James Ciaccio - Fordham University - Rose Hill, Bronx, NY

Professor: James Ciaccio

Department: Chemistry

College: Fordham University - Rose Hill, Bronx, NY

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: CHEM2521
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Very sweet professor who actually cares about his students retaining the information!

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: CHEM2531
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

The demonstrations Professor Ciaccio did before lab really helped when doing the experiment. It is clear he knows what he's doing and is very kind to students who have questions. Would definitely take again!

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: CHEM2522
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Powerpoints are borderline useless because he assumes his circular thinking is easy to follow. It's really up to you to teach yourself the material. Very different style from Saba, so it doesn't make any sense that they share teaching orgo. Semi-helpful in office hours if you have specific questions.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: CHEM2521
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Great guy. He loves synthetic chemistry. He managed to make me love it too.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: CHEM2522
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Exams are fine. You'll learn best by reading the book as opposed to strictly relying on his notes. He likes wearing his safari pants a lot. Orgo II is hard.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ORGOLAB1
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Ciaccio's notes are extremely unorganized but that being said his exams are easier than they seem for lab. He makes them easier than the past ones given by old profs but make sure you get your hands on those because he used a problem or two from them this year. He follows the curve on the syllabus so don't freak if you grade is low (a 75 was a B)

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ORG2
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Ciaccio is a great professor. Sure his style of teaching is different than Saba's but I really appreciated Ciaccio's humor. He was really helpful in office hours and if you understand the homework problems (all of them, yes there are a lot) then you will do fine. He does the mechanisms on the board so it forces you to be more engaged in class.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ORGOI
• 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:

Not a very good teacher. Exams seem to be easier than Saba, because questions are taken directly from his powepoints or from the textbook. His powerpoints are useless for learning, but the problems he posts are helpful. Make sure to study the textbook more so than his notes (the opposite of Saba's lectures). Orgo is hard, but not becasue its orgo.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ORGO2
• 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:

Ciaccio is not as good a lecturer as Saba, but he's a bit easier. The power points aren't that great but his lecture notes aren't bad. It's orgo. Just study.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ORGO2
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Great. Just study

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ORGO2
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Ciaccio's lecture style is all over the place- if you are used to saba, you will be very confused with him. also, i advise not sitting on the aisle because he'll come over and see if you're doing a problem wrong. pretty helpful during office hours though.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ORGOTWO
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Ciaccio is actually a very good professor. Yes, his notes are a little all over the place, but if you use the textbook you will be fine. All of his quizzes are straight out of the textbook, and many of the test questions. DO THE TEXTBOOK PROBLEMS! He assigns a lot (200+ per exam) but they are good practice and will prepare you for the 3 exams.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ORGO2
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

he might seem a little intimidating, but mostly it's because the material is inherently harder than in orgo I. sometimes he's a little unclear and can get sidetracked, but he's just trying to help relate ideas and make connections. tests came straight out of the book, so do the practice problems! better than saba for lab.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ORGO2
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

i thought that this guy was the man.theres nothing really special about him- true,his notes are scattered and not nearly as good as sabas.but he just seemed like an awesome guy.he was always very helpful.i thought his tests were fair, he takes problems straight from the book. "good mechanisms are like potato chips, once you start you can't stop."

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ORGO1000
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He is not like terrible; however, you're stuck with him because Orgo I is taught by Saba first semester, and Orgo II is taught by him the second. (or viceversa) It sucks but, you'll be fine. Quizzes every week, 3 exams. Teaches by ppt, funny, not so nice when you ask a stupid question, the book is a better professor.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ORGOLAB
• 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:

Completely useless. Tests are incredibly hard, lectures don't even begin to cover what's on the exams, and powerpoint presentations are very vague. If you thought he was bad for lecture, just wait until you have him for lab (at least in lecture you could learn on your own with the textbook). AVOID THIS PROFESSOR AT ALL COSTS!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: CHEM2521
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Ciaccio directs his lectures in a very condescending tone - he'll basically drill you if you do not understand what's going on. He emphasizes studying from the Organic Chemistry textbook but that won't help in deciphering his difficult and outrageous tests.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ORGO101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I literally do not go to class anymore. There is no point, he is useless. He is lazy and teaches off of a power point presentation. Someone needs to tell the guy that Chemistry is not a subject to teach using power point. He talks to people like they are stupid and has a nasty attitude every once in a while. Saba is 900X better

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ORGO200
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I love him.. very good teacher and very helpful

Rating # 20

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Professor Ciaccio is very clear and sticks to the course objective. If you pay attention in class and do all the practice problems you will do very well. I did the practice problems and would see him at office hours if I didnt understand something and I got an A in both lab and lecture. If you make an effort he is extremely helpful! Great curve :)