Al Costa - Tidewater Community College, Norfolk, VA

Professor: Al Costa

Department: Biology

College: Tidewater Community College, Norfolk, VA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: GOL111
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Costa is very knowledgable about marine biology. I took the online lecture and in-person lab (obviously). You have to pay attention in lab and take notes while learning online. The online course requires testing at the testing center, so be prepared. The research paper isn't hard to do either. I recommend him.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: GOL112
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Very straightforward class format to follow. Easy to get an A if you do the work, just don't expect easy street. He can be easily agitated, but he's not impossible to deal with. Two trips, plenty of labs and papers, tests _can_ be ambiguous. Had no interest in the class at first, but I walked away with some interest and a sense of accomplishment.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: GOL112
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

At first I thought he class was going to be hard, but he gives you what needs to be done and as long as you do it, you will pass. He can be rude. Please be prepared to be in the lab for at least a hour or less, hour and half max. Whatever you do just take his class online. I RECOMMEND

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BIO101
• 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:

Dr. Costa is awesome!!!! I had him last semester for Bio and although he's tough you ACTUALLY Learn if you go to class and study. He's fair but tough. :-)

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: BIO101
• 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:

Dr. Costa is hard but fair. If you do the work you'll do well in his class if you don't you wont. The great thing about Costa is that after it's all said and done YOU KNOW the stuff he's taught you. I'm glad I had him. I thought he was great.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: BIO101
• 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:

Great teacher! Book was never used, so it was a waste of a purchase. He puts everything in a power point...easy to follow and the test are simple m/c and t & f with 3 short answer questions

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: GOL111
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

He is not a bad or mean teacher. And he does have patience, just not for people who ask/ talk about unrelated stuff. If he's talking about currents, don't ask about whale social structure. Everyone is rating him on personal opinions... his personality doesn't matter if he teaches clearly, is helpful, etc (i.e. the rating system on this site)

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BIO101
• 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:

Good Dude!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: GOL112
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Hes a cool guy. If you do your work and study you should have no trouble passing with flying colors....take the online class, its a breeze. stay on his good side by getting to class/lab on time and make sure he knows you, and youll actually find the class very enjoyable.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: OCEAN111
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

He obviously does not want to teach. His lectures are boring. He reads off of the PP that the publisher sent him. His tests are straight from the quizes. He's easy because you don't have to think... just memorize the quizes. Ask a question and you will get a rude answer. On the plus, he grades on a 1,000 pt scale so it's easy to get an A.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: OCEAN111
• 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:

Great teacher. He will work with you if your not a bum. He answers all your questions in class and lab. Take this teacher and you will not regret it unless your a lazy student.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: GOL112
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Quizzes are easy and tests come right from quizzes. Always answered questions in lab and class. As long as you aren't a bum yourself and do lab/quizzes, etc and come to class, he's not that bad. If you start to slack off, he has no time for you.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: BIO101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Costa is a burnout. He is an angry person and takes it out on his students. Do not take a class with him. I cannott believe they allow someone like him to teach, he should take an eternal sabbatical. A terrible and unpleasant experience. The worst teacher I've ever had.

Rating # 14

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

WOW! Watch out for this one! His lectures are not that bad, and the test questions are right off the quizzes which you can only take thru blackboard. Good luck with his labs! They are VERY confusing and only make you feel stupid! Lastly, he grades EVERYTHING! If you don't slack on his assignments and study a little you will pass his class.

Rating # 15

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

This professor should not be allowed to teach, he is very unhelpful, and treats students like idiots. Professor's should help us do better not hold us back. DO NOT TAKE THIS PROFESSOR!!!!!!!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: GOL111
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He is impatient and no tolerance for questions. Treats everyone like idiots.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: GOL112
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

run for your life! if possible, take somone else. not helpful or patient, not willing to work with students, in my opinion. good review for tests, that's about it.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: BIO102
• 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:

Great teacher. Easy to understand, gives good exam review, I would recommend his class to anyone.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: BIO101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Who in the hell did say he was hot? Was it you, yourself, Dr. Costa? Thats cheating and... gross. This guy was the biggest jerk of my entire TCC academic career. Run for your life, do not take him, take Dr. Brown instead.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: BIO101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He allows us to learn at our own pace, he lets us do lab based on our own speed