The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Top Questions

Pretty decent until you get into the science department. They hire researchers to get grants but who either suck at or are uninterested in teaching. Political Science and Russian department are exceptional and these departments are the most helpful with outside class help.

Academics at UT are good, but could be better. One main issue is that many students change their majors. While doing so they normally add an extra year onto their graduation time. Just because you change your mind doesn't mean that you should be penalized for it.

I think classes should be smaller so it would encourage students to go because when classes are bigger students dont feel the need to go, and more students would pay attention and grades would go up!

Professors generally know my name because I'm kind of a goof ball but for the most part the academics are challenging and I've learned a lot.

I'll admit that not all my professors know my name. All the ones from my smaller classes do, and certainly my Western Civ TA does as does my biology lab instructer. In larger classes with hundreds of students it can't be expected that the professor will memorize each and every individual in his/her class. However, if you want to be known you can be known. My Bio 101 class was one such class and my professor definitely knew my name because I would frequently come up to her after class to discuss various different things that we were learning. UT is one of those schools where you get back what you put in. If you do your work and participate in class then you will find that you have higher grades and better relationships with members of the faculty.

Professors arent close to students at UTK, only in smaller classes they may be a little bit closer.

I do not like the large lecture classes because I am used to classes of about 20 maximum at my high school. I have a math and enlgish class which feel close and I feel comfortable asking questions. Having lectures with more than 150 or 200 students i believe is not a good way to teach because usually it consists of writing notes and no real explanations to understand the information.

I am a biochemistry major, and the lectures are usually large so the professor does not know my name. However, if you need help the professors have office hours frequently through the week where you can go for one on one help.

The most unique class I've taken is RLS 425, Camp Koinonia. The class meets all semester long to prepare for a week at camp. This is more tahn just camp though, its a camp you children with disabilities. Each student is assigned a child to work with. It's a wonderful experience that will last a lifetime!

As mentioned before a stereotype of UTK students is that we do not take academics seriously. However, most students take education very seriously. As a sorority woman I have to maintain a certain GPA to be able to stay in my organization. Most students belong to organizations and have to maintain a good GPA.