Thomas Juster - University of South Florida, Tampa, FL

Professor: Thomas Juster

Department: Science

College: University of South Florida, Tampa, FL

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ESC2000
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor juster is a real gem! Hes so passionate about what he does and he genuinely wants to educate the students. On exams hes very lenient and gives credit whenever possible. He also posts questions to help you study for the weekly online quizzes over material in the textbook that never really corresponds to the topics we learn in class.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: GLY4921
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Juster is a super nice guy and works very hard at what he does. This was a writing capstone so of course there was a fair amount of writing, but instructions are clear and explicit and you have an opportunity to meet with him and revise. Attendance is pretty much a must and there are two presentations. Enjoyed the class!

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: GLY4921
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Doctor Juster was a really good professor. He is very passionate about what he is teaching, and he'll be glad to answer your question. There is a lot of writing in this class, but that is to be expected, since it is a writing capstone class.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ESC2000
• 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:

Professor Juster is extremely passionate about this course and wanted to make sure that all of his students also left this class with some knowledge they did not have beforehand. If you take good notes in class and study for the exams with the questions he provides you, along taking notes from the book for online quizzes, you will do great.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: GLY3850
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

This class was an easy B. Very much possible to get an A. He lets you know how class will work and sticks to this: lecture for 45 mins, activity/worksheet for 20-25 mins, 5-10 mins for quiz. Only 3 quizzes will be dropped. There are readings to do before each class but they're mostly videos. It's best if you take notes as needed.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ESC2000
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I had Juster for intro to earth and space science and he was great. He teaches all the material for the tests in class via lectures. There are 7 quizzes about textbook material taken out of class. He offers extra credit. Attendance isn't mandatory but there are activities (worth very little of your grade) given each class. He's very passionate!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: GLY4921
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Doctor Juster is a great professor and very understanding. He does give tons of homework, but his grading criteria is very fair. He wants his students to learn and succeed rather than just giving them a grade.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: GLY3850
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

A RIDICULOUS amount of work outside of class hours. Haven't learned much that will help me as an engineer. There is one month to go.... He loves/knows geology, but needs to remember that he is instructing an engineering class. Zero logic, all memorization. I like Geology less now bc of all the busy work which sucks because I actually like him.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: GLY3850
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

As far as a person, he is a great guy. But as far as a teacher, he is definitely not the best. He has a flip-classroom style of teaching which I personally find very inefficient. You practically spend 2 hours watching very monotone videos at home and in class all you do is homework, and ask him questions. His 15-20 minute lectures are pointless.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: GLY3850
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

You have to work for it. There is a lot of homework every week. Tests are tough.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: GLY3850
• Grade Received: C-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

By far the hardest class I've taken at USF so far, not because of the material but the work overload! Professor Juster assigns SHORT online quizzes before each class (twice a week). The only way you can pass is if you've taken your time to thoroughly study and understand his online lectures. Classtime consists of worksheets that take up all class.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: OCE2001
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Class was not that bad. As long as you go to every class and take notes you should do well. Attendance is not mandatory, but he gives quizzes randomly so you should go so you can take them and get credit The exams are basically some of the questions off the study guide questions he gives. If you find all the answers and memorize them you will pass.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: GLY3850
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This class if by far the most time consuming class i have ever had to take. It is simple and straightforward, you get out of it what you put in it. It is a lot of work though. Mr Juster is a good teacher and is ready to help when ever it is needed. He wants everyone to have high grades, but no one gets them without working hard and deserving them.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: GLY3850
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. J is very passionate about geology. He obviously wants people to have a fair understanding of the material covered in his class (and he covers a lot of material). You'll need to study a good amount for this class (there's no such thing as an easy-A here), but it is a 3000 level course. Don't be afraid. Roll your sleeves up and get to work.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: GLY4850
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Brilliant geologist, knows a lot of engineering related work too. LOTS of participation needed, too much i.m.o. He requires a good understanding of the subject matter, and there is a bunch of subject matter. I'm a senior and I've never had so many different assignments count towards my grade. Borderline ridiculous. Overall, great teacher.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: GLY2030
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

There are hard portions of the class like the exams, he is always willing to help and aid. You can email any questions from the very similar practice exams, theres online discussion before every exam, and you can even you the people around you after a certain point. It was a time consuming class but ive never seen anyone as passionate about rocks.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: GLY3850
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

anyone who thinks Dr. Juster is hard is either not interested in Geology at all or does not want to put in any effort or time. Follow the study guides for the tests and there's no way you should get below a 95. MasteringGeology is a little time consuming but not hard. He gives extra credit on tests plus drops a bunch of stuff.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: GLY3850
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This class isn't easy at all. It's very tough and challenging. The professor is really good, he knows his subject well and he loves what he is doing. His tests are pretty tough and hard. His grading is also hard, due to how specific he wants students to be. Attendance is mandatory due to in-class work worth up to 35% of the grade.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: GLY3850
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

As a speaker/presenter he excels...very informative & has many slides etc. What he absolutely sucks at: determining time needed for his "quizes"/tests, explaining on exactly WHAT he wants as an answer; he only gives points for specific answers but asks broad questions. He uses no book...you will have LOADS of material to read\view. Not recommended.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: GLY3850
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He is a great professor. You will learn a lot in his class. He get's a bit carried away with the work load though. However, he gives you a study guide for everything. So you can get an A, just how much time you have. However, I took this class, geology for engineers, hoping it would be a break...and it's not. Overall, very helpful and nice