. there isnt any reason to not get an A on the homework. i would recommend finding someone to work with on it. also, take calculus before hand...it makes the class SO EASY. the first midterm has a lot of calc on it and the rest of the class is based on taking derivatives. so if you know how to do that really well, its super easy. all in all, he's not bad at all. id recommend taking him.

I'm not going to sugar coat it-this is a HARD class. I've never worked so hard to get a B in my life. For the tests, make sure you know the hw and problem sets by heart. If you have problems, go to his office hours- that helped me alot! He's actually a really nice guy. Get as many points on the hw and problem sets as you can, because not only are they 35% of your grade, but by the time the final comes, you'll need all the points you can get. The average on his final is 50% and he doesn't curve...bottom line know your shit.

Dr. Hurley is a good professor. He gets a bad rep because he assigns a lot of work and his classes are hard, but he is always more than willing to help if you are willing to put in the time. You have to bust your ass in his class, but you actually leave the class with something. Hurley is the kind of professor all professors should be like, if college was a cake walk then what would be the point of going? If you want to actually retain what you've learned in class, I would recommend taking Dr. Hurley. PS- His personal life isn't really anyones business but his own.

This class is not very hard if you possess any prior CALC 1 experience. If you know little or nothing about calculus then don't take this course. Make sure you do all the homework problems because it will kill your grade in the end if you don't. His homework policy is sweet even though it can really make you slack off. For the tests, just memorize/practice the homework sets over and over again and you will be set. Overall, he is a really knowledgeable and funny guy. BTW, whats with not ever wearing a belt?

Very hard class, but it can be done if you have taken Calculus first. If you know Calculus and understand it it can be an easy course. I think that there were only two A's in the class, the tests are really hard. He is a weird dude that wears his watch on his beltloop. He is very unapproachable in his office hours, but the hw is very hard and you often need help with it. Take Calculus first.

Hurleys an awesome teacher and reallyy not ANYWHERE as bad as people said he is. He gives you plenty of time to get the weekly hw done, especially if you take advantage of the tutor sessions that happen throughout the week. I went to those things a day or two (even the day of) before the hw was due, and got a ton of help. Tests are exactlyyy like the hw's he says they'll be based off of. The final will kick your ass (took me 3.5 hrs), but he gave extra time and i was somehow able to get an A in the course. Take him if you wanna learn some things..since we are in college and all.

I don't understand why Hurley gets such a bad rap. He is very very very fair and makes sure that his student's questions are always addressed. He is always available for office hours and even provides free student tutoring. Yes the course is hard and yes there is a lot of work, but Hurley is a great teacher and is really smart, so I have no idea what everyone else is talking about. I did get an A, but all you have to do is the HW over and over and over again. The tests are nearly identical to the HW. I highly recommend Hurley if you want to do well and you want to learn. I sure did.

Mr. hurley is one of the best teachers I have ever had at poly. Even though this class is pretty difficult he goes above and beyond in order to help his students figure out how to do the homework. If you have the chance to take him I recommend him because you will learn alot.

Too hard

This teacher gives you the grade to you on a silver platter. He gives you a tutor and lots of office hours, and he GIVES you the homework which is a whopping 25% of your grade. If you go to the tutor, most likely they will slide you the paper of hw answers and you just copy, and then his tests are identically to his midterms and his midterms are identical to his HW assignments. He says the course is real hard, but honestly its not hard. He gives you a note card so just write how to do the problem on a note card, and don't even bother memorizing how to do it. Its simple plug/answer tests if you copied/did the homework. Great teacher with good lectures, and does have power point notes which is a huge plus, but I mean he gives you the grade practically and he does a wonderful job teaching the course if you really care about learning calc econ....

This is a really tough class and he really teaches it well. His tests are very difficult and he grades like a nazi. If i were you I would take it with amspatcher(?) Takes lots of time and dedication for homework with lots of tutor assistance. I just didnt give a shit cause im almost done.

If you show up to class, ask questions, do the homework and actually understand where you derived the answer from (not just copying his notes) and then practice it a few times - you should get at LEAST a B in this class. With that being said, many people who complain about this class, just didn't put in enough effort or didn't seek any help, when they did not understand something. Another thing, do not avoid this class because it will give you a HUGE boost in quantitative skills.

Great teacher, really understands the material and is there to help you if you need him. The homework is the same as the midterms so this class is easy if you do the work and put effort into it.

Hurley's lectures are like the ones you get from your parents in Junior High for coming home past curfew. I could not pay attention to a person who yells at students and paces back and forth. The course material was understandable; however I never showed up for class because I dont feel like I should pay the university to be yelled at. Hurley: CALM DOWN! and maybe get a real job in agriculture. . . no one cares that you can evaluate a production function on a computer program. . .

This class was definitely a challenging course and although hurley seemed like he was going to be an asshole, he was actually a really great teacher. I definitely had to work very hard at it and luckily I took the class with with 2 of my friends so we could do our homework in groups. Make sure you do the homework! He goes over almost every problem in class if you ask him to and the tests are literally IDENTICAL to the homework but with different numbers AND we get a notecard for each test. If you slack off you will most likely fail...some kid got 7% on one of the midterms. Also go to office hours because if he doesnt go over all of the hw questions in class, he will basically give them to you in office hours. To do well on the tests make sure you go over the homework repeatedly. The final was pretty long, it took everyone more than 3 hours to take it (he gave us up to 5 hours to take it which was chill). Oh and he is kind of an arrogant nerd who wears a wrist watch on his belt loop.

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

I was very apprehensive to take 313 with Hurley because of all the negative reviews. I thought that since I was taking the class with a few friends that I would be able to do just fine. I was completely wrong. I worked so hard in this class, dedicating many hours to each hw assignment and each midterm. I ended up failing both of the midterms because of the time constraint of only 50 min. He also started to single me out towards the end of the quarter. Good luck to anyone who gets stuck with Hurley and make sure you have a strong shot of something waiting for you after each test.

Very smart guy. Actually pretty nice as you get to know him. But his class sucks ass. He takes a moderately difficult concept into the most complicated bullshit that just ends up giving you a headache. I entered his class feeling confident in the field of economics and left feeling dumber and incompetent. Don't get down on yourself if you take this class and dont get the grade you want. It's not because you're unintelligent it's because he seriously wants his students to do poorly. Don't take Hurley for 313 you'll regret it.

I think that Dr. Hurley was a great teacher! This class is hard though. You cannot just slack off and expect to get a good grade. It takes a lot of work and practice, but getting an A is possible, I did! If you are willing to put in the work and effort, you will pass. Isn't that why we are all at college: to work hard and learn? Go to office hours and ask questions and the class will not be too much of a challenge.

Probably one of the best MATH teachers I have ever had. He goes step by step for every problem but I think the class is so math focused that you might forget what you are actually trying to do. The final exam was terrible and stressful but if he actually taught things the way he tested on the final it would be very applicable. Other than that ask the homework questions in class, he will give you the answers! Good luck!

This class is ridiculous. I heard about how hard it was so I started off the quarter with a tutor. I met with him twice a week to work on concepts and would do fine on my homework (which he doesn't grade) and then when it came to midterms I would bomb. You only have 50 minutes to do about 2 hours of work. I didn't finish the midterms completely because of the time constraint. The final was TERRIBLE..It took me 4 and a half hours and when I left there were at least 15 people still in there struggling. The final is 45% of your grade so you have to do well!! I would suggest trying to take it with another teacher if you can, but if not make sure to PAY ATTENTION AND ASK QUESTIONS. literally the only way you're going to pass.

Hurley was one of the best teachers I have ever had. He presents the information well and will stop class at any time to clarify the problems on the board. The homework is doable and takes time but it really helps you to understand the material. The test are long but not tricky. if you understand the homework you will do well on the tests. He is always available to help you understand the material. He comes off harsh at first but he really wants all of his students to do well.

I was absolutely dreading taking 313 and put it off for a year because the only two professors teaching it were Dr. Hurley and Slezak, both of whom had very negative reviews. I took it with Hurley a year ago and would like to assure all everyone that his reviews here are unfairly skewed against him. He's incredibly knowledgeable, a fun guy, very funny, and presents the material clearly. His class is very difficult if you are not a math person (like me) but you learn a LOT and it is very useful stuff! If you are good at algebra with constraints it will probably be a breeze. The tests are just like the homework. His sense of humor is a bit dark and sarcastic and he's pretty hilarious. Example problem from class (from what I remember): You are at Costco and needs to buy food for the week only spending $125. You make a professor's salary and have a bunch of kids so your fixed costs are $100 in beer and whiskey to keep you sane and that is the maximum you can drink in one week. You use the remaining $25 for the cheapest ramen/beans available for your kids because it's not like they're paying rent and when you have 5 kids hard liquor is not optional. Just go to class, study hard, do the homework, and you'll be ok. AGB 313 is not an easy A but I don't think it is with any professor. A note to all of those new juniors taking this class: upper division courses are very different than lower divisions. I found lower divisions super easy, but once you hit your 300 levels you actually have to work pretty hard. I think that this is where a lot of the negative comments come in--people are just not used to this kind of workload and it is one of the first 300 levels that people take. One last thing, the way that he speaks during lectures can best be described as he lectures with caps lock on. It's kind of disorienting at first because it seems like he's yelling at you but you get used to it and it's actually really helpful because you'll definitely hear him/be able to record his lectures (I recommend this) in the back of a large classroom. It's a quirk that I found it kind of endearing after a couple weeks. It absolutely does not mean anything negative towards the class, it's just how he talks and it's a bit funny. TL;DR: These reviews are scary but mostly inaccurate. Take his class if you can and don't be afraid of his first couple lectures!

One of the best professors in the department of agriculture. He is incredibly smart, efficient at teaching and willing to help his students. Certainly my favorite class at Cal Poly! Make sure you go to class and redo the HW before each exam to ensure success!

I had a great experience in Professor Hurley's AGB 313. He explains concepts very clearly and he is very approachable. This course is math intensive, but the coursework is doable and Professors Hurley's lectures are impeccable. Professor Hurley's Polyrating isn't accurate, as a non-AGB student I noticed that many AGB students are lazy, and I believe that these students are the reason behind the low Polyrating. The key to success in AGB 313 is to attend lecture and study, like in any other course.

To those students who have made Hurley out to be some kind of a monster: What the fuck? Dr. Hurley is truly one of the best teachers I have had at Cal Poly. I have never been good at algebra (and this class is very algebra intensive) but Hurley helped me get so much better! I went into this class dreading it because of what everyone says about it, but this is the only class I've taken as an AGB major that has challenged me to work hard and get better at something that I was never strong in. I took the prerequisites three years before the class and it was no problem for me to catch up because he explains the material very clearly. Hurley loves to talk about how hard this class is, but if you do all of the homework, problem sets, and go to his office when you have questions I promise you will be fine! The scary part of this class is that the midterm is 40%, final 50%, and a paper worth 10%. The paper is HELLA easy (did it in like 30 mins). If you redo the HWs/Problem sets and do some of the old midterms before the midterm then you'll be fine. Same with the final. I got an A on the midterm and final and honestly did not spend all that much time outside of class studying. My advice: 1. Do ALL homework even though its not required to do any! 2. Redo HWs and practice tests before the midterm / final 3. Go to office hours! He is very willing to help you!

Professor Hurley is the best and most experienced AGB professors at Cal Poly. His knowledge of the subject coupled with his years of teaching experience make it easy to pay attention in his class. The material, while at times challenging, can be understood by being attentive in class, asking questions, and visiting him in office hours where he will thoroughly explain anything you are having trouble with. You come out of the class with a great understanding of production and the chance to say you really learned something. Professor Hurley is fantastic.

Hurley's class is really challenging but it is doable, you just need to put the hours in meaning doing the homework and going to office hours. I would recommend taking this class soon after you have taken business calc so the calc is still fresh in your mind and will make this class way easier. He tries to scare everyone with how hard his exams are, however it is not that bad just as long as you try.

Professor Hurley is the best! I'm not an ag major, I took this class for my minor and I found it to be relatively easy. I really didn't put much time into study. Go to class pay attention in lecture, do homework, ask questions and you will do just fine. Hurley is really dramatic about the class being really difficult, just put some effort in and you'll pass.

If you want to do well in this class all you have to do is pay attention in class, do and UNDERSTAND the homework (EVEN IF IT IS OPTIONAL), and study for the midterm and final by going through old tests until you feel good. Thats all it takes. People make Hurley out to be "mean" or too "difficult," but he teaches the content well and the tests are absolutely fair, nothing to be afraid of. Don't let the first day of class scare you off either, he's all talk.

Dr. Hurley is awesome. For those that have given him bad reviews are because they don't take the time after class to study and attend office hours. This class is difficult but not difficult to get a passing score on the exams. Literally the homework he assigns are on the exam, of course different numbers and etc. Attending office hours and tutoring sessions will help you get a passing score. ALSO, he allows a one sided 3x5 card on all exams! Spring 2019 was one of the first class he taught Mon-Thurs. I think have an hour session is a lot better because its less information and if you don't quite understand you can attend office hours. Don't wait to ask those questions!

I honestly loved this class, and learned so much from Dr. Hurley. He's a great teacher, and provides every means for a student to succeed. He sets up hours upon hours of tutoring sessions and holds office hours for questions. If you really put in the time to learn the material, you will do fine. He says in the syllabus to study 2 hours per 1 hour of lecture, and in my opinion that's an understatement. I put in a TON of time studying for this class, and did really well. Highly recommend taking this class when your other classes aren't terribly time-consuming. If you put in the work, you can easily get an A -- This is coming from someone who has always hated math and almost failed AP Calc in high school.

Hurley is the best professor possible to teach AGB 313! A lot of difficult material, but he teaches the class so well that it makes it easy. Two midterms, one paper and one final. Homework is optional but you will not pass the tests unless you do the homework and he gives more incentive to do the homework as well. Do a lot of practice tests before each midterm and the final, they are almost exactly alike. The paper seems difficult, but it is really easy. Go to his office hours early for questions or else you'll be waiting in a long line the week it is due. GO TO CLASS. He doesn't take attendance, but you won't learn the material if you do not go.

Hurley is one of my favorite professors at Poly. He actually taught me something in the Farm Records class and he is funny in his own weird way. The "project" he assigns is really hard but it was worth it. Know that when he says to start working on it, you really do need to start working on it. Also, don't let your cell phone ring or you owe the class pizza. A lot of people complain about how hard he is but he is really helpful when you have a question and actually cares whether or not you understand. I am taking him again for AGB 435 and he is even better in this class.

Dr. Hurley came off as wanting you to fail. He tried everything in his power to make shure you did. I would do anything I could to never, never take a class from him again.

RECOMEND! DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS, just all together sucks, he is nice but he doesn't want you to do well in the class. Lots of working in groups, long hours of hard work for nothing! Have fun!

Dr. Hurley is a good professor, but make sure to get on his good side! This class isn't hard, but there is a lot of homework that takes forever to do. The only HORRIBLE thing is the dreaded farm project. He says not to wait till the last 2 weeks to do it and from experience,DON'T!!! Start it right away and do each part right after you learn it in class. It counts for a ton of your grade! He gives study guides for the tests and if you do them well you will get a good grade on the test. He will always make time to help you in his office and he is ALWAYS in there. (I dont think he really likes his wife and 5 kids) Hard grader but fair to what he expected. All in all, hes a really nice guy and he prides himself on being a tough professor, but if you can let him know that you aren't intimidated and show him you can tell he's really not all that tough, then he will show you his nice side.

If you like a lot of not needed busy work take this class. I think that Hurley forgets that students have other classes as well as his. The work load is not necessary and the farm project is a joke. You can easily just get an old one and basically copy it because he has way to much crap to read. Also Hurley's way of teaching how a farm should be run is completeley mathematical and not realistic. There are many factors that are over looked in this class when dealing with farm management and how a farm is actually operated.

"Dr" Hurley is by far the worst teacher in AGB. He takes pride in failing students because of tic tac B/S. He really does know how to crunch numbers and do formula's but if he had to run a farm, he would be broke and hungry. This guy couldn't grow a Chia Pet! Homework assignments are 12 pages long and tests are extremely hard. This guy has to hate his wife because he spends night and day in his office, beating off with the door closed. Wait to take this class until Howard teaches it again......Trust me.

Okay Hurley, I saw how you had my previous rating deleted you fuck. This guy sits in his office all day because he doesn't want to go home to his fat ass wife. He perves off of every hot girl in his class and gives them a much easier run at things. Make sure to get a hot girl in your group for your project because he will actually help them to get a good grade. He thinks that he is the smartest guy on campus but the truth is that he got fired from his previous position with a dot com so he fell back on teaching to pay the bills(mainly food for his fat ass wife). He is a fucking idiot and will be fired within the next few years. His class sucks and almost seems like you are taking three classes at once because of the extreme work load. Homework takes like 5 hours to do and the tests always come down to the wire. The final takes the ENTIRE 3 hours and is comparable to the BAR exam in toughness. Don't take this ugly fuck he sucks. Fuck you Hurley, Fuck you!

Hurley is by far the worst instructor I have had in the whole of my college career. He gets great pleasure out of belittling his students and trys his hardest to make them fail. He has no pratical farm or ranch experience and is intimidated by anyone that does. It is a real shame that there is no one else that is teaching farm management because someone else could teach you alot more. If you have to take Hurley look forward to the end of the quarter and a cold beer, maby six or eight.

By far my favorite professor at Cal Poly. For 313, I was really scared to take him because of his ratings, but he KNOWS HOW TO TEACH. I did well in that class too. Fall quarter was his first time teaching 328, but I wanted to take it with him. This class was a good amount of work, but not hard. He is always willing to help his students and actually helps you understand what you are doing, instead of just giving you the answers. I recommend taking him for any class. Just be prepared to work and study a lot.

Professor Hurley really wants his students to do well and understand what he's teaching you. At first, I thought this class was going to be super difficult and confusing, but as the quarter went along, everything started to make a LOT more sense. Hurley is extremely smart and can help figure out what is wrong on your Excel spreadsheet in about half a second. During the tests, he lets you ask questions to help either clarify what he is asking, or see if you are headed in the right direction, which is super helpful. His final does take a long time (up to 6 or 7 hours) BUT don't let that scare you. It doesn't take that long because it is so hard and confusing that you sit there confused, there are just a lot of parts to get done. Honestly, doesn't feel like you have been in there for that long at all. Take Hurley for this class.

Hurley was an awesome professor. I was nervous coming into this class because of how hard other students had said the class was. This was not the case at all. He explains the material very clearly and lets you know exactly what he expects on assignments. The class consists of one test (the final), about one homework a week, 5-6 quiz's, and a large group project. The quiz's are not bad if you do the readings. The homework's can be time consuming but you get time in class to work on them. The project is time consuming, but very manageable if you do not procrastinate. The final should be a breeze if you pay attention in class and understand the homework. Going to his office hours is a really good idea if you are stuck, Hurley is more than happy to answer questions and help you with the problems. Over all he is one of the best AGB professors at Cal Poly and just a really nice guy.

Just some general comments about Dr. Hurley: He puts in as much time, if not more into his classes as the students, and he always tries to make his classes sound extremely difficult the first day of class. My freshman year, he scared off a bunch of students on the first day saying his tests were impossible and that many people fail, or something like that. That's not really the case. He also gives study guides which are almost exactly like the tests. Next, my view on 461. I couldn't believe how much time he spent with me on the project, and how understanding he was when I didn't have some things done. He also wants you to do well, but doesn't keep making you redo things until it's perfect. And I don't think he'll give anything worse for a C as long as you have it done on time. I've heard there's easier professors to get for 461, but Hurley is not difficult at all in this class.

This is the first C I have recieved in my entire life. I hope that says something to all of you out there watching their GPA. Do not take him--this class was a nightmare!