He has a nice speaking voice and is pretty approachable. He grades easy at first but then he gets more stingy and does the same for extra credit. Lol he has a nice smile if that is any consolation! We did not have a textbook per say but it was a lab book by Richard Sedlock which was challenging and time consuming. He's just a teacher assistant.

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He's hella chill, class is kinda boring but he grades pretty easy and the material isnt that hard. 3 assignments all semester and 2 tests. has a quiz before every class but its just like 2 questions and its open notes. overall easy class, bring a laptop or something so u dont get too bored lol

He's a chill teacher. His lectures are long at n at times boring but u do learn alot of interesting stuff. He can be cool though n he tries to make class more fun...TRIES. attendance is needed bc he has 1 question quizzes each day ( its not worth alot of your grade). Grades easy on essay n papers. just take notes during lecture n u will do fine.

Joe is a good teacher, he was a TA 2 years ago or so. Now he is teaching. His lectures are clear and very easy to understand. He also gives out a study guide before the exam/final. I would recommand you to take his geo03 class if you need the GE credit.

He is very into what he teaches. Some students may be bored of him, but it's very informative stuff about our world and planet. He doesn't act like a professor, he acts like a normal guy who is passionate about the subject he teaches. He doesn't give out hard hw. Just do the hw and at least study for the final and you're set.

i really loved going to this class! a lot of information but he makes it interesting. funny guy and really passionate about the subject which is kind of contagious

I loved this class. I learned so much that i wanted to minor in Geology. Joe was such a great teacher and he's kinda cute in his own way! Very smart and passionate. Take Joe for Geology! SERIOUSLY!

Cool guy. As long as you go to class and take notes you'll be fine. He is very knowledgeable about the subject and if you don't understand something he is happy to help. I recommend him :).

Believe it or not, he made geology interesting. He is hilarious and really explains everything that he teaches. He is the best teacher I've had so far at State. I learned a lot and it was so painless and easy. Take him! He is not a waste of time and his class is fun!

Joe is really cool. There are 2 midterms which are multiple choice/true false. He gives you a study guide and goes over it. The final isn't cumulative and is the same format as the midterms. There is one writing assignment but its really simple. This class is easy! Take it!

Joe is funny and made Geology interesting. He kind of reminds me of Dane Cook. He is really clear and homework is pretty easy. If you miss a class its ok b/c you can get info from book. He is a good teacher and I would like to take another class with him so you should take his class!

One of the easiest teachers at State. Really funny and makes class interesting. Pretty lenient about pretty much everything. Easy A

Easy going, and funny in lectures. Actually passionate about what he teaches. It's cute, really, most classes he passes around things that help illustrate his point, whether it be a rock or an old newspaper clipping, like show-and-tell. Easy A (or B if you are on your laptop like I was) and he's HOT!

He always came in with good attitude, was always happy to discuss the subject, and is extremely clear. I loved his lectures! Joe would make sure we knew the real-world relevance of what he was talking about. Never miss his class, if only because it's so much fun! You don't need the book if you take good notes. And the big one -- IT'S GONNA HAPPEN!

Such a fun class with an awesome teacher. He definitely knew the material and made learning interesting. Plus this guy was hilarious. I recommend taking him if you plan on taking a geology class.

This teacher made the uninteresting interesting for me. I really enjoyed learning the topic because the professor made it fun with his fun personality. Use the study guides and ask questions. Exams are part multiple choice and part short essay. Reasonable exam not trying to trip you up just wants you to learn.

This guy is awesome. Take him if you need a relaxed geology class and dont want to stress about stuff. Gives extra time if you're late and he only wants you to put in the effort even if you dont understand it completely. Midterm/Final are hefty part of grade but all his notes are available, and he gives study guides. Awesome teacher.

He's aware that the class was an upper division GE, and so non-science majors could understand the subject. Never used the book. . He's very personable! 1 group project that was pretty easy. Unless you're scientifically minded, you'll need to review for his exams, but you learn lots and exams aren't tricky. Would take this teacher again!

Cool and casual guy. He knows his stuff well. He doesn't mind students asking questions during lectures. Lectures were conversational and interesting. Most questions were in the study guides provided prior to exams. No textbook required. Highly recommended!

BEST TEACHER. i learned alot and he is a good person. Best teacher I ever had. Very intelligent presents info very well. not one of those let me give you a F to prove that im a good teacher kind of teacher. Dosen't want to torture students (unlike other teachers) to feel on a higher level

He is a funny, entertaining, and social teacher who makes lecture enjoyable and pleasant. Only 1 essay the entire semester (2 pages), and all midterms and final is open notes. The quizzes are few throughout the semester and consists of superficial, basic-knowledge questions. Take all the notes you need, and you will triumph easily with an A.

Amazing professor. Few (like 3) quizzes based on in-class movies. Tests are open note. He is a fun professor. If you have the chance TAKE HIM! Class attendance is optional he puts his slideshows on canvas.

Petsche is a hilarious teacher with modern techniques. His class is interesting and upbeat, and easy to become engaged with. He allows notes on tests and makes the material available online for review. Only one small writing assignment and a handful of 5-10 question online quizzes. Show up, show interest, you'll do just fine.

He was the best professor i've had at all of SJ. He really understands that we don't care about geology and its a GE class. He tells you exactly whats on the test. EASY A! Take this course!!

Easiest class ever. Everything on the tests he says during lecture and are usually on the slides. 3 midterms, he gives you a study guide, a double-sided cheat sheet, and a review session where he basically gives you all the answers. No textbook needed. Super chill and totally understands it's just a GE.

No course textbook. Tests aren't so bad as long as you're prepared with your cheat sheet which is a page of notes front and back. There's one 2 page writing assignment, the grading of which is ambiguous. Two midterms and a final. Extra credit here and there.

He is strict on certain rules but other than that, just follow the lecture material and write the papers. There is a mandatory field trip to Santa Cruz.

I would recommend him for R SJSU!! I took it for this summer class 2015, because it is short and fast, which is better. You can have 4 pages of cheat sheet for the test and you will basically get A for this class. But beware of the paper that's due at the end of the class!! Start early with the paper unless you want cram the final and paper.

He posts all the lecture powerpoints on Canvas, so you really don't have to go to class. I would go every now and then just because he's a really nice, funny guy and he tries to make lectures interesting. Tests are long, but he provides study guides and 2 out of the 3 are online. Don't really need to buy the textbook either.

Funny professor! Very helpful. Responds to student needs. I would take again. There's only three online quizzes for the first three weeks of school. 2 Midterms, 1 essay, and a final. It's a lot of material to aborb but if you take class serious, it won't be an issue.

Great professor and person. Always carries out passionate lectures. Happy to answer any questions and remarks about the material. Grade is mostly based on labs, practicals, a paper, and exams. A lot of course material, but provides clear details on what will be on exams. Labs instructors are just as great and effective.

This was a relatively easy class and a lot more interesting than I thought it would be. Although lengthy, his powerpoints do a very good job at highlighting items of interest for tests/assignments and definitely gave a huge helping hand.

He is chill and a good lecturer. Makes you genuinely interested in what he talks about. Sarcastic and cracks jokes. Only tests on what he has lectured on. Well organized, easy-going. No homework, just tests and quizzes.

Straight forward and fairly easy class. Requires a good amount of reading. Make sure to show up in class for fossil assignments as they are huge chunk of easy points.

Very chill professor that is willing to listen to students. Explains the lectures in a more casual way for students to understand, but there will be those days where it just gets bored to listen sometimes. Has lectures posted on Canvas and at the same time gives you a study guide; if you don't come to lectures at all, study from those.

One of the best teachers at SJSU. All the information is on the PPTs and the exams are all online. One field trip. No homework. A few easy quizzes. Easy A. His lectures aren't mandatory, but he make a lot of jokes and is super chill and laid back.

Joe is absolutely wonderful and I wish I had the opportunity to take him again. Midterms are open note and you can collaborate. Really easy A+ AND you learn a lot; he keeps his lectures interesting. TAKE THIS CLASS!!

Professor Petsche, or Joe is excellent and displays amazing knowledge. He's very lecture-based, but he gives a lot of good description. He's a very chill guy and I'd recommend anyone to take his class. His finals are online! :)

His class is all lectures which are interesting but are on canvas. He has easy labs once in awhile in class. Since it is a GE there is mandatory writing assignments, but he does not assign papers he breaks it up into easier assignments. No book but midterm and final were pretty difficult in my opinion.

Joe is very passionate about the subject he teaches, which makes lectures enjoyable. He also cracks funny jokes sometimes. A few quizzes, 2 midterms, and a final--all online. They were a bit challenging, but since were online, it was fair. Lab counts for 25% of your grade; lab itself was long and tedious. Overall, fair grading, and enjoyable class.

Joe is such a passionate teacher! He makes his lectures fun. Because it was a Summer Session class, it went by fast and he lectured a LOT, even he joked about it. You have buy his book, don't worry he jokes that barely makes royalties from it, but its a perfect guide for his class.

Great class! Joe is a fun teacher! He's not a tough grader, but some of the questions on the work can be a little tricky to answer. Because it was Summer class it went by fast and he let us use a page of notes for the Exams. PS Joe looks almost like a cross between Jimmy Fallon and Taran Killam, maybe that's why it was fun to watch him in class!

It wasn't a hard class, it just went by fast. The lecture material can take awhile to get into your head. Using the page of notes in the Exams was my lifesaver. Plus Joe is a very passionate teachers, he uses pop culture references in his lectures (Rick and Morty, SpongeBob, Jurassic Park) Definitely take him!

Joe is one of the best teachers Id ever had! He's extremely passionate about what he teaches (particularly when its on Dinosaurs) The assignments weren't that hard, he joked that its work that 8th graders do. Offers extra credit and a study guide. Pss his book is Amazon, I dont know why he says you can only order it from the publisher.

Joe is an amazing professor. Two exams and a final with a page of notes. A couple writing assignments that were self explanatory. He is hilarious and makes lectures fun and engaging. If i could take him again i would.

Petsche is an amazing lecturer, he makes a boring subject interesting. He's also super funny and cares about his student's wellbeing. Show up to lecture and take notes and you'll pass. He does lecture really fast so remind him to slow down. There is just one midterm and a final, both online.

I'd used to think Geology was a boring subject (or not a real science) Not any more thanks to Joe! He's very passionate on the subject, never a dull lecture moment. He's not a tough grader but does dock points on lab work if don't sketch and detail the rocks. He provides Study guides, follow those and you will do well on the exams.

Joe creates a good chilling learning environment that you feel like you don't have to stress out about the class as long as you show up, do the lab work (easy work), ask questions. Follow the study guides, exams are MC. Joe is very approachable and very open up, he jokes about his love for LEGOS.

I'm glad I took him! Joe's a great teacher! It's an introduction course, so you don't need to know much Geology prior to the class. He wrote his textbook to only have information we need to know for assignments and exams. He's very passionate about sharing new discoveries and DINOSAURS!! He said don't always trust what you see in Jurassic Park lol!

A very kind and humorous professor! Joe is very engaging with the material in his lectures. You learn a LOT about the Earth and people's views on how it started, some believe it started 10,000 years ago and there were no dinosaurs. Exams can be a little tricky, he lets you use a page a notes, a LOT of Eras, Plants, Dinosaurs to memorize.

Awesome prof! Super fun and engaging. Tests are online, but they are a bit tricky even when you have notes. Pay attention in class, do your notes, and you will be fine! He made lectures interesting! There is also one field trip in the class.

Dude's pretty funny. He understands its a GE and makes it easy. Final and Midterm are all online. Textbook you won't need since everything's in the slides. Just note that for the GEOL7 it will require some studying for the lab practicals.

A lot of material to read and memorize for the exams (he lets you use a page of notes) the lab assignments are, in his words, the kind 8-graders do. He's a very fun and engaging teacher. He wished he run the class less on the writing. Also He looks almost like Jim from The Office.

Very funny lecturer and really cares about students. He understands that this class is a GE which is why he give plenty of extra credit. He allows a cheat sheet for the exams and a study guide. Most of what is on the study guide is on the exam! There are a few in class assignments, but they are fairly easy.

He is a very chill professor. He offers a decent amount of extra credit, which this does help a lot. All of his exams are online, but they are kinda tricky so make sure you have a general idea of what is going on and try to pay attention in class. The lab portion of this course is kinda tedious and you do need to study for the practical exam.

He is an amazing teacher. He understands this class is a GE class, so he won't make you feel stressful. His assignments are based on lectures and study guide. Sometimes, there will be pop quizzes, but they are quite easy if you come to class. Highly recommend to take his class.

Loved this guy. I really enjoyed this class. Lectures were pretty interesting but I also learned a lot. We did have to do a field trip which was boring. The lab instructor that I had was terrible. It was still a fun class.

If you need an Area R class that is less stressful, take this class! He will give a study guide that is similar to the midterm and final. To save time, write down the answers for the study guide while he is lecturing. You also get a cheat sheet for the tests. There is no need to study that much for his exams.

Take his class, you won't regret. He is really passionate about what he is teaching. I learned a lot from his class. Make sure you prepare the study guides for midterms and final, you'll get an A. For the lab, try to ask your instructor as much as possible so that you don't lose any points.

He is a great professor! There were a lot of lectures to watch, and while attending the class wasn't mandatory, the stuff gone over in class is basically exactly what the tests and quizzes are made up of. Plus there is a lot of information that is covered in the lectures but he gave links to zoom recordings of them which definitely helped.

Professor Petsche is an amazing professor. He posts his slides and class lectures on canvas for us to go back and use to study. We do have a lot of assignments and quizzes but they are very easy to do.

Awesome professor! Really easy A class. More importantly, he truly cares about the subject and you. Exactly what you want out of a professor.

AKA Joseph Petsche. I didn't think I'd be so interested in geology but he made the course very interesting and fun! My fav professor, so caring and attentive to students' needs. Feedback on every HW (try your best on them). Homework is due when midterms/finals happen so you have plenty of time to complete them. Records lectures. TAKE HIS CLASS!!

I loved this course. I had to take a science elective and I'm so glad I chose this one. Joe is funny, a great lecturer, and he teaches well over Zoom if you have to take this course online. If you need an area R course at SJSU, take this class with Joe Petsche for sure.

This is the easiest Upper-division GE I've ever taken, the prof structures everything so that you don't stress yourself out. Highly recommend him, he gives good feedback and drops your lowest homework score.

Great professor and really cool guy :) He's very understanding about deadlines and the lowest assignment/quiz grade each unit gets dropped. Lectures are fun, he's passionate about geology. Take notes + ask questions if you're confused and you'll be prepared for everything. And if you're bad at math like me, this is a great area B1+Lab to take haha.

He's very passionate about the material! All the assignments, quizzes, and exam for each unit are due on the same day so don't leave everything until the last minute. Gives great feedback for assignments, which can be a bit tedious to do. Quizzes and exams are pretty easy since answers can be found in the slides. Lab can be annoying though.

He's a great prof. He made the lectures as interesting as possible. He splits the semesters work over 5 units so no need to worry about a final or midterm, just 5 unit tests. Each unit has quizzes and assignments due & hes an easy grader. No real need to go to class but he gets disappointed when students dont show up. everything was open note

Joe is the best! Easy grader, assignments are clear and aren't just busy work. Everything is assigned in modules and everything in a module is due the same day (the day of the module exam). Attendance not mandatory but he does like it when people show up. He's very chill, likes to crack a couple jokes, and is overall just really easy to listen to.

Joe is great! I was dreading taking another science class but he takes the stress off. Doesnt require attendance since he posts his lectures, BUT if half the class is not there he will not post it. No final or midterm, quizzes & exams are open note/book. Knows how to keep class engaged so it's not boring! He's very passionate abt his teaching.

Joe is an amazing professor and is very clear when teaching and what you are tested on. You really get to know him as a person during the Zoom sessions, and he is really cool. I learned so much about the subject and he made it fun to learn.

Don't take this instructor unless you want the risk of changing your major to Geology. Geology is usually stigmatized as boring and wasted time, but Professor Petsche changed that. I actually looked forward to each and every new lecture video that was to be put out for the week. Communicative, clear instructions, clear grading criteria. Take it.

The best professor ever!! He gave a lot of extra credit opportunities, make sure to do it, it boosts your grade a lot at the end of the semester. No homework, he posted all the slides on canvas. Very easy professor, would take him again.

Joe's very passionate about geology & it shows! He's a delight to work with, he really cares about students. No, you don't have to show up but why would you skip the ray of sunshine he brings just by talking about rocks and dinos? & if you're struggling he listens & genuinely wants to help. Wish I was a GEOL major just to take more of his classes!

Professor Petsche was great! His lectures were interesting and engaging. You can tell he is really passionate about the topics. The assignments were fairly simple. He is also pretty funny. I would definently take other courses he taught but I am a Kin major so it wouldn't make too much sense.

Joe's passionate about geology and it shows in his lectures! Tries to keep lectures engaging and fun. He records lectures but doesn't post the recordings; he'll only send them to you if you have a valid reason. Assignments/quizzes are straightforward and don't take too long. Exams are open-note and everything can be found in the slides. Great guy!

Summer session is fast-paced, but his work is manageable. Quizzes and exams are open-note. He gives meaningful feedback and tells you why he deducts points. You can ask for extensions. He is responsive to emails and flexible with office hours. He genuinely wants to help you if you need clarification or support. Best science professor ever!

Great easy class, straight forward, lenient, understanding. He is passionate what he does and just an awesome guy. Do all the assignments, tests and you'll pass. He appreciates creativity and gave me a sweet comment where he loved the pastel palette on an assignment where my handwriting reminded him of his favorite comic strips with extra points.

Caring and very kind. He really cares about his students and wants everyone to pass his class. 16 Quizzes and 4 exams and 2 in-class activities, and couple writing assignments throughout the semester. I would recommend this class if you want to learn more about Geology! Amazing professor!

I learned a lot in this class. there are a lot of material, however very doable. He is very understanding. Due dates are not every week which gives you enough time to study more and be better prepared. I have a busy schedule and this class was a perfect match. In addition to this, professor Joseph responds to emails very quickly and he truly cares.

Joe is an amazing hilarious teacher. His lectures are fun and the mini field trips are a good break from the class. Homework is manageable and Joe always reminds you of deadlines. His Canvas site is clear and easy to follow, tests are no that difficult as long as you follow the lectures. *** I would highly recommend taking his class !! ***

He is a great professor! The assignments, quizzes, exams was not that bad! As long as you stay on top of everything, you'll be fine! Take this class!

One time he gave me extra credit for noticing a Calvin and Hobbes reference on a quiz and I think I will remember that for the rest of my life

love love joe he's a great teacher. always tries to help us and gives extensions he wants his students to succeed. easy online quizzes, 1 midterm, 1 final, some hw but not bad at all, and 1 field trip (kinda unnecessary but really chill). get the article summaries out of the way doesn't take too long to do but 10 adds up. great easy get class!

Joe is honestly the nicest professor on campus! Even though I didn't get an A, Joe is still a great professor who is so understanding + gives lots of extra credit. Yes, there's a lot of hw, but if you're not a good test taker like me this is a blessing as it helps boost your grade. Make sure to read ALL of his announcements fully and thoroughly.

Great pick! It is VERY lecture heavy with LOTS of material. Terminology is important so bring out the flashcards. Midterm on fossilization, sedimentary rock, and general physical geology. Final on organisms Cambrian to Cretaceous (pls memorize evolution order). Only downside was the in-class attendance grade with Kahoot (no skipping lecture).

Easiest winter class for an upper division ge I have ever taken. Straight to the point and I'm not juggling 30 assignments at once. Really sweet and easy to contact.

my favorite teacher ever! he always tried to make class funny and more interesting. responds quickly to emails and gives extra credit! not a lot of work: some quizzes every couple weeks, 2 finals + midterms, 4-5 bigish hw assignments, 10 article summaries (super easy but don't procastinate it does take a while). I can't recommend his class enough.

AMAZING PROFESSSOR! Prof. Joe was very kind, hilarious, honest, and made lectures so, so enjoyable. There's a decent amount of hw and OPEN BOOK quizzes, but you have a month to do them so NO excuses. Learned a lot from lectures, and you can tell he's passionate about everything he discusses. I cannot recommend this class enough!!!

Joe is an all-around awesome professor. His online lectures are super fun to watch and participate in. The workload is easy and manageable, especially for someone like myself, who works full-time and has other responsibilities to attend to. Joe provides a welcoming atmosphere to his students! I thoroughly enjoyed being his student.

Professor Petsche is amazing. I loved what we did over the semester, his lectures and slideshows were fun and easy to understand, and his love for geology is endless. Tests and quizzes are similar to study guides, and you are also alllowed a cheat sheet. Very nice and caring professor.

Best professor I've taken at SJSU. Very enjoyable lectures and actually cares about his students a lot. Very easy midterms and finals, and fun assignments as well. Take Joe!