3.4
Quality3.5
Difficulty62%
Would Retake432
Reviews62%
Would Retake
432
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
432 total ratings5
122
4
123
3
98
2
52
1
37
What Students Say
“He is a horrible lecturer and expects you to teach yourself so get ready to read the book and go to SI”
CHEM2070 - 2.0 rating“Probably the worst Chem professor at Auburn, 10000/10 would not recommend”
CHEM1030 - 1.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
19%
Textbook Required
54%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B+
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.33 avg changeRatings by Course
CHEM10301040
4.7
(3)CHEM1033
4.5
(2)CHEM1120
4.1
(7)1030
4.1
(9)CHEM1040
4.0
(25)Difficulty by Course
124
5.0
CHEM1037
5.0
1040
4.5
CHEM2070
4.3
CHEM2030
4.3
Reviews (300)
This class is very hard and he is a hard teacher. He doesn't really teach, he uses PowerPoint notes when he teaches. The way to do good on his test is to work example problems through the chapter then do the back of the book problems. Hopefully you will be able to do good in his class by doing this.
Hard to understand what he's going to put on the test.
Very tough teacher, but it prepares you if you study for the class.
The class is hard but lots of extra crdit opporunities are given. Dr. Curtiss is very funny and makes the class interesting. Pay attention and study the notes and youll do fine. An A is definitely a possibility!
DR. CURTIS IS SO HOT! take his class!
He is very helpful, but he tries to include a lot of organics. Test are tricky
Dr. Curtiss is awesome. He isn't a hard teacher if you just go to class (even though it isn't mandatory) and read along in the book outside of class. He also has office hours that are very helpful. I'd definitely recommend him because he's one of the better chem teachers at Auburn
He's a great teacher, and offers many opportunities for bonus. Definitely take him for Chem 1030
You have to work to get a good grade in this class, but it makes you actually learn the material. He teaches in a way that can help prepare you for organic. So if you have got to take O chem, I would definitely take Curtiss. Office hours are extremely helpful.
Pretty good teacher overall. A little intimidating during office hours but once he knows you it is all!
You have to do your homework and keep up your reading. If you read and do practice problems, then you will be fine in the class.
Fair tests. He introduces the information in class but you have to learn it yourself in the textbook. Occasionally checks for attendance. Very witty, made me laugh during class.
If you just study his slides, some of his miscellaneous notes, and read some of the book, you'll do fine.
Laid back guy. He keeps the class in a light air with jokes and such.
Class isnt mandatory but you should go because of clicker quizzes that give you extra points, he is helpful at office hours, he teaches from a power point, he is pretty funny, i would recommend him. i mean chemistry is chemistry its hard no matter what, but definitely a good choice for a teacher!
Entertaining in class, but be ready to study on your own and attend as many SI sessions as possible, because he's not one to cut to the chase. Make sure you get the mastering chemistry homework done well before it's due. Also, he has a magnificent beard.
Don't worry about what he goes over in class. Do the Masteringchemistry and all the book problems and you should be ok.
If you do the problems in the book and read before each class then you will do fine. If you don't read the book what he is saying will not making any sense. He is a funny guy but if you ask him a question, he will ask one back. There is a huge chance of him making you feel stupid.
Chemistry is a hard class but Dr. Curtiss tries to help you through it in his own way. He's a funny guy and he likes to tell a lot of stories but kinda rants sometimes. He likes to mess with people. Attendance is not mandatory, especially since he just reads from the slides. I wish we would have worked problems in class. Nice guy, tough class.
I chemistry is not your strong suit do not take Curtiss! He is a smart mouth and if you email him with questions or concerns about class and your grade he will be rude! He isn't very helpful at all and he strictly teaches from slides and doesn't work any problems in class and that is all that are on his tests!!
Great guy, but tough. His tests can be tricky, but pay attention and actually put forth effort and you'll pass. A thorough and truly working knowledge of concepts, as well as doing the practice chapter problems/MastChem/practice tests will get you an A. No sliding by with this class. Worked hard and am now thankful for an excellent chem foundation
This class was extremely difficult. I spent hours in office hours and working problems, but his tests took everything to an insane level. Was very rude and unhelpful with questions and even during review sessions. In the end I didn't even learn alot, but stressed tons. The tests are way harder than any other teacher's and old tests don't help.
If chemistry is definitely not for you, try for another teacher. So cool and funny in class but not very good at actually explaining how to do problems. Gives old tests but new tests were so much harder. Tons of mastering chemistry.
He was a really cool guy but made you feel dumb in office hours. His class it COMPLETELY teach yourself though. He wasn't impossible but if you don't have time of teach yourself don't take him. An A is definitely possible though!!!
I took him over the summer. One thing that is the most useful is READ THE BOOK. The book will be the key to your success. Near the end of the Summer term I learned that fact and managed a B after making a 90, 85, 75, and 65 on the tests so study the book and take good notes. And do your homework that is another saving grace!
Funny and good teacher.
I loved this class. It's not easy but he grades with partial credit and gives you a chance for bonus points. Definitely attend SI sessions and office hours. He gives example tests online and he says they will be exactly the same...they are not. Easy to pass if you study and attend class
He was hilarious! Chemistry is never going to be an easy subject. Homework is done online on ALEKS, which is sort of terribly frustrating. You should definitely go to SI; it helped me out a bunch! Overall, I looked forward to going to his class, which is significant 'cause it was at 8AM!
Excellent teacher! Really knew his stuff and cooperated with me a lot because I showed up to nearly every class. He is willing to give partial credit on wrong test answers, so don't be afraid to ask for points! Weekly ALEKS can get annoying if you're not careful and you need to read the book regularly.
This was the worst class ever. I loved chemistry until this class. He totally killed it for me. His tests are impossible and SI is too full to learn a thing. his version of teaching is reading a powerpoint. Take someone else if you can.
Curtiss is a great teacher. He kinda just tells jokes in class but GO TO HIS OFFICE HOURS - he's super helpful if you do... Oh and if you make a 95+ on all 3 exams (108 possible points on each) you can exempt the final... which is what I did! :) Online ALEKS homework is pure evil..but get it done early and its not too bad. Overall a good teacher!
This class is relatively easy; you just need to do the online homework and read the book. I don't know how great Curtiss is at teaching because I never paid attention in class, but I still was able to exempt the exam. Office hours can be helpful if you actually work problems on the board, but I usually just chilled. He's a pretty cool dude.
Curtiss is a pretty solid teacher. He uses ALEKS(which is hard) instead of mastering chem, but supposedly everyone is making the swap to ALEKS in 2013. I would recommend him if you plan on showing up to class.
Curtiss is funny but I hated his class. His homework was so much and really annoying. During class he told jokes and read off power points from the book and doesn't really know how to teach very well. I made a B but I had to teach myself everything.
Dr. Curtiss definitely knows he's smarter than you, and despite what he says, he treats this class as a bit of a weeding class. His lectures are off topic. The homework was supposed to adequately prepare us for exams, but I never felt prepared. He's neither good nor bad, but I wouldn't suggest him.
Dr. Curtiss is a cool guy. Tests are pretty tough, but doable with the extra credit on them. ALEKS is an awesome homework program. It is a crazy amount of work, but it makes sure you learn what you need to, and it's graded for completeness unlike masteringchemistry. Definitely one of the better chem 1030 professors.
I had a good freshman year with him. He is funny and entertaining. Go to his classes. You will get lot from his lecture and ALEKS (kinda like mastering chemistry) then from his powerpoint. I didn't read textbook but i think it will be helpful. I ended the class with high B.
Definitely take Dr. Curtiss. He can get off topic sometimes, but it makes lecture interesting. Not a hard A if you study and do the ALEKS homework (which teaches you a LOT of material). Also, you can exempt his final by making 95 or higher on all his tests! Which is very do-able, because he gives 8 bonus points on each test. Two thumbs up!
I heard him say multiple times that it's not his job to teach you, that you have to teach yourself. Um, then what is his job good for? I thought teachers were there to...teach. I wouldn't recommend him. Be prepared to teach yourself. Tests are all over the place and nothing like the practice tests on Canvas. The book helps but nothings garenteed.
After having taking CHEM 1030 my freshman year and making a D with a different teacher, I can honestly say Dr. Curtiss is the best Chemistry teacher at Auburn. ALEKS is annoying but VERY helpful. He gives lots of extra credit!! I ended up with a 96 for the semester. I definitely recommend him! Very easy to do well if you put in the effort.
Dr. Curtiss talked about completely irrelevant topics during class. He taught me one chapter, while my high school chem teacher taught me the rest. He does give several extra credit points on each test, which is helpful, but I learned nothing from this man. And ALEKS homework is useless because the material is due before it's ever covered in class
Dr. Curtiss is a great man and makes class very interesting, but he is not a very good teacher. He gets off topic ever few minutes and makes SEVERAL drug references. Everything I learned from that class, I learned from ALEKS. Overall, take his class. It's not that hard and he keeps class interesting.
Easy to get a good grade if you put in your work. He is always giving extra points and trying to raise our grades. He even gave 22 bonus points on our final. I didn't learn much in class though. Most is learned by book or ALEKS homework which takes a lot of time but is worth it. Very available during office hours and such. Willing to help and talk.
Dr. Curtiss was a very good professor. He's a bit of a smart-alec, but it was always humorous. He's very good at teaching the material, but you definitely need to work hard to succeed in his class. The #1 way to do well is to complete all of the online homework. If you actually learn all of the assignments, you will do well on the exams.
ALEKS is way too easy compared to the exams. I never felt prepared before or after an exam as a result of doing my homework. However, I know that I learned more than I would have in an easier class, regardless of grade comparison.
Go to office hours and do the problems at the end of the chapter!
He is a great professor who is very clear in class and explains things very well. Read the textbook, do the ALEKs, and look at the old tests that he puts online. NOT that hard
I got an A but it was a lot of work!! Always do the ALEKS and study your butt off for all of the tests and you should be fine.
Dr. Curtiss is a really nice and dedicated teacher. If you are willing to go to office hours and get to know him, he will always greet you with a smile. The homework is time consuming but it will teach you the basics of everything. Get your real practice from SI or the book problems. Getting a B or A is easy if you spend a few hours studying.
Dr. Curtiss is great in office hours. His lectures are sometimes a bit unclear, but he reteaches most things in office hours. Tests always have bonus points and there are several chances for extra credit through the semester. Would highly recommend for a painless A.
Take Dr. Curtiss. Hands Down. I took him for both Chem 1 & 2, and of all my friends I definitely had the best experience. He's very helpful in office hours and entertaining to listen to during lectures. He usually grades tests out of 107-110 points, and lets you exempt the final if you make 95+ on all the tests, which aren't bad if you study hard.
Dr. Curtiss is extremely helpful. If you go to his office hours and put in the effort to learn you can succeed.
Take him. If you go to office hours and actually study a bit, you'll make an easy A. He's incredibly helpful in office hours. If you can't make an A or B, you should probably take an easier major.
Best professor I've had, hands down.
Study hard for exams and go to review sessions. If you can get a 95 or above on every test you can exempt the final. Overall not that hard of a course.
I'm sorry but he is one of the best teacher I have EVER had. I hate chemistry, and I decided to retake it (for the 3rd time) in the summer with him. Not only did I learn a lot but my grade improved tremendously. He really wants to students to do well. ALEKS helped me a lot and he explains things very well. Best chem teach at Auburn hands down.
My favorite professor at Auburn! Super helpful and wants his students to pass! TAKE HIM!
I struggled a lot with this class, only because I am terrible at chemistry. But he is very understanding and wants his students to do well. He helped me a lot, i got a 53 on my first exam and went to him and he helped me improve my grade drastically. He also gives out tons of bonus points! Definitely take him if you possibly can! Plus he's funny!
His reviews didn't help me. Make sure you look over your tests once he hands them back because the TA's are horrible at giving even a LITTLE partial credit. Also, do the online homework. He is funny, but I found his lectures to be sloppy. Take him if you like a good laugh and are good at chemistry.
Dr. Curtiss is an interesting character. He makes all his tests out of more than 100 points which helps, but his lecture notes are not very helpful. I learned more from ALEKS than from him. Take him if you can.
Dr. Curtiss is a really cool guy. He has an awesome sense of humor, and his stories are really interesting. If you are good at Chemistry, I HIGHLY recommend. He isn't the greatest of teachers since he simply reads off of the powerpoint. The only homework is ALEKS which is annoying but bearable. The tests are tricky but each are out of 110 or 115.
This class will be difficult if you did not have a strong chemistry background in high school. Nevertheless, if you work hard you should get an A. Dr. Curtiss takes into consideration your work ethic for your final grade, so give it your all!
Although Professor Curtis is a generally nice guy, some people get very intimidated by him. HE WILL EMBARRASS YOU IF YOU EMAIL HIM TELLING HIM THAT HE DOESNT TEACH (even though he doesnt) studied hard and inclinded grade wise as the semester goes on but still only got a B+. Aleks (online homework) will take close to 90 hours of your time. good luck
Very sassy. I studied pretty hard and did all of my work and made an A. He doesn't teach in class and he doesn't even make his own powerpoints (he got them from a community college professor). However, Aleks, although it is time consuming and tedious, it will teach you the material. He offers bonus on all tests. I recommend his class.
Take him. Office hours are helpful and laid-back. If you do your part (really, I mean do your ALEKS, even though it takes forever)then this class will be achievable. Exempt final if each test above 95% - this is attainable.
Dr. Curtiss is very harsh and makes you work for your grades. ALEKS is annoying but it is required & can help you learn the material. Dr. Curtiss doesn't teach very much in class, but he does do a review session that is somewhat helpful & he gave lots of bonus this semester.I struggled most of the semester but ended up with a B!
Dr. Curtiss was a great teacher. His class revolves around ALEKS (online homework), which is very time consuming, but it is extremely helpful in learning the material. Class doesn't help very much, although he can be entertaining with his dry sense of humor. I would definitely recommend him.
I LOVED Dr. Curtis. He makes you work hard but chemistry is a weed out class. GO to his office hours. He will like you if you do that and he gives you practice questions that are like the test. Don't let him intimidate you. He may try to but just ignore it and keep working hard.
He is awesome! If at all possible take him.
Dr. Curtiss is an average teacher. I took him for Chem 1030 and 1040. He gives a lot of extra points on tests, so you can still miss problems and make a 100 on the test. He likes to tell a lot of jokes during lecture.DO ALEKS and you will learn everything you need to know for tests. Go to office hours! He will give you problems that are on the test
TAKE CURTISS IF AT ALL POSSIBLE. He is by far my favorite professor I've had so far at Auburn. He really cares about his students and is VERY helpful in office hours. Also he lets you exempt the final if you make 95% or higher on each exam, which if you study is very possible.
Very helpful; easiest chemistry teacher here at Auburn. Took exam 2 and he added 18 points cause the grades didn't look up to par. Exam 3 he added 8 points to everyones because he was late to class. He is very interesting. TAKE HIM
I didn't like him in the beginning. It seemed like he tried too hard to act like he cared about us. I realized he actually did, though. It's a pretty easy class, he's very willing to help, AND he gives bonus points. He let students with a 95+ on each test completely throw the final out, since he couldn't let them exempt the ACS exam. Very cool guy.
Dr. Curtiss is such a cool professor! He always makes class interesting and genuinely wants students to do well. His tests are somewhat difficult, but he puts old exams online and every test is out of 110 which really helps. He's very good at teaching the information and overall is extremely fair. Would recommend.
Dr.Curtiss is a great professor and I'm so glad i got him as a freshman.he will challenge you but dont let this intimidate you-hes extremely njce and wants students to do well.As are definitely managable!!He is extremely willing to help if you put in the work!also, ASK HIM QUESTIONS DURING THE TEST AND GO TO OFFICE HOURS. TAKE HIM HE'S THE BEST!!!
Dr. Curtiss is a wonderful Chemistry professor. His lectures are sometimes difficult to understand, but he is extremely helpful during office hours. Do the ALEKS homework--it will teach you decently. The most important thing, however, is to WORK THROUGH THE OLD TESTS. It REALLY helps. He gives a lot of bonus points, too.
Don't freak out if you have him, but get ready for extreme sarcasm/constant reminders of "how hard chemistry is" and/or "I will statistically prove you are going to fail." Don't let it scare you, just spend some time and you'll do great. His class isn't very helpful but he is good for answering questions in his office (if you can handle sarcasm).
Dr.Curtiss is an amazing teacher. Show up to class and pay attention and there is no way you won't make an A.
Curtiss is an amazing teacher! Although attendance is not mandatory, going to class is very helpful. Tests are out of a 100, but he puts 5 or so bonus points on each one. Tests are straightforward, but read the book and do practice problems to do well! Take him for sure!!
Dr. Curtiss is the best chemistry professor I've had at Auburn yet. He really seems to want his students to do well. His tests are challenging, but not impossible. He is also very willing to give points and help you out. However, you do have to work to get the grade you deserve.
Dr. Curtiss was one of the best chemistry professors I've ever taken. He somehow made the infamously challenging OChem super interesting. First day of class he said "Study 2 hrs/day, 6 days/week..or fail" That's exactly what OChem will take. You want an A? Accept the challenge. But he's truly the best. Def take him!!
Dr. Curtiss is awesome He is 100 percent approachable. The lowest I made on any of his exams was a 95. If you go to office hours then you will know exactly what is on the exam My favorite professor I have ever had
I had him Spring of 2014 for CHEM 1030. He is AMAZING!! I tell everyone I know to take him. His tests aren't that hard and his class is easy to pass. I passed with a high B by doing the ALEKS and practice tests he posted on CANVAS. HIGHLY RECOMMEND HIM!!!
Straight up guy just a difficult subject
Dr. Curtiss is so funny. His tests are pretty clear cut, and he gives at least 10 extra points worth on each of them. He does want you to work for it (ALEKS homework is a must), but he is also extremely helpful. Office hours are super helpful. He WANTS you to pass. Don't let him psyche you out the first week when he gives you statistics of F's.
Awful. Just terrible. Gives you hours of online homework and tells you to figure it yourself before the due date and then goes over it in class after you spend hours frustrating yourself trying to figure it all. 1010 would not recommend to friends
By far my favorite professor although the class is very difficult. He tells you in the beginning you will need to spend around 10 hours a week studying to pass and that is true. Very time consuming class but he makes it interesting and gives at least 10 free (fun points) on every exam.
Dr. Curtiss is the BEST professor I have had at Auburn so far.. He is hilarious and he is a big goof in class. His lectures are basically him going over the powerpoints from the book and him telling funny stories. So, you don't learn much in lectures. But if you go to office hours and SI (supplemental instruction), you're golden! Take Dr. C!!!!
He's a good teacher that is very generous and willing to help. I didn't have any trouble but if you do apparently office hours are helpful. Attend class because there is a participation category and he gives extra credit for in class activities too.
Dr. Curtis is Awesome, best Chem prof at Auburn. Student fight it out for spots in his class. Chem is not easy but Curtis makes it easy for anyone will to put in the work to make an A. (I made a 102.5) Huge extra credit, test are out of 110-15, + 2% added to your final grade. If you have to take Chem do whatever you have to to get in his class!
Lots of homework online, but very willing to give extra credit. A little quirky, but his dirty jokes in lectures made chemistry a little bit more interesting. Go to class...
Curtiss is a cool professor and all, but his lectures are more like him just reading facts out of the book. Prepare for boring lectures and 6+ hours of homework (ALEKS, to be exact) a week. DO THE HOMEWORK. You will not pass if you don't do the homework. Put in the work, and you'll pass. If you're a slacker, don't even try this class.
He's nice and funny. But does that get you a good chemistry grade? No. He wasn't very good at explaining the material. I dreaded going to that class every day. Tons of homework.
Curtiss tells you the first day of class what's expected, as long as you follow his advice you should be fine. Do ALEKS because it will make or break your grade. He gives plenty of extra credit throughout the semester. If you are struggling go to SI or office hours. SI helped me A LOT. There really is no excuse to get lower than a C in this class.
Really funny guy. I would definitely suggest taking him if you have prior knowledge of Chemistry because his lectures are sometimes a little cloudy. With that being said, if you've taken like an AP Chem before (like myself) the tests were a joke and easy to make above a 100 on. Great guy.
It's easy to tell that he loves what he does (both chemistry and teaching). He is definitely fascinated by chemistry, and if you allow it, it may rub off on you, so ask questions and sit in front! He is very sympathetic to the freshman condition, and is one of the only teacher that I had the first semester that spent time helping us get adjusted.
He gives quite a bit of bonus points. His lectures are easy to understand, and he will answer questions if you ask. He made the class fun and interesting. Aleks is a must, and doing the extra practice in the book helps if you are having trouble. Tests can be somewhat difficult.
Dr. Curtiss is the best! He really cares about all of his students and he wants you to succeed. The best thing you can do for your grade in this class is to go see him during office hours. He is extremely helpful. The best way to study is to do lots of practice problems and read the chapters. Definitely take him!
Dr. Curtiss is a nice guy, but has very questionable teaching skills. He's a genius, but seems to have trouble converting that knowledge into something understandable for the students. Be ready to do a lot of self teaching. Also know every single mechanism, every single synthesis, and even what page they are on (slight exaggeration, but not much).
Curtis can be confusing at first. Once you learn to accept the fact you wont understand his jokes or stories, lectures are more clear. Write down everything he writes on the projector. Everything he writes will be on the test. Gives lots of opportunities for extra points. GO TO OFFICE HOURS!! He will tell you test questions or give you points back
A really great and funny teacher. Please don't expect an easy A. Do your ALEKS, read the textbook, go to ALL lectures, and if you really want an A go to all SI sessions. He is really generous with the points on the test, that being said not all questions are easy or free-bi's.
This class is impossible to do well in thanks to his cocky attitude and unwillingness to help. Even attending all office hours and every SI sessions I'm begging to pass this class. He claims to be inbetween Parish and Livant as far as testing goes... DO NOT BELIEVE THIS. Parish's class was full, and Livant scared me but i regret not taking Livant.
EASY! ou have around 15 bonus points for each exam. If you go to his Office Hours he'll definitely make you understand. He made me feel so stupid in office hours that I never went back, but the material I learned in there, I will never forget. Teaching skills are amazing, but hes a sucky person. Definitely take him! You have to TRY to make a C.
If you hate sarcasm and stories, go ahead and register for someone else. If you also hate having 15 bonus points per test, try to join another class. He makes things tough by talking about his "forest of knowledge" that makes you want to punch him in the cods, but he makes up for it with bonus opportunities. I would take him again, bonus is clutch.
Had Curtiss for 10301040 and it wasn't bad at all.. Organic was a different story. After getting a 65 on the first test I treated his office hours like a class. Got a 95 on the second test, kept going to his OH and got a 65 on the third. He replaces your lowest test grade w final but everyone bombed the final. Worked hard and barley passed.
I would recommend Curtiss to those taking Chemistry 1 or 2 at AU. From what I heard from students with other professors, Curtiss is the best. He gives a ton of bonus on each test and he replaces your lowest test grade with the final. He wants the best for his students and does what he can to help them. Funny and sarcastic during class.
Took Curtis for 1030, came back in summer just to take 2070 from him, always 10% bonus on every test, gives you old test to study, has an awesome beard, tells crazy stories in class, way more forgiving on everything than the other profs. Here's the key, read before class or it won't make sense also MUST study at least 12hrs a week+ (I did 20 a week
I feel like he was extremely easy for an organic chemistry class. That being said, you still have to study. I got an A on the first test, B on the second and third. He gives you at least 10 extra bonus points on every exam. You have to really study the book hardcore and you'll do well.
I would not ever recommend taking him for organic to anyone. I've had him for both classes and he is the most offensive man I have ever met in my life. He is funny in class sometimes but he is more rude than anything. If you go to the help sessions he doesn't help he just sits there and talks with a group of students that he likes. Worst teacher.
Dr. Curtiss is hilarious and as full of knowledge as he is stories. Do your ALEKS because it helps in the end when your grade is borderline. Go to office hours for great help, but expect a line. He wants his students to apply themselves and take knowledge away from the class. Put in genuine effort and good studying and his class should be just fine
"If you do not study 3 hours a day, 6 days a week, you will not do well" and this turned to be true. Grades are 88 A, 78 B, etc and difficult final replaces one test. Tests are extremely difficult even for the well prepared students as he expects you to deeply understand the material. He will teach concepts but you have to study hard to pass.
He is a pretty good teacher. His tests are not too bad. Read the book, do all the problems that he assigns in the back of the book and you'll be fine for the tests. His final is awful. He gave us a "study guide" at 5pm the night before our final with all these crazy synthesis problems.
So Curtis is an odd ball. He is very helpful in office hours, so i would go. However, a lot of people that went still did not make the grade they expected. I worked my butt off for a B but i loved every minute of it.
I have had Curtiss several times. For fundamentals (1030 and 1040) he isn't bad at all, but Organic is a different story. He expects a VERY high level mastery of the material. Expect synthesis problems with 10+ steps utilizing even the most obscure of reactions. He is never clear what will be on the test, so know it ALL.
Dr. Curtiss is the best professor I've had at Auburn. He wants to help you. If you have the opportunity, take him over any other chemistry professor.
Ashlee Curtiss is easily the best Chemistry professor in the state. He's incredibly helpful and funny. His tests are graded out of 110 points so you can bomb an entire question and still get a perfect score. I recommend Dr. Curtiss to literally everybody
FAVORITE professor and by far the easiest professor for 1030. Aleks homework is time consuming, but you do really learn from it. All your tests are scaled AND he drops some of your lowest grades. Recycles old tests questions and gives you told tests to study. Very helpful at office hours and his lectures while not mandatory are useful and funny
Dr. Curtiss is helpful and has funny stories. I enjoyed his lectures. He's always willing to help.
After taking this class, I no longer despise chemistry. Lectures are interesting and helpful. Curtiss gives lots of opportunities for bonus points. If you do your homework, pay attention in class, and read the textbook, you'll do fine.
Curtiss is one of those guys that you like to talk to but you wish he wasn't in charge of your education. Has a very abstract mind that is hard to follow during class. Go to office hours and ask about the topics that have you confused and that will make all the difference.
Curtiss is a true professor in that he only professes what he wants to talk about; he does not actually teach, however. His class is structured so that you do all the learning at home, and then he talks about something more advanced in class. Do not take if you are not a highly independent/motivated student. Will help at office hours if asked.
Dr. Curtiss is an amazing chemistry teacher. He makes class interesting and funny and is willing to help you if you go to office hours. His class is not easy, but I felt more prepared for the departmental final than those with other teachers. I highly recommend him!
By far the best chemistry teacher at Auburn! Take him!!!
awesome teacher! very easy class he scales every test by like 10 points. I had an A all semester but then was not prepared for the final exam which brought my grade to a B. would definitely study other teachers tests to prepare for the final. would recommend this class!
Dr. Curtiss is great. Encourages students to go to office hours if needed. Worksheets to give test-like problems once a week. Lectures consist of jokes, stories, slides, and example problems. Need to read the book and follow along with chapter problems. Every test, including the final, has bonus points.
Very good chem teacher. He scales every test 10 points and then will replace your lowest test grade (3 of them) with your exam grade if that is better than any of your tests. This means you can fail a test and it won't really matter. He is good at lecturing, and you do not have to show up to class to do well. Would take again.
Dr. Curtiss gives an extra ten points on every test. Sometimes the material is not very easy, but he is always willing to help you understand. Always attend office hours if you need help. On Friday's we break into groups and TA's give us a worksheet. I don't like this because I don't feel like I get anything out of it.
I worked really hard for an A in his Honors class, and just couldn't get it. I like Dr. Curtiss a lot as a person and as a teacher, but he's a little ambiguous about what's gonna be on the tests. Work every textbook example problem.
Classes were interesting and note taking wasn't excessively hard. He is very open to questions and loves holding discussions in class. However, the tests were pretty difficult and some questions seemed to come from out of nowhere. They are based on notes, the textbook AND aleks. Be prepared for a lot of studying to make an A.
Dr. Curtiss is a cool, charismatic dude. Took him a few years back and would definitely recommend him for chem one. He's funny and makes going to class relatively enjoyable. When I had him you were exempt from the final if you make a 95 and up on first three exams. Do the homework!!
He is very cool and approachable. He really wants you to succeed. You can skip a few classes, but going helps because he goes over questions that you'll see later on your test. Aleks will take a lot of time, his lectures can go on tangents, and his tests may have some weird questions, but I'd still recommend taking him if you can for Chem 1030.
While attendance is not mandatory you pretty much need to be there to pass the class. His tests are really hard and some of the questions come from out of nowhere but if you do the practice problems at the end of each chapter and study with a group it helps. He likes to go off on tangents during lecture but usually brings it back to the material.
Curtiss rocks. I took Gorden and wanted to die so I dropped in 2 weeks. Curtiss tells you in class "I am going to ask this on the test," so nothing takes you by surprise. He gives 8-10 bonus points on every test. He lets you have 2 skips for ALEKS. He rounds your final grade by 2 points. He realizes it's hard and prepares you for Chem 2.
If you want to do well in Dr. Curtiss's class, you definitely have to work for it. Be aware that he may place you into groups in the first few days of the semester. It is pretty important to get into a group full of smart/responsible-looking people, because you will be taking portions of your exams with them. I would recommend Dr. C's class.
Dr. Curtiss is a cool guy but he's not a great teacher. He tells hilarious stories but then he ends up running out of time in class. His tests are tough and he isn't clear about the info that will be on them. However, he wants you to pass. He gives bonus points in class, gives you two skip for Aleks, and adds 2% to your final grade.
I took Curtiss for chem 1 and 2, and if you are planning to do the same, I recommend you turn around and run. His tests are hard, he's constantly off topic in class, he's very rude, and he does not care about his students in the slightest. He treats office hours like another class period, so good luck doing well if you can't make it.
Best Chem teacher for sure if you can DEFINITELY take him! Gives tons of extra credit and rounds your grade up 2 points at the end of the semester. Study old tests to make good grades. Final is the toughest but still not too difficult if you know his old tests.
Took his class over a summer and almost didn't pass. It was very fast paced and he didn't offer much outside help
Really cool guy. Chemistry in itself is a tough class, but he makes it as easy as possible to pass. Just put in enough time on ALEKS and studied well a week before the test and you'll do fine. Overall best chemistry teacher at Auburn.
Best Chemistry teacher at Auburn by far. He literally wants to see you succeed in his class. Make sure you do Aleks and he drops 2 objectives. He replaces the lowest test/ quiz grade with the final and he adds 2 points to your overall grade at the end of the semester. Tests are easy as long as you study old tests. Final was pretty easy too
The comments on here are all accurate regarding Dr. Curtiss. I enjoyed his class, I was definitely prepared for the standardized universal final, and the 2% "gift" he adds to your final grade is a true blessing. He gives you the opportunity to pass if you actually put forth the effort. Take this man for Chem 1 or 2 if you can!!
Stayed in Auburn for summer just to take him for Organic because he was such a good Chem 1 professor, but he is a HORRIBLE organic professor. He flew through the chapters and even tested on chapters he never covered in lecture. Office hours were insanely unhelpful. All in all- take for gen chem but DO NOT take him for organic.
Curtiss is a good professor when he teaches. For someone who wants to comprehend more, go to his office hours. Do not be afraid to ask questions. You get "academy" points for working problems sometimes. There may be group assignments. Do these well. There are quizzes uploaded on canvas sometimes. Pass them. STUDY PLEASE (no all-nighters).
This guy is the realist, definitely one of my favorite professors. Took him in the summer and dropped some dimes. He had office hours/review sessions which I'm think was clutch, he didn't have to come back on Tuesdays and Thursdays, he did which shows that he's there for the students. People who did poorly, that's their fault, not his. Thanks Dr. C
Definitely one of my favorite professors so far. He gives you many opportunities to that prove truly beneficial to your grade, so the people who do poorly truly do not care. Very helpful and actually cares for his students. Makes an occasional joke here and there, just all around great teacher and great person. Would love having him again.
His lectures are poor at best. Everything I learned from this class I learned from ALEKS and Dr. Curtiss only confused the material...
While not a very good lecturer, Curtiss is a very funny and very generous professor. A lot of the learning comes from ALEKS and reading the textbook, but Curtiss is helpful in guiding you to what to read and what practice problems to do. There are many chances to get bonus points, making the class an easy A if you put in the work.
Terrible lectures, I rarely learned from them and after a while it was easier to skip and read the book or do ALEKs assignments.
Chem1030 is a difficult and time consuming class, but if you have to take it, take it with Curtiss. He gives out his old tests and then new tests are closely modeled after those. He is very sarcastic, but wants you to succeed. Bonus points given frequently if you are in class.
He is a very funny guy, and lectures are not that boring. The Honors class is challenging, so if you don't feel confident in chemistry or didn't take AP chem, I don't recommend taking this honors class. Office Hours help SO much, so go to those.
He expects his Honors students to have a very strong background in Chem. Do not take this class if you did not have AP or IB level classes in highschool. He is funny in a way that also shows how much of an ass he is. He enjoys talking over your head and confusing you.
Everyone on here says not to take this if you haven't had chemistry before don't take him, but I only had Into. to Chem in high school and I'm doing fine. Read the books, read the problems, listen in class and GET HELP UP FRONT, he respects you more that way.
Lectures are very boring. he knows the material very well but is used to teaching higher level chemistry. If you want to make a good grade get ready to put in a lot of work. Curtiss's tests are very difficult so do not wait until the night before to study.
I enjoyed Ashley this semester. He's kinda creepy and some of his jokes are a little inappropriate for class, but otherwise great teacher. Office hours help a lot and you should definitely read the textbook. If you took AP Chemistry in high school you should have a basic understanding of what's going on, but he goes more in-depth.
My favorite teach of the all semester. Jokes are hilarious and stories make chemistry the best class ever. Read the textbook, ask RELEVANT questions in class (will go off on huge tangent), and take advantage of his office hours. Cool, cool dude!
I had Dr. Curtiss for CHEM1030. Its a difficult class because its difficult material if you've never had a chemistry class before. He tries to make it as easy as possible and I left the class actually knowing the material. I would definitely recommend taking his class.
Dr. Curtiss is a really funny guy and his lectures can be pretty entertaining. The class was very difficult, but he gives many opportunities to boost your grade. I would recommend this class if you have a good background in chemistry, but if you do not, I would say otherwise. Although the material was very hard, Dr. Curtiss was a great teacher.
Dr. Curtiss really makes one rethink everything they may have thought to be true of the material world. He gives students the chance to develop their own thoughts as to why matter behaves the way it does, and he motivates us to second guess the conventional memorization techniques used in the past. I liked this, but most students do not.
Dr. Curtiss is a nice guy with a lot of chemistry knowledge, but he left a lot to be desired as a teacher. His lectures were not that informative and he would often get off topic. He expects you to read the book before he teaches in class. Tests were fairly difficult but it wasn't hard to get an A because he makes them out of more than 100 points.
IF YOU HAVENT TAKEN AP CHEM IN HIGH SCHOOL DO NOT TAKE THIS COURSE. he does not even remotely cover let alone mention the basics that are fundamental to learning the rest of chemistry because he just assumes everyone knows them. Also doesn't teach material in class anywhere close to the level on the test. tried supplementing w the the textbook RIP
Dr. Curtiss is a great teacher. He challenges you to think deeply and deliberately, not only about chemistry but about many aspects of life. His lectures are entertaining, and he is extremely available and helpful outside of class. He really cares about teaching and wants his students to succeed, but you'll have to put in the work.
Dr. Curtiss is funny, but his tests are not. He's very accessible for office hours and will give practical advice to excel on his tests. If you think you'll do well simply because you're good at math, think again; if you do well applying concepts, this class is geared toward you. Be certain to read the textbook and work problems after each chapter.
Dr. Curtiss was a very good Chem 2 professor. His lectures are mostly clear, and he explains his expectations for the test(for the most part). Attendance is not mandatory, but definitely worth going. He gives extra credit opportunities and writes test questions in notes. GO TO OFFICE HOURS; they are extremely helpful!!
Dr. Ashley Curtiss can be described with one word, Legendary. His engagement with the class and sense of humor is better than any other teacher I've had in my life. He is gratuitous with bonus opportunities, for CHEM 1120 at least, and finds oddly specific examples to make learning Chem II exciting and thought-provoking. 10/10 Would take again.
Curtiss's lectures are easy to keep up with, but exam material is completely different from lecture material. Also, if you're absent when he decides to give an exam back, subtract 10 from your exam score. If you submit your exam for a re-grade because the grader messed up he'll take points off somewhere else. He's a very unhelpful guy.
Fashion is on fleek and an overall stud. Will teach you to think, mostly in the way of an organic chemist. Has high standards for you but helps you reach them.
Dr. Curtiss tells you exactly what he expects you to know for exams and gives lots of opportunities to makeup points. There is required Aleks work that is time consuming.
Dr. Curtiss is one of those professors that you will take with you after their class. He was hilarious, passionate, and caring for his students. It was seriously a joy to into his class every day. It is important to stay on top of your material as chemistry is by no means easy, but Dr. Curtiss does his best to make the material digestible.
Really funny guy, but he basically just taught things that he thought were cool, so we learned the rest on our own. Have to learn through ALEKS. His test graders weren't hard and he offered at least 11 bonus points on each test, so it was easy to do well. Have to work hard outside of class to learn, but easily doable. Would suggest taking him!
Dr. Curtiss is a good guy, but to me he wasn't the best teacher. His lectures can get wildly off topic, and we didn't seem to cover a lot of what was in the chapters that the tests were supposed to be on. That being said, the tests weren't impossible and there is a lot of extra credit, but overall he is just an okay teacher.
Dr. Curtiss is amazing. His test are difficult but not impossible. He typically gives extra credit on test (for example you could receive a grade of 121/100). He also awards three points at the end of the semester for the Curtiss gift. If we showed up for every test, completed aleks objectives and completed AUEvaluate he added three points to grade
Honestly he is an ok professor. He does give 3 point extra credit on assignments but he gets so off topic with his lectures and does not actually cover all of the material needed for his exams. He takes notes in class but does not post them on canvas instead he posts the PowerPoints which really do not help prepare for his tests.
go to class! he does attendance quizzes. he rambles most of the time
Dr. Curtiss is really easy-going and has a lot of extra credit opportunities that I strongly suggest to partake in. Tests are basically based off of taking good lecture notes and the key terms from the textbook. Office hours are also highly advised.
Dr. Curtiss is one of the few professors I would NOT recommend taking. In lectures he rambles off subject and his notes are extremely hard to understand. In class he often expects you to already know many aspects of chemistry and therefor doesn't go over them. In my opinion his tests are never what he teaches and I always felt blindsided by them.
Really challenging, you had to really know your stuff. Used a new testing style bc our class was so large, so I was blindsided by the questions on the test sometimes. But he does a great job preparing you for upper level chem. Make sure to go to office hours because he is super helpful and wants you to do well.
He's a good professor and tells you most of the stuff on the test; however, I don't know if I suck at studying or if I suck at chemistry, I did not do well on his tests. My highest test grade has been a 71 and my lowest at a 34 and I study for about an hour each night, but I've also never had Chem. He's cool but his tests are pretty difficult.
This class was one of the most challenging classes. He rambles on during lecture so I ended up having to reteach myself the information after class.
Test are filled with extra credit but but he makes you work for them. The grading is harsh since there are many graders who are from different countries and may not understand your implications in short answers. Others have said office hours can be harsh if you come with no idea on the topics and so make sure to study beforehand.
Curtiss is probably the best Chem 1 professor at Auburn. He does so much to help his students. He gives extra credit on most of the tests and adds 2 points to your overall grade at the end. The material/tests are difficult, but if you listen to him, a good grade is doable. I didn't use the textbook, and he doesn't take attendance, but go
Dr. Curtiss is probably the best CHEM1030 professor at Auburn. Very funny and is a good teacher. His tests and quizzes are tough, but very doable if you have worked many problems in the textbook and have done your ALEKS. Usually gives 15+ bonus points on tests, but even still the class average is usually a C, so you still have to study very hard
He covers at least %90 of the test in his lectures. Textbook not mandatory, but if you read/do textbook problems, go to his lectures, and do the aleks hw, you can definitely make an A. Final exam was very easy after his class. Only problem is he sometimes wastes time telling stories, but I would definitely recommend Dr. Curtiss.
One of the best chem teachers at Auburn. Lectures are easy to understand and expects you to supplement lecture with the textbook. SI sessions are really helpful too, especially the test reviews. If you don't go to class, you won't pass. Not an easy class and you will have to work for it. If you study and do all your ALEKS you'll be fine.
Dr. Kurtis did not teach. At all. During his long boring lectures he would ramble. If you are good at teaching yourself then this class is fine. If you want a teacher that actually teaches then try someone else. The SIs didn't even help. Terrible. He doesn't even grade the tests, foreign TAs do and it's terrible.
I seriously don't understand how this professor has such a good rating on here. DO NOT take this class if you want to have to teach yourself or go to pointless lectures that are not even what the test is on. Probably the worst Chem professor at Auburn, 10000/10 would not recommend.
Dr. Curtiss makes you work for it. I made an A once I figured out I needed to start studying 2 weeks before the test and was going to SI twice a week. That being said, the common final exam was incredibly easy in comparison to his other tests. You will be teaching yourself for this class. DO NOT get tests regraded, he will take more points off.
This is one of those classes you have to dedicate hours to. I had to get a private tutor to make a B in this class. There is tons of homework you have to do in Aleks every week. REMEMBER WHAT YOU LEARN FROM ALEKS. He always puts that stuff on the test. Dr. Curtis is a nice guy though. He is funny and his lectures are really entertaining.
Dr. Curtiss is kind of a really bad teacher. He drops your two lowest Aleks which is really nice, and replaces your lowest test grade with the Final if you do better on the Final. If you go to class & write down everything he says & read the book, you'll do fine. He goes off on dumb tangents, but write down EVERYTHING bc he will ask random things.
Dr. Curtiss is by far the best CHEM professor at AU. He actually cares about students LEARNING the material so they can transfer it into the succeeding course. He is not a "Easy A" by all means but no chem class is and if you actually put forth the effort an A is achievable. He's also hilarious and super easy to talk to. Recommend office hours.
Very fair. Test grades really matter, but gives extra credit. Not easy at all, but not that bad.
Dr. Curtiss certainly allows you to choose the grade you want. If you do the ALEKS, go to class, read the book, and study, you can make an A. Funny guy and gives bonus throughout the semester by having built in bonus on his tests.
Dr. Curtiss is the best thing AU chem dept has to offer. He is only hard because his tests are worth everything. Final is potentially 40% of grade. He cares about his students and knows that most are taking ochem to get to med school, etc. Super awesome. Would recommend office hours so he gets to know you. so much bonus built in to the hard tests.
He is one of the best professors in Auburn. He was really helpful and clear. I'm really excited because I'll take him next semester.
This class is already extremely difficult but Curtiss just adds to the difficulty. He is a horrible lecturer and expects you to teach yourself so get ready to read the book and go to SI. Every semester the majority of the class will legitimately fail his third exam. He does give bonus point but that only helps so much.
Curtiss is the best option for organic. He tells you from day 1 that you have to put in a lot of outside work, simply because the material is hard and unlike anything people have seen before in other classes. His tests are fair tests and they're usually at least 110/100 points to give you room to make simple mistakes.
Dr. Curtiss is an incredible prof. You have to stay on top of things in his class, but if you read the book, go to office hours, and SI you will be fine. You just have to keep practicing. Plus he gives a ton of extra credit, quizzes, and Aleks grades that can cushion your grade too.
Dr C is great. Clear expectations and tons of bonus,He is tough though;O Chem is like SEAL training, respect is earned, not handed out,Read the ENTIRE textbook,He demands a lot of you, but he really cares if you show effort. Go to OFFICE HOURS, ACE the first test,READ before class; listen in class,Treat OCHEM like your girlfriend, lots of time eq A
Dr. Curtiss is a very fair professor. In class he says things to scare you and you should take it seriously. Work as many practice problems as you can find and then work them again. He gives extra credit towards the end of the year and each test you get points back. The best ochem professor in my opinion. Taking him again this semester.
His tests are difficult but out of more than 100 points. He gives extracredit but you'll need it unless you study an hour or two everyday. His lectures are all over the place and he says things that have no relation to the exam material. His office hours are super helpful but he will make you feel stupid. You WILL learn something but you'll be sad.
Curtiss is a fair teacher. His attitude can be frustrating at times, but you just have to take everything he says with a grain of salt. This class is hard work, but Curtiss gives so many opportunities to bring your grade up - extra credit, lots of homework assignments, & quizzes. One of the better ochem teachers for sure
He's not the nicest guy or best lecturer ever but his class is hands down easier than any other prof at Auburn because he gives out SO much extra credit. You need to read the text and learn the material on your own time. If you accept that, Curtiss is probably the easiest way to get an A in organic chem.
Really a great professor. Teach yourself and then use lectures to supplement. Tests are hard but he gives old ones to study and also gives a ton of extra credit. Wants you to succeed, but wants you to work for it. If he knows you and that you're trying, you'll have a much better experience. Took for Organic 1 & 2, would recommend. Study from Day 1
Dont listen to those who say hes good and wants you to succeed. He takes the term weedout course to extreme. The tests are more than 100 pts but unless you dedicate your life and first born to this class you wont get an A. Many kids struggle to just pass the class
He provides so much extra credit and fluff grades that it balances out your tests grades. Hes extremely fair and gave our class a 3% bonus to our grades. If you work hard, you can easily make an A. With all of his extra credit and fluff grades, its even easy to at least make a B since he does a final replacement.
This class was challenging-we would fly through 2 chapters every lecture. You had to REALLY stay on top of it and reading the book is a must. Of course, I didn't do that, and ended up getting Cs on my tests. BUT I ended up with an A in the class. He gives SO MUCH extra credit it's really insane. I no way deserved an A but got one. Take him.
Dr. Curtiss is extremely intelligent but has an interesting teaching style. He often just started writing under the doc cam with absolutely no explanations. He's very accessible in office hours and will try to help you understand anything you're struggling with. Test questions are very difficult and require applying what he expects you have learned
Class is absolutely pointless. The only reason to go is to get an update on upcoming events and handouts that you will turn in on canvas as an attendance grade. His graders love proving their smart by grading your papers super hard. He will go back and add maybe 5 points to your test. The only good thing is online quizzes are 25% of grade
STAY AWAY AT ALL COSTS! He is easily the worst OCHEM professor here at Auburn. His tests are nearly impossible unless you dedicate a good 2 weeks of your life to study for them. Lectures are pointless because all he does is tell you to go self study half the chapter he is covering. Definitely should have dropped this class but I had no other option
I dont know why he has so many good reviews. His tests are hard and test you on irrelevant material. Makes over half the class fail the third exam. Would not take him again.
do not take his class! his tests are impossible and doesnt even teach in class what we need to know.
Awful professor. Lectures are barely structured at all and just throws things out w/o explaining them, using it as an opportunity to demonstrate how much he knows w/o actually teaching anything. Exams are insanely hard, even considering how hard Organic Chemistry actually is. He also purposely fails everyone on the 3rd exam.
Dr. Curtiss was pretty good to take for 2070. His first two tests are not too bad. Use the online textbook to learn everything and old tests. The skill-builders with old tests will prepare you for his exams.
Took him online after having a bad in-class professor. His lectures were easy to follow and didn't give as much alek as some other professors. The first test was easy but all the ones after were not a walk in the park. I had an A on the first exam and solid Ds on the rest, but the final is exactly how he describes it and if you do the work its a B
Curtiss is great for onine chem 1. All his lectures are pre-recorded and are very straight forward/ explained in a way so it makes sense. Aleks hw is the worst part, but if you do well on the initial test, you'll have significantly less hw. Tests come straight from the lectures with a crap ton of bonus pts, and he gives his past exams for studying.
He is very well adapted to online teaching bc of covid. O chem is tough but he gives a lot of easy points to help balance out the tests. Requires a good amount of effort but a good grade is very possible if willing to work for it. Definitely would take him again.
Dr. Curtiss definitely is bashed on a lot, you either love him or you hate him. The reason why I would 100% take his class again, is because he understands how hard OCHEM is. He shows this by giving you itemized lists on what's on tests, giving TONS of bonus on tests, and advising you on what you should study in the textbook. You should take him.
Generally a pretty nice guy, but was not a super helpful teacher. One on one would be very helpful but otherwise isn't great. Ochem is a hard class but he made it unnecessarily so. Do get points for trying on exams though.
Very good! Best class! Best teacher!
Dr. Curtiss is a hilarious and relatable professor! He is extremely understanding in relation to what his students are going through. He also recognizes that Organic Chemistry is hard subject and offers so many extra points to help cushion your grade. Take him. One of my favorite professors at Auburn by far.
Dr. Curtiss is my favorite professor I have had at Auburn. You learn a lot but you have to know your stuff and keep up. Tests are very hard but he teaches everything you need to know. It is a matter of whether or not you want to work hard. He works with his students and is very flexible. Funny and good lecturer Would definitely take him.
He is a good teacher for some but I recommend to take anyone else.
I enjoyed Dr. Curtiss. His class taught me a lot about how to properly study. He is very fair on what he expects you to know. You will have to work hard and study daily but I think that it made me a much better student.
Dr. Curtiss is probably one of the best organic chemistry teachers at Auburn. Hes very understanding and does an exceptional job of helping the seniors out. He only gives grace to the ones that actually try and put in the effort. He gives lots of grade cushioning with the homework and quizzes. Pass each test and you will have desired grade.
The only reason I am giving a bad review is because of the ALEKS homework. I spent more time doing homework for this class than I have ever spent on any other class. The entire class would agree that ALEKS is completely uncalled for. It is the hardest thing I have ever had to do in my life. It never correlated to the class and was insanelydifficult
He gives you A TON of study material, but literally 1/10 of it is helpful for the exams. I took it online and I had no lectures to watch. I was completely on my own. The homeworks were outrageous. I don't understand why he has any good reviews. Don't even bother asking him for help because you will only get a smart remark like "Just study harder".
Retook this class in 2021 and received a B+ and I can't stress this enough it really depends on the professor and how their teaching style lines up with how you learn. Curtiss to me was unorganized, not helpful in specifying, and would laugh when the averages for the class was so low. He was always so "smart" with students about question too.
I took this class over the summer and it was asynchronous. I would study for several days in a row for his exams and when I took them, it felt like I was taking an exam for the wrong class. He provided so much stuff to study, but gave nothing on what might be important. Don't get me started on ALEKS hw. The averages for his tests were low Cs. AVOID
By far my favorite professor at Auburn, which is impressive considering it's Organic Chemistry. Gives out a lot of extra credit just make sure to do the handouts and you have to study, it's a hard subject. You can tell he loves the subject and is willing to help anyone who puts in the effort.
I loved chem in high school, understood it well and got an A+. Curtiss is a cool guy and cares about his teaching but goes so fast and half of his handouts don't help prepare for his exams. He does give practice exams similar to the real thing but crash course YouTube taught me more than he ever did. Do not recommend him as a professor.
He is very good at explaining concepts. The flipped classroom is not for me because I get behind on notes. But if you can keep up you should be fine. His exams are hard but he gives out a lot of extra points on them and gives homework as a participation grade which really helps your grade. You also have weekly quizzes which are pretty easy.
Dr. Curtiss is a good professor who is very willing to help you succeed, but his tests are pretty difficult. I took him for CHEM 2070 and made A's on all the tests until I bombed the final. As I learned with the final, this is not a class you can pass if you only study the night before the exam. However, his tests are fair if you put in the work.
Extremely unhelpful when you ask questions, he'll tell you to either google it or look back in the book. His averages are low especially exam 3, the average is around a 45%. Even if you are a super dedicated student, trust me that you should just try another prof. I spent weeks studying and still failed every exam.
He genuinely only cares about himself. He often bragged about his degree and took weed out class very seriously. Reversed class room was the worst part, watched hours of lecture at home to come to class for him to barely explain it! AVOID, have to retake in the Spring
DO NOT TAKE HIS CLASS. He is SO nice, and Ive heard he might be better as a professor for higher chem classes, but you wont learn anything in his lectures and will have to do tons of outside studying because the lectures are just all over the place and the tests tend to be on way more than was discussed in class.
DO. NOT. TAKE. THIS. PROFESSOR. I have never had a worse chemistry teacher. He does not teach and is disrespectful to his students. If there is another option for chemistry teachers take them and not Dr. Curtiss.
I didn't have a huge problem with him to begin with. I made Bs on the test but studied really hard. The flipped classroom was terrible. I started going to office hours and turns out he's very rude. When you ask for clarification he just makes you work out problems you don't understand just to make you feel dumb without getting any helpful feedback.
LITERALLY THE WORST PROFESSOR. DOES NOT TEACH AND HIS VERY RUDE TO HIS STUDENTS. He really couldn't care less about his students.
Take anyone else. One of those professors that doesnt care that the average is literally in the 40s for a test. He claims that normal and as a teacher he should be embarrassed by that. Hes also just a mean person in general, he doesn't seeem to care about his students. He does respond to emails fast though so at least theres that.
He gives you bonus on every test, so you can miss around 10 points and still get a 100. He gives you a lot to study for tests, but it don't really help that much for his tests, so you really have to know the material. Attendance isn't "mandatory" but very important to do well. Overall, it's a difficult class and you have to work hard but he's good.
Most of these comments on here are mostly students who did poorly in a tough class and are lashing out at their professor for their own lack of effort. Office hours twice a week. I went to nearly every one and went through this class with a breeze. He is not rude, he just makes you work for answers. Too many people are looking for the easy road.
Dr. Curtiss is not quick to want to help his students. The first class he literally tells everyone that most people won't pass. Exams are extremely hard, amount of studying barely matters. Feels like this class is designed to make people struggle. Flipped class, so you have to teach yourself all of the material and you don't learn anything in class
I took Dr. Curtiss this past semester for CHEM-1030. He is a very knowledgeable teacher that enjoys what he teaches. He does not require attendance but it is extremely helpful to go. His lectures are very informative and quite funny. He wants all of his students to succeed and gives lots of extra credit. Tests are graded out of 110%. Def recommend
I loved Dr. Curtiss, especially as an individual. You can tell he is very knowledgeable about the subjects he teaches. O Chem is just hard, and there is no way around that. Tests are out of at least 110 points, but the dividend is always 100. He really is generous to students when it comes to points. I would totally suggest him for O Chem.
Dr. Curtiss, in my opinion, is fairly reasonable. He is not kidding when he says you need to do tons of practice problems, and rigorously study, to do well in his course. Class is low-key pointless because it is a flipped classroom. Do hella practice problems, read the textbook, stay on top of lectures, and do the practice exams to get a good grade
Work practice problems & go to office hours. not an excuses guy. You earn what you earn. Asks really specific questions rather than just test general knowledge. take him over Merner. doesn't care if you share quiz answers. Going to class helps but isn't required. Cares ab students but doesn't give grades back fast. replaces lowest test w final.
Dr Curtiss was extremely helpful with making sure the materials for the test was covered. He also provided plenty of bonus points on each test. He drops a lot of lower homeworks and replaces your lowest test with the final to boost your final grade. Make sure to read the book tho or you will be lost in class because he moves fast, but thorough.
Make sure you get as many points as possible on the first two exams because the last two are insanely difficult. Fine professor but his tests have pretty specific questions with unpredictable answers. Practice as much as you can, go to SI and try hard not to get behind. If you do well on exams 1 and 2 you can easily get a B.
He really does try to help and OCHEM is a hard subject. Every test he gives bonus points but they can be really hard if you get behind. THIS IS A FLIPPED CLASSROOM. I had a hard time learning this way and even went to every office hours he held and scheduled more just to get an understanding and I still had a hard time.
This is a flipped classroom. His pre-recorded lectures are vague, monotone, and poorly structured to teach students with *just gen chem* knowledge the subject of O Chem. He refuses to restructure his class because of the hours he spent editing the videos. I unfortunately had him for 2080 too. Beware of his class.
Hes tough. Its flipped classroom, so class attendance is mainly to work out problems. I like that theres usually 20+ points of extra credit in his exams. However the grades are only 25% per each of 3 exams, 12.5% quizzes and 12.5% homework. I would take him again but if you cant pace yourself or hold yourself accountable to watch videos beware.
I have mixed feelings, I thought he was a little odd and sorta flirted with all the girls in my class. There's weekly worksheets for free points but the tests are a huge part of your grade. He doesn't grade anything himself, then he didn't put grades in until finals week. He's kind of snarky when you ask questions, but is very knowledgeable.
Due to a blood clot, I missed multiple weeks and an exam because of it. Up until then, I had a B. O chem is hard but Curtiss gives all the resources needed to make a good grade. Keep up with his pacing guide and make sure you actually learn the material, not just for the exam. Lots of work but one of the best O chem professors auburn has to offer!
Dr. Curtiss can be extremely condescending. It is almost like he enjoys making students feel like they can't achieve their goals... Flipped classroom method was a struggle for me. I wouldn't take him again. The only bright side is the grade booster from the quizzes and hand out sheets.
Curtiss is by far one of the worst professors. Flipped classroom method doesn't work. Extremely condescending tone to his students. His tests have a ton of errors that the TAs have to correct before grading exams. Man can't even make a 100 on his own tests. Regrading test questions costs you 2 points on old exams for each question asked. Don't take
Dr. Curtiss is a good guy and you can tell that he wants the best for his students. However he isn't a great teacher. It is a flipped classroom, so he never really teaches during lectures. The tests are extremely hard, and are worth most of your grade. Ochem in general is a difficult subject, but Dr. Curtiss is not the guy I want teaching it.
Currently retaking OChem 1+2 bc of his terrible flipped classroom method. Retaking with a different prof made me realize how truly terrible this class was. 13 quizzes and 13 homework assignments that I made As on made no difference to my grade. His tests are beyond terrible and confusing.Currently have a B+ in my summer OChem 1 class with new prof.
Curtiss is super knowledgeable, but the material he teaches is just hard. Be prepared, I basically dedicated my semester to this class to make a good grade. The exams are challenging, but very similar to old exams and worksheets; the quizzes help a lot. He's a good professor, but this class is a ton of work.
I have never submitted a review for a professor here before, however I felt it important to warn students about taking courses with this professor. Namely that if you are not in the chemistry major, or will not be using chemistry closely in your profession DO NOT TAKE THIS COURSE. The professor is very hard and utilizes a mostly hands off approach
People who complain about this class have not learned how to study. Read the book, go to class, & STAY ON TOP of flipped classroom content. Exams are hard, he dropped our lowest & includes an insane amount of bonus into the tests to account for mistakes/tough questions. Beware of exam three (class average was a 44) & give it effort you'll survive.
Took him for II after I. Much more respectful to Ochem II students, and if you can get a hold of previous tests and know them like the back of your hand you will be golden. Attendance not required, just watch videos and read the book (it will save you).
Dr. Curtiss is often hated on but is probably the best ochem professor Auburn has. It's a flipped classroom, so you have to dedicate time to watching his lectures and taking good notes. Exams are filled with bonus points. everyone says Falcao is the best ochem professor but HER EXAMS ARE NOT LIKE HER LECTURES OR PRACTICE EXAMS. DO NOT TAKE HER!!
I thought that Dr. Curtiss was great and he seems to really care about his students. He runs a "flipped" classroom (lecture outside of class, apply it in class) which I liked a lot as I could go and work practice problems in class & get help directly from Dr. Curtiss & the LA's. Just make sure to work lots of practice problems and show up to class.
Dr. Curtiss is a very good professor and loves chemistry. I think the flipped classroom works well for a class like this. My advice to students is do not be afraid to drop this class and change your major. Science majors are not for everyone and your success in this class is a good indicator of whether it is for you. Curtiss communicates this well.
Ochem as a whole is a very very difficult class. However, Dr. Curtiss does a great job with his flipped classroom of teaching material and is always accessible. He gives LOADS of extra credit on tests and also gives a couple EC assignments at the end of the semester through surveys/ a paper which may add percentage points to your grade (crucial!!)
Ochem is a very difficult class but Curtiss understands this and gives a ton of extra credit to help. This class definitely takes a lot of hours studying, but it is possible to make it out with an A. Curtiss is amazing 10/10 would recommend to everyone.
For classes such as CHEM2080, having a professor who knows his stuff is of upmost importance. Dr. Curtiss is that guy. I asked this man a thousand questions and he always had a professional answer that provided clarity. Watch the panapto lectures and read the book for clarity and this class will be just fine.
Curtis is alright. The class is hard but he does a good job of making the information somewhat easy to understand. I probably would take someone else if I had to take the class again
The people saying he was hard are probably just referring to the material in general. Organic chemistry is HARD but Curtiss cares about his students and WANTS them to do well. He teaches things well too. He definitely makes sure that you will be prepared, whether thats in his CHEM2070 for 2080 or 2080 for biochemistry.
While the class is not over yet, I am not worried about my grade dropping. He cares a lot about his students and really wants everyone to do well. Tests are always out of more than 100 points which helps a lot. Online quizzes and ws's you turn in online are easy 100's. I recommend him to everyone and wish I could take him again! He's very funny!
If you are not a fan of flipped classrooms, do not take Dr. Curtiss. However, outside of that, he is a pretty good professor. He gives lots of quizzes and handouts which are basically 100's and his exams are out of more than 100 points on a 100 dividend. With his flipped teaching style, his class is the biggest waste of time, especially as an 8AM.
Curtiss is overall fine. I have an A in the class right now, but that is because I read the textbook, take my own notes, and do the workbook. I have had to teach myself the class and stopped watching his videos because they made me more confused. class time is also a waste because he talks about himself a lot or does useless practice problems.
He isn't a great professor. You have to teach yourself through the textbook. The panopto lectures he makes is the biggest waste of time. Focus on the textbook and the skillbuilders. His tests are really difficult and very random, so learn everything you can about the chapters as you never know what he might ask. I would recommend taking Prado.
I don't recommend this professor at all. His tests are very hard and he knows it. He anticipates everyone's failure and warns you at the beginning of the semester that most people will drop his class. He doesn't teach at all and why he is a professor, I have no idea.
Reading all these reviews, I believe that people consider the quality of his class so high bc his tests & your ability to do well all depend on your ability to teach yourself everything based on the textbook. So, really, the quality they're describing is the basis of knowledge you get from reading the textbook and learning the material that way.
Very arrogant and condescending when talking to you. Going to class especially the 8 am is a waste since he uses most of it to talk about himself or unrelated things. He does not lecture, you are going to teach yourself from the book. His tests do not include multiple choice and are extremely difficult.
Curtiss' class is structured for people who actually care about learning. His exams are out of 110-120 points so there is a TON of extra credit and lots of partial credit. Read to textbook and go to office hours. If you use the tools he gives you then you will be just fine, but don't expect an easy A without putting in work.
He made ochem so much fun and gives bonus that helps a lot. He's funny and really cares. A lot of people get upset and say he doesn't teach but the biggest thing with ochem is doing practice problems on your own which he gives time for in class which is great. Love this class so much and I recommend him to literally everyone. Bonus on every test!
Interesting approach to chemistry with the flipped classroom, but if you make sure to keep up with the lectures, the class is doable. TONS of extra credit on exams, and just randomly throughout the semester. He really cares that you're understanding the material
His class definitely teaches you to study and it requires you to fully understand the content through the textbook to do well. That is why I feel like the quality of the class is high, but it is no thanks to him. His tests are hard and he recognizes that which is why he gives bonus (things like people's names and their contributions).
To pass the class: Read the textbook religiously. It will carry you. Beware of pop quizzes. The take home quizzes are meant to be a baseline of your understanding, but they are not indicators of what will be on the test. Some questions from his learning assignments are reused on his test. If you are shown something, it is fair game on the test.
Put in ALOT of hard work and you will receive a good grade. He gives plenty of extra credit/bonus points on tests to help you succeed in the class since the material is so difficult and tests are very hard. Your final can replace your lowest test grade. For Fall 2023 he gave 3% total bonus for extra credit not including tests bonus so 87% = A.
Dr. Curtiss is a good professor and is very accessible outside of class with office hours. It is a flipped classroom, and working the problems in the book is absolutely essential, especially when you get to test 3. There is a ton of extra credit opportunities, and if you put in the work, you should be able to pull off an A.
I highly recommend taking his class. If you put in the work, then the exams are very fair. He is helpful outside of class and willing to answer any questions. He gave many extra credit opportunities, which added 3% to your final grade. He really does want the class to succeed, you just have to stay on top of learning the material.
This class is hard and so are his tests. Beware of two pop quizzes in the middle of the semester when you do elimination and substitution reactions. His tests are out of 110 or more points which is nice, but his tests are difficult and it can be helpful or not... depends on the person.
Curtiss is a dream. If you read the textbook and watch his video lectures this class will be a cakewalk. Just make sure to do a lot of practice problems and take the class seriously. There is also an extra credit opportunity at the end of the semester that boosts your grade by 2%.
When you read through his review notice that the majority of people leaving reviews including poor ones have As in the class. Ochem is hard, but Curtiss makes it beyond doable with bonus etc. You will have to put in work outside of class *shocker its ochem* but there isn't an ochem professor at auburn who makes getting an A more achievable.
I couldn't recommend him enough, you will need to put a lot of work into his class, but the bonus he gives helps so so much.
He uses a flipped classroom which I personally hate. I took gen chem flipped and was fine. Expect to devote lots of time to this class if it doesn't come easy to you. This class is mostly memorization. Curtiss can be a little rude to some people so beware. The 3rd exam is very hard but he replaces it with your exam 4 if it's higher.
Dr. Curtiss is the best! I was SUPER scared going into OChem, but soon realized it was not as bad as people said. He runs a flipped classroom...most hate this, but I liked it because you could learn the material at your own pace. OChem is hard, but if you put the work in, you will be fine! Tons of extra credit. TAKE DR. CURTISS!!
Maybe it's because I hate flipped classrooms, but I don't recommend this professor at all. Literally showed up to class and spent an hour talking about random fun facts, exam averages, or his personal life. I don't pay tuition to teach myself. Very rude to students in office hours. The only positive is that he gives lots of extra credit on exams.
Just read the textbook, and don't sleep on the handouts for class! The tests have bonus questions on them so it's easier to get a good grade. I had to retake this class after withdrawing last semester and now I feel like I have a good understanding of how things work.
Although I wish it wasn't a flipped classroom, he was honest and straightforward about what we needed to do in order to do well in his class. He also gives a lot of bonus and wants to see his students succeed. Exams are tough so be prepared to study. If you stay consistent and study for ~1-2 hours a day like he recommends, you should be fine.
Dr. Curtiss makes it easy to make an A with exams having 105-120 possible points while being scored out of 100. Quizzes have multiple attempts and worksheets are participation. HOWEVER, Dr. Curtiss flipped lectures are completely unhelpful. He often rambles in class and talks down on students. He will be petty. Taught myself this course, basically.
Hard class, but he gives so many opportunities for bonus points. Flipped classroom, but I never watched the videos. I mainly went to his office hours and learned by practicing the old tests he posts. It requires work to make a good grade, but the path to making a good grade is laid out. Tests are very straight forward.
This was a poorly done flipped class with lecture time not being managed well. When asking for help he was condescending and rude. I was unable to attend OHs due to work, and was told to quit or fail, while not being offered an alternative time or option for help. As a student who needs structure and guidance this was not the environment for me.
Inverted classroom, so you watch videos before going to lectures, the lecture was very informative and gave lots of hands-on experience in working problems out in every way. Tests got exponentially harder from test 1 to 2 to 3, but lots of extra credit and really good resources for studying beforehand and good review sessions before the exams also.
Flipped classroom style of teaching is not my favorite, but in this case the lecture videos are doable. There are lots of resources to study for the three very important tests in this class. Use combination of these resources for best results. Attendance not mandatory, but he gives out test questions in class. First A I've gotten in a chem class.
Flipped classroom so you must stay on top of things. You will have to read the book to do well. Gave so many opportunities for bonus, all of the tests were at least out of 110 points. I was really intimidated by this class but Curtiss made it enjoyable and doable. If you put in the work an A is achievable.
I keep saying flipped classrooms are not appropriate for a class with this level of difficulty no point in coming to class since you are on your own you just are given a worksheet each period which is participation and can be found online pure laziness on the professors part
Curtiss does not understand students and their goals for his class. We had one test on which the course average was a 54 (two sections), and he said that we needed to study more, and it wasn't his fault. He also told us that his class was the most "important class taught at Auburn" and that "doctors do not make B's." Take any other Ochem professor.
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