Roy McCord - Irvine Valley College, Irvine, CA

Professor: Roy McCord

Department: Science

College: Irvine Valley College, Irvine, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ASTRO20
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Mr. McCord was a good professor, took him as my first college course while still in high school. He lets you use your notes on the test and the test is solely on the power point. He says you need to read the textbook but I never did and got an A. He frequently did live demonstrations of things like physical laws which brought life to the class.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: AST20
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Very unprofessional in his lectures. Used a lot of words to "fill in" his powerpoints. Very unclear with expectations

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: AST20
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Don't reccomend

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: AST20
• Grade Received: D+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This class is somewhat difficult. You have to work for the grade and it is not an easy A. He is very unorganized and very unclear about class expectations. If given the opportunity to take astronomy with a different professor then do so! Class is very challenging because of confusing directions

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ASTRO20
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Luckily he is retiring so you won't have to take him.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ASTR20
• Grade Received: F
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Do not bother with this course.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: AST20
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He was an alright teacher. He was very nice and fun in the class; however, he is not very clear on answering questions and will tell you to look at the notes. His power points were not very clear. You DO need to study for the tests or you won't pass. Overall, he was a decent teacher at best.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ASTR20
• Grade Received: F
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

McCord does not care about his students. His lectures were pointless. His tests were each 50 Questions. 4 Tests, 1 Final, 1 Group project, 1 Field trip, and you had to buy his scientific notebook from the bookstore. All open note tests, which are pointless. You could have written every single word in the text book and STILL manage to fail each test

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ASTRO20
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This class is a joke. McCord is one of those professors who loves to make his students feel dumb. DO NOT bother asking him any questions, he will only make you feel dumb. He always curses in class and his course is such a waste of time. You do not learn anything. I don't even think he knows what he is lecturing about.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ASTR20
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Oh Roy... where do I start? This class was so boring I couldn't help but sleep. His tests are so different from the lecture material. He sounds so unenthusiastic and just drags the lectures on for too long. If you really have to take this class, go ahead but if you really have a choice, don't take astronomy in the first place.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: AST20
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He actually cares about whether you understand the material or not. He explains everything thoroughly and will even use experiments to really show how everything works and that it's factual, so that you aren't just taking his word for it. The tests are easy peasy, so long as you take good notes. All if his tests and quizzes are open notes!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: AST20
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He is one of few professors I can stay fully focused the whole time during lecture. Seemingly casual and hilarious, but professional. If you really listen during class, you will understand the concept instead of merely memorize. Stuff you want to memorize can be written on notebook, which you can bring in for exam. Respect.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: AST20
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Highly recommend McCord for an easy science credit. Very funny and easygoing and understands his students aren't going to become astronomers so any math is optional. You can use notebook on all tests including final, which are heavily based on the lectures so take good notes. homework is not required either and I haven't opened the textbook once

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: AST20
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

My favorite professor so far. Astronomy class was very amazing thanks to him, 10/10.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: AST20
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I took this class during the spring of 2016, this professor is very unenthusiastic and at times can make you fall asleep. However, this class is not hard; it's a drag. All you need is a specific astronomy note book from the student store and take good notes (literally) and you'll be fine.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: AST20
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Attendance is 25 percent of the grade- go if you want an easy A. OPEN NOTE-BOOK! PROJECTS is just only follow directions-easy A. Tests? Drops lowest grade out of 4. Study guides are basically the test. Final is the previous tests mashed into a 50 question test. He even curves the tests if a lot of people get the same questions wrong.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ASTR20
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Astronomy class can't get easier than this class. Final has questions pulled directly from the chapters exams. Just put in the right amount of the effort and you will get that A.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: AST20
• 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:

loved this class! show up and take decent notes in your notebook and you'll do fine. very clear on instructions and expects you to follow them exactly. highly recommend this class to everyone.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ASTRO20
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

As a person he's nice. As a professor, eh. He goes through his lectures pretty quickly, but he puts up the powerpoint online, (you get an advantage if you go to class and listen to lectures, because he'll show some slides that aren't online). Class is mandatory to understand the pp. open note for quizzes and test, be organized in your notes.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ASTR20
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Don't. Just don't. It makes me sad I'm leaving a negative review on such a great guy but the class was honestly a let down. The lectures were fast and all over the place. He goes on rants about things that aren't class related. Come test time I never felt prepared from class material even after reading the book and taking SUPER thorough notes. :(