Thomas Bania - Boston University, Boston, MA

Professor: Thomas Bania

Department: Astronomy

College: Boston University, Boston, MA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: AS107
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

The worst. Not accessible. Boring. Didn't think you could talk about Alien Worlds and possibly make it boring, yet he did. Worst professor I have had at BU in 4 years.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: AS107
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I found his class to be extremely interesting, he was relatively funny and clearly very passionate. His lectures covered pretty much the entire textbook so it wasn't necessary to read from it. Be thoughtful about your questions because he doesn't take well to stupid ones. His class inspired me to change concentrations and pursue astronomy further.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: AS312
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Genuinely the worst professor I have ever had. Uncaring and rude: mocks students for falling behind and doesn't offer any sort of assistance. I would never want to be in the same room as him let alone take his class. Good luck, astrophysics majors, you can't get out of his class but you sure will want to. He genuinely killed my passion for my major

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: AS107
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

The lectures get more boring as the semester progresses but he posts all of them online so if you miss a class/don't pay attention it doesn't matter. Showing up to the discussion section does impact your grade significantly though, as do the exams (there are three, each 25% of your grade). It's an easy course if you're not good with science.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: AS107
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Not even the textbook helped me understand the topic. I'm not a science person, but I wasn't the only one who walked out of each lecture more confused than the last. There's little basis for many of the claims he makes and his lectures are hard to follow and boring. Do 101 if you really want to take astronomy for your divisional studies credit.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: AS312
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He has very clear grading criteria that if you don't follow will lead to you getting lots of points taken off. Units matter and don't skip any steps. Additionally, this class will require a substantial amount of time for deciphering his lectures. Aside from that, the material is not too hard and it is not a difficult class to pass. Very quirky!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: AS107
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

AS107 is as far from a science-based course as you can get. It's based on loose assumptions and claims with no backing from reality, and it's a complete waste of your time unless you just want the credits. Prof. Bania obviously created this subject around his interest, and he takes it way too seriously. Not very helpful, but not hard either.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: AS107
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Just go to lecture and discussion do the work and it'll be fine

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: AS107
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Honestly, I found it very hard to stay interested during lecture. Bania throws a million things at you when in reality a lot of the information is quite useless.. This class was oddly difficult and he and his TF graded much too harshly, even marking me down on opinionated questions.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: AS312
• 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:

Has good intentions...but his intentions distract him from being a good teacher. Very hard to do well in, but there's always a curve with these sort of classes.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: AS117
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Class is extremely boring. Tests are confusing, unclear, and difficult. The textbook is not needed. If it hadn't been for our T.F., Laura, I wouldn't have passed the class. Without her telling us exactly what to do on the homework, I can't see how I would've figured it out. Prof Bania is VERY smart and nice, though.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: AS117
• 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:

Classes a bit draggy at times, but I was interested, even though AS not my major. Math definitely not in the forefront. Textbooks unneeded. Tests unclear, but I enjoyed the class immensely. Haters stop hating.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: AS117
• 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:

While I sort of agree with the comments below me on the class being boring, the math isn't bad at all. The hardest equation is multiplying a few numbers. Bania's lectures are fairly dull but he will do the best to improve your grade if you go to office hours and put in effot. Tests are difficult but overall, not the worst class i've taken.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: AS117
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

My biggest problem with this class was that there was a huge amount of math to learn and do on the homework. I took this class instead of Chem 101 or another harsher science class so that I wouldn't have to do math. My TA was very unhelpful when it came to this because she just assumed that we were all great at math. This homework killed my grade.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: AS117
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I could not agree more with the rating below mine. Absolutely awful class that I was actually interested in prior to enrollment. Tests are very unclear, the grading is harsh, and the TA was AWFUL. Oh and the two books, worth a combined $100 are completely useless. Do not take this course unless you want your GPA to take a hit.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: AS117
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This class was the worst choice of my college career. It's near impossible not to fall asleep during lectures. Bania and the TA were horrible and EXTREMELY unclear about what to expect on the test. NOT lenient at all, NO help, nothing. DON'T TAKE THIS CLASS.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: AS117
• 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:

Great professor - fascinating class and though the lectures can drag on occasionally, overall I absolutely loved the class. Go to Bania's office hours - he is very helpful and generally nice.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: AS117
• 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:

Professor Bania has been one of the most knowledgeable professors I've had. He doesn't have the greatest lecturing skills, but he really knows his stuff. He makes complicated ideas easy to understand. He has instilled a love for astronomy within me. He is actually in the Geneva Science Convention giving a speech...yea awesome. I recommend him.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: AS117
• 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:

Err... alright I guess. Don't bother buying the text book, you ABSOLUTELY will NOT need it. Just show up for class and listen. I found that his voice put me to sleep a bit so i recommend a redbull prior to submerging yourself in his weird world. He WILL tell you the world is ending and you WILL want to go explore space colonization. Pretty Awesome.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: AS117
• 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:

Very knowledgeable, horrible teacher. Interesting stuff but his lack of public speaking skills put me right to sleep every time. He complains often. Textbook information not necessary (purely supplemental). Only teacher I know who does not promote the asking of questions. Tests are super hard. Lost 10 percent for word choice.