Joseph Nicholas - University of Mary Washington, Fredericksburg, VA

Professor: Joseph Nicholas

Department: Geography

College: University of Mary Washington, Fredericksburg, VA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: GEOG110
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Nicholas is a great person but he isn't that great at teaching. The class is based off the textbook and he goes more into depth about it during class. He's not good with explaining material that will be on exams and grades are based off what he wants rather than material. He is willing to help but make sure you REALLY understand the material.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: GEOG110
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Joe Nicholas is a cool guy and is clearly enthusiastic about his subject matter. He cracks a few jokes here and there that you don't see coming and he will give you a good laugh now and then. I will say he has a tendency to get off track sometimes, which makes it difficult to know what to study for his quizzes (which are every week) and tests. He also doesn't make his expectations for the labs very clear, so I suggest going to his office hours for clarification. My biggest tip: read the textbook. It's easy to find what he's talking about and it just gives you a better understanding of what's in his lectures. Over all I enjoyed this class and I'm taking another class with Nicholas next semester.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: GEOG110
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He is a great professor that really does love what he teaches. I really learned a lot in this class, but it was very stressful. He does expect a lot from the students from just an intro class. Labs are a lot of work and are graded tough. Go to class because most of the test comes from lecture. He is funny, yet really helpful. Just hard class.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: 110
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This class is not easy at all. The name and course number are enticing when looking for an easy gen-ed, but you are completely wrong if you think that this class is going to be easy. Labs are pretty involved for intro level class and exams are fairly difficult.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: GEOG110111
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

THIS IS A HARD CLASS. You will not pass if you are on cruise control. The labs in 111 are great grade boosters. But if you plan to take this for Gen Ed, I would avoid it, unless you think you will do well.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: GEOG110
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This. Class. Is. Hard. There's no way around it and it was definitely the most difficult class I took this semester. Do not take it for an easy gen ed, you'd be much better off taking something else. Joe is a really nice guy and helpful if you need it, but if you're not very interested in Geography just don't take it.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: GEOG110
• 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:

Dr. Nicholas is one of the best Geography professors. He is incredibly enthusiastic about anything he is teaching, and will really help you to understand the material. Landform processes (111) is definitely easier than Weather and climate (110), so be prepared. Read the book for tests because he will pull questions from it. Great class. TAKE IT!!

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: GEOG327
• 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:

Not an easy class, but Dr. Nicholas is a great professor! Very helpful. The topics can be tough, but if you come to class and read the book, you'll be fine.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: GEOG110
• 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:

I thought this class would be easy because it was a 100 level. My Mistake!!! Pay attention to what he says and do the readings!! Labs are pretty easy, the hardest part would have to be his quizzes.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: GEOG110
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Joe's classes are not necessarily easy, but they are absolutely great. His classes truly reflect the field of geography. Realize you're at UMW and the best professors you have don't usually hand out As. Attend class, listen to Joe, read the book, and listen to Joe. As already said, if you do not take a Dr. Joe Nicholas class, you're missing out

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: GEOG325
• 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:

worst class i have ever taken..ever!No matter what you do you just cant win. Everyone has a C or below. Do not take climatology, its about physics of air.just dont do it to youself. Joe is nice but he's crazy when it comes to expectations.if we didnt learn it in class or it wasnt in the book how do you expect us to get the questions, right?

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: GEOG110
• 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:

Wow... I agree this class is not that hard if you're not an idiot! Pay attention in class and you'll know whats going to be on the tests. And if you think these tests and labs are hard, try taking an intro chem or bio class!

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: GEOG110
• 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:

A word of warning- DO NOT take this class just to fulfill your gen eds because you think it will be easy. It's not. Joe is a funny guy, and gets really excited about dorky geography stuff, but is absolutely terrible with explaining the labs. My classmates and I have all had way more trouble with the labs than we should because he doesnt elaborate.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: GEOG110
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Boring. If you are a geography fanatic then take it by all means, but I am not. I thought that for a gen ed class, it could have been a lot more interesting. Then again, if you're not into science there probably isn't a whole lot out there that is better. Just be prepared to not do well on tests, and get very frustrated sometimes.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: GEOGRAPHY
• 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:

As someone who isn't usually interested in sciences, Joe makes a hard class tolerable. Physical geography has A LOT of material. It would be just plain dumb to expect such a class to be easy. Don't take Joe's class if you want to breeze through an elective without learning something. Joe's class is hard, yet always amusing. You gotta respect Joe.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: GEOGRAPHY110
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

i loved joe, he was really funny and sweet, but do not take this class unless you're really interested in geography. i learned way more than i ever wanted to know about clouds, climates, and soil and it was so boring. his tests were really hard and the labs could be hard too because we didn't do most of them in class, you had to take them home.

Rating # 17

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Hey guess what these two classes are not that hard if your not an IDIOT. Get a 100 on the labs 75s on the test and you'll get a B. What more cna you ask for? He is by far the most entertaining, interesting, genuine man at Mary Washington. If you graduate without a Joe class, its a damn shame.

Rating # 18

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Yes, this is a hard way to get your lab science Gen Ed out of the way, but it can be a really fun class, especially since Joe is a very funny man. Should be an EA class.

Rating # 19

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

I don't care what people say, Joe is so funny and friendly it makes the class worthwhile. Tests really aren't that bad, and you can usually get extra points if you talk to him after. Most of the stuff I already knew anyway. Easy B. Labs are easy too, usually last 30 mins.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: GEOG310
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This guy goes off on tangents like you wouldn't believe. The tests are HARD even when you go to class, read the texts and take notes....picks the most minute details and is more interested in telling you about all the places he's visited that are on the syllabus instead of anything about geography.