Julian Tyson - University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA

Professor: Julian Tyson

Department: Chemistry

College: University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: CHEM101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

There is no teaching in this class, just an infinite amount of work. I usually love my classes, but this one is the worst one I have ever taken.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: CHEM101
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

There is so much work in this class for a gen ed. Weekly quizess, weekly papers, 3 tests, and various final papers. That being said he offers lots of extra credit. Also he uses a pyramid style test where half of the test is online at home. Be prepared to work but it is not hard to get a good grade if you do the work.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: CHEM111
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He's a little dry, but he's very knowledgeable and knows what he is talking about. He assigns a lot of OWLs, but he also gives pyramid exams and allows a cheat sheet. There are lots of opportunities to do well in this class. He also posts a practice exam which is VERY similar to the actual.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: CHEM101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

There is so much work for this class it's unreal. I had to write fifteen papers for this class... it's a science course. I highly advise that you don't take this class unless you want to waste your time writing papers I don't even think he reads.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: CHEM111
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Between the pyramid exams and cheat sheets for every exam, including the final, it's almost impossible not to get an A in Tyson's class. You have to actually try to do bad.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CHEM111
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

If you've ever taken chem before this class is a breeze. The OWLs suck and take forever, so make sure you stay on top of them. The only reason I didn't so better in this class is because OWLs are worth 20% of your final grade.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: CHEM101
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Took this as a gened requirement, there is a significant workload, but it is very easy and there are endless extra credit opportunities. 3 exams, with practice exams beforehand that are almost identical to the exam, and makeup opportunities. He gives you plenty of chances to pass in late work and the deadlines are rarely actually kept. iclicker tho

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: CHEM101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Tyson is a good guy. His lectures have iClicker attendance and there are biweekly moodle quizzes. Six 500 word papers throughout the semester and his exams are exactly like the practice exams he posts on moodle. Pretty straightforward class

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: CHEM101
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

You have to attend lectures to get iclicker points. Tyson offers you a lot of extra credit opportunities, pyramid styled exams, and classwork/homework counts more than the exams. Would recommend for a PS Gen Ed.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: CHEM111
• 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:

Wonderful and cares about your success. It's up to you to go to him and catch up if you all behind.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: CHEM111
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

This class is an easy A, especially if you have taken Chemistry in high school. It was easier than AP Chem because the test are all Multiple Choice questions. He also gives Practice Versions before every test that are mandator that you must complete twice. Then when you take the actual test, the questions are very similar. Lots of OWL hw.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: CHEM111
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Don't fear Chem 111, Tyson is the easiest and best professor ever. Exams are given as pyramid style. OWL homework, make sure to do it. Learned a lot. Lectures are clear. IClicker participation is counted so attendance is mandatory. Iclicker is about 10% of your grade so it's basically an easy A added to your grade. Easy professor, easy course.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: CHEM111
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

There are a lot of OWL homework, but its totally worth doing! you learn both from his class and from the owl homework. Also do the practice exams for the exams, because the exam is basically the same thing. tyson is an awesome guy and he just wants you to pass the class! Best chem professor out there!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: CHEM111
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

One of the best chem professors i've had. he is really good at giving many opportunities to succeed. he seems to actually care if students are learning and if he sees you have fallen behind on hw he might email you to tell you to get back on track. He is one of the easiest/ best chem teacher for 111. there is a lot of HW but it does help.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: CHEM111
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Tyson is a great teacher. You learn mostly from the OWL homework each week, but his exams are exactly the practice exams given. Class is not difficult, but attendance is super mandatory. He's fun, and he's a really great teacher.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: CHEM111
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

If you have to take chem, take it with JT. Does everything possible to make sure you pass. Practice exams, iclickers, and lots of OWL HW. Have to put in the work to understand all the material, but hard to fail if you try a little. Best/easiest chem professor.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: 101
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Great guy. Super knowledgeable, and a US leader in his respective field of chemistry. Loves what he does, and has great examples of a lot of his teachings that come directly from his extensive research with Arsenic. If I needed more chemistry classes, he'd be my guy, 100%.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: 101
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Just a terrific interesting class. Learn the basics of chemistry by focusing on the dangers of arsenic in our water and food supply. One of the hardest classes i have take yet one of the most rewarding and interesting. Professor Tyson is awesome. He is THE expert on arsenic, cares about the material and his students understanding of the subject.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: CHEM101
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Professor Tyson is a good teacher, and is very interested in what he does. He is one of the leading researchers of arsenic in the US, so his examples using arsenic are very clear and detailed. He does iClicker attendance, which sucks if you miss a class, but there is a lot of extra credit opportunities. Tests tend to have lots of Q's about readings

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: 111
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Lots of moodle work, you learn pretty much everything there. Class is for clicker participation.