2.9
Quality3.8
Difficulty12%
Would Retake183
Reviews12%
Would Retake
183
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
40
4
42
3
21
2
45
1
35
What Students Say
“I hated him at first but then realized he was there to make you think for yourself”
SCOM248 - 3.0 rating“He is a terrible professor that makes absolutely no sense”
SCOM248 - 2.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
82%
Textbook Required
65%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
A-
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.98 avg changeRatings by Course
GCOM120
5.0
(1)GCOM121H
5.0
(1)240
4.3
(3)SCOM580
4.0
(1)GCOM121A
3.8
(4)Difficulty by Course
SCOM242
5.0
SCOM1
4.5
GCOM101
4.3
SCOM347
4.3
248
4.2
Reviews (183)
This was my second worst professor at JMU
He sucks as a teaher, Kinda looks like the rock
The Rock
Carlos is a great professor, wants his students to do well, and is easy-going
gave me a 0 on whole assignment b/c he disliked my outline format
aviod this teacher at all costs
he's a bad teacher, i didn't learn anything
He's tough but fair. I learned a lot in his class
he's tough, but I learned a lot from his class.
Carlos is the coolest teacher, I really like the way he present class material.
He's intense, real. Makes you think. Work and you'll learn a lot. Imagine that.
I have his class now and although he's a hard-ass, he's a great teacher!
Really fun in class, but the exams are no joke.& he looks like The Rock.
AWESOME teacher- fun and interesting class. Tests are tough but fair
awesome teacher, hard, but makes you think, makes it fun
Makes easy class too hard, take home tests took 5-6 hours, my lowest grade here
GREAT class, he's helpful while also tough on you and expects you to be prepared
He is tough, but the class can be fun.
tests were hard, but class was interesting and filled with guest speakers
HARd, tests HARD, HARDEST GCOM teacher
he is horrible
Your grade is based on 4 tests which sucks, class is kinda confusing at times
he is one the best, his class is always interesting
makes an easy class very HARD, but he is very interesting and funny
He was a good teacher but i still didnt like him.
He's interesting, tests are fair, but he's blunt. Be ready for criticism!
Very interesting class, willing to help if you put effort, be prepared to work
great teacher! hard course but he gives awesome examples! my fav. class!!!
he's rude and cuts people off when they are trying to express their opinion
Interesting class- easy test if you know the study guides. Great Teacher
Awesome guy, but some test questions are confusing no matter how much you study
He is the hardest Gcom teacher. Grades hard!
Can we say egomaniac? ALEMAN CAN!!!
Participate & do the work and you will be fine. Hard but fair, willing to help!
extremly intelligent, makes class and tests HARD; difficult grader
He knows his stuff but sometimes he'll teach over the students heads
Rude, Grades Unfairly, Classes are BORING
No Comments
Good teacher. Easy to approach & very helpful. Tests not bad, if you study. =)
Hard tests, very intelligent I think a lot of students don't understand what he's trying to say or get at.
confusing, over explains, grades on details that are not specied at all
Boooooo
He makes this topic so interesting. I found myself really excited to go to class. The grading is difficult, but it only makes you learn more. He made me become more aware of everything that I say.
It's a tough class, but Dr. Aleman pushes you to think in new ways about things. Best to have an open mind!
its a bit hard for a required gen ed course. he def treats it like an upper level course. he pretty much expects alot out of alot of people that don't want to be there in the first place.
completely incompetant professor. just thought i'd use a word he likes to use
if you dont like participating this class isn't for you. puts you on the spot and questions everything you say. sometimes its a fun class but sometimes he's rude and arrogant
Carlos rocks! He's hysterical and very excited about SCOM. Lots of speakers and cancelled class all the time! Definitely get excited!
He's actually a pretty good professor. I didn't think so at the time and then I took Dr. Emmert's 245 class. He cancels class a lot and there's no work other than the 4 tests. I recommend him, he keeps you awake and makes sure you pay attention!
You must participate, sometimes he'll ****you off but it is a great class worth taking
he's a very hard teacher who expects a lot, and sometimes he's abrupt and short with people, and sometimes he can come off as a pr!ck, but overall you're going to come out of the class learning something and you'll become a better public speaker for it.
sucks
Carlos was a good professor. He was blunt and direct but he did care how we did in the course. Our class scored the highest on the GCOM standardized exam - you will learn a lot without even realizing it. Quizzes help your grade; overall, not that hard.
No Comments
only 4 tests; that's ur whole grade. He LOVES when u asks questions. Pay attention, he calls on random people. Gives study guides for the tests. He's definately excited about Communications. Makes u laugh in most classes.
Worst "professor" I've ever had. He's a real **** who thinks he knows everything about everything. Very arrogrant and rude. Doesn't like people disagreeing with him. Class is rediculously hard for a 200 level. Don't take it!
has absolutely no compassion, loves to make students look stupid in class, definitely has favorites and people he hates-being one of the hated its not worth the tears i put into this class..i'll just say that I think he's evil
I don't know what you people are complaining about in this class. Carlos is very intellegent, and he encourages people to come and see him. If I had any problems whatsoever, I would not be intimidated but honored to hear what he has to say
he's totally willing to help- as long as you put in the same amount that he does. if you are willing to earn your grade, you won't be disappointed. he gets you to think; you WILL learn by the end of the semester. awesome class.
What's up with those mean statements about Prof. Aleman and the class. Maybe, those students should take a long hard look at themselves ...if they wanted the same old status-quo they should not have registered for a class dealing with DIVERSITY !!!!
He's a hard, but good teacher...i enjoyed the class. He loves questions so ask them and he'll help you. As long as you do the readings and pay attention in class you'll do fine. He gives study guides and tests aren't that bad if you study.
Great Guy! Direct, clear and Helpful! Pretty tough but life is tough. Learn alot with him. Highly recommended!! Good lectures, many great guest speakers! All around amazing guy
I do not get this stuff. He is an interesting and nice guy, but the tests are IMPOSSIBLE. Don't take this class if you want an easy grade. The material also isn't very interesting.
Good guy, but he goes off on tangents like its his job. waits till the last 5 min of class to lecturing, which results in none of the material making sense. should be teaching tangent101.
Warning: this is a hard class! Do not take this unless you are interested in learning a lot and putting forth a great deal of effort. overall, a hard but good class.
Not a good idea...I seriously feel sick to stomach in class everyday not knowing what he's going to do...Be careful.
No Comments
dr. aleman is an opinionated teacher, do not take this class if you are very close minded and do not like to have your beliefs challenged. this was definitely one of the most interesting classes i have taken at jmu, and he is a very talented professor.
He is fair. Very nice, doesnt play favorites. If you want to do well in his class you will. He allows for extra credit assignments which help grades majorly. Study and you will do fine.
Carlos is honest and understanding. His classes are challenging and spontaneous, but still interesting. Talk to him outside of class and you'll value him as a person.
No Comments
i thought that the concepts that were taught were pretty straightforward. He is a really cool teacher, one of the best ive had at jmu
I can say that this was my favorite class i've had at JMU. He's an awesome teacher and extremely approachable and fun. Definitely not boring at all. Its not that much work but studying is definitely recommended. I definitely recommend him! YEAH CARLOS!!
Dr. Aleman is a great professor, and his energy keeps me awake after two boring classes.
Very funny. His tests are fair but you have to study hard to get a really good grade. Keeps class interesting and will say anything on his mind. BEWARE: make sure you do not come to his class tired, cuz when you fall asleep he will throw an eraser at your face!
The time goes by so fast in this class! The tests are extremely hard so make sure you study. The class was interesting and overall he is a good professor. If you need help, he will be there.
He's cool; the class is pretty hard though; a few papers and the tests r difficult; but go to his office hours, he's really helpful.
For a course that you have to take, not too bad! Not the friendliest guy, will not coddle you, but tests are fair. Gives study guides but reading book and notes are best help! Office hours are a no go.
Great teacher, he explains things very well. 4 tests are all multiple choice and there are no other grades. Really use the study guides and the power points that he posts online and you will do well on the tests. Interesting speaker - he keeps it fun and will say anthing - god real life examples.
Carlos is so funny! He doesnt count attendance... his lectures dont necessarily come from the text book but he definately uses them for questions on his exams. Tests are difficult, need to study but definately worth taking the class.
I have the biggest crush on Carlos! He is very funny and has great stories however he is very opinionated and sometimes rude. Be ready to work hard in this class but also be ready to have fun and learn a lot!
hes really knowledgable and you learn a lot in the class, but hes a hard grader and definitely plays favorites. the material is easy but he gives you a ton of work and is extremely arrogant. make sure to kiss a** and get on his good side if you want a good grade
Carlos must write his own ratings to make himself look good because hes arrogant and rude in class!
I have a huge crush on carlos! He is a good teacher, and class is always interesting and funny. The material and tests aren't easy, but do the study guides and you'll be fine. He really cares about teaching and the subject matter, and he always talks about his family (so cute).
I love this class. If you study and goto class then you will do fine! and he gives extra credit! Class goes by quickly and he is very funny. Love it. Take it!
I too have a crush on him; he's a cool guy; love his stories & tangents :) lol; really helpful (especially at office hours); he lives for SCOM & u can tell; can come across rude sometimes; show up & try & u'll do fine
He's a really good teacher, he knows his stuff. It's more work than I expected so you have to be willing to make an effort. Overall, a good class take him!
I took Carlos last semester. I remember he said he looks at his ratings religiously (actually learned about ratemyprofessor from him). When ever a bad rating gets posted he red flags it or writes 2-3 good ones to balance it out. Wouldn't be suprised if the last 3 were his. BEWARE!!!
I can't believe the :( ratings below. It all sounds like sour grapes to me. Did the student do the work as was assigned or did the student think it was a do-nothing class? Carlos treats each student with fairness and isn't arrogant. Aren't we all opinionated too? From a current student!
No Comments
Carlos is a really intelligent guy and knows his stuff. Class discussions were interesting and his papers/tests were definitely hard. Its college not high school so dont expect to be spoonfed with answers and a grade, you have to work for them. He's sarcastic not arrogant. so stop hating.
A lot of people think he's mean, but he really works hard to make everyone better at public speaking. I was horrible at it when I started, but by the end of the semester, I wasn't afraid to speak infront of classes anymore.
carlos is fun and keeps class interesting...i recommend him if you are interesting in learning more than simply what the textbook says.
ugh, he loves to piss people off just to see theor reaction. not cool buddy.
he is not helpful and is by far one of the worst classes i have ever taken. I did all of the readings and extra credit and still his tests killed me. He is very selective about who he likes and who he gives a hard time to. If you are unsure about being an scom major DONT TAKE HIS CLASS!!! be sure you are interested and ready for the challenge!
This class is super hard, and he doesn't make the topic any easier. His tests are ridiculous, but there isn't a lot of other work for the class. I have the class from 6:35- 9, but don't ever expect to get out early- or even on time, he holds us over AT LEAST 5 minutes every single week.
A nice guy and interesting lectures but his tests are crazy. You can study for weeks and still not understand exactly what he's talking about in the multiple choice questions. Too many professors at JMU start out with great intentions but then let their ego or titles or status or something get in the way of truely understanding students.
Hard class because his tests are extremely difficult. However, he is definately a looker-looks like Sonny Corinthos off of General Hospital:)
He's not a bad guy, yea the stuff he talks about in class isn't quite relevant to teh tests but if you study the tests aren't that bad. Class can be boring because sometiems its just random comments about things that aren't on the test. But overall if you need to talk hes very willing and a pretty nice guy. he does kind of think hes soem hot stuff
carlos is a great guy, his test are hard but he gives you study guides to look at a week in advance. So read up and study the guide. He is fair and will help anybody that really wants it..
Difficult class! He is a good guy but his test are unbelievably hard! The demand for knowledge in his class in almost unbarable! Gives study guides which help but they are very thorough.
this class has very interesting material, and sometimes the class is enlightening, but aleman is really intimidating and makes you look like an idiot when you try to ask a question. class is always full time.
This is one of the hardest classes I have taken at JMU. He doesn't answer questions, he just argues with you. Strict attendance, hard exams and one group presentation that he does not explain at all. I dreaded every time I had to sit through the class.
at first i loved the class, but then it got ridiculously difficult. for an intro course i felt like i was supposed to have prior knowledge on the subject. and the only opinions that seem to really matter are his own.
Carlos is brilliant -he knows everything about everything (its insane!) I always look forward to his class. His style of teaching is unparallel to all other GenEd profs I've had -He doesnt just lecture, he converses with the class and gives many examples to make sure you understand. Intro courses to any major are difficult. Class averages are C+/Bs
the class is challenging but well worth it. just four tests with several options at extra credit. if you show up to class, read the book, and question what you don't understand, you'll have no problem. dr. aleman is funny, laidback, and always willing to help!
carlos sucks. this class was way harder than any other SCOM class id taken in the past. i got out of it LUCKY with a C+. my advice is that if you dont need to take it, dont...otherwise beating the**** out of yourself might be a good idea.
Very fun class. Carlos is willing to go out of his way to help you understand the material. His exams are difficult but anything worth having isn't easy to come by. Overall, great person and top notch professor.
DO NOT TAKE HIM!! It really isnt worth it, ive only talked to one or two people that actually like him, because he perosnally insults people and he doesn't lecture but tells stories about things that dont matter for the test. He takes over two class periods to go over one slide, and even then doesnt really talk about whats on the slide. Stay away
best professor i've had at JMU. he makes the sometimes boring information fun and interesting with hilarious examples from real life. if you're a loser and can't take a joke then you might not want to be in his class. his teaching style focuses on the importance of learning concepts, not just memorizing information.
This professor sucks. A friend of mine took the same class with a different professor and did really well. Every lecture is foggy and hard to follow. He often strays away from the material, and when he doesn't, he makes everything seem more complicated than necessary. Do not take this class if you can manage to find another professor.
suchhh a good professor...makes class fun and is rarely ever boring...makes class go by really fast...the tests are easy if you use the study guide he gives you...i would definitely recommend him for scom
I think the only reason people may not like carlos is because the class is based off of tests and a flexible and random attendance. He gives out the study guides weeks before the test and are so helpful. Tests are a lot of definition and some concepts but as long as you study and go to class you should be fine. He's funny too
He's not the greatest professor, but he's not the worst. Lectures are pretty random. He tries to make them interesting. Make sure he knows you because that will help you out. LOVES when people talk in class, although he can sometimes make you feel like an idiot. The tests are manageable. Make sure you do the study guides thoroughly.
Carlos is a good guy and class is fun but very challenging. Hes funny and his lectures always tie into to current events. He is helpful if you ask, and he is extremly knowledgeable. Do the work and go to class and you will be rewarded.
This class is taught with thourough power points. As long as you keep up w/ the reading and the study guide, everything will work out for you!! :) Oh... this class is based off tests.....
No Comments
Professor Aleman is the best professor i've ever had. He is passionate about teaching and knows everything about communication studies. The class appears to be very challenging because his lectures make you think about tough concepts. However the tests are easy if you do the study guides and think during class instead of just taking notes.
this class was HARD- a big class and only 4 tests- no other grades to help you out. Aleman is a cool guy and is passionate about his work but he's intimidating and a lot of us hide so he doesn't call on us in class! haha! All he uses to teach is stories and examples and I never understood how they connected with info from the book. STUDY A LOT
This class is hard and carlos expects alot, sometimes too much. He is a smart guy, and can be an ass when he is in a bad mood.
This guy does not know how to teach this class. You need this class to get into the SCOM major. good luck getting in. His powerpoint slides are useless, the textbook sucks and your brain feels like its about to melt after you sit in his class. Oh yeah, the study guides for the tests are about 400 pages long and they dont help you on the test.
Ignore all these haters.He's a brilliant teacher, students get lost in his pomp and ego sometimes, especially girls, but if you can get past that, you'll always end up learning something in a lecture.People who bash him get poor grades and just blame him.I'm no genius and I got a B+.Yes, study guides are long, but if you do them, you can't fail.
Great class. I'd say it has alot to do with personal preference some people like him others hate him. I even enjoyed going to his office hours just to chill. He'll work with you and gives extra credit. Although attendance is not mandatory if you miss class 9 times and that happens to be the day he randomly took roll then you'll get a bad grade.
A lot of people say the bad reviews are from people who don't care, but that's not true. He makes you feel like an idiot if you ask a question.Don't listen to his almost non existent reviews they don't help. Rude, intimidating, not clear in lecture. Can be funny but thats all hes got going for him. Maybe you'll have better luck with him!
This is a hard class no matter what. His tests are pretty straight forward, I did not do good but if I had read the book I would have done a lot better.Funny guy! If you go to his office hours hes completely different then in class. He does care and tries to help! Overall boring, hard class but he makes it funny. Take him but study hard & read!
Very passionate about his job. He does make people feel like idiots when he doesn't get what they're trying to say. Will call you out if you fall asleep in class. His class could be easy if you start studying weeks ahead of time given he puts up the study guides in time. I thought it was hard... you might like it.
Pros: tests cover everything in powerpoints and are VERY manageable, very passionate about comm, energetic, offers exra credit. Cons: incredibly esoteric, unnecessarily wordy on tests, class discussions verge on common sense, are boring, or irrelevant, repeats things WAY too much, calls you out a lot. 5 tests all MC. not bad, ended up with A
worst teacher i've ever had not necessarily b/c of his teaching, but b/c he makes VERY inappropriate comments. i felt uncomfortable going to the class b/c of the sexual comments. along with that he has a way of making everyone feel like they are stupid! his tests are wordy and so are his lectures, he repeats himself a lot! Do the extra credit!!!!!
Not a fan of this class. He is difficult to understand and I agree with other comments about him making you stupid. I try so hard in this class and I still have no idea whats going on. It's halfway through the semester and I'm counting down the days left in this horrible class. I will not be taking him again while I am at JMU.
Often incomprehensible, never giving clear definitions. Often it seems more as if he just wants you to say what he's thinking, rather than your own thoughts-your thoughts are wrong. No one's a mind reader; the lack of clarity despite repeated concepts insures difficulty. Rarely gives feedback, making it hard to track your progress in the class.
Anyone who rates this professor with a smiley face is fake and most likely Carlos himself or his wife. Carlos overthinks everything to the point that straightforward concepts become convoluded by big words. He also compares students to eachother and will tell you if you suck. Certainly one of the most ineffective teachers I have ever had.
Stay away from this man if you can. I don't mind when classes require a lot of work, but it annoys me when teachers assign a lot of work to compensate for lack of teaching. I didn't learn anything from this class. I got a B, but at the expense of seeing me and my classmates degraded and belittled when we had ideas that differed from Carlos.
Adjectives for Carlos: enthusiastic, terrible at teaching, ineffective, confusing, condescending, boring, useless. Hopefully, JMU fires him within the next couple of years.
avoid this professor
Hmmm, where to begin? I would like to give Carlos a good rating, but that would be unfair to any students reading this. I tried really hard and got an A. However, Carlos never really taught, and when he did, he used too much jargon. He is pretty funny, but mostly degrading, verging on inappropriate. I give him a D+ because he is passionate.
Hey, cmon guys! He's not that bad. Carlos is a good guy who loves to teach. If he wanted another job, he could probably get a great one. Actually, most of his knowledge really doesn't equate to real life, but his enthusiasm is awesome. He really has no joy in failing students. You'll get an A if you study a lot!
Carlos is a bad teacher. He doesn't care about students except for his favorites, which are usually hot girls. I learned nothing in class, but I was assigned a lot of work. His use of jargon and condescending tone makes his lectures unbearable.
I just became enrolled in the class but Carlos is a good professor. He challenges us to think, and drops valuable info in the lectures. If you are interested in an engaging class-take him. If you think a C is good, take someone else.
terrible! seriously do not take him
Carlos is a very interesting man. I'm still not sure how I feel about him. His class is very challenging. You have to keep up with the textbook reading and make sure you take really good notes during lecture. You have four online test and eight online quizzes but they have extremely hard! study!
He's really interesting and sometimes really funny. Tests and quizzes are hard. You HAVE to listen to lecture and take notes. And reading the chapter is really helpful too.
Carlos thinks he is a hot ticket. He thinks he is the man by "dressing down" and relating to his students and telling drinking stories or talking about sex and relating it to communication. The guy is so inappropriate. Tests are real hard bc the questions are worded so complexely and he talks in circles during lecture. I'll give him passion.
Carlos believes he is above and beyond everyone in his class in knowledge. His tests are very hard due the lack of clarity in the questions as well as his explanation of the power points. There are definitely positives to him as he is funny and...well thats about it. Wouldn't recommend him. Not once, not never.
carlos is a horrible teacher. he believes hes amazing but doesnt treat students well. his tests are ridiculously worded. his lectures go in circles. his powerpoints covers only maybe 30 percent of whats on the test. i read the entire textbook and took notes and showed up to class and still didnt do very well. avoid him.
If you are taking this class, you should seriously drop while you can. This man is awful. He is the worst professor I have ever had. He is so mean and will make students feel so dumb. He thinks he is the most intelligent person in the world, and has an ego the size of the moon. I hope JMU fires him soon. He had one test and it was impossible.
Very intimidating. Tests and quizzes are EXTREMELY hard. Attending class and taking notes is a must. If possible, take a different professor.
I think he's a decent professor. Yes, his tests are hard, but they're doable. I got a B as a freshman, not knowing how to study. He can be intimidating, but he is a good person. He knows the material. Take notes!
If you are looking to waste a semester listening to irrelevant blabber and have no chance of success, I advise you to take this class.
Carlos is a tough teacher, but he conveys helpful information if you pay attention and take notes. His lecture made me want to study human communication! Keep up the good work Dr. Aleman!!
if you know what's good for you DO NOT take this teacher! he talks about sex all the time when it's not even relevant and his class is just a complete waste of time. it is a very difficult class and not worth while
worst professor i have ever had, i feel badly for anyone who has to take him, because I know people are going to have too, not only are his tests impossible he is disrespectful, rude, and extremely not helpful, he makes you feel like you are all idiots and you walk away feeling defeated
Aleman was the only option for this class the semester I had to take it (very unfortunately) If you send him an email with a personal question about the text or lecture, be prepared to have him call you out for it during class and threaten to count you absent if you don't raise your hand saying it was you. I read eevry chapter and still only did ok
This guy isn't all that bad. He's very difficult and full of himself...but he genuinely wants us to succeed and gives us numerous opportunities to do well. Not only did he gave us two extra credit opportunities, there are also four exams and an optional final, and quizzes which he takes the top five grades. He's really not so bad.
One of the hardest teachers I've ever had at JMU if not the hardest. His tests were "open notes" although that didn't help much. The study outline for his tests covers alot and 1/2 isn't even on the test. I had to spend at least 14 hours per study guide & still only half the info was on the tests. Got some questions from quizzes. Avoid at all costs
Tough class- learned a lot. If you have a weak ego or need a lot of prof validation, don't take this class.
Not even half of what is on the study guide is on the test. You have to know the chapters of the textbook inside and out. Tests are multiple choice (50). There's an online quiz almost every week. There's also a group project that requires a ton of work to even get a C. An A in this class is impossible.
Probably the most horrific class you could take. Sitting through this class is miserable. Very arrogant. His tests are next to impossible for most.
Although I really appreciated his enthusiasm for communications his lectures moved way to fast, his tests were way to difficult, and overall I thought of him as a older frat guy. Not a huge fan.
Good guy. Really expects a lot from you. Makes you work hard but it's good experience, and the real world is like that. Not an easy A. Not for people who need to be constantly spoon fed
Aleman is definitely one of the worst professors at JMU. Because of him, I became completely turned off to SCOM. He doesn't use the textbook except for tests, so you have to teach yourself. His "study guide" is a sheet of paper saying know every chapter of the book. Not helpful outside of class. He's stuck in his frat boy days. AVOID AT ALL COSTS
AVOID HIM IF YOU CAN. Aleman was one of the most frustrating, abrasive, unhelpful professors I have ever had. He has funny moments and really isn't bad guy, but he's just not a good teacher. We never got grade backs, didn't have a clear lesson plans, did partner work that was not beneficial, and lectures had nothing to do with tests.
Dr. Aleman is one of the smartest professors that has ever taught me. Yes, he is tough, but that is the point. He is scary for intro classes but awesome for upper-levels. Go to his office hours!!! I was scared of him until I did that and he is so personable in his hours and wants you to leave with a better understanding of the material.
He's a funny guy but I deeply regret choosing him as a professor. His lectures essentially require you to be under the influence of some sort of drug to be able to come up with the answers and responses he is looking for. He isn't always willing to help you and he can be very circular in his discussions. Take a different class or teacher, please.
Aleman was one of the worst professors I have ever had. Not only was he disrespectful and rude, but is condescending to his students. During his lectures he talks in round about ways that make no sense at all about easy topics. He calls out students and makes them look dumb if they do not agree with him. Avoid at all costs!
I never missed a class and was confused every single day. Went to office hours and asked a simple question. Instead of answering he talked around the question for one hour and I left more confused. Group blog is big part of grade but he barely gives any examples of what to expect. Midterm is individual and group but still hard.
I hated him at first but then realized he was there to make you think for yourself. Don't come in here if you can't think intuitively or think outside your borders. He is a slow grader and I hated his group project that paired me with incompatible people. He has a good plan and hard, just keep your wits about you. This class is abstract. Not bad...
Did not get a syllabus until the 4th week. Take home final which was a 12 page paper on Beyonce (not as fun as it sounds). All tests and pop quizzes were 100% written, no multiple-choice. Is belittling & judgmental . No structure he makes up the lecture on the day before class, he is on a different planet & makes 0 sense! WORST professor.
I was so excited to take this class and ended being very unhappy & disappointed. He doesn't know much about pop culture & turns everything into a discussion on race. Tests are 100% written & asks questions that don't even make sense. If you email him he responds with vague answers that leave you more confused. Changes assignment criteria at the min
The tests are nearly impossible. All the material comes from the readings not the lectures. The group project is ridiculously specific and if you do one thing in a way he doesn't like you will get points off. He will ask your opinion on things and then tell you you're wrong. Definitely would not recommend.
thought this class was going to be interesting but turns out I was wrong. He is a terrible professor that makes absolutely no sense. The readings are so boring and you might as well change the class name to "interracial communication." ask him a question and he will give you a very long answer that leaves you even more confused. don't do it!!!
WORST professor ever. Unclear, no syllabus, and if you ask him a question for clarification you are left even more confused by his answer. He's demeaning to his students and blatantly calls out your faults in front of your peers.
I really enjoyed Prof. Aleman's class. I saw a lot of negative reviews and felt that I needed to clarify somethings about him. Dr. Aleman's class is hard. He will make you work for your grade. But in return for that work, you will learn. He is tough, but because he sees a lot of potential in every single one of his students. He genuinely cares.
Up until the very last week before graduation I was nervous about my final grade. Throughout the entire semester nothing was graded. I did not know my grade or how I was doing in the class at all. Very unnerving as a hopeful graduate. Do not take this class. I may have gotten a good grade in the class but it was not deserved. Take another class!
I really liked him and family communication. I didn't do the readings and still did well in his class. He's kind of in your face but I personally liked it and thought he was funny. If you care about the class then it shows and he'll work with you and help you succeed. There's a research paper you work on throughout the semester and journal entries
385-btw not 347, 385 wasn't an option He seems like he just kind of wings it, when we needed clear information, it was almost like "since you could just find this information in the textbook, I'm not going to tell you anything" was his attitude. cool guy, never should've taken this class with him
While he is a cool guy, he does not allow a safe enough space in his classroom to be talking about topics on ethnicity and race. He will basically tell you you're stupid if you don't answer a question because you don't know or if you don't give him the answer he wants. He thinks his class is the only class ever and does not care about you.
no syllabus posted, no clear grading criteria, pop quizzes. funny sometimes, but can be mean and does not provide a safe space to speak about ethnicity and race. will call you out in class for no reason and won't leave you alone till you answer exactly how he wants. material is interesting and makes you think, but his teaching style is not good.
insane dude, no grading criteria, do not take.
DO NOT TAKE! the anxiety that flooded through by body walking into this class was crazy. he cold called on people and wouldn't allow them to say they dont know but if they didn't get the answer right he would be mad. he doesnt give clear instructions for projects. you also dont know your grade throughout the semester
Never take!! He doesn't know what he's doing, instead of teaching, he talks in circles, and you never understand what he's trying to say. You leave the class more confused than when you got there. He gives no clear direction on major assignments, and when you seek help, he gets mad that you don't know what you're doing.
If there is ANOTHER option for 248 take it! I have had more panic attacks in this one class than I had in my last two years at JMU… Will pick on students at random and will not let them say they do not know the answer. Does not leave room for students to express their own ideas, and you will leave more confused than when you first showed up.
DO. NOT. TAKE. SAVE YOURSELF!!
nope. he was so bad. I was shocked that I did well in this class. He doesnt grade anything till the end and his instructions are unclear. He will cold call on you and wont stop asking you the same question till you answer it how he wants you too. the class is super interesting but the way that he taught left me more confused then when I started.
Class Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
82%
Textbook Required
65%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
A-
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.98 avg changeRatings by Course
GCOM120
5.0
(1)GCOM121H
5.0
(1)240
4.3
(3)SCOM580
4.0
(1)GCOM121A
3.8
(4)Difficulty by Course
SCOM242
5.0
SCOM1
4.5
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4.3
SCOM347
4.3
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4.2