John Hawley - University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA

Professor: John Hawley

Department: Astronomy

College: University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ASTR348
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Hawley was awesome. Funny, smart, and really helpful one on one. A truly great professor.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ASTR3480
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

His presentations are an outline of what he's talking about--what he says is more important and he moves kind of quickly, so I'd suggest using a laptop for note-taking. The tests can be difficult but taking detailed notes really helps you understand the material. He's funny and helpful if you ask him questions, which he really seems to enjoy.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ASTR348
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I loved this class. I'm in no way a science person and I only got a B, but the class was worth it. Hawley is HILARIOUS and a very good professor. I learned so much. The material is utterly fascinating. It's a difficult class, especially if you're not a science person, but I don't regret taking this class to fill the science requirement.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ASTR348
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Interesting material and textbook readings important to understand lecture. Hawley is funny and makes the class laugh 1-2 times each lecture. I always thought I did well on tests until I got them back. Weekly homeworks helpful but sometimes difficult

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ASTR348
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Interesting topic, Hawley is funny, but this class is an OBSCENE amount of work to do well. The tests are easy if you study a ton, but you really really need to put in a lot of effort. I'd avoid unless you're really math/science-y

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ASTR348
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Definitely not as good as I was expecting. He wasn't as funny or interesting as other people have said. The classes were very dull and the book was the densest, most boring textbook I've had during my 4 years here. This class is not as easy as you'd expect!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ASTR348
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Makes a few good jokes but classes are kind of dull. Buy his textbook because it has everything you need to know. Like the COD says, you'll learn about black holes and the big bang. But be warned: if you hate relativity and other physics concepts of the like, choose another class.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ASTR348
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Very good at explaining the material. Even though the lectures can get a little bit boring, he has his funny moments. The book is a godsend and he co-authored it, so use it.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ASTR348
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I took several classes with him. Easily the funniest professor i've had. Kind of a dry sense of humor but he works it into his lectures very well and keeps you listening. I highly recommend any of his classes, especially if you have any interest in astronomy.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ASTR348
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I went to app. half of his classes and didn't find them to be interesting at all. He makes some nice jokes once in a while but he couldn't keep me from falling asleep in 75 minutes. The material is hard. And the book sucks! Don't you underestimate the homeworks! Find his old tests! He doesn't give the same ones but you'll know what's coming!

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ASTR348
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

The funniest professor I've had so far at UVA, and a pretty good teacher to boot. He wrote the textbook, which is a quick read and generally easy to follow; the only preparation I ever needed for his tests and homework. This was one of the most interesting classes I've ever taken, and if you keep up on the reading it's a piece of cake.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ASTR348
• 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:

Yes, he's mind-blowing. Had our huge lecture class of jaded students in a morning class ROFL multiple times each lecture. Sometimes he gets on a roll and really gets the class going. Can be funny and still really teach at the same time. Easy weekly HWs. Tests are ok. Uses his own textbook, it's pretty good just not many pretty pictures.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ASTR348
• 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:

unbelievably smart. kind of reminds me of einstein (similar hair). really funny. material is hard. black holes, big bang, relativity, models of universe. very cool material. learned so much. recommend, but make sure you go to class. i didnt for the first half of the semester, didnt do great on 1st test. hw 15%, 2 tests and a final.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ASTR348
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Absolutely hilarious. Not afriad to make jokes that go over the head of half the class. Oh, he can really teach as well.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ASTRO348
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

This guy is so cool! I'm not even joking. When I get older I want to be spunky like Mr.Hawley. That is truly the only word for him spunky. His class is hard but his lectures are really funny. I want him to be my grandpa!!!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ASTR124
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

This guy is freaking amazing. Not only is the topic great, but this guy is hilarious and I'm pretty sure he has superhuman powers. His lectures can be boring, but the jokes are good and I enjoyed class when I went. Tests are really easy if you read the book.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ASTR124348
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Hawley is great! He's extremely interested in what he teaches. He's also hilarious: "Anyone who compares himself to Galileo today is a crackpot" and "Now put the horse and the cart in outer space. Well, the horse would quickly die. Let's start again. Give the horse a space suit..."

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ASTR348
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Teacher is hilarious had him for 121 too. Makes you want to go to the classes

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ASTR124
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

This man is amazing. I would hihly recommend him to anyone because he excites students during his lectures.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ASTR348
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Ignore the lower level class opinions, because Cosmology is fantastic. Yeah, it's hard, but it's not his fault, it's the subject. He's friggin hilarious and also a very accomodating professor. Chances are that people who reviewed him negatively are a bunch of slackers. I've already had cosmology but I'm going to go just for fun this semester.