Derek Richardson - University of Maryland

Professor: Derek Richardson

Department: TBD

College: University of Maryland

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ASTR220
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Derek is probably the most amazing professor I've ever had. As a communication major, I was really struggling in the class because it is a lot of math and physics. But, Derek is so understanding and accessible outside of class, and worked with me individually to help me out. He also is super generous with grading. Definitely would take it again!

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ASTR220
• 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:

Took this bc I needed an I-Series. It sounded interesting & was marketed for non-astro majors, ended up being a hard math/physics class. Teaching style is horrible, basically teach ourselves through long "pre lecture" videos & then quizzes on canvas. You cant even see what you got wrong/right on it. In class we just take polls. He's a tough grader.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ASTR121
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Derek is amazing. I had him for 120 and 121. He was such a good professor, and I was really surprised at the end of the year how much I learned and how much I retained because he made learning it really intuitive. ABSOLUTELY take a class if hes teaching it.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ASTR121
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I had Derek for ASTR120/121, and he's the best professor I've ever had. He cares about the students and made a LOT of material easy to absorb. Lectures were entertaining and people enjoyed the class. Tests were very fair.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ASTR120
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He genuinely cares about his students. He makes it a point to make his lectures interactive and funny to keep everyone engaged and absorb the material as best as possible. He asks questions during every lecture that everyone answers with voting cards and discusses questions when there's uncertainty. Also, he has very fair exams.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ASTR120
• 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:

He's the GOAT

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ASTR121
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Really good instructor and enthusiastic about teaching. Makes the material understandable and interesting. Very good at answering questions. Very approachable. Very on top of things; got grades back same day we took the final. A bit too much group work during lecture I think. I like group work, but not almost every lecture.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ASTR121
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

By far the best professor I've ever had. Clarity; Simplifies the most complex problems into easy to understand basics and guides your learning Office Hours; Very friendly and approachable. Works with you as much as you need for your understanding Ease; The material is difficult, but he teaches in a way that frames your thinking to simplify it.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PHYS122
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Number one professor!

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ASTR120
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He is awesome and funny. The class was a bit challenging, a few of us felt like the grading was a little harsh in the beginning of the semester, it got better though, it mainly depends on your TA. The first midterm was pretty hard, second wasn't too bad and the final was a bit tricky.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ASTR120
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Derek is awesome! He is very clear, funny, entertaining, and engaging when lecturing class. All concepts were understood and office hours clarified any questions/concerns. Weekly homework problems (average difficulty). Tests are moderate difficulty. Form a study group, meet with him/TA during office hours, and I guarantee you'll love his class.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ASTR121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He's the best around!

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ASTR120
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Wonderful teacher, clearly is excited about his field and seems to like teaching. He's perfectly capable of conveying the information in a way newbies can understand. Whatever math we have, he explains it pretty well. Also really cool and funny.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ASTR100
• 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:

He does a good job of making the course theory-based and not math-based. If you're terrified of math, take this class! I got a C because the class couldn't keep my interest. That's how easy it is!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ASTR100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS!! seriously people i am trying to help u out. if ur not majoring in it, DO NOT TAKE! it is extremely hard and confusing i do not know what everyone is talking about. def not an easy A. had to work my butt off for a B- . if you are smart you will chose something else!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ASTR100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Great teacher, super organized lectures and notes, makes astronomy seem interesting! (and an easy A)

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ASTR100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

No Comments

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ASTR100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Derek's teaching methods are very effective. He is a funny guy and his class is well organized. He sets his students up for success, not for failure.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ASTR100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Awesome teacher. Lectures could get a little boring, but he gave good notes and was always available for help. He liked doing demonstrations, even if it wasn't relative to what we were talking about. The class was interesting, definitely a good choice for CORE.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ASTR100
• 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:

Richardson is a great professor. Blows up stuff in class on an occasional basis to keep his student's interest and does much to make the 200-student lecture hall as bearable as possible. He has a deep interest in his field and does his best to empart his knowledge and interest onto his students. Attend lecture, study and you'll do well.