Joseph Topich - Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA

Professor: Joseph Topich

Department: Chemistry

College: Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: CHEZ101
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

You'll never even see Dr. Topich and he doesn't grade anything but the online exams. 3 online exams combined worth 55%, lowest one gets dropped. They're pretty hard so take your time doing them. Need 11/12 to get an A on them. But just follow the directions for all the lab reports and those should be easy A's. Don't miss any labs!

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: CHEM110
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Professor Topich is a great man and a great professor. He really cares about his students and what he teaches. He makes class very interesting, he does lecture a lot but they are interesting to listen to. There is not much work involved in the class, a few tests and quizzes and tophat questions in class.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: CHEM110
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Tophat class. I found it similar to HS chem. He truly loves what he teaches and his excitement is very evident. However, it just didn't really interest me since there wasn't any interactive components to the course. There is a quiz drop (out of about 6) and test drop (out of 4). No final, no "real" midterm. Not a great class, but also not bad.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: CHEZ101
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

TAs run the labs. The amount of work given out was decent, although a bit difficult at times. Topich drops your 2 lowest labs and lowest exam so that's a nice perk.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: CHEZ102
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I had Dr. Topich previously for CHEZ 101 last year during the Spring semester. Overall, he seems pretty strict when it comes to showing up for lab since you can't makeup any lab reports that you have missed. With the exams, it's not cumulative it based on the last expts you do, however, there's an option for taking the final exam.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CHEZ102
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

This professor is a complete waste of time, he is very disrespectful and does not care about his lab students. Do NOT take him for lab I promise you that you will regret it. He incorrectly graded two of my assignments and overall makes one wonder how he ever got hired. You will never see him so be prepared to have an email communication.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: CHEM110
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He is a great professor. Easy lectures and material. Quizzes can be hit or miss because they are usually only a few questions so it can make or break your quiz grade. As long as you attend class, you will do well.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: CHEM101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I really enjoyed him, but not the class. He was very funny and really cared about what he is teaching. The only hard thing are his quizzes and tests. His quizzes are between 5-8 questions so it's hard to get a A on them.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: CHEZ101
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

You won't actually see Prof. Topich since a TA will be overseeing your class. The lab reports aren't hard to BS an hour before class but, even if you do bad, Topich drops your two lowest labs and your lowest exam grade. The only way you don't get an A is if you don't listen to the TA feedback or you skipped multiple classes.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: CHEM110
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Rather boring class, and his lectures tend to be everywhere. Will not let you make up a test for any reason, as I had court and he still wouldn't let me. Yells randomly throughout class and tends to not cover alot of material during class, very hard to pay attention. No textbook required

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: CHEM110
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Topich is a great professor. His wife would often assist the class and they are so adorable. Dr. Topich has a great personality and is really funny and is truly passionate about what he's teaching. His tests can be hard at times, but as long as you study in advanced you should be fine. Tests are worth 70% of your final grade so be sure to study

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: CHEZ101
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Two lab tests alone are worth 55% of your grade, and 7/9 lab reports count for 45%. You can work hard all semester and do poorly on the tests and end up with a bad grade, BUT his tests and lab reports are easy. Take this class seriously because it can creep up on you at the end of the semester. Also he wasn't really accessible and did not help much

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: CHEZ101
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

You won't meet him in person and you'll be lucky if he sends out a message/email to blackboard. Your TA is your actual life line in this class. Also make sure to choose a good lab partner who is going to be dependable because doing a lab by yourself is not fun in the slightest. Get ready for an irregular schedule! Most labs won't take all class!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: CHEZ101
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

The class is straightforward. In the experiment folders on Blackboard there are always lists of textbook pages that can help you complete the lab reports. The exams are based on the lab reports so it is to your benefit to do well on them because then you will know how to answer the exam questions accurately. It's a hard class to fail.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: CHEZ101
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Even though the class is run by the TA, Topich provides clear information on what is expected in the syllabus. Pretty easy experiments, and the write ups can all be done easily as well if you give yourself time to figure them out. Drops 1 lab exam and 2 lab grades.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: CHEM110
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Really fun class. Very straight forward; gives study guides before each of the four exams. Extra credit opportunity after final exam; really nice guy, definitely suggest you take this course! Show up and Pass type class; had an A the whole semester until I started skipping. So, simply just show up and it's hard to mess up! TAKE THIS CLASS!!!!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: CHEM110
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Topich was a wonderful professor. He made the class interesting with frequent jokes and his quirky personality. There are four exams that are completely based on lectures and other easy grades that don't take much work. The class is an easy A as long as you show up and listen.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: CHEZ101
• Grade Received: INC
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

The pace of the lab goes faster than the pace of Chem 101 so it is very frustrating doing the lab work because I have no idea what I am doing because I have not learned it in class yet

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: CHEM101
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Boring but easy class. If you hate science, like me, this class shouldn't be an issue. Just show up and take notes on his lectures (PP are only there for visuals). He gives list of topics that will be on the tests. Tests are super straightforward

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: CHEMZ101
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I just have to respond to people who are in Chez 101 and are complaining about this course. For one, professors are not supposed to be there, because it's an easy intro course and it would be a waste of their time, something a TA could handle. Emphasis on easy. Did I say it was easy? Because it is. Theres no reason to not get an A, at least a B.