AST 1002
Discovering the Universe
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Prof: Anthony Gonzalez / Fall 2024
Dec 12, 2024
The course was interesting, but some concepts are hard to grasp and understand. I took it for my GenEd credit and it wasn't too bad.
Content is only useful if you want go into a career that has something to do with space and astronomy.
Professor was friendly and made the lectures bearable.
STUDY THE CONCEPT QUIZZES FROM THE BOOK FOR THE EXAMS!! Half the questions on the exams are from the concept quizzes. Also all of the homework answers are on quizlet.
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Prof: Naibi Marinas / Spring 2024
Apr 3, 2024
Not very difficult but focused a lot on the textbook which really is not helpful for me. She has video lectures but it's just a brief overview and will not help you for the exams. It's about the same assignments every week.
It is kinda interesting to learn but sometimes gets confusing. Reading a textbook does not help as its explanations are not the best. It is just basic homework and then a reading and video quiz.
Not much to say because she is not very present as her lectures are prerecorded. She is alright but her TAs are more helpful.
If you do not like learning mostly from textbook, watch some crash course videos on the content and they can explain it a lot better to you with visuals.
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Prof: Paul Sell / Spring 2023
Apr 30, 2023
Material is interesting, Paul Sell is a bit bland in terms of delivery though. It is super easy stuff--the only reason I didn't get an A is due to forgetting about the class and it's assignments as a result.
Interesting stuff. Covers solar system, star formation, various structures, etc. Useful to have a basic understanding of how space stuff works. Homework's due every so often, which are easy. There's a couple midterms and a final. These are super easy in my opinion. So if you study in any capacity, this class should be a breeze. There's an observing project at some point, also quite easy. Several extra credit opportunities. I did not do these, cause I didn't feel like it. But you might as well.
He tried at times to be funny. Maybe it's the nature of the course being a gen-ed, but he was quite bland/not engaging. So much so that I would forget to show up to class.
Study a little bit and show up to class because Paul gives random worksheets that can only be completed in class. If you miss a bunch of these your grade will be bad.
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Prof: Zachary Slepian / Summer 2022
Aug 31, 2022
The course was very interesting and worthwhile even if you aren't majoring in anything relating to astronomy. It was interesting to attend class even though it was 5 days a week. I would recommend you take the course, but beware of the amount of reading you have to do if you want an A in the course.
The course was interesting to someone who hasn't taken any form of an astronomy class before. The class was very heavy on the physics side of astronomy which will be useful in future physics classes.
Professor Slepian was very kind and promoted learning in class. It was easy to approach him with questions and he was very responsive by email.
Definitely look online for the textbook and beware of homework assignments.
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Prof: Paul Sell / Fall 2021
Feb 22, 2022
This course was not an easy A. You have to put in a lot of work to get a good grade. I read every chapter of the textbook and took notes, which I believe is what got me an A. Although Dr. Sell does not take attendance, there are pop-worksheets in class that cannot be made up. Not doing the worksheets can affect your grade more than you think. He does offer extra credit, which is super easy (DO IT!! it is worth it). The online homework is easy (everything is on Quizlet). The observing project was pretty easy, although the instructions are a bit vague which made some parts harder. The exams were difficult. I studied many hours for each exam (I got a B for midterm 1, an A for midterm 2, and a B for the final).
Personally, I found the content interesting. I liked reading the textbook more than the lectures, though. Sometimes the lectures can be very boring and I would not pay attention.
He likes to make jokes during class and they can be funny... sometimes. Ask questions if you have them because he likes hearing questions. I went to his office hours once to go over my midterm exams before the final and he was helpful and nice.
It takes a lot of work to get an A, but it is manageable.
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Prof: Paul Sell / Fall 2021
Jan 8, 2022
Of all the State Core Gen. Ed, this one seemed the most appealing to me. It was not that difficult; the course consists of about 1 hour of homework per week, attendance (worksheets are randomly given out approximately 1/3 of the time), a project (pretty interesting, you observe Jupiter and Saturn then write a total of 5-6 medium-long paragraphs answering some questions, this is 20% of the grade), 2 midterms (I studied 3-4 hours for each and averaged an 80%), a final (studied 6-7 hours and got an 87%), and extra credit (highly recommend, not much work for a 3% bonus to the overall grade). One of the easier/easiest State Core Gen. Ed classes, but keep in mind that it's not a free A: one needs to put in some (not too much, but some) effort in order to get an A. Lectures are interesting enough...read more
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Prof: Paul Sell / Fall 2021
Nov 23, 2021
The class is boring. You have to try to stay awake in class, I took this for the Gen-Ed requirement, and thought it would be a breeze. I studied for the exams but I don't follow the course. You have to try to get an A
No
Funny once in a while but very boring
Not easy
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