Benjamin Fries - University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL

Professor: Benjamin Fries

Department: Engineering

College: University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ENV4561
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Professor Fries is by far one of the best professors at UCF. This is not to say his classes are easy. I took 3 classes with him and by far they are some of the toughest classes you will take in Civil or Environmental Engineering, but he makes it attainable. If you put in the work you will pass. Great knowledge and great lecturer.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ENV4561
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He's a great teacher, but a bad person. He sees himself as the final judge of whether you should graduate. Nothing you've done matters, just his approval. And if he dislikes you, for whatever reason, you will not pass. Be careful.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ENV4561
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

I've taken over 230 credits at UCF and he's the best teacher I've had. I've taken all 3 of his classes. You'll work hard and learn a lot. The notes are worth paying for, because you might actually use them someday. Go to class. He loves what he does and it shows.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: CCE4003
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Amazing lecturer. Can't say enough good about his real world experience and his genuine personality. He is there to help and makes the subject interesting. His tests aren't too difficult but something engineers will not expect. Multiple choice memorizations are the key to passing. He grades you based on a professional standard.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: CCE4003
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Pros: Doesn't have an accent, no tricks on exams (study the back of the book questions). Cons: He makes you pay for his notes so you know he's earning out of pocket money from broke college students so ask someone who already had it to avoid it, his grading is ridiculous based on nothing so expect a 12.9/13, skippable class only w/o the quizzes.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ENV4531
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

The best professor I've ever had in UCF so far. He really cares about you as a prospect engineer. He takes his time to explain and will push his agenda to take his time with you. Won't help you with the grade but will make sure you understand what you did wrong and will encourage you to fix it and work on it for next exam. The best!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: CCE4003
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

If you're Civil/Enviro you have to take him anyways, he's the only guy teaching his three classes. Im very happy he's teaching at UCF. This class was very easy, I didn't put in enough effort. A lot of common sense things you just need to put in the time to understand every small detail. Make sure you study the questions at the back of each chapter!

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: CCE4003
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I think Mr. Fries is one of the top 3 engineering professors at UCF. I took him in a subject matter I had no particular interest in, and it was made accessible with decades of stories, easy to follow presentations, and he was very approachable at the end of class. Very easy course and a very fair grader. Very easy to listen to

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ENV4531
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

If every professor were of the quality of Mr. Fries, UCF would be a top engineering school. You will learn a lot. He's one of the best professors at UCF. You'll work hard, but its worth it. He makes you buy his notes, but don't think you can get by without them.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: CCE4003
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I learned more about economics in this class than I did in my economics class. Great teacher. His expectations are clear and his note package is very well organized.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ENV4531
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Hands down one of the best professors I've ever had! He makes you work for a good grade, but it's more than possible. Very helpful. Makes the material interesting. And he has TONS of experience which is always a plus in engineering courses. I definitely recommend taking him! (Even though you probably don't have a choice if your civil/env, haha)

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ENV4531
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Great professor. If at anytime you are not understanding the material he will provide as much time as he can to working with you. Lots of experience to share.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ENV4531
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Study his notes to the T and you will pass, if you want an A he will make you work for it. Do not take the class lightly in any way, I made the mistake of doing that for the first exam. He makes the class super interesting and very informative. I have learned a lot from him. One of the best professors here at UCF. And do not skip class!! :)

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: CCE4003
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Tests were easy, barely any homework. He gives attendance quizzes. If you miss 3, he drops you a letter grade. There's a really long term project so beware. My only complaint is that he makes you buy a handout manual for $30 (not including the textbook). The handout is crucial to pass but it's something that could easily be given as a pdf.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ENV4561
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

One of the best Engineering teachers at UCF, his notes and tests are very straightforward. He has a ton of experience in the field so he know's what he's talking about.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ENV45314561
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Fries is one of the best Engineering Professors at UCF. All of his classes require his notes, but you will learn a great deal. His tests are straight forward he DOES NOT trick you. HW is given but not graded, and he gives you the answers. My favorite professor, learn so much from him. Take him if you want a straight forward class.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ENV4561
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Very good teacher at explaining subject... but gives a great amount of notes. Not a fan of ''buying'' his notes (surprised UCF allows this) when he can simply upload the PDF and have students print it. Talks very fast, but is very clear. Tests resemble the HW/example problems.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: CCE4003
• 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:

Talks very fast but I was able to follow his powerpoints fairly well. He has a term project which will take A LOT of time so take it seriously and do not procrastinate it.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ENV4531
• 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:

I love this guy. He's one of the professors who prepares you to become a professional. It's a lot of material to learn, expect to put in many hours of work. I always made some stupid mistake to keep me from getting an A. Assigned homework isn't due, but if you don't do it you'll fail. I did not use the text book. I did use his notes.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: GEO1200
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Fries was one of the best teachers I've had at UCF. Why? Because I still remember everything about the "adiabatic cooling of the Earth", which has zero to do with my major. He makes the most bland topics interesting. That alone makes me take him again. However, he isn't easy. Lots of online hw and the tests MUST be studied plenty for.