Vibes were strange with this class, and I feel like I put way more work into a technical elective than necessary, but the grading criteria is straightforward and you do get to do independent research on a topic of your choosing.

AVOID THIS PROFESSOR!!! I'm a 4th year ME student at UCSB and Matthys is easily the worst professor I've had at UCSB. The hw and projects are vague and impractical. He is incredibly unhelpful to students' questions. His expectations are unrealistic and he enjoys belittling his students.

Matthys is by far the worst professor I've had in 7 years of higher education. His homework assignments are 4 pages long to say nothing, unclear and his expectations are way too high.

Ok i got A- in ME 152B and got F in this class. Enough said.

This guy is the worst of the worst. Claims his quizzes are conceptual but makes you derive random equations. Refuses to address questions during quizzes and tests. Grading is nonsensical. I thought the HW and the book were actually pretty useful, but unfortunately the exams are completely different. Also makes you do weird feedback assignments. Ugh

one of the worst professors I've had at UCSB. requires 2+ hrs of online lectures as well as being at lecture to make sure you don't miss a surprise test. exams based on derivations not practical use, so make sure you memorize those.