Like most ucsb math profs the problem is that he's obviously an expert in his field, but he has zero knowledge in actually educating. I didn't even need this class for credit I just wanted to learn smt but it wasn't worth it at all. Don't take if u have an heavy course-load, if you're capable of self learning everything then go ahead.

Only a few quizzes and tests mattered in this class. Be ready to read the textbook and do the optional problems to prepare. Otherwise, a very straightforward professor with clear criteria.

Pedersen is a highly intelligent professor. The notation is quite confusing especially if you are unfamiliar with actuarial notation. The tests are extremely hard, but luckily he allows open everything so you can use outside resources to help you do well. I would recommend taking this class with Pedersen if you are interested in the subject matter

He grades everything at the last minute. We have no homework, and his lectures are useless. He doesn't give us proper examples or apply what we learn; he just "teaches" us the concept and expects us to understand it. I am not even sure how problems are very difficult; he better curve. Not ready for the final.

Dr.Pedersen is an amazing professor whose lectures focus having all students understand ideas from basic ideas. His explanations on the topic matter is always broadly informed and above all, he cares about the questions of the students. Dr.Pedersen is always readily available, even as he had a rough quarter in other matters he shared about.

worst professor. unorganized and uncommunicative throughout the quarter. all the exams ended up being online but they were all super difficult. would post everything he said he would late. never released the grades for anything even after grades were due. and he missed the deadline so i didn't know my grade until two weeks after grades were due.

Actually no help at all during the entire quarter. Inaccessable by any means of communication, lectures that are just him reading off the textbook, no clear criteria on grading, Its past finals week and still dont know what I got on any of the assignments in the quarter.

We had two online quizzes, a midterm, a final project, and a final exam. He forgot to post study material for the in-person midterm so he postponed it for 10 days and made it online. I'm writing this the day before finals week and he hasn't posted grades for any of the quizzes or midterm so we have no idea of what our current grades are. Hard class

Been suffering from insomnia for a while now, but this professor solved that for me! Monotone lectures read directly off the slides put me right to sleep. Literally struggled to stay awake, only took this professor due to schedule limitations

Though class has no prereqs that relate to finance, Pedersen teaches it as if you're already supposed to know everything he does. Lectures consist of spewed out random equations and no logic/work with a spreadsheet that makes no sense/no explanation of how he got numbers. No hw to supplement, quizzes extremely difficult, no clear structure of work.

Great at teaching staff. He really knows what he is talking about. The class content is hard but I actually started to be interested in finance because of his lectures. He gives notes and materials for you to study the topics too and is very generous in grading the quizzes and tests.

Currently taking PSTAT171 in the spring. I think the feedback got to him, the class has been a lot better this quarter. Three out of the four quizzes are online and 48hr. The final is online but only a three hour window. If the quizzes and final were in person, this class would have been atrocious.