Gary Houston - University of Texas at San Antonio

Professor: Gary Houston

Department: TBD

College: University of Texas at San Antonio

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: GEOGR1023
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Maybe not best teacher ever, far from worst, and one of the better ones around here. Seems to want students to learn and do their best and helps when asked. My experience is that this guy doesn't deserve the hits he's gotten on these pages.Probably from unhappy CAP students. I'm a happy one. I worked hard & did bonus project for my A. Adios,UTSA!

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: GEOG1023
• 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:

Outstanding teacher. Eccentric teaching style. I learned more than I expected in this course, especially about how geography influenced so much about how world works. Very demanding multiple-choice tests that became easier and predictable after the first two(of 5). Short on visual images in class but good videos.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: GRG3613
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

worse prof. ever. total two exams, 1 research project. did not really teach stuff in class, boring lectures, and give hard exams.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: GRG1013
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

the first 6 weeks you dont do anything.. then he crams everything in on the last test and you must know all of it. like 120something countries with capitals, their major imports and exports, historical references, as well as all rivers and where they go to. Honestly id consider myself studious and i found the amt of class work obscene.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: GRG1023
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Excellent professor--always available during office hours and helpful. Intense class with lots of material to learn, but quite fascinating. Know the study guides cold, read the book(very important), and definitely know locations of geographic features like rivers, mountain ranges, etc. and you should fare well on tests. Not easy but manageable.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: GRG1023
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Houston is very liberal, and it is quite apparent during his lectures and on his tests. However, he is a pretty decent guy. He curved once or twice, seemed amiable towards students, and gave bonus opportunities. It is very, very important to read the textbook and memorize the study guides if you want to get an A.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: GEOGR1023
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Good teacher. Fine man. His approach to World Geog seems to view the impact of Eur and USA on rest of World and the impact of the rest of the World on the USA and Eur. I'd rather view each part of World on its own terms. Tough exams, but graded on sliding scale. My final grade was a letter grade higher than I'd expected. Bonus work is key.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: GRG001
• 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:

Very helpful, know his stuff. Good teacher

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: GRG1023
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This class had the worst time management by any professor that i have ever taken. We did three continents one day and than had our final. P.S. Learn all the capitals to everything on about the whole topic thats one study guide! Ex. test question if flying from Budapest to Dublin what rivers would you fly over?

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: GEO1024
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

this class is intense.. its not an easy a. you reallly have to memorize the globe. he is monotone and talks literally ALL class. i did learn alot from him though. just dont listen to everyone telling you its a walk in the park-its def. not. tests are pretty tough 60-80 countries, capitals, major cities and where their at per test, GL

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: GEO3513
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Great instructor. Lectures are like a pleasant conversation with a friend. Very knowledgable in subject. Presents material very clearly using using real life examples and experience.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: GRG3613
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Lectures are diversified but show connectivity and are not scattered. Usually teaches more advanced, smaller classes which allows him to get to know you and care about your progress and success. If you are genuinely interested in GRG, he is by far the best professor to get you started and to help you continue your coursework.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: GRG3523
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Uses a variety of texts to cover all aspects of curriculum. Very clear with stance on issues, but encourages nothing but his students' opinions and outlooks. Attended 3 Ivy League schools and has been part of GRG department @ UTSA for 30 years. Successful testing requires knowledge learned in class combined with student's personal interpretations.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: GRG1023
• 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:

Professor Houston is an awesome teacher. I would definately take him again. He is easy to understand and just wants students to learn. He makes connections between lectures and the world. Anyone who is intelligent enough will take him. I enjoyed his class!!!!!!!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: GRG1023
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Test questions come directly from handouts. He also gives extra credit and usually gives a curve on the exams. Just go to class, pay attention from time to time and you should make an easy A.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: GRG3523
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I don't know what he does in lower level classes, but don't take him for upper level courses if you want to learn. It was awful. He talks in circles and reads to the class like we're illiterate! He has a nervous laugh and says "uhhh" a lot. Halfway thru lecture, you'll want leave. He's a nice man, but condescending. Plus, his tests are horrible.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: GRG3523
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

When the semester began. it was okay. But as the semester progressed, the lectures were scattered and boring. He definitely goes way off track and does not even make the class interesting. For being an Intro class, he gives his test like if it were something out of a masters class. His reviews and exams SUCK!

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: GRG1023
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

His class is an easy A if you go and take notes. Reading the chapters in the book helps. He wants his students to do well in the class and usually puts a high curve on the tests. I definitly learned alot from his class. strongly reccomend taking it.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: GRG1023
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

he is kinds hard. do the xtra credit early. don't miss any of his boring lectures. take good notes. memorize every thing on the study guide. review class notes and try to memorize them. memorizing the study guide is a must. everything he says on the review is on the test.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: GEOG1023
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I disagree with the negative reviews. He was alright. All we did were 5 exams, he curved the exam grade, and allowed for xtra pts. He had a monotone voice and rambled some, but his lectures were informative and his exam came straight from his review handout. Never took attendence.