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Cool guy. Tries to make witty and funny comments on his material which are sometimes funny. Pretty easy class. He threatens that he could give a quiz at any time during the year, but he never does. 6 Homeworks that are graded kind of hard. 2 Midterms that are easy and a Final. Overall a good teacher.

The class the pretty much easy. The homework was graded hard, but the midterms and final are easy. Attendance isn't an absolute must, anything you miss will be on the powerpoint you have access to.

I loved this teacher. His powerpoints were from the book and easy to take notes from. I really liked the way he lectured (including little jokes here and there) and he was so dorky it was adorable! I would totally recommend him to anyone taking into to astr. The tests are really easy if you study and there are 3 E.C.s too, hw isn't too hard either!

Fantastic teacher, obviously very interested in the subject, actively does research in astronomy. Tests were very easy if you look at the powerpoints, he puts them online so there's really no need to go to class, or read the book, but I went to class anyway cause it was always interesting.

he's really ethustiastic about his subject. And he throws a lot of information at you, but if you go to class and ask about what you're confused about you'll be fine. minimal homework and only a few exams. i totally reccomend him

I was totally bored to death in this class. But it's clear, interesting subjects, and he is really sweet and cute. His enthusiasm for the subject didn't quite rub off on me, but it made him endearing. super easy if you go to class/read the power points.

hella easy

He explains things well, always teaches in power point and trys to throw in dorky jokes. i found the class boring but the test is covered in the book as well as the lectures, so class isnt too mandatory

TAKE HIM!!!

Answers questions clearly and concisely, with adequate background information. Accurate responses. Clearly outlines coursework, homework is simple and straight forward. Super adorable jokes and very enthusiastic--entertaining. Really scientific! Pretty nerdy and great. He is gorgeous. His beard is good.

Okay, who said he was hot? BASICALLY, he's awesome. He's funny, he's adorable, he's like the dorky little uncle we all love in our own families. He loves what he's doing and that, I think, makes it so much more fun to learn. He's all about helping you. He'll stay late just so you understand, and he'll come up with creative methods to make it easy.

this guy curves like a motha. he's helpful. theres a couple of hw assignments which requires the text book and there are 3 exams

Great professor. Knows what he is talking about, very approachable and crystal clear. Totally recommend McCarthy

He is so nice! His jokes are so funny even though it's kind of dorky, but they are still funny and I love it! Don't have to go to class, but I went anyways because the class was good.

He is very nice. He knows what he is teaching about. You just read each chapter once a week and do homework. He offers many extra credit opportunities so it's better not to miss them! If you want to know about Astronomy, take his class.

HELLA FUN CLASS...class is very interesting...professor makes the class reali fun..powerpoint is really nice so you would WANT to take notes...midterms are prety hard though...a very funny professor

Awsome class. Awsome teacher. Awsome grading. A+++

Easiest class EVER. I went to class once a week (it was MWF), but made sure to do the homework and review the textbook before tests. It was an easy A. He's a very nice guy too.

I dig Mcarthy! He is so excited about the material that you find yourself feeling the same way. I saw a lunar eclipse and ran into him. he lent my bud and me a set of binoculars. Advice: try to attend class b/c a lot of test questions come from lecture. Also he has 5 different versions of each exam...I <3 Him!

He's amazing! Such an interesting teacher and always willing to help students when they need it. He is funny and always makes class interesting. Definitely my favorite professor at SF State so far.

I would not reccomend McCarthy for Astronomy, unless you'd like to find yourself never listening to his lectures and dreaming he was your boyfriend. He's iresistabily attractive!

Chris makes astronomy easy and fun. He puts all of his powerpoint lectures online so attendance is not crucial but after you see how funny and smart he is you will want to go to class. He is the epitome of a science teacher, sweater vest and all and he is amazing. If you need science credit take his class!

His lectures are a bit boring but they're all base off his homework, 2 midterms, and final. He tries to be funny and makes funny sound effects through his teachings. Overall, he's a great teacher and I would recommend this class!

He is a very nice guy. all you have to do is show up to the lectures and you will know everything that is on his tests. there is a homework due about every 2 weeks but it is easy if you have gone to the lectures. even if you didnt go to the lectures, they are online. and there are a lot of opportunities to get extra credit.

The class is simple if you follow instructions and show interest. MCcarthy makes the class fun with his nerdy science jokes. He has a very sweet smile and is a pleasure to look at! take this class!!

mccarthy is by far my favorite professor! hes such a cute geeky science nerd that makes geeky jokes so i can't help but pay attention! he posts his lectures online, but i still went to class just so i wouldn't miss him. He made me love astronomy. easy tests, and easier homework. or it seems so cuz he makes sure you know whats on there. i'm a fan!!!

Don't really need to say anything else.. everyone pretty much already described his class well. I found myself coming to class just to hear and see him. He's such a goof ball, i love it. haha **recommend to anyone** After taking his class i got super interested in astronomy and found myself looking at the stars alot more. haha

Great teacher. Very helpful if you need it. Won't make you feel stupid if you ask questions. Quirky kind of humor. Makes funny noises lol. Tests aren't that bad. MC. Reading the book is a must. Notes are online. Gave a couple random attendance "quizzes." Extra credit! Pretty easy class.

I like him a lot. He is fun and knows what he's talking about. He clearly knows a lot about astronomy and cares a lot about his students. If you go to class and pay attention tests aren't hard.

McCarthy definitely makes use of all his time. He posts lectures online, so you won't fall behind if you miss class. He is super passionate about his work. I would recommend this class.

McCarthy, is adorable and if you just pay attention you can pass. i didn't even go to class the entire second semester, and was ready for the final because he puts all of his notes online. :] easy class. and it's interesting.

Such a fun class! I started comin 2 class just to hear him make his quirky jokes and odd mannerisms 2 help describe another aspect of the universe. (lol one day he described the curvature of the universe by folding a piece of paper over his head). Attendance helps for the three random quizzes throughout semester. Finals are easy, notes are online.

FUN CLASS =] you don't have to go to class since he puts his lectures online but he does give pop quizes =] McCarthy is a pretty funny guy and really makes the class interesting when you actually go to class haha. I never went and pulled a C just by doing the homework and taking the midterm and final but probably coulda got an A or B if i showed up

GREAT PROFESSOR! Really nice, lectures are interesting, he makes dorky jokes a lot. Puts the notes online... he gets everything straight from the book. Easy HW. Everything on the midterm and final was on the study guides, pretty straightforward.

Great teacher, nice and very clear, Highest grade I got last semester was in his class. Make sure you do your homework, and take advantage of his extra credit, it really makes the difference between an A and a B. Highly recommended.

I really recommend McCarthy, he's a really clear and cool teacher. He'll answer all your questions and the homework and test are straight forward. If you do plan to take his astro class I suggest doing the extra credit. You should also show up to class EVERYDAY, because he does have pop quizzes. Overall his midterm is really easy, study his PP's.

LOVED THIS CLASS!! McCarthy is absolutely adorable (in a dorky way). He really loves what he teaches, & you can totally tell. There are quizzes, homework, a midterm/final, and estra credit. The class is really interesting & because of it, I decided to take the ASTR lab! If you can take this class, I totally would :) McCarthy rocks my socks!

He was a great teacher! He was funny, the lectures are great, and provides you with lots of ways to get help if you are struggling with the material. You have to go to class though, his lecture notes are online, but you get a much better understanding when you take the notes yourself in class.

Mccarthy is awesome. when you need him, he'll go above and beyond. pay attnetion to the lectures, because he pretty much gives you the answers to the quizzes on them. i like how he's always reliable with what will happen in the class. you know up front when homework, quizzes, and extra cred it due.

Super great guy! He kept my attention through his quirky jokes and funny noises. If you really wanted to you dont have to show up for class, lecture notes online. One midterm, homework every 2 weeks, final, and a few pop quizzes. Take the class, you wont regret it.

McCarthy is the nicest teacher ever, he jokes in class, keeps everything interesting. You get tempted to miss a class, but I recommend you come to class cause answers to the quiz, hw and midterm in them. I barely looked at the book. I still did pretty well.

Really cool class, I had a real blast taking astronomy with McCarthy! He's an easy going guy, funny, and helpful. One Mid-term and one final, stringed in with a few pop-quizzes. 5 Hw assignments. If you study his lecture notes, which is all you need to do, you'll get an easy A. Make sure you go to class though. Fun guy, great class, cool subject!

Pretty funny guy you could definitely tell he was interested in what he was teaching. Midterm wasn't too bad but sometimes lectures were pretty boring. Other than that he had cool pictures and simulations to show and the notes were very helpful. Homework is easy and self explanatory just make sure to go to class or you will miss all the quizzes like I did lol

I was expecting a B in his class when I suddenly saw an A on my grade! Take him! He's pretty funny and enthusiastic about what he's teaching. Go to class so you won't miss a few pop quizzes (there were 3 this sem). Do homework! Tests are curved!

I missed a quiz and didn't do that great on my homework so I was expecting a B or less. I was surprised to see that I got an A- on this class. For the work that I did, an A- was great. He's REALLY passionate astronomy so his classes are pretty enthusiastic and he brings a lot of interesting stuff to class.

professor McCarthy is an awesome teacher.i have no interest in science whatsoever, however,mccarthy made this class easy, bearable and somewhat interesting(&i got an A!). He's super helpful if you're struggling and gives lots of opportunity to boost your grade. This turned out to be one of my favorite classes solely because of him. TAKE HIS CLASS!

The best astro teacher you could ask for. If you are really sweating taking this class, TAKE HIM! he's funny, passionate, silly, and really charismatic. Some if it is boring (hello, it's astronomy) but for the most part he is great. Do need the book for homework but I never read it and got an A-.

If you are going to take Astro take it with McCarthy! He is so cute and funny (well trys to be funny) and explains things reallllyyy well. Not hard to pass, the final is pretty darn easy. I loved him!

If you are going to take astronomy, take it with him... he is funny but do yourself a favor and don't take the three hr. class because it's too easy to leave in break...

He is a really great astr professor. His class is fun and he ca answer all of students' questions. The homework assignment is not very hard. Exams are also easy too. love him!!!!

So so so adorable. He is really enthusiastic and nice. The 3 hour lecture can be tough to sit though, but he makes it worth it. Take this class!

Great professor, very clear and fun, 3 hr lectures are hard to bare but he makes it very entertaining! Goes into a really fun stuff like life in the universe, dark matter and shape of the universe. He is super fun! Definitely the best astro prof i had!

McCarthy is such a cute astronomy nerd! His lectures can get pretty dry but he tries his best to keep them interesting! Attendance is not mandatory; however, you should attend because he gives out random quizzes, which are super easy if you go to class. I only used the textbook for hw, midterm and final based off lecture. Go McCarthy!!!

Dr. McCarthy is a really cool guy. He posts his lecture notes online, so attending class really isn't mandatory, but he will give a random participation assignment every now and then, so be careful of those. His lectures are dry, but he is really enthusiastic about what he teaches, so that helps.

I loved that you could tell McCarthy was truly very passionate about the subject. It definitely made for a more interesting class (not to mention he has a really entertaining voice). The class isn't incredibly easy. All quizzes are pop and you have to study thoroughly for the midterm & final if you want an A. Overall, a pretty chill class.

Chris is very easy to listen to, if you just go to class and pay attention to the lectures it is basically impossible to fail. He is very fair on grading. There are a few mini quizzes and a few easy homework assignments. Take this class, its very easy and interesting.

Chris loves the subject he teaches. He's always so enthusiastic about what he's talking about! Lecture slides are posted online. We had about 3-4 quizzes, 1 mid-term, and 1 final. The final and mid-term are curved. There's lots of room for extra credit. Class may be packed at first, but you'll get a seat after others filter out. :)

Chris is so nice! He loves astronomy and therefore is really excited about what he's teaching. His in-class slides are really helpful too. He can be a hard grader, but not too hard. I recommend him because you'll learn a lot from him and he makes class fun and interesting.

very passionate about astro. class does require some studying but he's prolly the best to take for astr 115. take him.

He's a fantastic Astronomy professor. He explains everything very well, which is great for an intro course. He's hilarious... well not really. He makes the corniest jokes, but it's fun! You'll really like Astronomy after his class!

Lectures are fun, lots of nerdy jokes attendance isn't mandatory and he uploads his lecture slides/powerpoints online, homework is from the book, extreamely nice

He is a cutie pie!! Always fun in his class and its really easy to understand! You can tell he loves astronomy so its a great learning experience. Only a midterm and final with a few pop quizzes, but the class is so easy, there really isn't anything to worry about. Take this class!!

Nice guy, and funny too. Made the class entertaining and engaging! 1 midterm and a final. 6 homeworks due every 2 weeks. Which are easy (if search the question on yahoo answers or google) Great class and made me interested in astronomy more then i did before. Take this class for a good learning experience and a good grade too.

So passionate about astronomy! His teaching is very clear and lectures are easy to understand. Power points are online A few homework assignments with like 10 questions, super easy. The tests were alright if you actually study and listen in lecture. There were also a few pop quizes, so make sure you go!

Very funny guy. Astronomy and physics can be quite boring at times, so I'm glad I took McCarthy. At least I didn't sleep in class! Anywho-teachingwise, he's great. But just because he's laid back and all doesn't mean you shouldn't brush up on the chapters. You gotta make sure you know your stuff.

This professor was super fun, cute, and very enthusiastic about astronomy. For the midterm and final he gives handouts that are very helpful and he makes the lectures fun and educational. Very big class but yet speaking manner is very intimate. Do at least one of the easy extra credits, it will help. Take this class if you're interested in astro!

If you get the chance to take his Intro Astronomy class, don't hesitate to! He is a wonderful teacher who is passionate about his subject. Coursework is not overwhelming, but just challenging enough. The info presented in some of his lectures will blow your mind!

super super super super super hot!

He's so hilarious. He sounds exactly like Steve Carrell. He's really goofy, but serious about the subject at the same time. It's always lecture & all of his power points are online, so if you miss a couple classes it's no big deal. We had 3 or 4 pop quizzes that aren't too hard if you pay attention, and only 9 hw assignments. Easy!

This guy is very helpful, and very passionate about Astronomy. He's also somewhat funny, and you'll learn a lot from him. 1 MIDTERM AND 1 FINAL. He gave the class section I had two pop quizzes, which are pretty easy if you read the book. By the way, he looks like Chuck Norris.

Awesome professor, he is very clear and extremely helpful. His classes are interesting and he does a lot of demonstrations. I would definitely recommend him, he's one of the best professors I've ever had.

Make sure you do well on HW and test and you will be fine.

McCarthy tries to teach you, you can tell he is honestly making an attempt to. The class is not as easy as you think, mainly cause the subject is not at all that interesting. Attendance no mandatory, but there are pop quizzes. Two tests, 3 pop quizzes, and 6 homework assignments. Notes are online. Can get an A, if just put that small effort in it.

A great astronomy professor. If one actually tries to get something out of the class, he makes it fun and easy for you. He sparked my interest in astronomy, and I learned a lot, even as a non sci major. Show up, do your hw, do the extra credit, pay attention to lectures, study something before tests, and get a good grade. Take this for GE phys sci.

Sometimes boring dry lectures. He makes cheesy jokes to keep everyone entertained. 6 homework assignments, a few pop quizzes, try not to miss them! PS, final grades are final. Overall, easy class.

okay 1. hes not! but he is goofy-cute. class is easy, do hw, go to classes for quizzes, study for the 2 big tests. EASY A! but class is boring, i used to take my laptop and watch movies.

Great professor, tries to keep his students entertained and engaged in the lecture. test are simple yet difficult, though he does curve based on the whole class. over physics is not my best subject but chris made it easy to understand.

Best professor I've had at state. He turns Astronomy into a really interesting subject. Tests aren't too difficult if you go to class. Reading isn't necessary if you go to class. He's a really friendly, nice guy.

Best professor I have had thus far!! Dr. McCarthy makes astronomy entertaining and interesting with his energetic and interactive method of teaching. He also takes his time going through the PowerPoints, which I appreciate, and explains things thoroughly and very well. I highly recommend his class!!!

OK WHERE DO I EVEN BEGIN? GREAT AND AWESOME PROFESSOR.I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD EVER SAY THIS ABOUT A CLASS BUT I REALLY ENJOYED GOING TO CLASS AND LEARNING. SUPER FUN AND INTERESTING CLASS. TAKE THIS CLASS, YOU WILL LEARN A LOT AND ENJOY IT. I WOULD DEF RE TAKE IT IF I COULD.

Took this class a while ago, but I was thinking of ACTUALLY good teachers at sfsu and he was 1 of only 3. Loved going to his class. Pop quizzes made going kind of mandatory, but he loves astronomy and he loves teaching it; therefore going was never a chore. Wish I could take this class again, loved it!

I thought he was ok. Don't know why everyone loves him but maybe it's because I never really bonded with the guy. I did pass the class though, and he does grade using the grade curve which makes the class much easier.

Great professor. He's fun and fair. The material is hard so get a study group together, take the sci 121 class, go to office hours.

This class is great! he he such a good teacher and makes the class fun and interesting. I will definitely miss his class. Study for tests to get an A!

really cool teacher; he gets really excited over what he's teaching which makes the lectures more interesting but i would NOT recommend taking the 3 hour night lecture. i always end up leaving halfway through because it's so much to take in in one sitting. a lot of notes but he puts them online anyway. textbook is used for homework questions.

McCarthy is pretty easy. Curved midterm, 6 homework assignments,and 3 random class quizzes. Attendance is mandatory because he gives those quizzes when people don't show up!

McCarthy is amazing. I think people take the class for granted a bit. Sure, you can skip a few classes, and he posts all the notes online, but his lectures are so engaging, that sometimes you need to be there to remember them. Study for the two tests, and you'll do just fine.

Quirky&odd fellow but very funny&engaging.Strict with class policies&tests are pretty hard even if you study.Offers ex.cred.Fun lectures but I dont go because he picks on "random" students&discussing with partners is stupid.Random pop quizzes during last 5min of class(sucks) but resembles characters of BigBangTheory

loved him! he's an amazing teacher, very helpful and clear. his test arent too bad, just make sure to study all the things off his study guide. He makes the class really fun and does cool experiments throughout the semester. Take him if you can. very cool teacher

Awesome teacher! Super funny! LOVES Astronomy and is just amazing! Definitely take his class! Even if you don't know anything about astronomy...take this class.

I had Dr. McCarthy over the summer session and he is INCREDIBLE. If you show up, do the reading and homework, you will get an A. His office hours are helpful and he's quick to respond via email. He inspired me to change my major to Astrophysics!

I love this teacher. He is so passionate and silly and really knows how to engage the class. Sometimes his lectures move a bit slow and it takes a while to get the point across. It's tedious but if you stay focused you will realize how smart he is and why he moves so slow. As long as you do the homework and pay attention in class you will do well.

I really loved going to this class. Prof. McCarthy is super excited about teaching Astronomy, which makes the class more interesting. He's funny without trying to be, and totally dorky in a good way. He's easily approachable and very helpful in office hours. I would take this class again if I could, highly recommend!

Dr. McCarthy made physics a little more enjoyable. He was a fun teacher, though for me physics is one of the hardest concepts to grasp. He made learning it enjoyable, but tests took a lot of studying. Study his homework! Tests are a good amount of the homework

Dr. Mccarthy's class makes me so engaged to the physics concept because he's so passionated to what he is teaching and getting student to participate and think during class. (active learning). Here is a little tip to study this course: do practice problems beside hw, GO help section!

First of all, he's SOOOOO cute!! :) Second, he really is a wonderful professor! His lectures are detailed yet easy to understand, he's very passionate about astronomy, he's really nice, funny, and engaging, and he's really helpful during office hours. He really cares about his students. He also curves all the exams and gives extra credit! Love him!

If you take Phys 121, take McCarthy. He is a wonderful teacher, very enthusiastic about physics, loves what he is doing! Great lecturer and engages the class which makes it more interesting. Awesome, fun teacher and makes physics 121 fun and easy to understand.

He's a cool teacher. 2 midtemrs and 1 final worth a big chunk of your grade. The midterm is out of 10 questions.. I only got 2 right and received a D -.- thats how hard physics is. Anyways, if you read the book you'll be fine. His lectures are really interesting and I guess one thing he could do is show example problems but other than that, :)

Absolutely enjoyed his class. Extremely helpful and clear. Homework every other week, two midterms (heavily curved)and a final that is extremely easy.

Easiest physics teacher. Tests are like 15 questions and mainly conceptual and very simple. If you pay attn in class and read to understand concepts.... A for sure. Plus he is really funny.

He's really passionate about what he teaches and that's awesome. I was super lazy about this class so I could have easily gotten an A but he was super cool about grading and I was still able to get a B even though I never payed much attention.

Take Dr. McCarthy! His tests are quite easy and he explains the material in a way that is easy to understand. You will learn quite a bit while also getting a chance to enjoy Physics.

physics is hard (in my opinion) but dr. mccarthy grades on a curve which helped me tremendously! also, homework helps a lot. read the book, go to lecture and the help sessions and you'll be just fine!

He really likes teaching astronomy and never runs out of material to present. I had 5 other classes that I was taking and had more priority to me so I didn't really try in this class. If you show up every class and study for the quizzes, midterm, and final you should get a B at the minimum.

Real cool guy. He really enjoys teaching astronomy and never runs out of material to present. I had 5 other classes that I was taking and they had more priority in interest to me so I didn't really give it my all in this class. If you show up every class and study for the quizzes, midterm, and final you should get a B at the minimum.

He is, without a doubt, the most adorable Astronomy nerd out there! He has a kind of stutter that causes his sentences to sound fragmented and delayed but it works for him haha. You can tell that he's super passionate about Astronomy and that makes lectures a lot more fun. Also, he LOVES it when you stay after class and ask him questions.

Some days the lectures feel really really long, and other days (when the topic is more interesting) the lectures fly by. He's got a very... different sense of humor, and he is always hyped to teach some astronomy. He does have some random pop quizzes and you really do need to study for the midterm and final. There's like 6 homework assignments too.

He is a good teacher. very passionate about astronomy but be is good he is kinda awkward,but in an adorable way. 1 Midterm, 6 homework assignments, and a final he also does like 2 pop quizzes and 3 participation sheets randomly. make sure you study for the tests. he does 2 extra credit assignments one before the midterm and one before the final

His lectures are really clear. He breaks the topic down nicely. Take notes of his examples, which help with the homework. Get the book for the homework. Posts slides after class. Short multiple choice tests. His final was really hard compared tp the others. He curves based on average score of class.

1 midterm and 1 final. Class is pretty easy, the homework answers are all in his lecture that he post online. Some pop quizzes but they're easy if you pay attention in class. You don't really need the text book. I loved his class so much. He really tries to make his lectures engaging. Best Astro teacher at SFSU!

He is entertaining and super easy. Just do the homework and you will be fine.

Chris is so adorable and humorous! Lectures are long and if you aren't into the class, then they can be boring. A total of 6 homework assignments (10 questions per assignment), 1 midterm, 1 final, and he gives study guides for both. Class is graded on a curve as well. Powerpoints are always posted online (which have the homework answers).

Lectures can be boring at times

This class is great! You really do have to pay attention. Don't fall behind or else some things can get really confusing. His classes are usually 3 hour long lecture classes so be prepared. Overall, he is a fun goofy professor. Very adorable! For mid terms and final he usually heavily curves the tests ( which is much needed).

He is so funny and makes the lectures interesting. He really likes astronomy and his passion is shows through. He is a great teacher and makes everything easy to understand. His tests are easy if you study properly.

One of my favorite teachers so far at SFSU. He was so excited about space that it just rubbed off on the class and made you want to learn. The tests were super easy too. I would definitely recommend you take his class!

Great guy - nice and very passionate about astronomy! I wasn't so into the subject but I ended with a B. Study for the tests !!! They were difficult if you crammed the night before. And take advantage of the extra credit opportunities he provides. Textbook is expensive at the bookstore to buy/rent, get it on Chegg or Amazon or share w a friend!!

LOVE HIM! he makes astronomy fun and he is very engaged in the subject matter

He is a really funny guy, but if you have him for the 3 hour and are not TOTALLY in love with astronomy, you won't enjoy it as much. Overall, he is really nice and willing to explain anything! Just make sure to attend class, cause he does hand out SUPER easy pop quizzes that are used for participation!

It's a lecture hall for three hours so of course it's going to be heavy but he tries to keep the material fun by using props and examples. Good class and good teacher who takes time after class to talk to students, but u do have to sit for like 3 hours

He is an amazing teacher. Although the lectures are long, he makes them very interesting. Homework is due every 2 weeks so the homework load isn't too much. The midterm/final weren't that difficult as long as you show up to class, take notes, and study. Very good experience, loved this class!

Such a great professor! Did not consider myself into science at all before this class, but his obvious passion for what he teaches has inspired me to continue taking astronomy courses. Curves tests, which are relatively easy. Also has a quirky sense of humor and works to make each lecture interesting. Would take this class again!

Professor McCarthy is definitely one of the best professors I've had in my two years at SFSU. Homework for my 3 hour class was every other week and the questions can be easily answered through his lecture notes. His tests are multiple choice and easy if you study a little. He offers extra credit so take advantage!

only a midterm and a final. he's an amazing teacher and really cares about the material and the students. the course is easy especially if you attend the lectures, he posts the notes on his website. exams are short and study guides are very helpful

He's really passionate about Astronomy to the point where it's inspiring, refreshing, and hilarious. He's a cool guy and I think he almost resembles Billy Mayes but that's just my opinion.

He always made class interesting! He is very passionate about astronomy. You take a lot of notes but they will help you on the midterm and final. He doesn't really emphasize reading the textbook but it helps a lot. His homework assignments are also fairly easy.

Very lecture heavy, but he keeps them interesting and explains big concepts in little chunks at a time to help everyone understand. His passion for astronomy shows, which makes the class entertaining. His lectures are basically straight from the book, so as long as you go to class theres really no need for the book at all.

This class can be tedious but he made it enjoyable enough. It's clear he cares about the subject. Do the extra credit! You'll take A LOT of notes but you will thank yourself when it's time to study for the midterm and final. He's pretty goofy but it's nice to see someone enjoy their subject as much as he does. Ask questions!

he is amazing. he Makes physics fun and very interesting to learn. His tests are not hard as long as you study, do the homework and know the material . he is simply awesome

Wow. This teacher cares about what he is teaching and that passion carries over to you. Homework and test wise, he has a bi-weekly homework assignment which feels quite high school-ish so don't worry on that front. There's only a midterm and final exam so they have heavy weights to them.

Astronomy is a deep, interesting and very cool subject BUT for a 3 hour class starting @6pm, you tend to fall asleep or get bored. Although, worth it. He is SUPER passionate and pretty dorky but he's funny and nice. 6 homework assignments, 2 tests, one final, 3 extra credit opportunities. Just go over notes and read

It was cool to have him as a professor because he is excited about astronomy. Any questions that we asked in class he was able to answer. He is understanding of student's problems and is willing to make reasonable accommodations. His homework is really hard sometimes, but if you do them, the tests are easier.

Overall it is not a difficult course, but it can be easy to fall behind because attendance is not required Just show up and understand the homework and exams are doable The only downside is it can discouraging to never know your grade according to the curve because he doesn't post any grades anywhere whatsoever or what the curve in the class is

He's a very passionate teacher! I took this class my first semester as a freshman and I could say it was a lot easier then expected! If you show up to class everyday and write down the notes you will get an easy A (he posts the notes online too). He grades tests on a curve so that's also a plus! I would highly recommend taking :)

Very engaging in lecture. Makes listening and the material exciting to learn about. Moderately tough grader, and always expected to be in class. Passionate about his work, and always giving extra credit.

McCarthy really has an amazing way of teaching!! I would most definitely recommend him. Although he lectures everyday, he finds a way to make them super interesting. When it came to test he always provides a study guide which is super helpful!! We also have homework but he usually gives up a week or two to complete it. OVERALL AN AMAZING CLASS!!!

Took his 3 hour class and he never let us go early. Had in class assignments at the end, so if you left early you would get a zero on that assignment. He doesn't use iLearn, so you can only see your grade on the unofficial transcript on the student gateway. Overall, okay teacher.

His class isnt hard if you actually try.

For a 3 hr class starting at 6pm it was not too bad. It can get boring but he is so animated and passionate that it helped me pay attention more. Posts all notes online which is very helpful. Super-approachable. Didn't feel like there was an organized structure to his lectures which made it hard to study in large chunks but study guides help a lot.

Best professor I've ever had. He is clearly passionate about what he teaches. The people who give him negative reviews are honestly the ones who don't show up to class and expect it to be easy. He encourages you to go to office hours, his lectures are interesting. His class is amazing. Best college professor I've had in my 2 years here at state.

I took Dr. McCarthy for Physics 121 early on as a new student at SFSU. i recently graduated from state with a degree in biology and still remember his amazing lectures and sense of humor. I occasionally saw Dr. McCarthy around campus long after that class ended and always wanted to say thank you, but didnt. Take his class, it will be a memorable 1

I really loved having Mr. Mccarthy as a professor he made learning really fun and enjoyable. I took astronomy because of his high ratings and I decided that this would be a fun physical science course and it was! Mr. Mccarthy makes the subject even more fun. Format is simple. Bi-Weekly hw, midterm, then final, DONE! Absolutely would take again!

I took astronomy 115 my freshman year and it was the best decision I've ever made. You can tell that he cares about what he's teaching and he always finds a way to engage his students. AND everything he talked about was so interesting the 50 min class went by so fast. 100/10 class and professor highly recommend

McCarthy is a very passionate professor and his exuberance really shows when he is teaching. The homework is reasonable but your grade really depends on the midterm and exam, which I like because there isn't any group projects or essays that you have to deal with. The class is mostly lecture and attendance isn't mandatory. Solid and stress free.

This is a classic introduction course to Astronomy. Once the pandemic sent us all home, he immediately uploaded all remaining lecture online, and basically had us go at our own pace for lectures. 5 Homework Assignments total, and 2/3 tests. I appreciate Chris' enthusiasm and passion for the subject, and would suggest anyone to take this class.

Great guy! Passionate about what he teaches. Really tries to keep the class engaged. I do tend to doze off due to straight lecturing, but it is a great class and lots of fun things to learn. In terms of grades, he doesn't update ilearn so you're gonna have to email him when you wanna keep updated. go through all lectures and notes before tests!

Never watched recorded lectures, only used TB and got by great. Only 2 tests and 6 hw assignments. Hw due every 2 weeks. Read the TB and its an easy A. Topics are kind of common knowledge so its easy to understand. Submit assignments through email so make sure everything is perfect before submitting. No resubmitting or late assignments.

Chris' lectures are prerecorded and are posted alongside the slides he uses which is very convenient for anyone with a busy schedule like me. The homework assignments and tests aren't very difficult, especially because he gives you a looottt of time for the tests. You can tell Chris cares for his students and teaches very well!

2 lecture videos to watch every week, 6 homework assignments but due once a month consisting of usually 10 questions worth one point each but BUY THE TEXTBOOK you really do use it for homework. a full week to complete the midterm and final as well. overall, an interesting class and an easy A if you do all the work

He has so much excitement when talking about Astronomy in his lectures. He is real cool and makes me want to go to space. He's awesome in all !!

Amazing class and amazing professor. You can really tell he loves to teach astronomy. The textbook is required and it helped with all the homework and tests. He has a schedule of the homework due dates and even the homework itself so you get an early start. Some things were hard but it was mostly easy. Overall I recommend this class bc I loved it!

10/10 RECOMMEND!!! :) Theres 6 homework assignments, 1 midterm, and a final exam. The textbook is required, but I never read it. I took good notes of the recorded lectures and passed every assignment and test with an A. The lectures are very VERY interesting!!!!

The class was asynchronous but the lecture videos were easy to follow and you can tell he loves what he does!! Not too much homework and the midterm and final are easy to pass if you do the study guide and the homework !

McCarthy was awesome, you can tell he loves his stuff and is really passionate. I had his asynchronous class and never watched any of the lectures and it was an easy A as long as you read the textbook. 10 homework assignments with a multiple choice midterm and final, super easy because it was open note and all the answers are in the textbook. 10/10

Rlly Rlly liked him I only had him online but you could tell through his online lectures that he really was excited to teach which helped keep the lectures interesting, he does a really good job explaining things. There's not much math in this class pretty manageable. The Lectures can get boring but as long as you take notes during them youre fine

ASTR115 online is all asynchronous, just submit your assignment on Wednesday nights and you'll pass class. Prof. Chris makes the class interesting, and although lectures are long its easy to pace things out over the week. Give detailed answers on your HW, use the textbook for the final, and you'll get an A.

amazing, super helpful, and explains really well

The Goat.

Professor McCarthy is an iconic professor in my books. He has great lectures, straightforward assignments, and simple exams as long as you study/pay attention to his lectures. He cares about the what he teaches and also cares about the students.

You get to work on your own pace and his lecture videos covered mostly everything that is on homework assignments and tests. Getting the textbook isn't necessary but it would be helpful! In order to get an A, be very detailed on your homework answers even if it is wrong, explain your thought process! Fun teacher overall.

I had this class online as an asychronus class. We had to watch like two videos every week and complete an homework assignment every other week. The only thing is that he is a late grader, doesn't grade once assingment is complete.

Prof. McCarthy was super chill posted videos of his lectures and you could watch them or honestly just use the textbook and find the answers to his homework based on the chapter. Straight forward, super simple I recommend. He also answered emails pretty quickly and his office hours were helpful. Doesn't assign too much homework just a worksheet.

Be prepared to see his lectures for the hw if taking online. This was my second time retaking his class so don't miss any lectures or hw. It's very easy to fall behind and fail the class. As long as you view the lectures and do the hw you are fine. I don't like the book because it's overpriced. I'd say online is easier. You got this!...

you'll learn a lot in this class, as well as the methods used to find the info. he's well organized, but he speaks slow so you might want to put his lectures on 2x speed. his exams are pretty easy if you've been keeping up, and hw doesn't take much time. definitely recommend this prof

Definitely recommend taking his class if you're into astronomy. The course is pretty easy, with two lectures a week and a few homework assignments throughout the semester. The exams are all easy as well. He talks a bit slow, so I recommend speeding up the videos a little to save yourself some time.

Prof. McCarthy makes this easy astronomy class engaging. His lectures are clear and the coursework is straightforward. The textbook is helpful but not essential. unstuck ai was a great study tool alongside the class materials. Definitely recommend taking this class.

This professor is very nice, he seems so passionate and knows a lot! He is not tech savvy, though. His canvas is built kind of confusingly, and he doesn't provide a link to the actual textbook, just posts it in a video. good luck trying to gain access to that book, you'll never get it. his lectures are really slow so two times speed, good luck!

He is a good professor who is dedicated to his work and his lectures are interesting. However, he did not enter a single grade until the very end of the semester so I had no clue what I was going to receive in the class until final grades were published.

Took the online ASTR115 class, lots of prerecorded lectures, but in them, you can tell he truly cares about the topic he's teaching. The in-person labs were fun as well!

He's a cool and funny professor but you need to add a lot of detail to get full credit on homework and his midterm/final is pretty difficult. 6 total homeworks throughout the semester.

He was a chill teacher but he always asks for more detail in homework even when it wasn't prompted. 6 homework assignments and a midterm and a final only. Go to class or it's definitely a lot harder. He did dress as an alien on the last day though.

this dude is actually so cool. take this class, you will learn dope sh*t