Dennis Varley - DeSales University

Professor: Dennis Varley

Department: Humanities

College: DeSales University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: WC140
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. V's class was honestly really interesting and I actually paid attention to his lectures. HOWEVER, his grading is ridiculous and would take off multiple points if you missed a period in your sentence. Its nearly impossible to get full credit on papers and he takes off points for no reason. I wouldn't recommend.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: WC140IRISH
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Varley is a notoriously tough grader. You can put word for word what he said for class on an open ended question and still not get full credit. He refuses to let people leave the class for any reason during class time, and acts like his classes should be your most important class.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: FA366
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Absolutely the worst professor at this university. Be prepared to memorize 19 different works from composers by their title, movement, and speed. Have to have the exact spelling. Grading is very unclear, you can write down exactly what he says in lecture and you will still get points off. Test/ quizzes are difficult. If your an athlete, don't take.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: WC140
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Varley's lessons lack any visual aids, and the entire class is generally him lecturing from the top of his head. His grading is unclear, and he fails to give an explanation for any grade received on papers. His exams and prompts are vague, and leave little room for success. My main advice would be to avoid his class at all costs.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: WC140
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Varley is undeniably a tough grader. But as long as you work hard for that grade, you will be fine. He wants to help you in any way you can, so do not hesitate to ask. If you read the material and do the work, you should end up with a decent grade.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: WC140
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I have Varley for irish world cultures and enjoy his class very much. he keeps his lectures interesting but is still a very tough/strict professor. He is a harsh grader and participation matters a lot. Just do the readings and participate in class and you'll be fine. his quizzes and exams aren't that difficult.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: FA362
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Material presented straighforward with many examples and in class practice. Tests and quizzes are tricky, you need to know all the specific composers, dates, spelling, etc to receive credit. expect to memorize material. Also expect to drive to philly and spend money on an orchestra ticket for a mandatory paper.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: WC140
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Varley makes the subject way too difficult than it should be. On his tests, you can write the answer verbatim from what he says in his lectures, and he would still take a few points off for whatever reason.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: FA368
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Absolutely terrible. Doesn't respond to emails, ever. If you can't memorize exact spellings of composers and their music, forget it. Listening assignments are cumulative, you get 15 seconds of the song on tests/quizzes, and if you get the spelling wrong it's marked wrong. Completely asinine class for an intro level class.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: FA362
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Great guy, but tough grader on test essays and papers. Must show up for class and participate excessively. Participation is 15% and he gives most people a 'C.' Can get an A but it will be tough, especially for FA362

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: FA362
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

All-around awful person. No sympathy whatsoever for health or family emergencies, it's an inexcusable absence. Has knowledge on his subjects to such a degree as those taking his class don't usually ask questions he can't answer, and if someone does, then he dismisses the question as "above the course's level" and asks them to ask a less serious "?"

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: FA362
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

what a jerk. sure he knows what he's talking about, but then again so does every other music teacher at the collegiate level. his tests are miserable and he's a bitter old man with nothing left to prove.

Rating # 13

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

he knows a lot and likes to make you think grades don't matter to him but he is a hard grader and he likes to put trick questions on his tests. He also has annoying habbits like speaking for long periods of time with out breathing then taking a huge breath. You will see what I mean

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: FA362
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Varley enjoys lecturing the class on poor writing and then leaving your graded material on the back table so that everyone can see each others grades. He is a hard grader when it comes to writing assignments and ID's/essays in tests. Class may be fun if you're an exhibitionist, if you like to sit back take notes and breeze through- avoid him.

Rating # 15

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

No Comments

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: IRISHMUSIC
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

man knows his Irish stuff. I'll give him that. And I did well in his class, but he doesn't care if your entire family got bombed and died in a tragic accident. That apparently is an unexcused absense. So is being in the hospital.

Rating # 17

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Our class only meet twice, but it looks like it will be pretty fun. Especially since I am Irish

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: WC140IRISH
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

dont listen to people, Dr. Varley knows his stuff, makes class interesting, Very little homework, studying is ..A MUST... will learn basic Irish language, but a fun class, 1 mid term, 1 final, 1 paper, 4 quizzes, learn to irish dance, overall..A GREAT CLASS as an elective!

Rating # 19

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Certainly knows his subject. Makes learning fun and interesting. I had him a few years back and I STILL remember the information he dispensed. A valuable asset to DeSales.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: CELTMUSI
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He is the best--fun. Learn to dance, play the whistle--this guy is cool.