Virginia Commonwealth University Top Questions

Once, I progressed into my major, I found that all of my professors knew my name. I was shy during my first 2 years at VCU, but once I became used to the environment, I learned to speak up in class and let my teachers know who I am, even during the huge lecture classes in Temple. My favorite class was a creative writing class with Jamie Feuglin (sp?). I think students study when necessary. Yes, class participation is common, but usually the same students will participate everyday while the ones who don't, never do. The students are not too competitive from what I've witnessed. The most unique class I had was British poetry class with Joshua Eckhardt. The English department was always helpful with anything I needed. I spent time outisde of class with my professors when I needed assistance, which was not too frequently. I did find almost every professor very accessible. the education at VCU is geared toward both getting a job and education in general.

The professors that I like know my name because I make an effort for them to do so. My favourite classes have been with my favourite professors, Dr. Zyzniewski, Dr. Condit and Prof. Cutchin. My least favourite classes involve teachers who don't actually know what they're talking about and do not listen to students' voices. I do not study often, I cram. Class participation in my classes is usually mandatory. Women Studies students always end up discussing classes after it's over, but for ofther majors this does not always happen. Students are not really competitive. The most unique class I've taken is Psychology of Religion. The Womens' Studiest Department is (with the exception of a few teachers) absolutely amazing and the students are wonderful. I do spend time with those teachers outside. In my other major, Psychology, the teachers are hit or miss and you don't always see them after class, but the wonderful ones are available for you if you need them. VCU requirements are not difficult. The education is geared toward getting a job for certain fields, but others seem scattered.

i know my professors' names...... my favorite class is chemistry, i have mrs kulkarni. its so interesting and different than everything else, and my professor is amazing, she loves the subject and her students......i study a lot. being premed is very competative. other students study a good amount, and art students are always in their studios. prehealth kids live in the library and art kids live in their studios.....class participation usually depends on the course, some classes are based on it and some classes only the teacher speaks........ vcu students love to debate and have in depth, intellectual conversations. everyone has such different perspectives. ive learned a lot from listening to and questioning people. but vcu students also like to chill and just joke eachother..... students are very competative, especially with acedemics......i am a biology and mathematics major with a minor in chemistry. i get to meet a lot of people i wouldnt normally know outside of that environment, none of my friends that i normally hangout with are in the science field. i really like the biology and chemistry department, everyone there wants to make the world a better place, they want to make their impact in the world by discovering and teaching. i spend some time outside of class with professors, but mostly with TAs and SI leaders (teachers have students who have already taken the course lead study groups)......learning to learn.

Most of my professors do know my name. The class sizes at VCU for upper level classes are very good. They aren't so small that students don't participate, but they aren't so large that some students can't participate. My favorite class at VCU was probably my intermediate Microeconomics class, I can't tell you why I loved that class so much but I did. I think main;y it was because of the professor who just almost made class full of energy and made the topics that we covered really interesting somehow. The most unique class I've ever take at VCU I am currently enrolled in now. It's called "Biodiversity and Ecological Economics." It's totally different from what I expected it to be, but I really enjoy it. Its a really great class where we learn a lot of really interesting things. Not to mention, its taught by the same professor who taught my intermediate Microeconomics class, which makes it that much better.

My favorite class is Ethics and Applications with Dr. Carrey. I find that for the most part, the professors I have had are very helpful and understanding (which I was not expecting, having been taught in high school that no college professor would care a lick about me). I do not enjoy the very large lecture classes, however, because I feel as though I do not matter in them and I do not always feel motivated to attend, feeling that I will not be missed.

No. Can't think of a favorite class. Econ and management science blows chunks. students participate quite enough. we hold intellectual conversations and also real dumb ones too. very competitive at least I know I am. I think I'm learning the proper stuff at VCU for getting a job and just learning. Although, more real life stuff would be nice.

I think it depends on the size of the classroom..if its a lecture of 200+ students i doubt the professor will know my name unless i have spoken to them personally. My favorite class as of now is probably bacteriology. Least favorite now would be cell biology. I think a good majority of students study if not a little everyday at least like 3 times a week because the library is always packed it seems. Class participation is pretty common in all classes but the way its done can differ. Im sure that VCU students have intellectual conversations outside of class..ive heard students talk and its def. not about dumb stuff some of the time. Students are competitive i think maybe between friends or people they know in class. My major is biology and its a pretty intense major i think overall and the department here is pretty nice to students and they offer a wide variety of classes. I dont really spend time outside of class with professors unless i have to see them for questions about something but i mostly email professors. I think VCU's academic requirements are pretty standard compared to other schools around the nation. I think the education offered at VCU is geared towards learning and becoming knowledgable but at the same time preparing you for the future and whatever career you are thinking of.

some professors do, i go to office hours only when i need help so thats why favorite class: mgmt 323 (business law) my professor really made a boring subject interesting through real life applications least fave: info 360 (something computer) i hated having to memorize crap about the inside of a computer... required students study: the busiest times in the library is during midterms and finals. good luck getting a table let alone one near an electrical outlet. class participation... depends on the class. if the professor is fabulous at getting feedback and is personable then yes intellectual conversations outside of class: of course. learning is all the time right? students competitive? sure... most unique class: again business law... you wouldnt think it but i would take it again with that professor. that was a fab class im a marketing major in the school of business. couldnt tell you about the department like the dean's name... all i know is we have a new building and the dean's office is well hidden. they dont really say congrats on being a business major here is everything you need to know about the dept... time spent with professors outside of class.... office hours maybe one hour every two weeks... so no. academic requirements... they could be a little stricter. we will never be at the same level as some other state schools if we dont raise our standards. but then again vcu is all about opportunity right? business school education is about getting a job. could tell you about anything else.

Some of my professors know my name Donahue's Mass Comm 101 RULES! He's awesome Least favorite = Biology. Science is awful. Students are noncompetitive in most arenas The most unique was Donahue's because of the break out classes- all of it was amazing I don't know many professors outside class Focused Inquiry is the biggest waste of time if you already took AP English of any kind The education of VCU is definitely on the "five year program"- nobody is in a rush to help you graduate, they want to milk it for all its worth. But if you're forceful you can get a lot out of your education.

I usually take the time to get to know my professors. That helps out in the long run because you can then go to them for help with a study question, or to get assistance in understanding some new concept you are covering. My favorite classes are the ones that relate to my major. I love Political Science. My least favorite class would be the english class they require us to take. They recently overhauled the curriculum and completely changed the freshman english classes, and I don't particularly like it. That varies based on the person, just like it does at every single college. But the majority of students study for a couple of hours a day. And participating in class is a varied thing too. Some classes don't call for much pariticipation, but there are usually plenty of people interested enough to participate. I will talk to professors outside of class usually and visit them during their office hours.

All of the professors within my own department know my name, but my other classes are either too large or too short for them to remember my name. My favorite class at the moment is "Women and the Bible" which I am taking for my minor. It meets once a week for 2 hours and 40 minutes. Though this is a long time, it's only once a week and it's interesting enough to keep my attention. I'm also used to long classes, since all of my art classes are at least two hours in length and occur twice a week. This class has about 25 students in it, so it doesn't feel too big. My least favorite class is "Video 2". This is a class I have to take for my major, Kinetic Imaging. I'm in KI, because I wanted to learn how to animate and do 3D modeling, which is only one third of the department. The other two thirds are video and sound. I have no interest in video or sound, but I am required to take these classes, because VCU does not offer a separate department for animation within its art school. Not only am I forced to take these classes, but they require that we take one more semester of video than animation, which makes no sense to me. I like the teacher of this class, but the subject just interesting enough for me to keep my attention. Since I am an art student, I don't really take a lot of academic classes, so I can't really say how often students study. Class participation is fundamental to art students, but I don't think it's that important in a lot of academic classes. I think some students have intellectual conversations outside of class. I know I have, but I can't really say for others. I think there are competitive students, but I also think there are students who aren't. The most unique class I think I've taken was probably Intro to Sound Communications. We learned about sound editing and how to create abstract sound for art. My major is a part of the school of the arts called Kinetic Imaging. It has three parts: video, animation, and sound. Most students come into the department because they either want to do 3D animation, work on video games, or work on movies. However, this department is very focused on non-commercial and gallery art. They teach us about abstract ways to use these mediums. Unfortunately for me, and most of my peers, we came here to learn how to obtain commercial art jobs. I've been told that a non-commercial focus is a plus to people in the industry, because it allows people to think more creatively. I'm praying that this is true, because I have absolutely no interest in doing gallery art. The only reason I'm at VCU is because it is the only public school in Virginia that teaches 3D animation. I cannot afford to attend out of state. I have seen my teachers around, but I haven't really spent time with them outside of class. I think VCU's academic requirements are fair. I think the education at VCU (at least in my department) is geared towards learning for its own sake. I feel like most of the teachers in my department want to see us become gallery artists.

I think academics, much like any other school is what you make of it. I had a great time learning at VCU. My gen ed classes were what you expect to see at any big school- giant lecture classes. But when you're talking about major or minor classes I believe there was plenty of individualized attention to go around. My professors worked hard to help me in my "next step" after graduation with applying to grad school and finding a job. There will ALWAYS be a few bum teachers but if you put effort into seeking out professors that can help you, you'll coast through your four years. It's truly not that rigorous unless you're majoring in something art, medical or engineering. Most unique class- Performance Interpretation- try performing something for two minutes that has no words or music. Totally weird. I think some kids ate flowers. I pretended to jump off a cliff.

Though I enjoy the atmosphere of VCU immensely, the classes could be harder. And freshmen should have to take English 101, not this "focused inquiry" bull. The class is an insult to my intelligence and a waste of everyone's time. All that's read throughout the whole year is two short novels, which are discussed through open book, fill-in-the-blank quizzes. Writing and reading abilities are not enhanced by taking this class - all I learned was a bit about Haiti. Why, I ask.

Most of the professors in the smaller classes know names. My least favorite classes are anything to do with math. My favorite are art history. Many students study all the time, while otehrs don't. Class participation is usually part of your grade, I think this is for the professors to get to know you. Yes, I know that my friends and I talk about religion and politics outside of classes. I don't think students are competitive, I think a lot of people are born that way. The most unique class, none. My major..ahh my favorite. I am a Mass Communications/ Public Relations major. The mass communications department is taken VERY seriously at VCU..trust me haha. The teachers taht teach the classes, have the backgrounds of being editors/writers/reporters. VCU has a lot of opportunities and a lof of the business offer internships. A lot of the teachers have worked at TIME magazine and Richmond Times Dispatch. No i never see professors outside of class. VCU's academic requirements I believe are not as hard as other schools. But I believe that you learn more about what you're going to need to know for your field rather than wasting your time on gen. eds. VCU is definietly geared to helping you succeed in the work force. There are so many opportuinites that students don't take advantage of.

Yes, some professors know my name. If you want them to know your name, you make yourself known and they probably will remember you. My favorite class so far has been International Social Justice with Dr. Mark Wood. He changed my life and will be the one teacher that stands out in my mind over anyone else who has ever taught me. Anything Mark Wood teaches will open up your eyes to a world you never even considered. He's extremely smart, has great sources, and is extremely passionate about studying and our thirst for knowledge. Over the summer I asked him if he had any recommendations on books about vegetarianism. He emailed me back with a list of websites, books and local places I could go to try some good food. He goes above and beyond, he's amazing. How much you study depends on what department you're in. Bio, you study a whole lot. Class participation is more common in smaller classes that are further along. You won't see much participation in a Anthro 101 class, but if you're taking something as a junior and you have smaller, more speciailized classes, you'll get more interest in the subject matter and thus more discussion. I speak with my friends about stuff in my major very often. We're interested in political, environmental, and social justice issues. I think I will get a job I love because of the field I am in. I'm an International Social Justice major and am passionate about human rights, so I feel that in almost whatever comes my way, my passion will be the most valuable thing I've gotten from my education.

In smaller classes professors get to know you very well, but in lecture classes that rarely happens unless you stay after class or visit the teacher in their office hours. My favorite class would have to be English 215: Readings in Literature with Nick Sharp. The class is very enjoyable for a lecture class, and Dr. Sharp never runs out of crafty witticisms to mutter under his breath about having to come teach on a sunny Friday afternoon. My least favorite class would be freshman English. I have heard many complaints about the class, and overall it was just a pain to show up to class most days. Students don't study too much unless they have an exam in the upcoming week. The library is always full of people though, and it is usually open until 2 in the morning. Class participation is usually pretty solid, unless the teacher is droning on about something completely negligible and the students are having a hard time paying attention. VCU students have an easy time connecting outside of class, and when there is a project due in a class, students usually have an easy time getting together and discussing the assignment together in person or over an instant-messaging service. Students are generally competitive in smaller classes where there is more incentive to be noticed for your works or when there is an opportunity for your work to be displayed to the class. The most unique class I've taken has been PHYS 103: Astronomy. The class is very interesting and the professor cares a great deal about the subject matter. I've learned a great deal about astronomy from this class, and I'm usually excited to go to it. I'm in the Humanities and Sciences department, and I enjoy the opportunities that the school has to offer me. There are usually poetry readings/discussions, and famous authors that come to speak at the school. I don't often spend time with my professors outside of class, but if I ever need to they are easily accessible. In the past I've usually just emailed the professor if I need to ask them a question outside of class or if I need help/clarification with an assignment. The VCU academic requirements aren't very rigid or unforgiving, and if you're doing badly in a class, you're usually notified about it by the teacher or your academic adviser. Different departments have different views on education and what it is geared towards. For instance, the theatre program is very centered on professionalism and getting the job, but in more liberal arts- based degrees, there is more of a focus on learning for its own sake and pondering upon the deeper meaning of things.

Academics are a mixed bag depending on your department and educational leanings, but my experiences were largely positive. I majored in Biology and found most professors to be very nice and gave an excellent lecture. Basically as long as you're not an idiot about attendance or notetaking you'll be fine in most cases. I don't want to name names here, but the obvious exception was a rather condescending professor I had for cell bio (which you WILL take if you major in biology). The chem department, conversely, seemed to offer the opposite experience. I did well in the labs but my lecturers ranged from a half deaf guy, to a mousy little guy with no stage presence and little clarity on how his curve worked, to a psychotic englishman. While I'm sure they do excellent research it seems no one in that department can lecture to save their lives. Exceptions were the lab instructors who were quite good at making it clear what you should be doing and what was happening chemically. In the interest of disclosure, chemistry is one of the areas where I'm naturally weak anyway so take all this with as much salt as is necessary. My classes in the other departments (cheifly english and politics) were also very good and the professors were as entertaining as they were informative (especially english 101 and Poli 105).

Once you get into your major professors start to learn your name. The only way a professor can really know you in your pre-major and general ed classes is if you make yourself known or if your professor is just really set on learning everyone's name...I had one of those!. Students are for the most part serious about academics here. I go to the library at least 3 times a week and it is ususally always packed. The classes can be very demanding but it really depends on the person's major. My major is Mass Communications concentrating in Creative Advertising. I spend time with my professors out of class to get their opinions on my work and to get a better understanding of concepts. My teachers are extremely helpful and willing to meet. The only downside to Mass Comm is the lenghty pre-reqs sheet! But once your in the major..you have two years and they move fastly!

VCU classes can be rather difficult despite what people think. Just because it is easier to get into VCU that most other VA universities does not mean that the classes are easy!!!!VCU education is geared towards getting a job which I think is awesome because you are not wasting time or money!

If its a lecture class, you can forget about the teacher remembering you unless, 1. your always late and they notice, 2. you ask a lot of questions, or 3. you actually talk to the teacher during office hours or out of the actual class time. There are a lot of classes that you don't even have to show up for and can pass them easily, but they insist on class participation with clickers in some classes. The clickers are definitely ineffective because a friend can go in with two clickers and still get the credit for the person who skipped. Students are definitely competitive in the medical and science fields. Maybe the arts too. Outside of that its pretty relaxed. Most just want to get that degree and move on.