James Durbin - University of Southern Indiana, Evansville, IN

Professor: James Durbin

Department: Geology

College: University of Southern Indiana, Evansville, IN

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: GEOL261
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He cares about how you do, just do your work and try your best. He does anything he can to help but you have to actually try. Really funny and a goof. He will talk your ear off about literally anything, lots of fun.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: GEOG112
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

This is one of the easiest core 39 science classes at USI. As long as you take notes in class and go over the powerpoints an A isn't hard to get. Nearly the entire grade is based off tests which there are 5 of but I didn't find them particularly difficult. I'm not a big fan of the teacher but I feel like I have learned more than I expected i would.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: GEO112
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Nice teacher, kinda scatterbrained but overall good choice. As long as you show up to class you'll be fine, he gives random attendance checks.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: GEOG112
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Great guy in and out of the class room. He knows what he is talking about. I loved this class. Even after the class I will look around be and online to find new things about the topics learned and to use what I have learned to read the sky and environment around me. Is and easy class if this is what you like to learn about!

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: GEOG112
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This professor teaches by using a powerpoint which is very light in information as this is a tactic used to get you to come to class, the important info is everything the professor says and if you are not good at remembering everything a person says in about a 50min period I would not recommend this professor. Interesting class with difficult exams

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: GEOL407
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Durbin is all about Geology and will chat your ear off about it. He's very helpful if you reach out to him with studying or an assignment. Make sure to 100% pay attention to lectures and be ready to apply lecture material to lab. Field trips are extra fun. Don't slack off, especially on the final research project. It will show.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: GEOG215
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Durbin is one of the best professors in the field. He is so knowledgeable and is known to just start ranting about things (climate change, movies, etc). It amazes me how much info his brain holds. You have to study & pay attention but is you do that you can pass with an A. Few assignments but lengthy when you get one. This class was so interesting.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: GEOG112
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This class was great. Prof was organized, and material was interesting. Slides on exams were hard, but they came from the slides posted and shown in class. Has his own web page that materials are posted to. Doesn't require a text (I bought a used one though and it helped!) Sarcastically funny. Would recommend if you like knowing about our planet.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: GEOG112
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Durbin is a passionate about geography; & I would usually say this is a good quality for a teacher to have. That being said, this class is very hard for a 100 level class. Long tests, & they always have 2 essay questions. Tests are detailed & didn't seem to focus on things on the study guide. Wouldn't recommend if this is to fill core requirement

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: GEOG112
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

There isn't a textbook and and he doesn't use Blackboard. Gives out extra credit if something happens in the news (earthquakes, etc). 4 tests and a final. Lectures can be boring at times, but there are also some pretty cool topics like space and such. I took this class to fulfill a requirement for the core and it was pretty easy. Take notes pass!

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: GEOG112
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Super funny. Take notes to pass. Tests are kind of difficult, but he curves every single one.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: GEOG112
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Durbin was a great professor. He really was passionate about his lectures. Make sure you take good notes in class as he goes into detail on the power point slides. The tests are based off of the power point slides and your notes you take. I only had one assignment this semester along with 4 exams plus the final. Easy A if you take good notes.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: GEO112
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

he's a great teacher and very passionate about geology. if you are into this kinda think you'll do great. if you're not you need to study for the tests. they are based off of the power points, almost exactly. its not hard if you pay attention and go to class. over all he was an awesome teacher and a fun class

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: GEO112
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Durbin is actually an awesome teacher but i have no choice but give his teaching a bad review because his class is hard. if your passionate about this stuff, youll love it. if your just in it to get a class out of the way like me, probably not. you have to take GOOD notes. his study guides are open ended-requring your notes not just the slide

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: GEOG112
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

It's a lecture class. All notes are on PowerPoint. He does random attendance extra credit. Not the hardest class but not easiest either. Im not good with Geography Geology stuff but I'll probably get a B. You have to study memorize a lot to pass.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: GEOG112
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I can't even express enough how much I loved this class. Durbin is very passionate about his work. This class brought my love for science to life. As long as you take good notes, paid attention, and study your notes good you'll do fine. I thought I was going to bomb the class but got a B! I love his teaching style and his material was interesting

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: GEOG112
• 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:

Durban is a good teacher. Tests were hard, especially the slides. But if you go to the web site and pay attention, almost all the pictures he shows on tests are online in his lectures. Wish there were some more assignments so all the points weren't from tests. Book not required, which is good, but I used one I got at the library. It helped.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: GEOG215
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Durbin is a good teacher. He's passionate about the science, and the students in his class. This class should be required for everyone who wants to understand about climate and how climate works! Wish there more assignments to earn more points, but tests weren't too bad and were curved.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: GEOG112
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Very uninteresting class. Hard to stay awake and tests were very difficult. They made you feel so rushed over PowerPoint slides and it was a picture you may have seen once in 4 weeks trying to guess what it was and stuff about it.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: GEOL261
• 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:

If you want to learn, Durbin is one of, if not the, best teachers in the department. You will his class feeling like a true scientist. Take lots of notes and be prepared for "disappointed dad" lectures. He wants students to pass his class with as much academic knowledge and life advice as possible crammed into their heads and that's a good thing.