Michael Lawlor - Cosumnes River College

Professor: Michael Lawlor

Department: TBD

College: Cosumnes River College

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PHYS411
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I have never felt I understood the material more than with Lawlor. He gives good lectures with only the neccessary information and gives good examples to help you understand the material. He always does a demo on labs and will answer any questions. Tests are easy and he posts past exams for you to study from to feel more prepared. Highly recommend!

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PHYS411
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

All-around a great professor.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PHY360
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

What can I say that hasn't been said already, one of the best teachers I've had the pleasure of studying under. Hilarious, explains material well. For the longest I had a tough time with Physics, but with Lawlor I was able to get a lot of it. Physics still isn't for me, but if there was any professor that makes you 'get it', it's Lawlor.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PHYS411
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

The lectures are amazing. The lab is fantastic. The grading area is very clear and fair. The only and most important issue is exams. His exams are EXTREMELY HARD. He give study guide but the test are way different than practice test. In the tests there are 8 question 3 of them has 75 points and the other five has 25 points. miss 1 q messed up whol

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PHYS411
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Best professor ever. Funny, solid lectures, and he's super understanding. Do the hw, show up to labs, study for the tests and you'll be fine. I skipped most of the lectures and I still have a solid A. The tests are worth a lot, once you screw up on one, your grade will never recover. You don't get to leave lab early though because he lectures :/.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ASTR300
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He himself says that he teaches a lot of hard classes & this is not one of them. No homework, just one easy project, but you should still do the reading to get things he doesn't cover in class. Tests aren't v hard if you pay attn in class or to the book & send him an outline. One of the friendliest, most helpful professors I've had & I hate science

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PHYS411
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

PHYS 411 is pretty difficult, and that's exacerbated by the relatively short lectures and lack of in-class practice. However, Lawlor is a solid choice for this class. I did pretty poorly in high school physics, but he really helped me understand the material this time around. He was always available to answer emails.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PHYS411
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Pros: gives full point on hw if you try all problem, and 1 week 2 do lab report. Con: summer class is fast pace; his class covers a chapter a day. Tricky or difficult exams, Tough grader. But students who took phyisc b4 did mange to get high A. I passed, but dont recommend Physic 4 summer if you never took it before. Not enough time to study.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PHYS431
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

He pulled a fast one for my PHYS431 class and I will never forget >:(!

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PHY350
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This class was the hardest class that I've ever taken. There are literally 3 free solve problems and 5 multiple choice for each exam. He doesn't give enough practice problems, and he goes way too fast through the material. He's a funny/nice guy, but he honestly cannot teach. DO NOT TAKE HIM

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PHYS350
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Most of Lawlor's assignments seem pretty doable. However, his exams are tough due to the confusing content and his harsh grading. The fifth final exam is not cumulative. Labs are fun if you have a cool group. HW is easy (based on completion). Extra credit doesn't help much (1-2% boost). Advice: study examples off of his lectures & practice exams

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PHYS411
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Engaging lectures, great sense of humor, and approachable. Reading not necessary. Homework is essentially graded on completion with room for error. Gives out study exams which you should do before the exam. Be present and ask questions!

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PHY350
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Lawlor makes class bearable w/hilarious analogies. Class comes w/3 hr lab. Understand concepts before u plug n chug values into formulas. A lot of hw from bk. He allows a 3X5 notecard on exams for formulas/constants only. Exam can be a bit of a surprise. He teaches material well, but u hav to practice a lot to get it. Overall, he's a good prof.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PHYS411PHYS421
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Took him for 411; it wasn't that bad. Took him for 421; holy cow from algebra-based physics to calculus-based physics, 421 is definitely on another level from 411, in terms of difficulty but you guys are probably smart if you're taking 421 so work hard, do the homework (don't rely on slader/chegg, do the problems urself! Starts off ez, gets HARDER

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PHYS350
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

There are 13 HW assignments total, 11 labs that are easy if you know what you're doing, and 5 HARD exams with him being a nitpicky grader. Each exam has 5 Conceptual Questions (5 pts ea) and 3 Problems (25 pts ea). Allows a 3 x 5 card, but study his lecture problems and both practice exams. Respected, but I wouldn't take again. Good luck.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: PHYS350
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Amazing professor, I took physics in high school and struggled a bit with concepts. After taking him I have a much clearer understanding. He's interesting to listen to and is always ready to help his students. He clearly lays out the tests a week before so you know exactly what to expect. Labs are very easy. I'm very happy I was able to take him.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: PHYS411PHYS421
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Some say he's a better physics professor than some of the physics professors at UC Davis. I'm taking him for PHYS421 right now and I can say for sure he is top notch, high quality stuff. Though the class may be a little "easier" than that of other schools (i.e. more examination time, more time to do homework, extra credit, etc.), Lawlor is good.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: PHYS411
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Lawlor is the best. I took him over summer 2017 and though it was fast paced I actually LEARNED in his class, I failed this same class at Sac State (physics department sucks there). He grades by seeing if you know your material well. Try to do the homework, they're hard. My best advise is to pay attention during lectures and go over them.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PHYS411
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I love this professor, but it is so hard to get an A in this class. The exams always have that one problem worth 25 or 20 points which are really difficult to do. However, I love his lectures and I actually understand physics even though I hate physics so much. He is also really friendly so that inspires me to take physics 421 & 431 with him.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PHYS431
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I am taking Phys 431 right now. Took 411 and 421 with him, earned A's in both class. Amazing professor, very energetic, and great personality. The material he teaches is very understandable and makes you want to learn more. Test are challenging but he does provide old exams as practice. Attend class, do your homework, review notes and you'll pass.