3.0
Quality3.3
Difficulty62%
Would Retake84
Reviews62%
Would Retake
84
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
22
4
16
3
10
2
16
1
20
What Students Say
“Unless a GEOL major, take a different GE”
GEOL150 - 2.0 rating“Well, I got a A, but after 40 hours of memorization before the final exams”
GEOG150 - 4.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
5%
Textbook Required
29%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
A-
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Improving
+0.98 avg changeRatings by Course
GEOG150
4.0
(1)GEOL150
3.2
(73)GEO150
2.0
(7)150
1.0
(1)ES150
1.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
150
5.0
GEO15
4.0
GEO150
3.7
GEOL150
3.3
ES150
3.0
Reviews (84)
Complete ill-prepared and unorganized. It was essentially a complete waste of my energy
Stott was a horrible prof who had no idea what he was doing. The class was a waste.
bad teacher, absent-minded, he skipped class several times, never clear on class goals
Stott was always there, prepared for lecture. Pertinent information, applied it to our lives. Pop quizzes were easy and helped - for those of us who came to class daily! Labs a bit off-topic, but in total a very solid class. Approachable, eager to help.
He was pretty bad. the everyday class stuff is alright but his exams are really difficult. Good luck if you suck at science classes because you will probably do horrible.
No Comments
Awesome class. Very challenging. good material. Stott really seemed interested in me learning the material rather and answering my questions
Decent Class, easy labs. The exams could be fairly tricky though. All in all very good for a GE
No Comments
very good and kind professor
Professor Stott is clear in his lectures and is always willing to answer students' questions. He is passionate about geology and truly wants to help his students better understand the world around them. I felt the class was simple. The tests are 100% multiple choice.
He is smart, but full of himself...He thinks he is God's gift to the world. Tests were easy. He needs to be more humble and less critical of students knowledge. we are just taking this class because we need it, not be cause we are trying to become experts.
Worst professor at USC. Don't get me wrong, he knows his stuff. But it seems that he can't get it across to students. And he gets mad if you don't get it. He is so arrogant. Good for you that you know your stuff dude. But I only took your class because I had to. I am not trying to be a Scientist. Just a G.E. dude. Horrible people skills
relatively easy class. grading is all based on weekly lab quizzes, midterm and final (which are all multiple choice), and in class pop quizzes that are more about making people come to class than actually testing your knowledge. overall, i would recommend him
Good, clear teacher. Helpful and informative. Kind and approachable. Keeps you interested in the topic
Not only is he a bad teacher, his breath stinks of cheap, spoiled coffee. He seems like he knows his stuff, but he has no professor-student skills to translate it to students. I think he should be a researcher only. I would not recommend him to anyone, unless you want to be clueless in class. The TAs are alot better than professor. BAD Profess
Take this class P/NP unless you're good with the science classes that focuses on geology. Don't need the textbook since his exams are based from his website and lectures. Nice guy and gives a minor curve at the end, depending on how the class does.
NO NEED for textbook - Tests r based on his website and lectures so dont waste $ just go to class. A nice guy but doesnt know how to teach. Confusing lectures and he always needs time to find what he needs. TAs r more helpful. Go to labs & read handouts carefully. Midterms & Finals r easy - all multiple choices. Overall easy but boring class.
DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS! He does not know how to teach at all. If you're not good at geology/science get another class for this GE. He is not helpful or approachable. He makes you feel stupid at office hours. The TAs teach way better than him so if you have questions, go to them.
He has no idea how to teach. This COLLEGE course uses a high school textbook, and while it is a GE science course, thus not targeted toward engineering/science majors, he still simplifies the science so much that it's WRONG. Do not take this class. I have no idea how anyone hired him as a professor. I hope his research makes up for his idiocy.
He is a pure researcher. Pop quizzes and homework were vague. One particular homework was canceled/omitted because the TA even began asking him questions about what he wanted. Midterms/Finals were composed at the last moment with confusion. Made an A, but I don't recommend.
Seeing as this is a GE you would think he'd know people are only taking it because they have to, but no he acts like we're all aspiring climatologists. Lectures are terrible he just drones on and on. Condescending when speaking one on one. Pop quizzes and exams are poorly worded. Terrible class/ge. Don't take it.
Good class
i don't even know where to start with professor lowell or this class. Labs are decent seeing as the TA makes sense, but lectures and exams are a whole different story. I haven't missed a single lecture or lab and have read all the chapters and still do terribly. Do NOT take this class. :( PURE HORROR. not to mention he is so rude!
Just awful. He's completely pompous and unnecessarily rude to students with questions. He overcomplicates things that you should just ask the TA's about. It was a highly unpleasant experience
this class was supposed to be easy. But he made it so hard for no reason. Attending his class was not mandatory. however, he sometimes threw out pop quizzes. So, it'd better to attend his classes. TAs are so great. Exams were quite difficult.
This class was impossible. Even my t.a. - who was awesome - - said that stott had totally lost him. He gets pissed off that so many students skip lecture and throws in random impossible pop quizzes. I was lost in this class within a month
I'll agree that he is not easy, but if you visit him during his office hours, he is more than willing to help you. You have to review his slides and the text very thoroughly. You also have to make sure you know exactly what you're doing in the lab. Overall, difficult, but by no means impossible.
Lowell's slides doesn't match his fxxxing hard test. Also, TOO MANY ALL OF THE ABOVE AND NONE OF THE ABOVE. In addition, he makes this class so hard for no reason, It's a GE CLASS!!
I'm pretty this prof knows a lot about climate change, but he knows too much. We have to learn literally everything about the atmosphere in this class. I'm really interested in climate change but not geology nor climatology. Plus, the exams are SUPER DUPER HARD.
He's not too bad. The course was pretty doable the first half of the semester. The second half is a little hard. If you read and attend class its not too hard. After the first midterm, people stopped attending which is why the second midterm had lower grades. Don't do this. Pretty easy course. Got a B, didn't really try and learned a few things.
The class overall was not too bad, lectures were boring but short and he did not take attendance. The lab was pretty easy, the TAs are chill and actually know the material. Stott is a bit arrogant and not ever helpful. He posts his slides online but his tests do not always correlate and are very hard. The main problem is the very difficult tests.
Tests are hard, everything else is fine. He doesn't take attendance so I rarely went to class, but when I did I really hated him. My TA was cool for the lab. It's an easy B but a hard A
DONT PICK THIS TEACHER! YOU WILL NEVER WANT TO COME TO CLASS. AND IF YOU DONT, YOU WILL FAIL THE CLASS. EVEN IF YOU DO ATTEND, YOU WILL LIKELY TO GET A C, IF YOU WORK HARD, YOU WILL GET A B, IF YOU STUDY EVERY THING AT HOME( SPENDING HOURS EVERY TWO DAYS) AND COME TO CLASS PREPARED FOR EVERYTHING. YOU MAY GET an A
This was terrible GE. He was not in class half the time and we had substitute professors. When the drop date for classes rolled around about 50 students were in his office asking if they should drop. Test are extremely hard and nothing like his study guides! Labs are the only thing they keep you above water.
Great teacher, even though I'm not a fan of the class.
He knows what he is talking about, which is usually a good thing. However, it is at a point where he possess so much knowledge about the subject and try to give you everything - there's just too much information to memorize. He will test you on details rather than overall concepts as well hard tests. Unless a GEOL major, take a different GE
Well, I got a A, but after 40 hours of memorization before the final exams. There are way too much content in the course, the test syllabus is too broad, but he tests you the specific details. This is kind of crazy for students who aren't willing to spend a lot of revision hours. Anyway, he is very knowledgable in climatology, good at teaching.
Ridiculously hard for a 100 level GE. Concepts in lecture make sense, but tests are specific & difficult to do well on unless u memorize lots of little details. He is available for help outside of class, does an ok job of explaining concepts. Lab can be hard, TAs are semi helpful. Def review tests even if u did well bc the final is cumulative.
Midterms are very difficult because he puts in specific questions from the textbook that are not covered in lectures. Failed first midterm but managed to get an A- in the end through hardcore memorization. Overall a lot of memorization is required for this GE. Not recommended if you are not particularly interested in the subject.
Lectures are confusing and if you aren't reading the textbook, you will be extremely lost. TA's are the saving grace of this class.
Really hard for a GE, but if you go to class, read the textbook, and just show up to labs it should be ok. He cares about his students and I think tries his best but tends to be unclear about what information will be on the tests. Labs will save you. Wouldn't be my first choice if I had to choose classes again but at least the info was interesting.
He's a good professor and cares a lot about the subject at hand. He wants his students to succeed and wants to make sure all questions are thoroughly answered. The midterms can be specific and tricky, so be prepared to do a lot of reading from the textbook.
Stott is a very good professor, He knows the materials well and can explain well, but you must pay attention to him. Any questions, just go to his office hours, he's almost always available for his students. Read the book, ask questions and you'll be fine. The labs are easy too, nothing too difficult to understand. Labs will save you.
I really enjoyed his class as well as his teaching. He knows what he is talking about and can answer pretty much any question you throw at him. Don't take class if you aren't interested in the subject though. I read the textbook and took decent notes on his lectures which helped a TON for exams. Lectures are very informative. Labs were easy.
I took this class expecting it to be an easy GE. The midterms and final were pretty tough. He is super smart and can really clear up anything pretty well. It is A LOT of reading but you do not have to go to class. Labs are very easy. The average on the first midterm was a 62%. He curves at the end though which helps A LOT.
There is A LOT of reading. A lot of memorizing and terminology. Basically the midterms and the final are the most important and they all have a lot of studying. The labs are OK- easy.
great guy
Honestly the GOAT
Stotts a reallynice guy. Tests are 50% of grade, hard but big curve. Lab and homework are other 50% and are easy As if you put in the effort. Tests are based on lecture (not book) so going to class helps. I never went though and was fine. Just studied the slides he posted on Blackboard and pulled off an A and B on all three tests, and an A overall
stott really doesn't deserve such a low rating. material is def not easy if science doesn't come naturally to you, but he knows his class is a GE & makes the material understandable and concise. super approachable & knowledgable. if you put any effort at all into just listening, you'll be fine. a very relevant and well-taught course.
Stott is the perfect example of what a GE should be. You don't have to go to lectures but hearing him talk about a subject he greatly cares for helps with retaining information in addition to what's on the slides (which he puts online). Homework isn't hard, there's a lot of weight on the in class exams but he curves them at the end of the semester.
Stott is a nice man. He really cares about the class that he teaches, even if the students aren't being receptive. If you pay attention, you will definitely pass the class and ace the tests. The lab for this class is SO easy and not something to worry about. He's a passionate teacher and he really puts a lot of things in perspective. Easy GE!
You can really tell that he cares. He's very passionate about teaching and he is open to any questions during class. I personally read the book most of the time, but most students didn't whatsoever. Study the slides (posted on Blackboard!). Curves are also everything.
Not a bad choice for a GE. We didn't use a textbook but Stott's lecture slides were usually very full, basically the same as taking notes from a book. Labs and lab quizzes were easy, however some TA's were easier graders than the others (shoutout Mark). Basically a lot of memorization but its not bad if you just show up to lectures and take notes.
Professor Stott is a nice guy but the class is very lecture heavy with a lot of notes. But if you pay decent attention and take notes the tests are very easy and the labs are not bad either it was a solid choice to get a science GE out of the way.
Teacher very enthusiastic about material, but if you're not going into environmental science, it gets very dry. Tests are based off lectures, but attendance during Zoom meeting isn't mandatory (can watch the recording later if necessary). He REALLY wants you to become a climate scientist. Labs easy, pretty straight-forward but fairly time-consuming
Lectures are long but informative, & he records all of them so attendance isn't mandatory. Labs are easy, Mark was a great ta. Stott is a nice guy & is very passionate about what he teaches. He's always open to answer any questions & he always stays late after class to help out students. overall an easy, not stressful class. good choice for a GE
ONLY take if available online!!! DO NOT TAKE IN PERSON! Just 2 midterms, 1 final, + lab. While the topic is interesting for climate change majors, it's WAY TOO HEAVY for a GE course. He doesn't care at all. I'm a 4.0 student but this class GPA killer! NO CLEAR STUDY GUIDES, EXAM QUESTIONS ARE NOT FROM HIS LECTURES, everyone did poorly on tests!
worst choice for a GE ever. do not take this class. the prof is super well-versed in his field, but his test questions are impossible and quite unfair. even if you attend class and intensely study the slides he provides, there is no guarantee you will pass. save yourself and your gpa by NOT taking this class.
While Professor Stott is very knowledgeable in his field, this class was WAY too difficult to be a GE. There are no clear guidelines for the tests, lectures move insanely fast, and grades are weighted unfairly. The whole class was lost in confusion and the professor does not offer much assistance. DO NOT TAKE IF YOU ARE NOT A GEOL MAJOR!
Professor Stott is a respected and passionate lecturer/researcher in his field. His class is incredibly topical and he ensures that you know that. But his lectures and content were too heavy for a GE class. Although I understand the importance and relevance of this course, I think a summarized version would also be just as effective.
easy content if you study and tests are straight foward
solid prof, solid class, good for this GE. go to class, do the hw, and u will be fine.
Prof. Stott was a solid choice! Personable and passionate, he makes a great choice for a GE science. I would strongly recommend taking the class. Easy dry labs, straightforward exams, and interesting course content.
DO NOT TAKE THIS PROFESSOR! I repeat DO NOT TAKE THIS PROFESSSOR. Graded by a few things; went to class, try to study for the midterms (did not pass any). And the final was similar to the midterms which you never get to see after handing it in. The midterm (2) was 50 questions each due in 50 minutes. The final was 100 questions due in 2hours.
Although professor Stott is passionate about climate change, the amount of information needed to be learned for each exam is quite ridiculous. The midterms and final consisted of such specific questions, I was utterly shocked after reviewing the exam. If you are looking for a simple GE this one is not for you.
pretty easy class if you pay attention and show up. labs are simple and its very hard to do bad on them
Exceptionally knowledgeable professor for Geology as it relates to climate change. Very kind and quick to reply to emails/questions. Exceptionally patient, a real plus for me, as the pandemic has made learning a bit challenging at times. Lab component is relatively easy, but the midterms and final will be a challenge if you haven't been reviewing.
Most of the low ratings are because of the online option, and most people just didn't show up to class. Stott was really great during office hours and went over topics and basically gave mini lectures. If you take this class, my best advice is to just show up, and take advantage of the professor. Very accommodating during covid and very caring.
Professor Stott gives little to no work in this course, however the lectures are deceptively important because the exams are far harder than expected.
DONT take Lowell. He doesnt care about helping students, is lazy, and makes a GE course unnecessarily difficult. You are only graded on two midterms and a final exam. He's so monotoned in lectures and does not provide study guide information. He even argued with a student when they asked for basic clarification on tests. Interesting class, bad prof
Awful professor. Does not know how to teach an undergrad GE course. Lectures are incredibly boring and he is ridiculously unaccommodating (ie, refused to record lectures though the course is entirely on zoom). DO NOT TAKE there are better options for physical science GEs.
Prof Stott is a nice man and this course is interesting, however, 2/3 of your grade in this course is 3 tests including the final which is 1/3. The other 1/3 is labs which are easy. The lectures were too fast and hard to pay attention to so the tests were tough. If I didn't clutch the final I may not have passed.
This class is tough for a GE. Lots of topics even the TAs admitted were really advanced. There's a real lack of awareness that most of us don't have a science background. Genuinely thought I was going to fail for a while cause there's only 3 difficult tests and a lab grade to make your score. No textbook makes it hard to go back and review.
GEOL150 was genuinely a difficult class, especially considering it is just taking to fulfill a GE. My TA Paige was WONDERFUL, super accessible, and even created a review sessions for my lab session because so many of us failed midterm 1. That being said, your grade is almost entirely dependent on dense tests that are difficult to do well on.
Rambles on and on, doesn't take feedback well, tests and quizzes not taught during lectures as he just rambles.
Nice and helpful professor during office hour, but he didn't record lectures (only recorded the review sessions for the midterms and final) and went over materials super quickly. One of the comments said he argued with a student when they asked basic clarification. To be fair the student was super rude and he didn't even increase his volume
Talks a lot, doesn't record lectures, but the main issue is that it's just hard to understand his explanations, especially for a lot of the subjects. Often messes up wording which causes confusion, and just overall has visual heavy slides which makes it hard to interpret. Would not take again.
I loved Prof. Stott. He was extremely passionate and knowledgable about the topic (climate change). When asked questions he would always go back and re-explain until we understood it. Lots of information and lecture heavy but his slides are super helpful. He is also a really nice guy and really wants us to learn!
I'm not sure why his reviews are so bad on here, it actually baffles me. Lowell is one of the most sincere professors I have had. He puts so much effort into the lectures and into the slides, and truly tries to make sure that everyone understands the concepts before he moves on from them. The lecture slides are posted online, and the labs are easy.
Once again idk why he's rated so low. Yes its a lecture with 100+ students so its not "engaging" but you can clearly tell he puts effort and is passionate about what he teaches. If a student asks a question during lecture he will take the time to try and answer. We get 20 points of extra credit, meaning - 20 pts added on to your final grade!
He is a passionate and intriguing professor. Sure, the material can be tough but that does not reflect his teaching methods. If you ask a question, he will kindly answer it. He cares about the topic and you can see that in his lectures. To get a good grade, you should review the material after class and study, however he does offer 20 points EC.
He is very knowledgeable and passionate about the subjects and puts effort into his lectures. Some topics can be confusing but he is open to questions and will explain them repeatedly. If you go to lecture and take notes you will be fine. Also, the 20 points of extra credit are helpful
Class Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
5%
Textbook Required
29%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
A-
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Improving
+0.98 avg changeRatings by Course
GEOG150
4.0
(1)GEOL150
3.2
(73)GEO150
2.0
(7)150
1.0
(1)ES150
1.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
150
5.0
GEO15
4.0
GEO150
3.7
GEOL150
3.3
ES150
3.0