University of Delaware Top Questions

I feel that academics at the University of Delaware are all about what you put into them. Because of the size of the school, it is hard to have a close relationship with all of your professors. However, that does not mean it is not possible to have any relationships whatsoever. I was able to create relationships with some of my journalism professors, but this took some effort on my part. As an English major working in finance now, I feel that all students should be required in some capacity to take at least an intro to finance, or some practical application to money outside of college. I took a program called the "Certificate of Business fundamentals" which I found extremely helpful towards getting me a job. I feel that at least one class related to this field is important because the tangible goal of attending college is to get a job. Before taking any of these classes, I did not have the faintest idea of personal finance; I didn't know what a stock was, what a 401k was or even how to handle my own money. Taking at least one of these classes would provide at a minimum basic knowledge for students so that when they do get a job, they are not overwhelmed by the money that associates it.

As an underclassmen, you can't expect the professors to know your name unless you take the initiative to visit them during office hours. As a history major I was able to take a variety of classes, none of which were more difficult than I could handle. I took a class devoted to the JFK assasination, one on Paris and London of the previous 200 years and a couple of Modern Islam classes. I can't say enough about the journalism program. Because the school is close enough to Philadelphia, it draws a number of great speakers. I was taught by one of the best columnists at the Daily News and a former veteran sports writer. I listened to guest lectures from two ESPN columnists and one of the best style columnists in Philadelphia. The one thing Delaware didn't do was set me up with a job. The career services center is a joke and the best advice came from alum friends or professors. The jobs are out there and you'll know where to look but don't expect any one to hand you the oppourtunity.

Yes. If you try and go to class, they know you. Favorite: Politics and the media. Least: Bio and chem. Students study a lot I'd say. No one really fucks around with school work..they get it done. Yes. Yes but not all the time. I haven't heard it as I walk campus. Not really, unless its a drinking game. Philosophy of Modern Times: South Park. Good department. I wouldn't change any of it. No. Fine, I have no problem. A little of both.

I was very happy with the professors and academics in general. I was an English major with a concentration in Journalism. I loved my professors and especially the ones in my concentration. They definitely knew all our names and were very interested in helping to make sure we were learning as much as possible. I'm not sure which class was my favorite. I really enjoyed Biblical and Classical Literature (oddly enough, the professor is great) and also my Senior Seminar on American Classics.

Once you get past freshmen year introductory lecture classes,Professors usually make a point of getting to know their students. I think the English EBT department is geared towards getting a job, I can not speak for the other departments. Some students are competitive, while others aren't. Most people participate in classes.

I'll explain to you my academic experience at UD (which probably is not too common). I went to each of my classes about once a week, and I maintained a 3.0 to keep my academic scholarship through all 4 years. I never went to classes on Thursdays or Fridays, with the exception of days when I had tests, quizes, or the occassional professor who took attendance and wouldn't be fooled by my friends signing me in. Of course, with each major it's different, and few people dared to miss as much class as myself. As far as studying is concerned, it varied from class to class, ranging from no studying to at most 5 hours the night before an exam. Typically, I'd spend an hour or two the night before looking things over, but it hardly is normal for UD students to do this.

Yes, all my professors know my name. But I think this is because I have smaller classes and am a Senior. My favorite classes have been with Professor McKay Jenkins. Those classes were Literature and the Environment (ENGL480) and Journalism and Genocide (ENGL409). He's an amazing person and he has changed my path in life. I study at least three to five hours a day, but sometimes more. Class participation is common in my classes, but I think this is because I'm in English classes. I think UD students have intellectual conversations out of class. I think it depends on your group of friends, though. Students are not too competitive. The most unique class I've taken is probably Journalism and Genocide. I do spend time with professors outside of class, but I think this is because I'm doing research with Professor Jenkins. I also work at The Review, so I tend to see professors because of that as well. I think UD and the journalism department has definitely prepared me for getting a job. I've already had job offers.

Academics are getting better at UD. I didn't like the large classes that fulfilled breadth requirements for the College of Arts and Sciences. The best classes were the small, focused ones, particularly in the political science department that allowed students to do more than just write papers or sit in lecture halls. I have been in video conferences with Lebanese students and had wine and cheese with the US Ambassador to the United Nations.

Freshman year few professors knew my name, but not that I am a senior all my professors know my name. My favorite class is a politics in entertainment communication class. Our professor got her doctorate in political humor and we analyze the new, watch daily show clips, and joke around a lot in class. I hated calc freshman year, it was awful. I study when I have exams, but I don't send all my time doing work. Class participation is common, few intellectual conversations happen outside of class, and you can find your competitive students, but things are not cut throat here. My politics in entertainment communication class is probably my most unique. The comm department is small and competitive. You start for 2 years as a comm interest major and then after taking 4 core courses they put your "comm gpa" against everyone else's and take the top 100. I really like the professors & I like that it is small. I don't spent time with professors outside of class, but I know people that do. The requirements are a fine, a lot of breadth requirements though. I would say the education leans toward getting a job.

Most professors know my name. It is hard in those larger classes. But you have to understand...it isn't necessarily the teachers fault. If you want them to know you, go up and talk to them, make an impression. If they don't know your name...well thats your own fault. I have so many favorite classes I can't even begin to focus on one. I have loved my sociology class because the professor was amazing and the material was so interesting. I got so much out of that class...even though there were 200+ in it. I love my small physics classes where everyone gets to know eachother and your true personality can come out. My least favorite classes are the ones I can't perform well in...because I don't understand the material or I don't like it. Thats my own fault and not UD's. The library is always packed. The coffee shops on main street are always packed. Students study like crazy...but know how to relax and make up for it. Yes, class participation is common. Our students have great minds and love to share their knowledge with each other. Everytime I go out either I or someone near me is having an intellectual conversation...outside of class. Students are very competitive, but in today's society who isn't? The most unique class I've ever taken must be my philosophy classes...no surprise there. My major is physics and my department is physics and astronomy. My last year here I added education so I could teach high school physics. The department has amazingly smart students and an even smarter staff. There is a large amount of money for students to do research. There are clubs, organizations, study groups, a library, a lounge, and a ton of labs all for us to use. Professors tend to get side tracked with their own research at times, so you have to know how to get alternate help. I could spend time with professors outside of class, but I choose not too. UD's academic requirements are very fair for the most part. They refuse to let students out of taking science just because it isn't their major, etc. They are difficult, but fair. Learning...for its own sake.

Yes. I really enjoyed a nature writing class and hated taking biology. Probably an hour a night or so. Yes. Some do, but I wouldn't say it is very widespread across campus. Yes. Philosophy of South Park The English/Journalism program is very strong here with many alumni and professors to help point you in the right direction. On occasion. I can't find any fault with them. I would say it is a little of both depending on what you are looking for. They seem to have a pretty good job for both.

Most professors don't know your name. A few do, though. Most students study for at least an hour or so per day. I don't think many students have intellectual conversations outside of class. A few do. I would say students are slightly competitive about grades, internships, etc. They do try to succeed, but I don't see UD as being one of the most student-competitive schools. I rarely spend time with professors outside of class. I feel like UD's academic requirements are pretty good. Students have a lot of flexibility in what types of classes they want to take because there aren't that many requirements. I think that the liberal arts classes are geared toward learning for its own sake, but business classes are geared toward getting a job.

Academics differ from class to class. In smaller classes professors will generally make an attempt to get to know you and involve the class, but there are many large classes involving 200 or more students that are bassically straight lectures.

Some professors know my name. My favorite class is currently Film Theory and Criticism. My least favorite class was Pre-Calculus. Students are always studying. Class participation is very common. I'd say that students have intellectual conversations outside of class. Students are very competitive. For the Communications major, they only accept the top 100 students into the major, so you have to be competitive. The most unique class I have taken is probably Film Theory and Criticism. I have a double major in Communication and English. The communication department is understaffed which is why only 100 students are allowed in. Besides that, the department has amazing teachers. The English department has many concentrations students can pursue, such as journalism, drama, and film. I don't usually spend time with professors outside of class, unless I have to ask them a question. The requirements were recently changed and I'm glad because before everyone needed 13 credits of science courses, which seems a little extreme. I believe the education is both geared toward a job and toward learning.

Often times people think going to a university as large as UD doesn't afford students personalized attention with their professor, but I have found that most of my professors know my name and interact with me every class.

Most of my professor's are active in my studies and I feel they care about my learning and performance, but then again some aren't and don't. My professors though are dedicated to their job. UD could not possible more geared toward its students getting a job.

Professors within your major should become familiar with your name. My favorite class was my feature writing class with McKay Jenkins. It was a great class where own only “textbook” was a subscription to The New Yorker and we would not only learn to write feature stories but discuss current events as well. My least favorite class was an intro statistics class. I mostly didn’t enjoy the class because I find math to be boring, plus it was math a freshman in high school shouldn’t have a problem doing. For the average class I probably spent a few hours each week on assignments, however it does depend on the class and how big the assignment is. I tried to attend class every day, but I probably averaged making it to class 80 percent of the time (classes within my English major program I rarely missed). In big lecture hall classes there are usually a select few students who do all the participating, it is not important to participate because you are just another face in the crowd anyway. It is slightly more important to participate in smaller classes because your professor will most likely know who you are and notice your effort or lack-there-of. Currently in my school bag are three notebooks (which I always leave in my bag), two textbooks and an iPod. I am an English major with a concentration in journalism. It is a small major where you are basically required to write for the school newspaper; however the newspaper is still independent from the college. The journalism professors are all extremely eager to help you with anything you need. Most journalism students rely on one or two of the journalism professors to help them through the program and with their writing. Delaware has a core curriculum that can be pretty obnoxious and annoying; however it does give you a pretty good track to follow in order to graduate. Everyone is required to take a multi-cultural class and a second writing class. Many other majors also have other requirements which consist of a number of credits in each category of classes.

Professors in my department know my name, but it's definitely a school where if you want them to know you, you have to put in the effort. Professors are definitely willing to help you and build a relationship if the student is. My favorite classes are with the professors who know my name, but I am also in a major where that is possible. The amount of studying done varies a lot. There are majors and classes where you can get by with doing very little -- it all depends on what you want to get out of it, and there is a significant number of students here that I feel are more concerned with the social aspect of school than the academic and I don't typically hear intellectual conversations outside of the classroom. This could contribute to the "apathetic" stereotype. I think that although this is a liberal arts school, many students get frustrated with the amount of breadth requirements that we have to take.

Professors know your name if 1) The class is small enough 2)You make them know your name. It's important to get to know your professors, esp. those in your field of study, so introducing yourself to professors is really encouraged. For the most part, professors here are so friendly and always there to help. My favorite class so far as been a Communications class (that's my major) in Interpersonal Comm. Students can study in their rooms or head to the library which is HUGE! (It's one of the top 100 largest libraries in the country!) My major is communications and I'm minoring in Journalism and Legal Studies. The education I have received thus far has far surpassed my expectations.

professors- some know my name, those are my favorite...depends on class size, but if they ALL don't know me personally, it's okay favorite- IR during winter session- close, personal, professor was very involved and interested in our class and the students. least favorite- the huge lecture i had for philosophy. couldn't get any questions answered and it was too big of a class to have a meaningful discussion, which is important for philosophy competitive- depends on teh group, but overall no unique- nothign yet (all general requirements) major- IR, concentration in development, area study in africa outside of class- once i went to coffee with my IR professor to talk about what classes I should be taking (he was my favorite professor). i thought it would be weird but it was actually great to get personal time and i felt like i could really get good advice from someone i trusted and who actually KENW me academic requirements- fair, but wish there was a better way of providing good academic atmosphere. library hours are very short and it's a LONG way away form where i live. there's no quiet place to work when my roommate's here, and that's a lot of the time. education- geared toward getting a job, which isn't necessarily a bad thing