Donald Rallis - University of Mary Washington, Fredericksburg, VA

Professor: Donald Rallis

Department: Geography

College: University of Mary Washington, Fredericksburg, VA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: GEOG101
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Despite taking the class online (I prefer to take classes in person), Dr. Rallis made the course interesting with his personal blogs and global insight. The online tests were tricky at times, and the fact he was in remote places around the world delayed direct communication, but overall a good overview of world regional geography.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: GEOG101
• Grade Received: D
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I took his course over the summer. He never responded to emails as he was out of the country the entire time. Tests did not cover anything discussed in the course and the material he presented was irrelevant. I sent out an email to my classmates and all of them stated they received either a D of F in the class. Do NOT recommend this professor.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: GEOG101
• 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:

rallis is awesome. you've got to stay on top of canvas because there are only so many assignments and map quizzes, if you miss a few you're pretty screwed and the deadlines are fairly non-negotiable. seriously study for the map quizzes, you can't just skim the atlas 10 mins before class. very interesting though!

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: GEO101
• 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:

Rallis is phenomenal. His perspective on life is interesting and he's traveled everywhere so you're being taught by someone who has personal experience in the subject. The class can be hard if you're not good at memorization, paying attention in class, or keeping up with the readings, but he's definitely worth taking

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: GEOG101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Ralis's class was a low point of my day. I took the class to learn about geography but instead half of each class was dedicated to current events and politics. While he made a decent argument during the first class of the semester as to why current events and politics is related to geography, he went way overboard with it. Not a good 101 class.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: GEOG101
• 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:

Truly a great professor. He teaches from his experiences and provides far more insight into the cultures and identities around the globe than most INAF classes. Lectures were very interesting; expect a fair amount of reading and homework, but well worth the time vested.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: GEO100
• 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:

Professor Rallis is amazing! He is very passionate about his subject and uses all of his own pictures and stories in his lectures. The class itself is fairly easy - a few quizzes, light reading - with very few surprises, grade-wise. Just pay attention and soak in all the interesting things he has to say. A great way to knock out a gen-ed!

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: GEOG101
• 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:

Very easy class, talks alot about his trips to different countries which can make class go by quicker. His map quizzes are easy if you study for them. Can be pretty lenient on attendence but enjoys throwing in pop quizzes if most of the class is absent.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: GEOG101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Dr Rallis is AWESOME! One of my favorite professors here at Mary Wash. His stories are so interesting and really do help you learn about other parts of the world. He is very open to discussion, especially opinions that differ from his, which is always interesting. I'm hoping to take him again!

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: GEOG101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I felt like this class was rather pointless. I started doing the readings only to find they were very dry and not of any use during the year. Everything but the map quizzes were open book, and his lectures talked only about his own travels (a unique perspective but not fascinating. The class isn't hard, its just not as great as it could be.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: GEOG101
• 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:

He is a great professor. I looked forward to coming to class and hearing his adventures overseas. He has a lot of his own pictures in his presentations, and you won't need to take many notes (just note where EVERY picture is from! it'll help later!) Map quizzes require straight memory, Other quizzes/midterm/final were open-book/online. TAKE HIM!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: GEOG305
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Truly one of my favorite professors at Mary Washington. I've taken him several times. He expects a lot of work from you but it's enjoyable and always worth it. He's very experiential- we had class through a web cam when he was in South Africa- and learned a lot because of it. He's really made my time at UMW worthwhile, and I'm not even a Geog major

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: GEOG304
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I love Dr.Rallis - he is the sweetest professor ever. Just thinking about him makes me smile. He wants each of this students to do well, his teaching style is different, he teaches by showing his personal pictures of the region. He is amazing, please take him if u really want to learn about the world. But be ready to write 5-6 papers!!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: FSEM100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Love him!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: GEOG307
• 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:

Geog. of Asia was interesting. His lectures are his own personal slide shows of photos where he has been. He gives a more personal rather than textbook approach to teaching. Keep your papers short. Do the readings and additional research. Study hard for the map quiz(es). Please comment on his interesting blogs. You will learn a lot.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: GEO101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

This guy is great. If you stay on top of the small amount of work that he gives you, you'll pass easily. He wants you to learn and he genuinely cares about his students taking something away from his class. I recommend it for anyone

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: GEOG101
• 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:

gGreat professor. will get you interested in geography. openminded about new ways of learning (online tests/quizzes, skyping class from south east asia). Gives extra cred opportunities. map quizzes are straight forward. list of must-knows are online. use sporcle to study countries/capitals and you'll be golden. highly recommend.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: FSEM100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Take his class and get him to talk about his life history because he's very interesting. His accent is fun to listen to during lecture and he will really help you fine tune your writing by giving detailed criticism.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: GEO101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Great guy! He loves what hes doing and know so much about the class. Traveled all over the world so it goes hand in hand when talking about different parts of the world. Class is extremely easy with open note/ take home quizzes and tests. Very easy class

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: GEOG305
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

This class was alright. There wasn't really a clear structure and it seemed we watched videos more than he actually taught. Understandable, though on a class as broad as all of sub-saharan africa. Rallis is still great though-was really helpful with the research paper and book review.