David Fobes - San Diego State University, San Diego, CA

Professor: David Fobes

Department: Fine Arts

College: San Diego State University, San Diego, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ART104
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He brings in professional artists and they give you tips on how to make it in the art scene. You have to respond to the the speakers in three lecture journals (essays). It got a bit repetitive by the end, but it was overall a fun class.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ART104
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Mr. Fobes is a great teacher!!! ART104 is a good class for those interested in how to make it as a creative professional. Working artists are invited to give talks to the class then we write lengthy journals on the talks. Quizzes are open book and you can talk to your neighbors. Lots of extra credit opportunities. Easy group project at the end.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ART103
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Amazing professor! This is my third and last semester with Mr. Fobes and I'm a little bummed to not have him for future courses. He's wonderful with making time with students but is not a mind reader. If you're struggling you have to search him out. He's a working artist but will always make time for his students! Love This Guy!!! Learned so much!

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: A101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I was so disappointed by this professor. The projects assigned were interesting, but he doesn't allow for any creativity. Projects were assigned with vague instructions and then critiqued based on very specific rules that were not mentioned when the project was assigned. Critiques were rich with criticism, but not the helpful constructive kind.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ART104
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Check your email and BB often because most assignments, updates, and extra credit opportunities will be posted every week. Clear guidelines to all assignments and he responds fast to emails. Three journals, weekly course key quizzes and speakers, a research assignment/presentation, and a paper. Fairly easy course.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ART101
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

One of the meanest humans I've ever interacted with. You could spend days and hours on a project you're so proud of but he is so picky that it is all wrong to him. He is good at making you feel guilty or just bad in general. He tears you down just to say "I'm only doing this because it's the real world." He's extremely rude. I don't recommend.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ART104
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Honestly, this class is a tough one to get into for me, meaning it's super boring. The lectures are dry and guest speakers kinda keep saying the same thing so it gets boring after the first few. He does make some good jokes every now and then during lectures so enjoy them when they actually happen.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ART104
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

This class was really interesting and good to take if you want to learn about how artists become successful in the real world. Fobes was a great teacher and made all of the assignments very clear. There was a little bit of busy work but I never worried about my grade in this class. Recommend for art lovers.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ART03
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

3 projects + a group project. This guy is super nice and responds to emails fast. Sometimes his grading is confusing. You have to use blackboard a lot to do "journal entries" to document how you did your project. He uses coursekey to give quizzes on readings he gives and to take attendance.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ART101
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Mr. Fobes really cares about his students and will do as much as he can to help them get the grade they want. He is VERY accessible outside of class and willing to help students extensively on their projects. This course does, however, require a lot of work and time outside of class. It is also very easy to fall behind in this class.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ART103
• 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:

If it's avoidable, don't take classes from this professor. It is very difficult to receive any help from him, and he expects students to read his mind on what he wants from a project. He doesn't explain projects clearly and can be very discouraging towards individual ideas/innovation. (The opposite of what an art professor should be) Don't take him

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ART103104
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

BEST PROF EVER. Took Fobes for Art 103/104 and wish I could take more. He is well known in the SD art scene. He was the art advisor so he knows his stuff. In Art 103, DO SOMETHING BIG/CRAZY/REVOLUTIONARY. He will 98% be down for it and help you with every step. Meet with him, show you're a hardworker, get on his good side, and he will love you.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ART101
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He's a really good teacher if you go to him for assistance. He seems to really enjoy helping students succeed. Genuinely nice person and clearly has a passion for art. Best art teacher I have had yet. However, you have to work hard in his class to get an A, but its worth it. I've learned so much about design, art, and myself through his classroom.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ART101
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Fobes will make you work hard for your grade, better have photoshop downloaded to your computer. He confuses students when he explains projects, and hes strict on attendance. However, if you ask for his help, only given during office hours, he tries to help you as much as possible.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ART104
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He knows what he wants and you won't do well if you try and cut corners. You better have a car for all the off campus extra credit and ASSIGNMENTS! Tough grader, very picky about what he wants but if you go to office hours he will help you A TON, extends deadlines and will change grades. Takes attendance for credit.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: 103
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

If your not his favorite, you wont get help. And if you need help you have to constantly hunt him down. Basically you need to figure things out yourself-like how to wire a lamp. Also, if your style isn't HIS style and if your not one of the favs then your grade will not be as high. Good luck aspiring artists!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ART101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

A lot of work, but well worth it.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ART101
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Loves art and is there to help you improve skills and provokes creative thinking. He has a very high standard for his students which is absolutely necessary as an artist. Had him for 2 classes and he was fantastic! He also really works with you when it comes to deadlines and creative license when you reach out to him.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ART101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I did not like him AT ALL! Attendance is mandatory or you get marked down, he's picky so nothing is ever right, he doesn't answer questions directly he just dances around your question then your still confused, and majority of the stuff you do in class is a waste of 3 hours! I definitely don't recommend him!

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ART103
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Fobes deserves more credit then he is given. Yes his class is difficult and he is picky about your work, but if you ask lots of questions, show enthusiasm, and put in a lot of effort you will enjoy his class. He really knows what he is taking about.