2.9
Quality3.5
Difficulty38%
Would Retake163
Reviews38%
Would Retake
163
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
42
4
23
3
24
2
33
1
41
What Students Say
“Great professor, makes concepts interesting and finds ways to engage students”
PSY2301 - 5.0 rating“At times feedback came across as rude”
PSYC2314 - 4.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
91%
Textbook Required
100%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B
Grade Distribution
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Declining
-0.48 avg changeRatings by Course
40135
5.0
(1)PSYC2316
5.0
(1)PSYCH2103
4.0
(1)PYSCH2302
4.0
(1)LIFESPAN
4.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
1111834113
5.0
PSYCHINTR
5.0
PILOSXXXX
5.0
PYSC2301
5.0
PSCY
5.0
Reviews (163)
Mr. Velarde is a nice guy but his lectures just put everbody to sleep. You dont have to use your book just look at your powerpoint notes. He gives extra credit if you stay for the whole lesson but his test are killers so study. I got a B in the class but I had to do a whole lot of extra credit. Overall average teacher.
If you want to be lost take the class. I could tell that he was a new teacher. Somedays he did not know what he was talking about b/c he was always looking in the book for examples. The extra credit game was WACK ppl barely knew the answers! MOST of the tests were 100 questions!!! He also does not give reviews!! The ppts BARELY helped.
Not the easiest class, but he drops your lowest test grade, and has lots of extra credit. Also, does not worry about attendance which is cool! Recommend.
He does nothing but read power points and expects you to comprehend an entire field of psycology from a power point made by the textbook company! Its retarded...
There are really only 4 grades in this class, all test. He gives EXTRA CREDIT like crazy. I made a 84 on my test which he has since changed to 50 questions and I got 24 EASY extra credit pts. SUPER EASY and he tells u whats on the test. We have watched two movies this semester too. EASY EASY EASY! Just ask him for help and he will help u out.
This professor is very confusing. Reads from the power point notes, very long, boring, and sometimes hard to understand. You only get 4 grades and they are all test grades, lots of extra credit. This class requires a lot of study time! Study power point notes and BOOK if you want an A!
Lotsa vids, tons of extra credit, and he puts his lecture notes online.
Not an easy A, but if you show up to class and do all the extra credit it's possible. I made an A but I actually had to do some work. He puts his powerpoints online, which is cool and he's pretty laid back. Recommend.
Don't take him unless you absolutely have to. I made an A in his class, but it was a very tedious effort. His lectures are very dry and he reads from the powerpoint notes, so you definitely have to pay attention to his examples. Anyway, if you study the notes constantly, and take advantage of the extra credit and have good attendance, you should be fine.
This class is easy if your willing to make the effort. He's very clear and as long as you print off the notes before each class and study them an A is guarantee.
There wasn't a lot of interaction in the class, but there's a TON of info to get to you in a summer semester, so there's just no time. Print his slides out before class and highlight the things he tells you that are needed for exam purposes. He gives TONS of extra credit opps. TAKE THEM!!! I would take him again in another class, if I could.
He has no idea what he's talking about. If you ask a question his general response is "that is a good question", which is fantastic for your self esteem but answers nothing. Granted if you show up and read his notes you still won't have the faintest idea to what is going on. If you manage to stay awake through his dry sermon you've wasted your time
One of the worst teachers ever. He reads from power points word for word. If you ask questions he seems irritated. He gives analogies that have nothing to do with the discussions. He claims to give reviews but just rereads his entire power points. I would only take him if you need a class to nap. You learn more from reading the book on your own
He is a really good teacher. He normally reads off all his powerpoint which does not cover all the material so if you want to be the smart person, try to read a little bit of the book cuz it will be helpful. He also gives opportunity of extra credit so take advantage of it. His class is really easy as long as you read and listen to lecture.
Take this as a hybrid class, like during the summer or half a spring/fall semester. There's a ton of information and he knows it so he tells you which slides will be useful to know/understand. Print the slides out b4 class and take side notes on them, then read those sections in the book-free to use in the SE Library so no need buying one!
I took this class as an accelerated course and I wasn't to happy with him. He flies by things really fast and just read off the power point and sometimes he gives you random questions on the test. But if you were to take him take him as an accelerated course because he tells you what is on the test, but you'll be frustrated.
Easy class, i never studied for the tests and still made a good grade. He uses point grading system 450-500=A 400-500=B etc.The only bad things about this guy is he just reads straight off the ppt, has an incredibly obnoxious voice and lisp , and doesn't really explain somethings in depth, just kinda zooms by and rushes it all.
His test is very hard. You have to know the meaning of the words; then use the world to match the example he give you on the test. Not a easy AAAAAA++.. We watch 3 movies and you have to answer his movie question in order to get a grade.
He reads right off the powerpoint, gives you tests that are confusing and has an accent that might annoy you. He expects you to know more than the deff of the words and be able to apply it. Not a bad idea but this was an intro class. You have to read the book to get a lot of the questions on the tests. The questions are random. No test review.
hate the way he talks, he have a strong accent. he reads off from the notes. alot of the test comes from vocab words. i had to drop his class
wow...this man is truly somethin else...he very hard to read..like tha breaks we take in class and the convience that he stays on top of his game...he give us all of the tools and it is our job to utilize them...can't really be mad at him fa that...now beware **tha accent will startle u!**
Sooo, his class is not an easy A, but if you actually read the chapter and print off the notes before class, it's very doable. I got an A but I guess I just expected to do actual work instead of a teacher giving me the grade like soooome ppl do! Plus he gives tons of easy extra credit!!! btw, I don't think he knows he has a lisp... kinda cute :)
You need to have the book to read. The book is for home. 90% is tests and 10% is other. Not to good. Especialy if you get nervous before a test. He is very general in teaching.
His accent is not that bad. You get used to it. But his test are a different story. Yes most of it is on the power point and he does tip you what will be on the test, but he puts the most random questions on there. Load of names and definition you have to remember and not the actually study. His assignments are easy made 100 on those.
ONLINE++++ Read, watch videos, Discussion Board Post in a timely manner, and complete your assignments! Nice guy- never met him- seems articulate. Don't pay attention to the (-) here! Not true if you take him online. In fact one of my easiest online courses EVER! I would love to have the chance to meet him. He has an A type of personality. HoTT!!!
Somewhat abrasive, never smiles,occasionally hard to engage in class,too cocky for his own good.Will help if you talk to him during office hours.Don't recommend accelerated course if you really want to learn about the subject.Do self-study in textbook online.
I've had this professor for three times now. His lectures are main topics from the chapter book but his exams are over applications not based on definitions. He grades using a point-system. 100 total pts for extra papers/assignments. 400pts for Exams that are 100per. Meaning if you get 100 on each exam. Prepare yourself before taking this class!
I did this class online and it was easy. The online lessons which are powerpoints are great to print out and use for the test. He is a great teacher and will try to help you understand the material and assignments.
I took the 8 week course and don't recommend it. The information is so tightly packed that we barely learned anything but wasn't his fault. I passed because I know most of the material already. He's got a really dry personality and can be rude. He stresses to read the book and seems to get pissed if you don't. I wish he was nicer because he's hot.
Dont take him online!! He is horrible at answering your questions and when he does answer them, he respondes as if you're a 2 year old. Teaches straight from the book and nothing else! DONT TAKE HIM!
He is a very straight forward, he tells you what to read and when to read it by. everyone else says he reads straight from the power points, but he never did that in my class. interesting material and pretty easy tests. I had no problem with him, i would recomend him for sure!
Easy online class. Lessons very easy to follow. Exams were straight from the book. Homework was simple. I would recommend him.
Teaches strait out of the book, he gives participation grades by randomly asking questions in class and if you dont know the answer your screwed. not very clear. tries to trick you on tests. DONT TAKE HIM!!!!
All you have to do in this class is read your text and pay attention to the lectures. Mr Velarde doesn't add much to the class. He essentially just reads off the power point. However, if you try to engage him, you might get 10-15 seconds of commentary. I wish this professor was more passionate and had more room for discussion.
Great Teacher. Really nice guy. Unlike what alot of people have said, he is really easy to get along with and has a great personality. He loves class participation. Very interesting information and he KNOWS his subject very well. Not an easy grade, but a great COLLEGE LEVEL class/professor. Also join his Socio Psych club, great club.
I took his online class, it is not very hard. His power points are not very useful for the test. MUST read the book in order to pass. Kind of slow responding to emails or Q&A on the discussion board. You will have about 5 assignments worth 25pts each and 4 tests worth a total of 350pts. Pretty good instructor, does not give too much extra credit.
Professor was very helpful and clear on what was on the test. I thought he was an excellent online teacher and he always promptly answered any questions I had. He grades very fair on assignments, reading is a MUST for this class. If you don't read required materials you will not do well in his class.
I took lifespan for 8 weeks without any prior psyc classes as recommended. You MUST read, and read, and read some more to prepare for essay + multiple ch. tests. Must participate in class and ask questions for good grade. I learned a lot and glad I took course. Not any EASY class but worth it.
Mr Velarde is very hard to read. He doesn't make the material interesting or easy to comprehend and if you ask a question, his answers are VERY vague. I would NOT reccommend him. His tests are hard and he gives no clues as to what will be on them. He does have an accent but you can easily understand him. He is VERY cocky!
He's so mean in grading. To get 10/100 for the assignment, you have to work really hard. But finally, you just get some, not enough 10. His lecture is that you guys have to focus on reading the textbook. No review for the test.
I took this class online and it was extremely easy. There were only 2 assignment and 4 tests. His tests are soooo easy. The questions come directly from the book! No tricky questions and not a lot of true/false. Plus, the Q's are in order of the chapters as well. I DEFINITELY recommend him! Easy course!!!!
hORRIBLE INSTRUCTOR! I took him online and he was absoultely unhelpful. I have taken several online coures and this is by far the worst instructor ive ever had. He takes SEVERAL days to respond to any email or question you have including via the discussion board. Very unhelpful all the way around.
Mr. Velar do was very uninvolved. This was an online class and when I or other students asked questions in the student forum it took him weeks to respond if he responded at all. He was unclear and the homework seemed as though we were under experiment because he wanted to know about our personal lives pertaining to the text. I DO NOT recommend him!
Took online. Do not take online classes if you think that you can just blow them off. It is more work and seemingly more reading than in a classroom. Prof. Velarde is very fair but very hard. He did give some extra credit which was awesome.
He constantly messed up on the test and had to make up for it, but didnt reply for over a week to questions. i WOULD NOT SUGGEST HIM. A whole section was just over evolution.... He takes a long time to post grades as well...
This is the worst professor ever. I don’t know about his class, but online this class is a set up for failure. It take him up to two weeks to post great, which never show up after he initially posts them. He forgets to put up assignments and put up lectures a few days before the test or maybe not at all.
OMG..this prof. is one of the hardest I've ever had, I felt like I was in high school when the teacher calling your names to answer the questions he asked,and that's what he did to us. For the tests, I really hated answering the short answers and some kind of critical thinking questions too.. HIGHLY NOT RECOMMEND THIS GUY EVERRRRR!
horrible professor, confusing, hates when your late to class, does not explain information clarity, makes up his own task, would not recommend at all. 4 test in order to pass the class you would have to pass them all they are 80% of your grade.
dont take his class
Velarde was a pretty difficult teacher. I had him for general psych and lifespan. The key to success in this class is you HAVE to interact during class. His lectures are incredibly interactive and he loves doing discussions. Also, you CANNOT pass this class if you don't read. However he was really helpful. You earn a better grade if you participate
I had to drop his class and give up my chance of being able to transfer to a university this fall because I ACCIDENTALLY submitted my midterm two minutes into the test and he said NO REDOS. He is lack ing empathy, especially as a psych teacher. DONT take this class. I had an A before the test, now I'm destined to fail. THANKS!!
His psyc 2302 applied psychology was very difficult. Would not recommend him. His psyc 2319 is getting better. I have taken this twice. He does not care if you have any issues with your exams. He will let you fail. Which is why I had to take it twice. The work load is not too much now and it is a doable class.
Has a Mohawk but can pull it off. He's pretty cute. Tough class though. YOU MUST READ!! Doesn't drop any grades but gives a few extra credit opportunities. He will help you no matter what if you need him.
He's a cutieeeee. Tough class though. YOU MUST READ. He will always help you though if you ask. Good professor but tough class. If you want an A then you better be reading.
Great professor, got a lot of information & knowledge from his class.
does not give review. demands alot from students and makes you to read the whole text book. i won't recommend him for any one
I love this teacher. Keeps whole class involved. Lots of group discussions. If weather good, has class outside. Wonderful class. Learn a lot.
The man knows too much but should take it to ground level. Understand some students are slow to pick up. Please stop using the text book. And make your power point notes more comprehensive.
Very passionate about what he teaches and wants his students to understand. Make sure you read and use the reviews and pretests in the book. Show up to class prepared to answer a question if he calls on you by reading required text. Don't miss turning in or taking anything. He is strict but prepares you for life. Print powerpoints for taking notes
Wastes class time desperately trying to prove how cool he is. You won't pass if you don't read. He'll say "For this topic you only need to know X," but then on the test ask a very obscure question that was never mentioned in class and barely mentioned in the book. Claims he's more concerned with general concepts, but the tests are pedantic.
No test reviews. Uses a different text than most of the classes, and the text is very first-person (some may like that but I prefer something more objective). Very confusing on what chapter we're covering and what we're being tested on. Updateschanges schedule every week.
Overall I enjoyed Professor Velarde's class, he was very clear and to the point about what he expected out of his class. Reading the chapters is mandatory to do well in his class; preferably reading before you go to class. His class was always interesting and kept my attention. I would defiently recommend this class.
He's a great teacher - really sweet and funny outside of class too! His tests are straightforward if you read the material, but if you don't you're pretty much just screwed. Be sure to ask clarifying questions about what will be on the test because he doesn't always use EXACTLY what is in the book. Get ready to think about psychology!
Velarde is an awesome teacher, however, he's tough. You have to read and study. Lectures are long and very informative so take good notes and pay attention. He is very knowledgable on the topic of psychology ; I learned a lot. Tests will be tough if you don't study. Studying is mandatory
This is the most worst teacher I ever had, he lack the good quality of teaching and come to class seems not prepared, very confusing teaching, not following the materials, non consistent in his work plan and he waste most of the time asking unrelated question from the student. I regret for taking hi class, don't take his class!! NOT GOOD!!
I ended up dropping the class mid-term because I could never schedule around him. Every week or so, he would post an assignment that was totally new (meaning had not been on the schedule previously), which meant the syllabus was updated nearly every week. I could never plan ahead, and I was always rescheduling work for 2 other classes around him.
he's like the worst professor ever and i'm a straight A student. if you want to keep your gpa my advice to you is DO NOT TAKE THIS TEACHER!!!!!!!
Great professor, just make sure you go to class and keep up with your reading.
don't take his class because you'll fall in love with him and be sad the whole semester
Doesn't give reviews. Expects you to read and retain the whole textbook. He's nice at first then kind of has a bad attitude and gets angry.
When he gets upset he will just leave the classroom and not come back until next class. Has a hard time controlling his students and refuses to kick people out of class. He will go off on tangents for 3/4ths of the class and end up covering little to no textbook material in-class. Failed me with a 69.97%, no wiggle room in this course.
Great professor. Makes everything clear from the beginning and is hilarious. He makes you feel comfortable to ask questions and is really approachable. You can tell he loves his job and cares for students! His work is very to the point and gives out a few easy grades, he's a must take. I took him for two psych class, best decision I made.
Jose was really cool, always cared about his student. Made sure he took the time to get to know us. He did not give a lot of tests. The biggest thing was that we all participated in class discussion and then we were golden. If you listen to him and read the book your going to get an A.
Jose is an amazing teacher he wants you to know what you are reading. The core concepts are basically your reviews. Print out the slides it helps when you are reading. if you focus on his class and your reading you'll do fine.
Class participation required. Expect to read, read and READ some more! He is not very helpful when it comes to asking questions. He is sarcastic but in a rude way. Also, NO TEST REVIEWS. You are on your own. His attitude was fine and he seemed like a nice guy at the beginning of class, but nearing the end he turns into a rude sarcastic ass.
He is an awesome teacher. He is very passionate about what he teaches. He wants the class to ask questions and to be engaged when having a class discussion. He does give quizzes and he does teach from the book so make sure you read! He cares a lot about his students. He is the best teacher ever.
Class has a schedule, but not all due dates are given upfront. This requires to keep checking and re-printing the class schedule. Not the fastest grade either. Some assignments are pretty straight forward though. There are 2-3 assignments per week, including a quiz. Quizzes are normally less than a dozen questions covering all for that week.
Constantly changing class schedule so there's no definite way of knowing what to expect in class so if you like a constant schedule don't take this class. Teaches from his power points, very good teacher. Only complaint is that he gives no reviews, but all his tests are pretty much over everything in his power points.
Professor Velarde is fun to learn from. He is a great guy, and always willing to help if you have questions about anything. Read the book carefully and keep up with your work, don't be late with your assignments/tests/quizzes, and don't forget your projects, and you should be fine.
Jose is awesome! He made class fun and easy to pay attention to. He loves his job which makes life in his class a lot easier. DO NOT skip class or think you can show up to class without having read the material, he is admit about reading. He gives extra credit a lot whenever psych club has events. In order to fail his class, it takes talent.
The most inconsistent teacher I've ever had. He's super hypercritical at the end of the semester, especially concerning the project. The project was a nightmare. He said the project would be our final, but gave a final anyway. Classes are very discussion heavy and participation is a must. Not a difficult class, but definitely wouldn't recommend.
Inconsistent on things being extra credit or not. Otherwise, Jose gives great examples. If you're willing to read and engage in class, this is the prof you need. If you don't want to read, if you're just taking it because you have to, you're better off with someone else. You'll probably be more invested in learning the stuff with him though.
You must read the book to do well on tests; he covers the most important concepts in class. 1st time teaching the 8 week version & he had a hard time with time management. Test dates kept changing and spur of the moment activities wasted time. At times feedback came across as rude. Overall I enjoyed lectures and felt like a learned a good bit.
This teacher is inconsistent and rude. He cannot stay on track. Easily distracted and rambles. Lectures are incomplete yet tests on entire chapter content. Exam questions are worded tricky. OFFERS NO STUDY GUIDE. Acts as if the exams are a game and does not review. If this class is required do not choose him. Terrible teacher.
Do not take his online class. He doesn't respond to emails, and his Blackboard is very confusing. Also inconsistent on when assignments are due and you must look at class schedule everyday because it changes frequently. Will not take again. No feedback on journals other than he enjoyed reading them.
He gets off topic and takes small grades over irrelevant topics. says he will give extra credit opportunities but never does. chooses favorites in his class. I do not recommend this professor for anyone wanting to be a nurse.
He doesn't answer email, EVER. The only answer I got from him was 1 email saying he didn't answered before because he was dealing with family issues, but still didn't answered my questions. When grading he commented things like "in this Human Sexuality class" and the class is Social Psychology. He is NOT organized, won't open lessons on time.
Great professor, makes concepts interesting and finds ways to engage students. You must keep up with the reading because he moves fast from topic to topic. Don't take this class if you want an easy A, you have to work for it.
Most unorganized intructor Ive ever taken. Always changing schedule, lost our tests, never knows where we are in lecture, and so on. His lectures are unorganized they dont follow the textbook but its mandatory you read the textbook anyways. Avoid him!!!
If you dont read you wont pass reading helps hes very specific in what he wants
His teaching is engaging and fun. Class participation is a must. For my 8-week class, he got a bad time-management so always ended up skimming over contents! You'll have to read the whole book to make sure you know anything that might appear in the tests/ quizzes. Overall don't take him if you don't major in PSYCH.
He is a great profesor knows how to teach and his classes are very fun. But he does make you read a lot and there are a lot of test. If you want a easy professor he is not the one for you.
Its hard to understand some words bc of his accent. Tests are hard , his assignments were something else . Just do not take him . You basically have to teach yourself in order to pass
changes the due dates in the course calendar without posting an announcement or warning. a few times, when he did this, the assignment still closed at the old due date and could no longer access it. when i reached out to him, it took him a solid three weeks to respond to me and told me it was too late to make it up. very disappointing experience
Puts emphasis on class discussion but can often be dismissive or passively disrespectful of students, discouraging said class discussion. Mr. V can be very disorganized - there is no solid syllabus, and he's failed to come to class without notice on more than one occasion. Take notes on the readings he assigns and you should make it out fine.
I know all professors say you have to read to pass, but with Velarde, you HAVE TO READ!!! he will quiz over the chapter contents BEFORE he lectures, requiring you to read the chapter in advance. other than that, solid professor, really encourages deep discussion and a lot of class interaction. and he'll take the class outside on nice days.
The classes were hard work but prepare you for university study. You have to be prepared and responsible for yoyr own learni g which was hard at first but a lesson worth learning and he influenced my work ethic generally. Classes were engaging and he definitely knows his subject.
I hope I can save atleast one person from taking him!!!! It was complete chaos. He abuses his power as a teacher. He would quite often pick on/bully the more quiet students. It was VERY uncomfortable to watch. Many of my classmates noticed this about him and agreed we didnt want to retake him. Do yourself a favor and pick any other professor.
Lectures aren't very helpful. If he tells you it's not important, IT IS! and it will be on the exam. quizzes are random so keep up on your reading. He says read 7 pages a day but they won't add up.
He often wants you to read chapters on your own time then he quizzes over it. Be sure to ask questions during lecture and take notes!
He's not particularly friendly so not everyone liked him. I guess he could be a little more approachable but he was fair and actually the lectures were great, if you really want to learn
Pro. Velarde really gets a bad rep for no reason. His classes are engaging and make you actually think about the material you're learning. He's very dry and sarcastic and I think that's where he may rub people wrong, but it really didn't bother me as I am also dry and sarcastic. Just be ready to read on time, ask questions, and be active in class.
He expects you to read before you get to lecture but still covers everything in great detail. He is able to keep students engaged and interested in class.
Mr. Jose Velarde is a pyschology gem! His class was very educational, fun, and interactive for me. He has good lectures that consist of videos, movies, and hands-on activities rather than just reading from a powerpoint. I will say, he has tests and quizzes often, so reading is the major key to passing his class. If you do the work, you'll be fine.
I enjoyed his class, very passionate about Psych as well as "outside of the box thinking. Have tough skin though because he is a bit blunt, calls people out, and his sense of humor is not for the faint of heart. Like some classes he had me feeling salty, but over all i loved the class and his lectures were so engaging, i plan on taking him again
Brilliant and funny lecturer, every lecture is fun and really engages you in Psychology. Be prepared to read a lot, this isn't a class you can slack off in reading. He expects you to have read the content before the lecture. The quizzes are based on the textbook and exams are more lecture-based. If you read and come to class you will do great.
This class taught me a lot. Prof. Velarde will make you participate and engage in class. You are expected to read the textbook, you will fail without it. Prof. Velarde's lectures are amazing however you will need to put in the work to pass his class.
You got to read to be able to pass the class. He will pick the ones who is quiet. If you don't know any answer to the question then he will be rude about it. I really don't recommend you to his class unless you are book smart. Not a lot of my classmate pass his quizes and their avg is 70. To be clear! HE IS RUUDEE! if i can i would rate him 0/5!!!
He is not it guys.
I did well, learnt loads. Won't go back bc of the anxiety watching classmates walk on eggshells. Top students feel comfortable but many classmates struggle for whatever reasons & are treated with disdain - professors (of psych esp'y) should understand diversity of behaviours & motivation amongst students. Not an active listener. 0 compassion.
You definitely need to read and go to the lectures to be successful. If you go to lectures, participate, read, and study you should do good.
If you are someone with anxiety this is not it. I would always get picked on in class everytime he would ask me to answer questions and I wouldnt know because I tend to forget things when im called out and would just stare at me when I answered incorrectly and be put on the spot. But overall the topics he talked about where interesting.
Probably one of my favorite educators I've ever had. He's extremely knowledgeable, and will always try to answer any questions. I've seen people complain and say he picks on people who are quiet, but I disagree. Read the book and participate in discussion if getting called on makes you anxious. He truly just wants you to learn the content.
Velarde is a stellar professor. His lectures are interesting, and really allow you to build critical thinking while learning about psychology. If you read the book and attend lectures the course shouldn't be difficult. Highly recommended, one of the best professors I have ever taken.
He's impressive at first - he knows the material really well and he picks on you so I made sure I did all reading. I'm just annoyed that students got to do everything on time but he doesn't mark papers or reply on time, like at all! First he was rude but then kept apologizing. He seemed distracted and kept making different excuses.
He seems pretty passionate about the subject, no doubt about that, and he values diligence. If you can catch him during class, he'll answer your questions but he's not really approachable outside. I mean, he doesn't seem dismissive or anything. You just can't catch him or get a reply. He's always busy and apologetic which is real different to class
V's a tough professor but I worked so hard and learnt lots so overall benefited from class. V's personality seems to be the issue with a lot of folk and I can't decide if that's fair. We should be able to put his personality aside (helped when I did) but arguably, he should make an effort too. Everyone's incessant complaing was distracting
The trick to his classes is showing up and speaking up early in class. Once you do that he lays off you and picks on the quieter ones so just make sure you do that. Once he thinks your confident then your in and its an easy enough class.
I think this prof would be better off in research as he seems really knowledgeable but would really benefir from thinking abour interpersonal skills, and teaching is inflexible. A little empathy goes a long way in teaching, inspire and encouraging others.
Really tedious. I normally love Psych but lost the will in this class. Lectures were wooden and I didn't feel engaged :(
If I can save one person from taking his class, I will feel like I've done something in service. I don't normally but felt I just had to. I don't understand how there are any good reviews at all but wish I had come here before choosing this class. It's pretty obvious. Worst class I've ever had.
Bit dry and uninspiring but enough to help me get my grade - needed too much coffee to get me through!
You really got to engage and he's fine but yiu cant afford an off day
I was having some difficulties and he was totally unsupportive and didnt show empathy. Other Psych professors showed humanity but he's just cold. His teaching is okay but what's the point without personal skills. I felt very let down at a difficult time
Just cant compete with other profs. No brainer i will take another prof next time. Wasted my time
I found Jose to be great on some days but then he seems distracted on other days. If only he was more consistent he would have kept my interest. I'd want to tell him to work on his interpersonal skills, too - I've known students wanting to drop class because of it
Just mean I want to drop class Never felt this waY before :(
Best psychology professor on Southeast. Just be prepared to answer questions in lecture and to read the textbook.
He either likes you or doesn't and this gets in the way iof teaching. He likes self motivated and high performing students who are likely to do well anyway. It's those who are struggling or need extra support that don't fare well. And he's not approachable
I just couldnt get on with his style. Tries to be cool and funny but it didnt make the material relatable. I wont be taking again
Too many questions during lecture...most of learning done through textbook, don't see much point of lectures. They drag on.
I've been in two minds about writing a review. Professor Velarde seems really knowledgeable and I know I what I need to do to get my grade but he's not really accessible - so that knowledge feels a bit out of reach. I do feel that there are a lot of distractions and this has been quietly unsettling me, like background noise.
Be ready to read and think A lot. Great professor
Required that you read the book and study, so make sure to have time after the class to put into that. Attendance isn't mandatory but, he provides a lot of examples in lecture and will clarify pretty much everything so that's helpful. I would take him again.
Great professor with good lectures that help you remember the content. You will do well if you read the book every day and dont miss class. Dont forget the bluebook and scantrons, most of the tests are in class
You cannot afford to miss a lecture but if you really have to, reach out to him for any questions about the missed lecture. He really doesn't have a lot of extra credit options. He gives about two per semester. You will need to read the chapters beforehand to understand the lectures/material.
Very dry and heavy going. Can't miss a beat or get an answer wrong. Sort if a fear culture
Yawn. Takes himself way too seriously and preoccupied with seeming cool. Total lack of engagement.
easy course, easy writing assignments that relate to you
All this professor cares about is what students think of him. Assignments were easy enough but weren't stretching for me and so I didn't feel engaged or like I really learnt something, or developed. I do think that professor Velarde does know his stuff but the atmosphere was really strange and he would often seem vacuous.
Very lecture heavy, if you miss class you will be missing participation grades. His tests are only the textbook and is truly so hard to study if taking other classes as he does not speak about anything that will be on the test during his lectures. Only cares about showing he knows the subject you have to attend his SI sessions if you want a C-.
This professor does not allow laptops or iPads Will not hesitate to call you out during lectures also gets upset with the class if you do not ask questions you must answer his questions His test are very difficult he does not review the test but moves on to the next chapters right before the test Which is confusing but gets upset if you fail
This class is decent for me, tests are pretty hard if you don't read the book since the professor only goes over the main stuff in class and not the small details that will be on the test. He also hates being late and will point that out. Also, you can't use technology to take notes which I'm not a big fan of.
He could be more empathetic and sincere when speaking to students and care about the class more than how he presents himself; not make students feel like they are in a hostile environment. Be prepared to read A LOT and for him to call you out for not reading 50+ pages in 2 days. Overall, the class is easy just the professor makes it difficult.
Great professor, totally recommend taking him. Make sure to attend all classes and lectures and do all of your assignments, a lot of interaction with each other and work but you should be fine if you do as he says!!
If you want a high engaging class, it will be for you. If you want a straight forward and easy class, then no. He requires critical thinking and thought-provoking questions. Join his psychology club to learn more and get the chances to volunteer, you will be on his good side as well.
You've got to comform to his style and way of doing things...he's incredibly inflexible - so much so it's a single point of failure in his teaching. He appeals to a small number of students but puts most of us off. Professors should show leadership - if this were a business, you'd say it was a failure in leadership. I totally lost interest
This professor is more interested in whether you respect him and the subject, than the actual learning. If you play a part, all's good but if this course is not your life's main goal, forget about it! There's carrot and there's stick - it's difficult to walk away with genuine interest in the subject when the professor's strategy is so binary.
Velarde just tries very hard to make things difficult and needs to get with the times. Very old school, and I struggled without being able to take notes on my tablet. I never get anything below a B, but totally wasn't interested in his class
Professor Velarde tries hard to be vague so much that most of his assignments' rules are unclear. I have taken computer science classes at an actual university with more straightforward assignments than this class. Also, a lot of his assignments consist of asking an arbitrary question even though he expects VERY specific answers.
Extremely unclear assignments. He does not have his canvas page set up properly, so you will have to dig in every crevice of canvas to find your assignments because it seems he doesn't know how to put it in the module. he also takes his sweet time replying to emails, i always have to repeatedly email him in order to get a response.
Overcomplicates core modules, yells about you needing to keep his eyes on him and how he needs your attention. He teaches like a high school teacher so he's very childish. Yelled at someone for taking notes while he was talking in front of the class. He gets upset when people don't ask questions. You need to read to participate. In his feelings.
The class is lecture-heavy, so attending is a must. While the professor knows the subject, he can come across as inflexible. Using Unstuck study and the textbook helped me stay engaged despite the challenges.
Technically speaking, he does his job. Does he do it well? No. He expects you to read one chapter per week before classes otherwise he gets cranky. Asks many vague, abstract questions and expects very specific answers. He knows his stuff, but is awful at simplifying concepts. He's the bane of my existence, but tolerable enough outside of class.
If you're an introvert who dislikes speaking up, I would not recommend taking his course. He usually picks on students randomly to speak up on whatever chapter we are learning in the lectures. Work is not hard BUT READ THAT TEXTBOOK. If you don't read, you will fail. Bad. Sometimes he comes off as snarky but if you can bypass that it'll be fine.
Tough professor but my favorite for sure. I'd recommend him if you're a psychology or psych-adjacent major but not for anyone who just wants to take the class for credit. Reading the book is REQUIRED before you come into class. Annoying if you're lazy but it helped me revise for my exams in just 1h and still retain them months later. Worth it!
READ THIS! Velarde is a tough teacher for sure but he pushes you to use your knowledge to its fullest potential. The class is easy if you read the book and study his core concepts. There's 15 engagement grades, he drops 5. The quiz are kahoots, the test are just core concepts which he provides. HIGHLY RECOMMEND SI SESSIONS, this is how I got an A.
His teaching style was absolutely great. He does not like electronics during class time unless its time for pop quizzes. I think this is very good because I was able to concentrate in class. He uses very good examples in class for easier understanding. I took him for general psychology. Taking him again for my other psychology unit.
Dudes chill, all the negative reviews are tweaking. textbook is free on reddit and that'll carry you through the course. just learn the learning outcomes before class and you'll be fine. workload is overall pretty light and topics are pretty interesting sometimes.
Tough grader and tough professor. As long as you read the textbook every week and understand the concept, you can pass the class. Core concepts are very important in this class and will be on the exam. Participation grades were based off on answering his questions during class, which is not ideal for everyone. Just be ready to read a lot.
Professor Velarde is very understanding, respectful, and influential. He changed my perspective on how to use critical thinking skills. He also was very understanding, and worked with me to get grades in the grade book even after I missed a month due to surgery. He is very honest and fair with his grading. He the goat!
Professor Velarde is a nice guy, and his concepts make sense. The biggest issue is the grading criteria, beware of the pop quizzes and assignments as most are open ended responses that are like trick questions regardless if you know the material. If you're fine with coasting with a C then take this class but if you're expecting an A reconsider.
He's a good teacher imo. You won't passs the class if you don't participate or read the textbook. A tip is to just know the learning outcomes bc it will be on the test. Assignments consist of open ended questions that can be kind of tricky so be aware of that. If you are not willing to put time and effort I don't recommend this class
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91%
Textbook Required
100%
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