Steve Murphy - University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON

Professor: Steve Murphy

Department: Environmental Studies

College: University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ERS100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

His lectures are saturated with tangents, but you eventually figure out how to pick up on the actual course content. He is very caring and will do what he can to support his students, but you have to reach out. Overall great course and he put in effort to make it fun and interesting. No textbook but there were weekly readings on learn.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ERS211
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Amazing professor who is relatable and cares about student well-being. Learned a great deal from him.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ERS211
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I did not like how he weighted so much of our mark on the final of the 3 projects. He also does a really poor job of explaining the statistics in assignment 2. I would avoid classes with him in the future.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ERS100
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

speak fast than an spacecraft

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ERS110
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Smurph is a really nice guy. He is pretty funny and wacky but his lectures are unorganized. Expect a lot of memes and tangents about 4chan and internet trolls. He also weights your entire mark on one paper and one final, not a great set-up for a first year course because there was no opportunity to see where you were going wrong and fix it.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ERS211
• 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:

Steve is a character! His lectures are confusing you have no idea whats happening and assignments arnt much better. In the end you somehow know way more than you thought and get a pretty good mark. If you ever have an issue with anything talk to him hell make it worth you while with extra time bonus marks just cause or anything he's always there.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ERS110
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

The lectures are long and boring. He is very helpful with all ERS questions. Easy marker

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ERS110
• 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:

His lectures are incredibly confusing. He goes off on the most random rants and never stops to take a breath. By the look on his face, I'd suggest he thinks his lectures are great because there are never many questions when really no one even understands enough to know what to ask. Really not looking forward to taking another one of his classes.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ERS211
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The best part about Steve is that he genuinely cares about the success of his students. Yes, his lectures are hard to follow, but we are given enough time and tools to digest them on our own and I actually learned and was able to articulate much more than I thought at the end of every lecture. Great prof -- I'm very glad he is the department Chair.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ERS110
• 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:

really funny

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ERS100
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I have no idea what I was supposed to learn in this class. All I remember is how "time management is really good". He boasts a lot, which is cool but I'd rather just learn material instead. By the end of it, class size was reduced to like 50 people max.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ERS270
• 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:

awesome prof

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ERS110
• 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:

Excellent prof. Smurph tends to rant and ramble a little too much, making the lectures hard to follow, but he makes the course genuinely interesting. At the end of it all, I actually felt that I learned more in his class than I did in any other, ever.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ERS211
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I learned a lot in this class. His lectures are really hard to follow but if you tag along he is actually inserting a lot of insights. He cares a lot about his students and will help you if you ask.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ERS110
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Steve had some teaching qualities that were appreciated, and some not so much. Every time I went to class I would ask myself why I went and that I learned nothing. He does NOT explain things clearly at all and I never knew what he wanted in the end. Major trouble grasping main concepts. Always offered office hours which was nice.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ERS270
• 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:

Best prof ever

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ERS211
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I've taken many courses with Steve. Although his lectures are hard to follow, he usually clearly outlines what you need to know for exams and you come out of it knowing more than you thought you did! He is extremely accommodating and cares great deal for his students. Very fair as well. I REALLY wish more profs could be like him!

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ERS100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Steve is great. The end.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ERS100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Steve is an awsome guy. He's the most social prof I've ever met. Unfortunately his lectures are really hard to follow.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ERS100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Steve is a great guy. Seems to love his job and is VERY approachable, nice, and helpful. However, the course material is hard to follow..often difficult to pay attention in class and see the "big picture".