excellent teacher, made confusing class clear

Cruel, unusual + brilliant. Tests are VERY HARD!, Astron majors onlys !

Great Prof! Covers All material tested! Test are Multiple Choice !

Greate teachert, class is good and test are kind of hard

Great teacher, made the class interesting and fun.

Great Professor. Really enthusiastic.

Great teacher. Funny. Tests are multiple choice.

Hands down the hardest friggin' prof I've taken (Im a former student of U of TX), yeah he's funny (& scary), he loves the subject and even though you learn a lot, you never will learn enough to make an A or even a B. Good (insane?) prof+unfair tests=

Dr.Fouts, this guy reminds me of DOC from back to the future! you have no idea whats he talking about but makes you feel good when you get a C at the end of the summer crash session :)If you take this class, you better study a lot!

very hard grader, but great teacher, if you study hard you can get an A, i did. just be sure that if you take this class you don't miss any classes because his tests are based on his lectures.

A very nice and friendly person. Sometimes a little crazy in a good way. He will try to answer any questions from his students.

Dont listen to the bad comments. All the ppl that gave him bad comments are the lazy asses who never came to class and think that they merit an 'A' in the class. He IS a hard teacher, but you, honestly, feel good after you take his final. Great Prof!

Good teachers but to hard. Tests are very hard.

Gary is the best. He taught me how to be a good student. A very special learning experience you will enjoy if you take his class.

he's a nut, but he's an awesome teacher

If you finish Gary's class with an A, you can take any class there is.

Yes, you have to study for this class. But Gary is COOL! And the tests are all CURVED! He has a very generous curve, so if you study an hour a day you will get an A. I did. And I am proud of it! GARY ROCKS!

Gary is wonderful. If you are a serious student, you will thrive. If you're not, he'll teach you how to be. He care so much about his students and is willing to give his own time to help his students however he can.

I love this guy! I was a continuation h.s. student who had almost flunked out of high school. Gary was one of the first professors I had at SMC. I did poorly on the first test but he really encouraged me. I got an A in the end. I will always remember him.

Garry is kind of obnoxiously loud. He incorporates many of his own views, even political. He is scarry when he is angry, but I think overall he's not that bad. My class wasn't very enthusiastic about the subject, so it really made the class lifeless...

Well, sometimes he stresses one aspect more than others, but just remember that he's going to test you a bit on everything. The math portion is simple and he's always willing to help you out.

His class is really hard and you need to be capable of complex thought but he is a great teacher, never boring, and always helpful.

Fun teacher, goes off topic a bit, great class

If you study his lecture notes and read your cool, but you have to study or your screwed. If your confused you should ask him, hes very very helpfull and very patient, explains things very thoroghly.Cool class, hes very pasionate

Great guy! a devoted teacher, and a master of his subject. Read the material and you're assured of at least a B.

It is a hard class. you really need to listen to his lecture and took a note on it. His test is 80% from his lecture. Overall, he is a nice guy.

This teacher is the best teacher I have in college. He really knows how to teach!!! he's also very serious, and scary during his lectures! very good teacher, although you really gotta be interested in this subject in order to pass this course.

Gary Fouts is one of the best teachers at SMC. That being said, if you have trouble with English or have poor study habits don't take this class. You have to work for an A and study hard. In addition to teaching Astronomy, Gary will teach you about work ethic, attitude and how to be a good student.

Nice, means well, but tests bare little resemnlence to book/lecture. Lab is 95% waste of time. His anti-abortion conservative/religious rhetoric was enough to make me scream. It had no place in class. It took a lot to get used to his screaching ranting voice. I'm an A student and I squeeked by w/ C

This class IS extremely difficult, but the professor makes no apologies for that because he pushes his students to the limit and has high expectations of everyone. I respect his convictions, hard work ethic and passion. As long as you go to class, listen, study hard & ask questions, you can pass.

Fouts is phenomenal! Gr8 teacher, pushes you to work hard. Took this class Fall 03, got a D, took it again Summer 04, got an A on the 1st test, B in the class. He can be loud and obnoxious, but that's his style! I think he's cool!! Take his class if you're ready to WORK! Helps if u need it!!

This is by far the most ANIMATED teacher that I have ever coem across. You will not fall asleep in this class, you will pay attention, and you probably will laugh more than you have ever laughd before in a classroom...he is just a unique character. His passion for his job is so obvious!

VERY HARD.. if you dont study at all, you'll get an f for sure.. take rolls and will drop u.. if you're aiming fro easy a.. forget him.. only genius will get an a.. seriously..

hes a good teacher but his tests are pretty hard. definetly need to study hard for this class. he's very stingy with grading. he first gave me a b but changed it to a c when he recalculated my grade. i had a 79.92 percent.

Had a lot of fun in class. Very hared teacher but if you work hared you can get an A. Really hared. But looking back acctually miss the class. He will do everything to make you understand somthing

Great Teacher! Even though all he does is lecture, its a great class. Just make sure to do some studying on the side and you'll be fine. Labs are really easy to do and get an A on. Sometimes can be a really funny guy.

G Fouts is a funny dude. I'm lazy, I barley read the assigned chapters, (skimed through). Just listen to what he says, ask questions for what you dont get and you'll do fine. I walked out with an 89% and i didnt do crap in his class, i slept half the time.

This is a VERY hard class. You have to put in serious study hours, but you'll learn a lot. I am not a science person AT ALL, but after many sleepless nights and hours with the tutor, I got the highest grades on his tests. definitely see the tutor!!! And keep up every day! really sweet and funny guy!

This is the best teacher ever. He makes astronomy interesting you can't imagine. He is hard and you need to work but its worth the effort. His remarks are so funny you will laugh out loud, i would recommend him big time. He is passionate about his work and knows it very well, he is very qualified!

very passionate about astronomy. used to work in the field. he's actually really funny in a goofy way. he cares about his students and wants everyone to succeed. he grades the class and the tests on a curve. very generous, yet serious about study habits. take him!!! he's great!

cares very much about students & their grades, but requires A LOT of studying. very good teacher. tough class. difficult because of so much subject detail and information. if you are willing to study a lot you will get a good grade. Fouts makes it pretty interesting.

great teacher! scary at times but he's really nice & he's willing to help students who are having troubble with the class! he is a hard teacher! I recomend you to STUDY STUDY STUDY! & you will pass this class!

goofy, funny & nice guy. all lecture class with 3 tests and 3 homeworks. if u dont study or take good notes you will fail. makes science interesting and comes from a really good place

if you dont take good notes and dont study your butt of you will get an F. but if study and take good notes itis a gaurenteed A. great teacher

Gary is the most energetic and funny prof in smc. He is loud. Astronomy is a really interesting field. I got an A in his class. But I had to work my a** of to get it. If you like to learn about astronomy Gary will teach you everything. He is really experienced.

u guys should take his class!!he's nice and funny.his test is not easy but if u read(study) and take his note,u will get A or B

Fouts is crazy, but knows his stuff and is very helpful. I took notes every day and studied the night before for tests and got a B. His tests are challenging, but there's only 3 total including the final and the final itsn't cumulative. Also only 3 homework assignments.

Hardest "A" I've ever gotten in my life, and his daughter was in the class which almost killed our curve. This guys hard as hell, but everytime my national honors comes up, I nominate him as one of the nations best professors. He's got the background and skills to prove it; So, SMC made another right move to maintain the title as best community c

Really hard, claims to grade on a curve but throws out 1 F and 1 A that's not much of a curve. This class was my life for the semester and only managed to get a B!!!! Luvs Bush & won't leave his political comments out of class. Tip on homework assign, u need to do some research in the library or net. Very nice guy just really hard good luck

great professor, made me laugh all semester, and interesting tactics to teaching astronomy, a subject i thought would bore the hell out of me. p.s. never confuse astronomy and astrology.

Fouts knows his****! very hard teacher even if you study. he can be intimidating but he's very helpful. thanks to mr. faouts I love astronomy. he will never leave politics and religion!!! Loves to debate he can make a good lawyer!! great teacher I love him!!!

Fouts is a great teacher! He is easy to understand and if you just pay attention in class and take good notes you will have no problem getting through, and he makes it SO fun. He is so passionate about what he teaches that you can't help but get caught up in the subject. And he really cares about the student and is always there to answer questions.

hes an amazing teacher, but you have to saty on the reading because the test are tough. it requires a lot of studying, but his enthusiasm will keep you interested during class.

Funny and interesting teacher. If you know nothing about astronomy, this guy will get you to be! Very passionate and caring about his class. Don't listen to others who talk about about him. He's not preaching religion, he's not stuck up, and he's not a pol

this guy rules!!! he is a great teacher ad loves what he teaches. a little effort goes along way in his class. take notes and participate.

this guy rules!!! he is a great teacher ad loves what he teaches. a little effort goes along way in his class. take notes and participate.

If you need to take a required science, this is the class to take. His teaching skills are excellent. He knows how to incorporate everyday life situations with astronomy and he has stories to go with every lesson he teaches. Really nice guy and will help you until you learn it.

Simply an amazing teacher!! We covered so much information, it was almost overwhelming. But, if you really study, and if you are commited to the class, you'll do fine. He's sincere, honest, passionate, and sneeks in some pretty funny family stories. He will not waste your time.

EXTREMELY knowledgeable, very easy to approach, and he grades on a curve. i took his class because i needed a science class and astronomy almost interests me... turned out to be a great class. at first, he might appear to be a stiff, but once those "first day of class" jitters or whatever are gone, it turns out he's a really nice guy.

A truely great teacher. A moral and Ethical man, cares for his students and has a real passion for teaching about the celestrial universe. Not an easy "A" but work hard and study and he will give you the grade u deserve while learning a ton.

This guy is a straight nerd. Extremely knowledgeable but very hard. Grades on a curve but dont let that put a smile on your face. Whole course is worth 100 pioints. At the end he WILL NOT bump u even if u are close cuz he grades on a curve the wohole time. I highley recomend not taking him. I truly wish he had such a low rating when I came here.

It's a science class. It's difficult. He grades on a curve, making sure the average grade is a 'C'. I have no idea how I passed it, but I did. He has quite the personality and he's very realistic about things. Go into his class with an open mind (and study schedule).

If you really wanna study the class, you should stick w/ him! I was impressed by his amazing knowledge, but the class was hard as hell. Take the class w/ somebody else if the class is only for transfering.

gary fouts is the most enthusiastic teacher i have ever had.

Great Professor. Incredible clarity, high energy, and a downright decent, good, human being.

Very enthusiastic professor. Rarely you'll find someone who truly enjoys teaching. Be prepared to work hard if you're thinking about taking him.

hard class but incredible teacher.

I recommend this teacher to everyone I meet! Be prepared for lectures filled with information and get your book. If you are a seasoned note-taker with an open mind, you'll do fine in this class. Make sure you study your notes. Homework answers are pretty easy to research. Join the 02 Club if you need more Fouts in your life. I did.

great teacher strictly teaches astron., doesnt involve religion or other beliefs. i didnt do good in his class but i gotta give him credit. hes funny, gives 100q hwk usually due on test days, u have to be a good note taker,reader,& pay attention. he also encourages students to meet w him for help. just study study & review ur notes & read!

awesome awesome awesome teacher! what a great guy!!! very lucky to be in his class

He has a very good heart and really wants you to learn.

Fouts is the most dedicated and interesting professor at SMC. After the first few weeks I wanted to drop his class, but as it progressed the things he taught became more and more interesting. He gives three exams and three homework assignments. They're pretty tough, so if you're a slacker and don't like to read or study do not take this class.

great guy. as long as you take good notes, do the assignments, and read the assigned chapters once or twice you are good to go. i would recommend taking him during an intersession so you can focus strictly on that course. the information is not difficult to understand, there is just a lot of it. it is easy to pull an A if you are interested.

What an amazing teacher and person! He is so excited about what he knows(which is a lot!)that you are forced to pay attention. If you want to slack off this isnt the class for you..take good notes and dont hesitate to ask questions. There isnt a teacher who knows their stuff better than he knows astronomy! Ask him about astrology..you will laugh!

A knowledgeable teacher. Know the material very well. Please study a lot for his tests. Not an easy class but he makes astronomy interesting.

His class is really hard but he's alot of fun because he loves his subject soo much. Rock on Mr. Fouts!

I got As for all his class. He is best professor of astronomy I have ever had. Clear Notes, study that u will get a B. For an A, u must memorize the information in the book!!! He doesn't allow students to sleep in his class, except me. coz A student can do anything in class, but dun be too silly! All MC in 3 exams, not cumulative, but extremelyhard

The perfect professor! Challenges students so they can actually be proud of the grades they get, transfer and succeed. Who are these people who think they should not be tested on material not covered in lecture, or believe they should be able to show up late? This isn't nursery school! Thanx Professor Fouts.

Fouts is an excellent astronomy teacher. He is very passionate about what he teaches. If you start dozing off, his loud, opinionated comments will rouse you. He will make you work for your grade. All in all, he's a good guy.

He continually slammed himself into the wall to demonstrate Newton's Third Law. Talks fast. Difficult. MEMORIZE THE NOTES FOR ALL THE TESTS.

prof. fouts is a great teacher! he kept the whole class laughing at all times. At first I wasnt doing too well in his class, but I started going to tutoring and it was a breeze after that. take diligent notes and read ahead in the book and u will for sure get at least a B

Clear teaching... just study his notes given in the lecture grantee you B. If u want to get an A, be careful while doing the labs! If you want an A, read the book carefully and memorize the tiny info. Just like me^^ Stuffs are very easy & straightforward, but exams 1&3 are tricky! Dun sleep in class unless u are great at all to get A without class!

Gary Fouts is one of the best teachers I've ever had! I've always loved astronomy but he made the universe come alive. I often got the chills listening to his lectures, as geeky as that may sound. Some say he's not easy but most of what you need to know for the tests is in the homework and the answers to the homework are all in the book or notes.

Excellent teacher. Wants students to succeed. Study his notes, do the homework, and you'll get a good grade. Very knoledgable in his subject.

like the astr1186 reviewer said, he slammed himself against the wall to demonstrate Newtons law! LOL i will never forget he was screeching too.I loved him but hated the class bc im not interested in science. He is hard, but a really nice guy. If you like science or astronomy, take him he is a really nice person and a great teacher.

I took Astronomy 4 with Prof. Fouts a couple of year ago and thought I'd say: His class was possibly the best I've taken. He is extremely knowledable and passionate about Astronomy and will share that with you. He's LOUD and energetic when teaching -- it'd be impossible to fall asleep in one of his classes. Great teacher, highly recommended!

Professor Fouts is one of the best professors at SMC. Your grade is primarily based on exams which are a lot like the HW. Fout's recommends you re-copy all your lecture notes as a study guide, just do it, it works. It can be hard to get an A, but there is a curve on all assignments. Lectures are very energetic and loud. Office hours are helpful.

By far one of the greatest teachers I've ever had! Really does care about his student's, and explains the material very clearly. He can definatley seperate the slackers from the true students. Take Him!

Good prof who really does care at what he does. Very understanding and sincere and funny. Do your reading and taking notes and you got yourself an A.

A wonderful teacher. Someone said he makes you memorize a ridiculous amount of data?? Not true, you get to use your notes for tests. He understands that you can't memorize all the data but you do have to be able to use it.

Fouts is one of the best teachers I've ever had. He cares about his students and is willing to help at any time in the semester. He is passionate about astronomy and gets you just as excited. He's wise and makes you think. If you join the astronomy club you get to go camping and you get 100% on homework. Not an easy A but worth it. Just 3 exams.

The best science teacher I have ever had! very witty, smart, and a great teacher and is super helpful, and really cares about people. The class is hard, but well worth it!

Very experienced and knowledgeable teacher. Would only recommend this class for astronomy majors or students who have a lot of time to dedicate to this class. Tests (3 of them) are hard!! No matter how much I studied, never got an A. Ended up with a B in the class. Makes time for his students. He was rude on the first day but gets better.

Show up everyday. read the book prior to class and study the notes (If u want an A)...smart,quirky,helpful, and HARD, but he makes it as fun as possible. Recommend Him

i love professor fouts. before taking this class i was somewhat love astronomy, but professor fouts really made the entire universe come alive for me. take this class if u have a wild imagination and willing to memorize. i'm not much of a memorization guy but i studied my butt off his lectures and skim through the book and got an A+

For me, this was definitely NOT easy. It isn't impossible, but the work is tedious and the labs are long. The questions on both the homework and tests are often times misleading and tricky. He's very nice, quite helpful, the lectures are interesting and I actually learned a good amount . I worked very hard and got a "B."

If you have a full load and need this class because it is a science with a lab look for another class. It is a lot of studying. If you have to take it for what ever reason pay attention in class to everythng he says because you will be tested on it. He seems harsh at first but he becomes nicer as the semster moves on. His politics can be annoying.

i really did like him but i NEEDED this class, and was taking math, poli sci and art history and it was too much. he taught me you have to work, really work to get a grade, so if you dont have alot of free time do not take this class. it is amazing and i can now giver lots of knowledge on astonomy, but not for fun, this class is FOR REAL

Take notes on EVERYTHING he says.

Absolutely beautiful subject material. He's bombastically passionate about what he's teaching; no substitute for astronomy at SMC. He puts up view graphs with all the notes on them, from which he pulls his test questions. Copying those is sufficient for an 'A' if you also understand during class. He acts real tough, but the tests are actually easy.

Stell Atro w/ lab. WHAT AN AMAZING PROFESSOR! OMG! AWESOME! Every day was a joyride. Not cause it was easy. Conversely, he challenges you to be the best you can be. He's AWESOME. HYSTERICAL! PASSIONATE! CANNOT SAY ENOUGH!!!!! FOUTS IS THEEEEEE BEEEEEEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Don't leave SMC w/o taking him.

Fantastic prof. Took him a few years ago. He always illustrated (drew simple but very helpful images to show distances, different light waves, etc) and demonstrated (slammed himself against the wall a few times to prove laws of physics, propelled a rolling wooden cylinder thing from opposite force, etc.). Listen and take notes on everything.

Fouts is very intelligent, and blew my mind every single day. Does not mess around though. Slackers not welcome! Amazing and difficult class.

He's nuts. He's nerdy. But you know what? He is my definition of a truly good teacher. He is kind of strict, but it's nothing out of the ordinary. Don't text in class and don't be late. If you have any questions he will go over it with you and be really nice about it. He doesn't try to make you feel stupid. He loves the material and teaching and just wants to help you do well. But he doesn't sugar coat things. Literally all you have to do is study. The class work isn't that hard.

He is an amazing professor. He is strict and you must study study study if you want to get an A. He is very helpful if you ask questions. I absolutely loved his stellar astronomy class.

BEST TEACHER I HAVE EVER HAD. Prof. Fouts changed my life...study your notes, pay attention in class, and you can get an A.

Now this man is what I call a TEACHER. He cares about you, he cares about his craft, and he cares about his teaching. I am furthest away from an Astronomy major, but after this class, I've fallen in love with this field. If you take this course, put in as much woOoOork as he does in this class and this will be an unforgettably beautiful experience.

By far one of the best professor I have ever had in SMC. He cares about his students. He is very knowledgeable in Astronomy and makes you become so interested in it. I wish I could take more of his classes but I am transferring already. Gary Fouts, you are one hellava guy!!

Professor Fouts is a master of his craft! He will get you interested in Astronomy! This class was awesome! Show interest, do well on the labs, and as long as you pass the test, you will do fine in the class! I wish I could take his stellar class but I'm transferring. He cares for his student. AWESOME class! Take him and you won't be disappointed.

Wow! This guy pushed me and pushed me and totally changed the way i look at life, the way i felt about astronomy, and also the way i put work into my education, really coaches his students funny ass stories, great guy Thanks Foutsy!

Mr. Fouts is probably the greatest instructor I've ever had. This man loves what he does, and every single student in his class has a chance to improve their life if they absorb some of his wisdom and drive.

Professor Fouts is an absolutely remarkable instructor. He loves what he does, and it truly shows. Not a class for slackers. If you want a fun, challenging class, this is the class for you. He could quite possibly be the best professor I've ever had,so don't miss out on this class and the wonderful inspiring man who leads it.

I really think he's the best teacher I've had my life. Great person, extremely nice and helpful. Take his class and you'll get much more than just a lesson in Astronomy.

This is THE BEST professor I ever meet!! He is very clear in his lectures, he has a lot of examples and stories. And yes he give you life lessons as well. I think they was really important. He belief in hard work. And yes you have to study to get an A in his class, but I think astronomy will became my hobby for the rest of my life.

Definitely a teacher that loves what he is teaching, but your definitely NOT going to get by if you slack. Very blunt teacher but hilarious. If your not the type that is willing to spend at least an hour a day studying you will not survive this class. 3 very tough test, but one of the best teachers i had. Shows you what it is to work hard.

He is an absolutely amazing professor. He takes the time to clearly explain the material and truly cares about his students. A word of warning: His class is difficult. The only reason I passed was because I studied every day and regularly went to the excellent Astronomy tutor. The tutor was able to make the topics crystal clear. Use the tutor!!!

Honestly the most passionate and engaging teacher I have ever had. Not the easiest but the knowledge you will gain is worth the hard work. I took the class simply to fill a requirement but came out looking at Astronomy as something I would love to continue studying in the future. I highly recommend taking his class you will not regret it.

Heads down the best teacher I've had. He loves what he is doing and really want you to learn, not only for the class, but for life. If you get a chance take his class, even if you don't need it. He is though and make you work for your grade but makes it fun. He inspired me to wanna learn and get better in all my classes.

Super difficult teacher lectures the whole damn time. talks to much and needs to understand that the class is just a requirement to transfer

He is an amazing professor who really cares about his students. He makes you feel good about doing well... Very passionate and encouraging. Show up to class, take notes, and review your notes frequently. 3 tests, 3 HW assignments, +Lab (astro3). Only about 10% of the test is from the textbook. Overall amazing class and professor. You learn a lot.

Gary Fouts deserves an award. He is hands down the best professor I've EVER had. You have to work hard, yes, but this is why he is so good. His lessons reach beyond the classroom, it should be mandatory for students to take his class. I only wish I had taken it earlier in my SMC career. Be prepared for a tough class, but you will learn SO much!

A wonderful class, although VERY difficult; I've learned so much, I can't look at the sky the same way anymore, be it night or day! Fouts is full of energy, and genuinely cares about his students...Reach out to him, show him you are interested in learning the material, and he will respond accordingly! "What the heck is that!" :)

I took his Astronomy 4 class during summer session. I really enjoyed it! He is a great professor. The only thing hard about it was the fact that it was an 8 week session compared to a full semester. We had to go through a lot of information in a shorter amount of time. But as long as you attend every class and STUDY, you will pass!

Professor Fouts is a funny and LOUD guy, but he's also a strict professor. He hates slackers! Work your ass off and you might pass! He bases the class on 3 (HARD) tests, 3 hm and lab, not a lot of room for error! I worked more on this class than any other and still just got a C. Had to take class for my transfer otherwise I would have avoided it.

Fouts is a professor who will teach you the meaning of the words HARD WORK. He puts so much passion and hard work into his lectures and he expects the same amount of work from you. 3 HARD exams (curved), 3 HW assignments and lab work make up your grade. I got a B but I worked very hard for it and am glad I took this amazing class!

The only really difficult part of the class were the tests. I'm the type of person that can usually get an A in a class without studying or anythang, and I got a B in this one. I studied the night before and on my way to school and would usually get Bs on the tests, hence the grade I got. If you STUDY you'll be ok. but like srsly. study.

This class was moderately easy. Expect to go to class everyday, his lectures are vital to a good grade. There are three tests and none are cumulative, which is a good deal. Also a few labs but theyre all super easy. Don't expect to be called on in class unless you raise your hand, he basically rants the whole time and is quite the character.

He makes you stay the WHOLE 3 hours, gets mad if you're late, no texting whatsoever. He will rant for approx. half the class and lecture the rest. 3 tests, not cumulative and relatively easy if you study somewhat. If you can get over his annoying rants and him treating you like you're 15 it's worth the lack of effort you have to give to get a B.

Challenging, and he is strict on punctuality/attendance, but he is so enthusiastic about the topic that you will be glad you worked hard to learn it. This was Archeoastronomy, I expected something more like fluff, but it's a serious class. Loved it!

Hard class; must study on a regular DAILY basis. He is a very inspiring person and encourages the success of all his students. Being a lab class it goes by quickly and he makes the class entertaining. Easy going professor he will help you. I guarantee you won't regret taking his class. You'll definitely see the world and life in a different light.

This class was honestly one of the best classes I have ever taken. Prof Fouts was a very straight forward guy and as long as you show up and do the simple homeworks and study for the tests you should be fine. I have always had interest in Astronomy so that helped a ton. I really recommend this class its so interesting and you should atleast get a B

I took Gary's stellar and solar classes in '97 and '98. He is one of the best teachers I've ever had. He changed the course of my life. Turned me from an art major to a science major and helped me get two internships at NASA. If you don't love Astronomy, his classes will make you work. If you love it, you will breeze through like I did.

Amazing teacher, inspirational. With his enthusiasm, he could get you excited about anything. He changed me from a photography major to astronomy. Know the notes and you'll do well.

This class was amazing! Professor Fouts is very knowledgeable and passionate about Astronomy. He encourages his students to have a very strong work ethic and not be lazy, while also having a fun and charismatic side. That being said, come to class every day, take notes, study from the notes, and you should get at least a B. 3 HW's, 3 tests and labs

Fouts is by far the best professor I've had at SMC. His lectures are well rehearsed and captivating. He makes it very clear what he expects from you. Take good notes and study the material regularly. Take advantage of his office hours. He will take the time to go over entire lectures if you are working hard and show an interest in the class.

Awesome professor who actually cares about the students. If you study your notes thoroughly and read the book, you will get an A.

First off he's super efficient. Graded final and posted grades in the same day. If you take notes and read the book it is impossible not to get an A. Some of the concepts are hard but if you schedule office hours he is happy to help. He really cares about student success. I would recommend taking this professor.

An amazing professor! He lectures every class and for the entire class time, but his lectures are always interesting! Some concepts, like the basic astronomy you learn in the first half of the semester, are difficult but as long as you take notes you can do well. There's a lot to memorize, but it's easy to get an A if you do all the work and study!

He's a smart guy. He knows his subject. He likes to express his opinion. He's wound a bit tight. He tries to be intimidating. Lay low, copy what's in red and you'll get an A.

Fouts is a character! Ignore the random political/religious rants and sometimes iffy remarks--his classes are more than worth it. He's very straight forward and clear in communications (doesn't mean you have to agree, just helpful). His passion for astronomy is contagious, and he's an extremely knowledgeable professor w/ an impressive resume.

Great Person

He's an amazing guy and really funny but you have to work hard to earn an A or B because there's only 3 tests that are worth 72% of your grade. Don't sleep you will miss stuff and he will get upset. Study. The. Lecture. Notes. And any handouts he tells you. It's smart to start a study group trust me it will save you time with the hw and studying.

Fouts is an incredible teacher, he made astronomy a really interesting learning experience. He has long lectures and the class can be tough at times, but he provides the information necessary to succeed in his classroom. Overall, the guy is a bit kooky, but very fun and nice. I would definitely recommend taking his classroom.

Mr. Fouts is a great teacher and an incredible human being. I took his astronomy class per recommendation from a past student. I haven't taken his other classes but astronomy 6 with Fouts is said to be his easiest course. If you show up, do the homework, take notes and study the material before the test - EASY A. His office hours are pretty early.

Inspiring and passionate professor. Very clear, uses lots of visuals to help you learn. Honest from day 1 about his expectations. Includes fun stories about his life in his lectures that relate to the material. His goal is to inspire, not to just get you through the class. Likes when you argue. His face lights up when you tell him something new.

Professor Fouts is truly an amazing teacher. He cares about his subject, he cares about his students, and he cares about honesty and integrity. You won't succeed in his class if you don't show up to class or pay attention during his lectures. His lectures are his tests! Put in the effort, take advantage of office hours, and you will be fine!!!

Bumped heads in the beginning of the course and truly disliked him for the first third of the class, but then I started to come around and embrace his passion for Astronomy and his attitude that you have to earn the grade in his class. No grade will be handed to you here, at all. 3 exams make up 72% of your grade, 4 absences max, labs are 15%.

Easily one my favorite teachers ever. Caused me to change my major.

I loved Professor Fouts. He is such a great person and his lectures are so engaging. Definitely not an easy class but he lays out expectations from the start. If you read and keep up with the lectures, an A can definitely be earned. Loved loved loved taking astronomy with professor fouts.

Although he tends to intimidate a lot of students by his character, he is a great professor. His lectures are always very entertaining and is always very clear as to how and what we need to study in order to pass his class. You def. need to study a lot!! Attendance is a must and he does not tolerate tardiness very well. Overall great professor.

Took Mr. Fout's class in 2002 and went onto study at Pepperdine. What he taught me about the physical properties of the world astounded my snob entitled counterparts from the East Coast. This guy is a legend.

Super easy class. Just do the work and you'll get an A.

Professor Fouts is a great professor who is passionate about astronomy. The course is very straight forward. Usually assigns a movie and/or reading quiz and a discussion response per week. Class is lecture heavy at first but eventually eases up in the second half. The two exams are based on lectures/readings. Easy A if you put the effort in!

The busy work as its called was enormously fun/easy to get through. His lectures led us to make our own conclusions. This class facilitated college level thought and writing; it helped me to consider my vocabulary use and the complexity of my sentences. We can tell he is passionate about the subject and that in turn makes us passionate about it.

I loved taking Professor Fouts course. Every assigned reading or film was about a fascinating topic.