Hal Larson - University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ

Professor: Hal Larson

Department: Science

College: University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PTYS170A
• 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:

The content of the class was interesting and Professor Hal didn't require us to buy a textbook which was nice because it saved me a couple hundred dollars. However, the TA Tony is extremely rude to students and is very condescending. Homework is useless but graded very critically and a huge part of your grade.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PTYS170
• 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:

This class was BY FAR the worst class I have ever taken. Honestly, I took this class as a filler to get some extra credits and figured it sounded nice. Day1 was normal but as the first week continued, he incessantly harassed kids that couldn't grasp the topics and would single out kids that did well so that everyone else would feel bad. STAY AWAY

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: NATS101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Personally love this class. Hal and his TA tony are very critical, but know their stuff! You must attend class and follow directions to the T, but getting an A is manageable. This class is very interesting, and you lean lessons useful beyond the scope of the class content. Using the textbook "The Cosmic Perspective" helped a lot with HW assignments

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PTYS170
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Screw this teacher. Larson will talk down to his students and he acts like the class is stupid. He gives stupid homework assignments but grades very hard. If you're not in the discussion class he won't even give you the time of day. He also takes attendance everyday. He acts like he is doing us a favor by gracing us with his presence.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: NATS101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Do not take this class. It's a 170 tier one gen-ed, and it is not worth the effort necessary to even stay afloat grade wise. He makes his students feel stupid, and your study group is only as good as your preceptor is. This is pretty much a physics class. I wish I had dropped it.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: NATS101
• 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:

Teacher talks down to students. Usually in a bad mood. Hated to attend this class, because of the teacher's attitude. Grading is unfair. If you take this class attend his TA's office hours. If you don't go to office hours you will likely do poorly in the class. Worst teacher i have had at UofA.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: NATS101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Even though I got an A, I know that many didn't simply because they didn't do the assignments to the best of their ability. Hal and Tony, his TA, know every student has potential and if they don't live up to that, it'll show in their grades. Go to class, take good notes, plan out assignments and talk to Hal. Oh and join a study group. Instant A

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: NATS101
• 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:

I spent the entire semester stressing over this class. waited till the last minute to do all the projects and even the research report which we were suppose to be working on all semester. i got a B even after i failed BOTH midterms. this class sucks but its easy to get a good grade.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: NATS101
• 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:

Larson is an intelligent man & a reasonably good teacher. However, he is condescending to students and makes **** comments occasionally. Both he & his TA are offensive, blatantly rude and obviously play favorites. So far, I'm a favorite, but it's still disgusting and awful. If you're going to take this class, get ready to be treated like a child.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: NATS101
• 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:

Challenging course. It is in your best interest to attend all lectures. Don't slack off at all. There was about 7 or 8 hw projects, 2 exams, a huge research paper, and a one on one presentation/interview with the professor or teacher. Hal is kind of a hardass. Tony the TA is helpful. No textbook! The book titled Rare Earth contains many of the ideas covered in the course, strongly recommend it for the research paper. Join a study group!

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: NATS101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Most innovative teacher. HW is in form of projects, projects make sure you understand the subjects being covered, and they prepare you for the tests. Tests are VERY hard, but arent worth a lot of points. The portfolio project in place of a final is the best idea from a teacher. You write a research paper, and do a presentation on your development.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: NATSNATS
• 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:

I have never been interested or good at science, but this class really made me grow an appreciation for it. He is a great professor and only asks that you do your best. Your best as in doing all of the assignments on time, attending class, going to your study group, and most importantly going to office hours and speaking with him.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: NATS101
• 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:

Take this class! It will help with all your other classes. It is very rewarding and getting a good grade is not hard!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: NATS101
• 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:

If you HAVE TIME TO WORK HARD and have an interest in science even though you're not a science major if you're taking this class, its pretty great. There are a few strict HWs, 2 free response tests that require lots of studying, and a large research paper at the end. The class is really organized and showing up is necessary. Follow instructions!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: NATS101
• 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:

This class is considered difficult for a 101 by most students. If you pay attention in class, take notes and join a study group, you should do fine. The test questions are online. Also, the HW assignments must be done to the exacting standards of the TA. Follow the instructions and you'll do fine. I'm a freshman, and received an A.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: NATS101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

First and foremost, the homework assignments in this class are very time consuming...on the first day Hal presents a quote and its important to note that this class emphasizes that quote. You'll get an A if you FOLLOW DIRECTIONS EXACTLY AS THEY ARE WRITTEN AND PUT IN THE EFFORT WHICH MEANS JOINING ONE OF THE STUDY GROUPS. My GPA = 3.05 & I got an A

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: NATS101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Unbelievable. It appears as if he was hired to do research and is beyond tired of teaching. You either get 100% or 0%. I watched papers get big 0's written on them at the precise moment they were handed in. The way this class is taught goes against everything you have learned up to this point. You might know the subject, but good luck presenting it

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: NATS101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

the worst teacher I have ever had in my life. do not take this class unless you want to suffer.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: NATS101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Interesting class if you actually pay attention, but also very difficult. Pay attention to EVERYTHING he says and take DETAILED notes. The ?'s in his online notes are the exact ?'s he puts on the exams. If you can answer those ?'s in detail, you're good to go. I bombed the first exam but got an A in the class for a perfect final term paper.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: NATS101
• 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:

Join a study group! The tests are only essay questions, but if you get his notes from online, ALL OF THE POSSIBLE QUESTIONS ARE ON HIS NOTES! Prepare each question before hand in detail and you will do great on his tests. The homework assignments are pretty hard and there is a large paper. Fairly hard for a 101 but getting an A is very possible.