Alan Marscher - Boston University, Boston, MA

Professor: Alan Marscher

Department: Astronomy

College: Boston University, Boston, MA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: AS109
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Professor Marscher is great at what he does and he clearly loves the subject. The class isn't that hard if you read and pay attention in lectures but most of the learning can be done through reading his powerpoints and going through the textbook. His songs at the end of the lectures make class exciting and fun.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: AS109
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

This is a great elective for non-science major. If you put in the work this class is and easy A

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: AS109
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

If you think this class will be an easy A you're mistaken. Hws themselves aren't hard, he basically gives you the steps to solving them in his practice questions. Doing well on exams on the other hand require a lot of memory and count the most towards your grade. Even with 2 midterms final's accumulative (unnecessary) so be ready to cram.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: AS109
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Definitely recommend him for non-science majors - from a student used to be bad at science.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: CC105
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Though this class no longer runs, I had a fantastic time in it. I came to BU dreading having to take science courses, but I loved this one and him as a professor. I learned a tremendous amount,

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CC105
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Marscher was a good lecturer and a good discussion leader. As a lecturer he did a good job trying to cultivate interests with videos, demonstrations, and music. Yes. He sings science based songs at the end of class that he writes himself with a guitar. Extremely good as an discussion leader as he wrote the syllabus and gives useful quizzez.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: CC105
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Best professor I met this semester. He is clear, humorous and ready to help. His office hour is a big resource. If you study hard and follow him, you can get good grade.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: CC105
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Marscher is awesome. He's super willing to help you if you show that you care. His lectures are clear and easy to follow and he has no problem explaining things further. Your grade is black and white but if you put in the time and do the assignments and read over the textbook you'll do well. The class isn't hard but its not easy either.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: AS109
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

He's definitely a luminary in CAS. One of the posts did mention that his exams and HWs are unrelated. I think it is true because his HWs reflect the short answer portion of exams while the multiple-choice is definitely drawn from lecture & textbook readings. Sit towards the front of the class but bring your textbook so you can annotate it directly.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: AS109
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Great! Getting an A is as easy as blinking eyes if you choose his class. His class is interesting and he is so nice. I lingered in cosmos even when the final exam was over!

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: CC105
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

The class is not enjoyable, but if you decide to take it anyway YOU MUST HAVE MARSCHER as your discussion professor! He is honestly the only reason I got an A-. He is so thoughtful, kind, learned, and insightful. Without him I would never have understood quantum physics, or the countless other lectures. He is the best! You will not regret it.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: AS109
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Professor Marscher is awesome. I went to his office hours once at the end of the course and I wish I had gone more often. He is so helpful, knowledgeable and interesting. The course is pretty easy if you study and keep up with the slides. He also learned all of our names and played songs about the cosmos on his guitar.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: AS109
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

I took this class in order to graduate. But to my surprise the class is so interesting. If you love ideas of Black Holes, origin of the Universe and the future of Universe, please take this class. Professor Marscher is one of the best Professors I have met in my 4 years undergraduate study. The TA is also very helpful and friendly.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: AS109
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Don't take this class if you're not interested in science. I took it to fill my freshman requirement, but should have looked for an easier one. He's a great lecturer and seems to love the subject, but the tests are difficult and very conceptual. Homework and discussions have nothing to do with tests.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: CC105
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Without Marscher's help, I would have failed Core. I highly recommend going to his office hours; he will bend over backwards to help you out if you're willing to make a sincere effort in his class.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: CC105
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Professor Marscher is so nice. I think he knows that students in Core Science really hate the subject, but he tries his best to help them understand anyway. Genuinely awesome. I highly recommend going to office hours for even more one on one help.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: AS109
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Marscher is a great guy. He loves teaching. Keeps things simple, stresses always that he wants you to learn the concepts as opposed to simple memorization. Pop quizzes make you go to lecture but he keeps them fun, and if you're really good, he'll serenade you about the wonders of astronomy. Loved the dude, loved the class.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: CC105
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

I read somewhere that Marscher is an odd little man. He is just really sweet. He is smart and probably the best professor I have ever had. Explains everything really well with a smile. He's funny and pretty cool. He's the reason for my A

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: CORE105
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Marscher is the man. Sometimes you have to ask the question more than once, just to have him clarify more clearly, but he is always happy to help, respond, and spend time with students. He is a really really awesome teacher and will go above and beyond to make sure you do well. Trust me, if you want to do well, take his section

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: CC105
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

He is a great teacher! To get good grades in his quizzes all you have to do is listen. He also tries hard to make the class entertaining. Really enjoyed his discussion class and all the lectures.