Jerry LaSala - University of Southern Maine, Portland, ME

Professor: Jerry LaSala

Department: Physics

College: University of Southern Maine, Portland, ME

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: AST100
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

No doubt, this Professor is top in his field. What an incredible opportunity to be taught by such an amazingly talented expert in astronomy. Loved the class, and so appreciated his expertise. Kind and easy to understand. Everything is reviewed in class for the 3 tests and optional final. Class notes are crucial. Also has an amazing assistant!!!

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: 100K
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Amazing professor! If you email him, he'll work with you. The tests aren't hard as long as you are studying. Extra credit is available. He cares about all of his students - even in a classroom with 100 students! Optional textbook!

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: AST100
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

You will take 4 tests and that is it. For our class he made the Final optional and if you didn't take the final he would average the grade of your first three finals. If you need extra credit you can email him and he will give you the criteria to write an extra credit paper for 5 points to your total grade.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PHY111
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Prof Lasala is the BEST prof Ive taken in the Physics department. I took PHY 111 and 114 w/ him SUMMER16 and got As in both. He allows you to have a cheat sheet front and back for lec, he also allows you to retake an exam of your choice that you didn't do so great on. For lab he allows you to redo a lab writeup if you think you didn't do well.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PHY111
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I took PHY111 at USM this summer, and Dr. Lasala made it so much better than I thought it would be. A 12 hour week of showing up to lecture and lab, but outside of class I didn't do too much more! He is a wonderful guy and really wants to see you pass! He allows one page of notes, front and back, on every exam. That was a lifesaver!

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: AST100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Super easy class. Show up, take notes, and there are 4 exams and you'll pass

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: AST100
• 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. Lasala is very knowledgable about astronomy, and very interested in teaching it. He doesn't give homework, just tests. Go to class, study, and take notes and you will get a good grade. Tests are multiple choice, and are based on notes, not on material in the text.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PHY111
• 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 summer class was so worth it. Dr.Lasala understands the limited time we have, so he allows you to have a cheat sheet for the exams which is so helpful! He gives tons of partial credits and wants his students to succeed. I had no prior physics knowledge, yet I pulled off an A in the summer while working 40hrs/week and taking another class

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: 100K
• 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:

Lasala is a great professor! Took this class over the summer for 6 weeks-worth every penny! Had me engage with all his lectures, no hw only 2 exams

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: AST100
• 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:

I took this course in a six week summer format. It is easy in the sense that there is no homework and no textbook required (lecture only), but the exams do require that you pay close attention to what is happening in lectures (don't skip!) He gives "practice tests" before each exam that are very close to what will be on the actual exam.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PHY111
• 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:

LOVE him! What a great guy- he is so fair with tests, and as a summer class, even though there is a lot of work, it is extremely manageable with my full time job and living an hour away from campus. Highly recommend.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: AST100
• 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:

Is stupidly smart about astronomy and science in general. Has many funny comments and no homework in the course I took. I would very much recommend him as an easy teacher and you will learn a lot if you don't fiddle around in the class

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PHY111
• 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:

Took this over the summer. He is very example driven with his teaching, and his exam questions are modeled off of an example problem or a homework problem.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: AST100
• 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:

Super smart guy. Very knowledgeable about his field. Willing to take extra time to help out, make up tests, etc. It was great to teach Astronomy with a guy who knows physics and could answer higher level questions.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: AST101
• 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:

Took the into to astronomy class to fulfill my K area. As it is a big lecture style class, he does not take attendance. The tests are easy if u actually show up to every class and take notes. He let me re-take a test in order to improve my overall grade. The final is an easy A because its just all the questions from previous tests. ASTRO LAB SUX

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: AST103
• 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:

All you need to do is show up and take the notes. All exams are ONLY WHATS COVERED IN CLASS no out of class reading needed. He knows his stuff and is a great professor. I took this too fulfill my science and don't regret it! Take it for an easy grade and knowledge of all sorts of things!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: AST100
• 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 is amazingly easy. Just pay attention during the lectures and you will be all set. The man is very knowledgeable on the subject and he seriously enjoys teaching it. I had a friend who only goes to class for exam days and she is getting an A because she follows along with the textbook.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: AST100K
• 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:

Simple class and simple man. Show up, take notes, take the tests, and do well on the final. Four tests and that's that. He's a great lecturer and can really keep 100+ people captivated talking about parallax and retrograde motion. Piece of cake!

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: AST100K
• 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:

Jerry is great! is very knowledgeable about astronomy, and I can tell he loves teaching it. Tests are all multiple choice, even the final. Attendance is not mandatory, but recommended if you want a good grade. Pay attention, take notes, and you'll be fine. Use all tests to study for final, he takes q's right from those! GREAT teacher!!

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: AST100K
• 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:

He is SO smart! I suggest taking an astronomy class with this professor! Tests are all multiple choice, but if you attend class you will know everything covered in this course!