Steven Swales - Ryerson University, Toronto, ON

Professor: Steven Swales

Department: Geography

College: Ryerson University, Toronto, ON

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: CGEO106
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I took cgeo106 its a one week intensive course i thought it was going to be EASYYYYY. I WAS SOOO WRONG! You like have to pay attention to what he says in lecture because his tests are mainly based on what he verbally says. His slides are all pictures there are no words so like there's no getting around not listening. But he is nice.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: GEO141
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He was a wonderful professor, explains very well and is very passionate about what he teaches. He likes when you participate and he doesn't overwhelm you with course work. Notes: show up to his class, don't disrupt his class, take notes he doesn't post slides, he takes long to mark. Would take this class again had a lot of fun with him as a prof

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: GEO141
• Grade Received: F
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

not a sincere understanding prof. unfair grading

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: GEO151
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Attend all his classes, He doesn't upload lecture slides despite the course using a lot of maps. Low frequency voice, so he's hard to hear. He only uses 2/3 hours a week to lecture - Waste. His major assignment is not clear at all. AVOID if possible, least effective GEO faculty member. As an A/B+ student in Geography, I got a C with him

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: CGEO181
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

His way of teaching is very innovative. i did an intensive course with him, it was a breeze, we never stayed for the full 8 hour day. essays are marked fairly, multiple choice test can be tricky at times. oh and his british accent is plus, very humours as well.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: GEO151
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

good prof but the frequency of his voice is too low so it's hard to hear. Sit near the front

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: GEO141
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Swales, although quiet and hard to hear at times, is a great professor. Be sure to attend lectures as he doesn't post his lectures online. Labs are generally easy to understand/follow. Try not to skip labs as overall they are worth about 60% of your final mark.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: GEO141
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

solid guy

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: GEO621
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Very organized, very clear about what to study and what to know and what will be tested on. He's very sweet and he explains and teaches retail and location analysis really well. I highly recommend you take this course with him

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: GEO151
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

One of the best profs at ryerson. Tests are easy to do well in if you come to every lecture, take good notes and read the textbook. Had him for Location, Location, Location. Loved this class, very interesting.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: GEO873
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Probably knows what he is talking about, but you'll rarely get taught that. He mostly half-asses his classes so don't expect anything inspired.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: GEO221
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Swales is the best. He's nice and asks if his tests are fair. When he says to read the textbook, you should at least skim through the chapters. Multiple choice tests and labs, no final.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: GEO141
• 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:

Steven is great!! His lectures are interesting , but his TA's mark a bit harsh. Overall the course was fun.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: GEO141
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

great

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: GEO151
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Amazing prof! Loved his class! Best university class I've ever taken

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: GEO151
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

If you miss his lecturesdo not take notes in class you will not do well, which is fair. The class is easy to do well in if you put in the time and genuinely try to understand what he is talking about which is how it should be. He is really funny and makes classes interesting and fun. Definitely one of my favourite profs at ryerson so far

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: GEO151
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He is funny and very approachable. Tests and assignments are fair and he reviews the material beforehand. He spends a lot of time in lectures giving extra help and answering any questions.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: GEO141
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He's really quiet but really sweet. It's an easy class to do well in because his tests and assignments are really easy and you have tons of time to do them.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: GEO141
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

As long as you follow simple instructions in the lab its an easy A. Helpful when needed. Sometimes talks a little low to hear, but overall a good prof and easy class.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: GEO141
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He never posts any slides online, so you gotta take notes off the things he says (get easily distracted, plus he's really quiet). Whenever I asked him for any sort of help, his answers were not clear. He also never posts grades online, so half the time you don't know what you're getting in his class. Overall, not a very helpful prof.