A great prof, good course ... and he's pretty hot

Awesome prof! He is very helpful and kind. The material in the course is very interesting and he is easy to approach to ask questions. He makes geography fun to learn! I must say as well, he is pretty good looking (come on ladies, I know you agree with me on this one) Dr. Mercier is the best!

He posts his notes now, and they are pretty clear and helpful. His courses are certainly not 'bird' courses (I took 2HD3 as well), but they are not 'impossible' either. You just need to go to class, and do a little work and you can get a really good grade. I really like Mercier - I think he is a fun prof, he is understanding, and is interesting.

Geography of USA is pretty easy, seriously just read his notes and attend most of his lectures and you can easily ace the midterm and exam. DO NOT buy the book, we never used it, and plus it's on reserve. Make sure to go to the classes RIGHT BEFORE midterm or exam so you can get free bonus points on the test and exam.

Easy-going guy who flies through each lecture in no time. Fair with tests. He says "sort of" between every word- gets annoying.

Wow! Really nice guy. Makes this Intro. course remarkably interesting. Well worth seeking him out for his other courses. Nice ...

okay prof, moves too fast sometimes, but he posts his slides before classes... the further we got through the semester tho, the less detailed his slides seemed to get. eventually there were only like 2 words per slide :P. tests are interesting - not ridiculous by any means. if you study and put in a little effort i'm sure you'd do ok.

Easily one of the best professors i've had. I wish all profs had his style! Organized, clear, concise, very descriptive assignments and fair marker. Always very helpful around exam time, no surprises. Very impressed with slides and notes on WebCT. He does a great job!!

Great prof, very organized and helpful, but sometimes assumes prior knowledge in the assignments, so you really have to ask him every minute detail to see what exactly he wants, but otherwise good prof...MAKE SURE YOU GO TO CLASS! he drops hint after hint about the final. I've taken numerous classes with him and barely ever used the textbook.

Had him for both Geo 2HU3 and 3HR3. He lectures very well, dropping hints all semester as to questions that will be on the exams/tests. His assignments are laid out and well explained, and are often similar to assignments he will give out in other classes (guidelines). Great Prof!

Assignments - easy, marking is kind of picky, but you should still do well. Midterm - hard, too long for the time given, some questions had little to do with the what we did in class. The average was a C-. Lectures - have a coffee/pepsi before you go to class, because you will fall asleep and miss important notes. seriously, its hard to stay awake.

Great prof. Very helpful and very clear with expectations. Posts outlines of notes, easy to fill in. Drops extremely help hints in class. Attend all lectures.

Sometimes he make it too easy

good teacher good class...but the exams kill me...more then once

He's a good guy and he cares about how his students are doing in the class. There is a fair amount of work and you do need to attend all classes, but the class is well-organized and lectures are pretty interesting. Tests aren't easy, but they're fair.

Loved this prof. Very friendly. Slides very clear, lectures easy to follow. Tests/exams difficult, but doable if you do the work. Slides on WEBCT in full, but I loved going to his class. Very approachable.

sounds like sour grapes (guy below). i bet $10 u're a science or engineering student and thought this was a bird course - instead you got kicked in the gut cuz the course was actuaslly hard. hard luck buddy. Eeryone i know that has taken merciers class has liked him. i think he is fair, but tough. he likes the material & makes it interesting

Torture? Far from it, but not a bird course if that's what you are looking for. Attend lectures and follow to the letter the instructions given for the assignments (moderate amount requested), and you will do fine. As for Geo being useless, probably is less so these days than a degree in life sci or commerce!

Posts outlines on WebCT, always know what to expect, drops hints for test/exam questions throughout the year. Very approachable. Must attend his lectures, some assignments can be extremely time consuming. Clear love of geography and teaching. Great Prof!

Judging from some of the evaluations posted here, I'd say some people were looking for an easy class - and didn't get it and now have an axe to grind. Mercier, is nice, fair, enthusisatic - he just expects you to do something for your grade (eg go to class once in a while). I've got no problem with that ...

It looks like lots of people were expecting a "bird course". Well no such thing exists. This was a VERY interesting course and Dr. Mercier knows the material AND how to teach it. Excellent notes, engaging lectures and yes, the labs are a lot of work. Lots of concepts in the course but exams are fair if you read the notes/labs. Amazing prof!

One of my favorite teachers in this semester. His lecture are really interesting and easy to understand. YES, his tests are hard but still it is useful if you like geography and want to know more about it. P.S. I fall in love with his voice))

Very good professor. He lectures very well and everything he teaches is well explained. You will be rewarded well only if you put in a solid effort

Knows what he is talking about. Very good use of slides.

Good prof, hard tests.

awesome teach and SUPER hot.

Excellent professor who knows his material. His tests are challenging, but fair. Attending lecture is essential if you want to do well in his class.

Good prof, but pretty hard. Some questions on tests aren't very fair (ie. "What example did I use in lecture 5 to explain this concept?" - that tests if I went to class, NOT my knowledge of course material). Otherwise, very nice, helpful, fun and interesting!

Dr.Mercier was an excellent professor. The man knows exactly what he's talking about and is extremely clear. His lectures are very informative and well delivered. I took this course thinking it would be easy - 1HA3 requires you to work, but it was definitely enjoyable.

Great professor! his lectures are clear and straight forward. Tests are hard but fair, although sometimes I struggled through finishing the test within the time limit. Attending class is mandatory if you want to do well in his class.

Very good at explaining things but his tests are too specific and difficult.

had him for geog 2ma3. he is a good prof. he knows his stuff. the work isnt that hard. the midterm was kinda of hard (63%)and the assigs werent hard but very time consuming (start early). never open the text book. the material is kinda of boring and he goes over the :20 mark most of the time.

Such a good prof. He's very clear at explaining concepts.

Good prof, interesting course and funny

decent prof but his midterms and exam questions (i.e. stats) were not in textbook...

Can't say enough good things about this man! I attended every single one of his lectures, which proved to be crucial in doing very well in the course. He explains concepts very well, and the big assignment in the course is time-consuming but rewarding! He's funny and is clear about his expectations in the course. Wonderful prof!

FABULOUS Prof! Worth attending every class, he kept things interesting, very funny, and was great at explaining key concepts.

Learned a lot in lectures. The labs completely suck, 2 hours of your life doing stuff you couldve done at home in 20 mins, tests are hard.

Honestly, this course was very fair and so is Dr. Mercier he doesn't try to make students life miserable he just wants to know if you understand the concepts clearly and can apply them. He isnt hard or unfair. its not an easy class yu do need to study and work hard, so i think all these comments are made from people who thought it was gonna be easy

This professor was pretty good at explaining things and all and showed interest in the topic he was teaching. The only thing about him was that he didn't answer emails sometimes and appeared to be a bit arrogant.Not too arrogant but just a little. overall though he was decent. Not the best but not the worst I've had. Fair as well.

Overall, I found 1HA3 to be a very interesting course and Prof. Mercier to be an excellent professor when it came down to explaining course material. His first midterm was quite fair, but his exam was a little more difficult. On a side note, be sure to attend class, as he gives many key details.

He is a great prof, really cares about his students. You have read the textbook and do the work, but overall a great class.

Professor Mercier isn't the most exiting lecturer, but he knows his subject really well and his tests are fair.

Amazing professor. Crystal clear in explaining concepts, and his powerpoint make it very easy to follow along and take notes. However, the readings are quite long and 2 hour labs are a bit unnecessary in my opinion. Great prof though, really knows what he is talking about. But like any other course, if you put the work in, you'll get a good grade

The course itself is a good course, not too hard not too easy and the professor is good. The problem with the course is the TA's. If you get a bad TA who has trouble explaining concepts your doomed. If you have a horrible TA don't make my mistake and stay him that lab, switch to a different lab section with a different TA.

Mercier is a funny, football-loving prof whose American Geography course I took as a bird- and it wasn't hard. However, the notes were epic as his courses are jam-packed with info. His lectures bump along, and they're absolutely huge, so it shouldn't be hard to get a note team going. Loves interesting factoids and trivia. I had fun.

DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS AS AN ELECTIVE. The majority of the marks on his midterms are based on filling in countries on maps and plotting the *exact* location of cities, along with short answer questions, the correct answers for which seem to vary from student to student. Mercier is a cool guy but the marking is insane for a second-year course.

I took this course on a whim and even after the first day I was enjoying it so much! Dr. Mercier is probably the nicest prof I've ever met, he actually cares about his students, is always willing to chat, AND he's super great at teaching/being engaging! Loved his class

He explains things really clearly.

Mercier is an amazing prof, the only issue I have with this class is that a large chunk of your mark is totally dependent on your TA, if you have a good one you're super lucky, and if you don't try and switch tutorials! My TA explained concepts super well and got us super prepared for the final, my TA for 1HA3 on the other hand was not super great

I've seen some of the other comments on here, and I think I can summarize them: those students that hope for any easy class tend not to like Mercier; while those hoping to learn something, love him. I took his world regional geography class and learned tons. I went to lectures, read the textbook, and participated in class. He is a great prof!

I love Mercier as a prof! I'm in first year and he is extremely organized and clear when he teaches. Probably the only class I don't fall asleep in because he makes it very easy to understand the material. The midterm (I have not received my grade yet) was easy! As long as you review your notes and readings you are guaranteed a great mark.

Loved this professor. I was told it was an easy class and it was. Although my first midterm was marked hardly but it wasn't hard and it prepared me for the final and the final boosted my final mark. Lectures are easy to follow along and really help studying for the exams.

Pretty good professor. His lectures are easy to follow and his midterm was very straight forward as well. Not hard at all as long as you go to lectures and take notes.

Without question, the best prof. I've ever had. I now specifically seek out his courses as he is such a nice guy, and such an inspirational teacher. His first year courses (1HA3 & 1HB3) were so good I transferred from business to geography.

Loved him, amazing TA too! His textbook is full of jargon and is impossible to decipher if you wanna make notes. BUT ATTEND EVERY LECTURE. He puts on specific information from them onto midterms and the exam. Project was fun too

Very professional and organized, but rushes when short on time

Really good lectures, if you go you're guaranteed an 80. Overall great prof but the project was annoying.

During my time at Mac (which I've spent in 3 different faculties), Dr. Mercier is the best professor that I have ever had. He actually cares, makes his lectures super interesting, and makes you want to learn! In 2RW3 you actually need to go to class - the discussion lectures are also SUPER helpful. He inspired me to pursue my passion for geography.

Course material is straightforward and his lectures are very easy to follow. Group project was a lot of work but if you have a good partner, it can also be a lot of fun! Marking is fair. Read the textbook and go to lectures, and you will do great

This man is a beaut

Good lecturer. He is very organized. The final exam and the midterm were not that difficult but the project was really annoying.

Took the 2nd year American geography class, and it was huge. The biggest lecture hall in Health Sci! The course was expansive and covered the entirety of the USA. I found it to be really informative, fun, and full of trivia- MM is a funny guy and a huge football fan. Go to every class and take a lot of notes, as the exam was quite detailed.

Dr. Mercier is one of the best teaching professors that McMaster has. He is approachable, and is very knowledgeable about his field. He is witty and the course material was almost, like, fun.

Dr. Mercier was one of the better profs I had during first year. His lectures were clear and concise, very easy to take notes. He was a very nice and approachable guy and every once in a while he had a good little joke. Definitely would take one of his classes again. Almost made me consider switching to geography from business.

Took this course as an elective. Dr. Mercier is a VERY good lecturer. I didn't really enjoy the course itself, the 2 hour tutorials were annoying and the weekly homework tasks were tedious. GEOG 1HB3 is NOT a bird course and I wouldn't recommend taking it for an easy 12. Nonetheless, Dr. Mercier is a good professor but be prepared to work hard.

Prof was good. But, the course itself was horrible. His slides are partly empty, so you'll have to go to class to fill them in. Some portions of the slides are not in the textbook. At times his lecture will not flow with the chapters (i.e. Lecture 1 slides will start at the end of chapter 1 textbook). The book will put you to sleep.

Mercier is a talented professor. His lecture delivery is on point. He explains things very clearly, uses great examples and keeps the lecture lively by moving around and using his voice effectively. It is wise to attend his lectures since he only posts skeletal lecture notes online and Ive heard he uses some lecture material on exams.

Dr. Mercier is the best for this course. He is a bit fast according to me, but his lectures are quite good. He doesn't post the completed notes, so make sure you attend lectures to fill them up. The midterm was pretty easy, and the exam was okay.

Great guy, but marks tests extremely hard.

very interested in the field and what he was teaching, enjoyed the class a lot. Some midterm/exam questions were specific stats/definitions from the textbook so it's prob a good idea to read it

Definitely attend lectures or make friends with those who can give you thorough notes. Study well for the midterms and exam, they do not blindside you but the effort is needed. He is super kind and throws a ton of jokes into lecture content! I took this class as an elective and it made me change my major because it is that amazing!

Very interesting and easy to follow lectures. Midterms and exams are marked in a very specific way which can lose you marks. Assignment was long but not too difficult. 30% graded on tutorial participation. Nice man is very into what he's teaching.

my favourite class, also my lowest grade , Dr. Mercier is very nice and easily accessible, lectures are entertaining and informative, i was not a fan of lots of group work as i could not depend on classmates to do adequate work

Took 1HB3 Fall 2019 and have since taken 2RW3 in 2021. Mercier is an excellent prof, and super nice. Pos: engaging lectures, tests are largely mc, he responds quickly to emails. Neg: full lecture notes never posted + for asynchronous they disappear weekly. Don't waste money on textbooks for his classes, everything relevant is covered in lecture.

It's really funny how people constantly complain. Every course I take has work, so does this. Big deal! I find him to be an engaging lecturer. Sure he gives us work. Is he to just give you a set of collated videos on bluray and an A+ and send you on your way? You need to re-evaluate why you are in university. Get to work instead of complaining.

Despite challenging tests and high expectations, Dr. Mercier was easily one of my favourite professors out of all my undergrad. He's an incredible lecturer who tries to instill in his students a love for geography. I took a handful of his classes and often left them inspired. 2RW3 was the most difficult, but the discussions made it interesting.

Dr Mercier is a super kind and interesting prof to have. The downfall of 3UP3 is a lot of assignments to prove the same skills/knowledge and sometimes a lot of reading. Yet it is a super interesting course to take that is actually really easy to do well in - focus on main themes in your work and seminar and you will usually get a great grade

Im surprised at the bad ratings. This was by far the easiest elective ive taken so far and im in fourth year. Definitely take this course if you are interested in geography. He has clear grading requirements and no miscommunication or disorganization which is great especially online. Barely studied and just watched the lectures and made notes.

lectures that expired weekly. that was really annoying but was done so you didn't fall behind and since i didn't-that was a success. honestly a good teacher- your mark is very dependent upon your TA as the exam is weighed very small. Don't buy the textbook, you are good as long as you take good lecture notes!

This course was good. if you're looking for something to put off, dont take this course. lectures expired after a week so you have to watch and take good notes weekly, but the concepts are easy to grasp. the mark is very dependent on your TA, my TA gave me midterm 1 feedback when I asked, helped my grade alot for 2nd one.

His lecture was pretty good. Even though they were recorded, they were very engaging, and the content was exciting. The quizzes were straightforward. However, the midterms were poorly structured and only marked by a few questions. Besides midterms, everything else about the course was good, especially the tutorials.

Midterms were open-book and very easy as long as you wrote out lecture notes (which only takes 2 hours a week), quizzes were super easy, the exam was closed book but the questions were very fair. Tutorial participation is easy to ace. Textbook isn't necessary since the important concepts + definitions are in the lecture slides. Prof is very helpful

Professor Mercier is a good lecturer. His system of keeping you on track with the weekly recordings works out well in most cases. Reading the textbook is a great way to ensure that you are prepared for the exams. The final research assignment could be improved while participation tutorials are a great way to engage with the material of the course.

Super fair! I am surprised to read these reviews. He is very clear on what the expectations are and provides many opportunities for improvement. What he says will be on the test is ACTUALLY on the test. I think all those that did not do well in this course did not utilize his exam prep/outline. Would recommend for this course!

I loved this class all semester long. The lectures weren't recorded, but if you show up and take good notes you'll be set. Absolutely loved the content and the way prof Mercier teaches, you can tell he is very passionate about the topic. If you're looking or an elective, this is a good choice. 2 midterms, 1 final exam, 1 (fun) project.Easily 12able

Michael Mercier is one of the best profs that I have ever had! His lectures are filled with relevant content that go hand in hand with what he will test you on. Reading the textbook can give you a deeper understanding of the content. Overall, the course is extremely enjoyable, well structured, and easy to follow. Will take this prof again.

He is clearly passionate and he deserves credit for that. That being said there was no need for 8 am midterms and finals in a course thats completely online. Another piece of criticism is that he never released quiz answers so I had no way to learn from my mistakes or even see where I was going wrong. If you put in the work u will 12 it.

Prof Mercier's class is tough but doable. He covers a lot of material, so stay on top of lectures and readings. Quizzes and exams are fair if you prepare using the slides and textbook. Unstuck study was a big help for practice tests. Overall, a challenging but rewarding course.

This is the best professor I have met. Although the course is about global geography, he also discusses something related to history. The content of the course is very objective and useful. I can see his enthusiasm and huge knowledge storage in the classes.

He is good in lectures, easy to ask questions and cares about giving a good answer. Not to hard when marking

The lectures were good. He seemed to enjoy what he was teaching and always new the information. He is good at lecturing as well.

I had the pleasure of taking 2 courses with Mercier this semester, 1HB3 (in-person) and 2RW3 (online). Mercier is very knowledgable and passionate about his classes and it shows in his lectures. For both courses, he provides skeletal notes for you to fill in the blanks during the lecture. The grading was very fair. I recommend!!!

Great professor overall, knows a lot and very passionate about his subject. His class was not a 'bird' though, had to put a good amount of time and effort in to do well. Really hard to catch up if you're behind or miss a class, no recordings or complete slideshows. Textbook doesn't cover that much either. Class was ok, profs great though in general

Excellent professor overall and he is clearly knowledgeable and passionate about what he teaches. My one criticism however is that sometimes he likes to input his socially left-wing views in his lectures. If you want to do well on the midterms and final exam, you should thoroughly read, attempt, and self-mark the practice questions he gives.

The class content wasn't heavy, lecture slides are clear but only shown in class, so attendance is mandatory. To study you need notes, but could get by only using textbook. I would say it's worthwhile to get if you plan on not going to class, otherwise you'd be fine without (ENVSOC 1HB3). I really appreciated the study guides, they help a lot.

He's good at explaining the concepts, and the class is pretty easy. Go through the sample midterm/exam questions he posts because many of those showed up on the real tests. Lectures aren't recorded, but you can get the same information just from reading the relevant section of the textbook. He wrote the textbook so it is identical to the lectures.

He is very calm, good energy. #goat

I really enjoyed this course. Mercier is a great professor who teaches well; be ready to attend all the classes. The tutorials are engaging and helpful. The midterms are fairly easy; he gives some of the questions on the practice tests. Don't get the textbook if you don't plan on reading it, but it can help if you don't attend all the classes.

Very passionate, explains everything clearly. I took it fall 24, and he just posted his textbook chapters on avenue for free. You could honestly skip textbook content, as long as you went to lectures, you'll do well. I don't know why everyone is complaining lol. Course was pretty easy, and you get good intro to the subject.