Peter Becker - George Mason University, Fairfax, VA

Professor: Peter Becker

Department: Science

College: George Mason University, Fairfax, VA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ASTR111
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

There are only four grades in ASTR111 and they are the test grades. Every class is the same where he lectures the entire time, so attendance is not mandatory because the power points are on blackboard. Use quizlet for the tests.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ASTR111
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The class is basically only lectures and based off of 4 exams (the lowest gets dropped), he tries to teach his class as if we already know what he's talking about but tries to make his class more entertaining by adding sound effects to his powerpoints.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ASTR111
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

One of the most boring classes Ive ever taken. Attendance is not mandatory as the notes are posted for each lecture. Review material posted 2 days before each exam. Would not recommend as he asks you solve equations on certain exams compared to other professors in ASTR111. Drops lowest exam grade.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ASTR111
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He is a very nice person and an excellent professor. He makes jokes occasionally, and has surprises in his powerpoint presentations. He takes the time to explain concepts and answer any questions that students might have about the material. His exams are hard but fair, as he discusses implications of concepts and does test reviews in class.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ASTR111
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Becker is a competent professor who has fun teaching the lower level astronomy classes. His lectures are entertaining and light-hearted. He is not above spontaneously blasting out your eardrums with duck noises. Really. The content is not difficult. There are four equally-weighted multiple choice exams, the lowest of which is dropped.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: AST111
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Super easy class. The professor did not help me pass the class tho. His lectures were dry and boring. Look up practice exams online and you should be good for the exam.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ASTR111
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

lectures are very long about 60-90 slides per lecture. test covers a lot. book was not useful. study for three days before each exam still barely passed. wouldn't recommend if you actually want to learn. talks about his cats toys to make jokes. sent an email got a vague reply about an exam. but one exam is dropped including the final as an exam so.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ASTR111
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Most of the review material is online, but he includes trick questions! The man is a literal savage.. Do not take this man if you want above a B...

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ASTR114
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I took this as a lab class for my Astronomy lecture. The class was mainly doing labs, he would talk for a few minutes at the beginning of class, but then leave you to it. As long as you follow the instructions of the lab, you should be fine, because you do this in a group. There was also a practical lab.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ASTR111
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

4 exams including the final. he drops one, so if you do well on the first 3, you don't have to take the final exam. His exams are out there if you do some research which is why I did so well.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ASTR111
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

If you are someone like me who hates any science classes and are looking for an easy science class to fulfill a lab requirement, take Environmental with Kim Largen. This class is graded only by 3 tests which aren't too difficult but you really have to study before the exam. Kim offers ton of extra credit which Becker does not.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ASTR112
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Very Very easy grader, just do the work and its an A. I had him for the lab and most of the time it took about an hour and you were out of there. Hes also funny at times and very helpful when/if you need it. I'd highly recommend him for anyone taking Astronomy!

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ASTR111
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Had him for both lecture and lab and he's chill as can be. Tests and labs aren't too tough, and the dad jokes make light of the somewhat dry, but easy material. I'd definitely recommend him if you're just trying to take a science class for Gen Ed.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: AST111
• 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:

His class is fine. You don't really have to go to all the classes because he posts the lectures. He provides pretty good review materials as well. Kinda funny. Overall, pretty good professor.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ASTR114
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I took him for lab and he was pretty cool. He did give us a lot of busy work, but he did help you if you needed help. He is really nice and he is funny. There is no need for a textbook for his lab class. He also has a make-up lab day for those who couldn't make it to a class.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ASTR111
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

He provides study guides before the exams that are almost verbatim to the actual exams with the exception of a ten or so added easy questions that you can find online. I didn't go to class for about 4/5 of the semester and I got an A. Attendance isn't mandatory and he posts his powerpoint notes on a weird website that he uses instead of blackboard.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ASTR404
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Fierce.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ASTR111
• Grade Received: Audit/No Grade
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

This class is by far the eastiest class I have taken at GMU. If you do the review questions and practice exam you will pass for sure. The practice exam has like 30/50 questions on the actual exams. If you go to the lectures and read the book you will get an A. Also drops the lowest grade on the 4 exams, so no final if you do good on the first 3.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ASTR111
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Honestly, this was the easiest science course that I've taken. You do not need to show up to lecture and you can end up with at least a B- if you look over the review material he posts on BB. If you get a 70 in the exam, it would actually be a B as a result of his grading scale. It's very easy, however, don't look over the material last min.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ASTR111
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Study the practice multiple choice questions bc its the same questions in the exam, never went to lectures, failed the 1st exam, and ended up with a "B." Big class of 350 students. Easy grading which is you take 4 multiple choice exams and he drops the exam with the lowest score. Pass the 1st 3 exams and you dont have to show up for the final.