Great Teacher- very funny

funny guy!

Fun and interesting, but hard tests

tells storys but moves slowly and tends to underestimate your intelligence

funny guy, you might learn more about the tire business than PR

very good PR professor; an interestingly crazy person; tests are hard

Tests are tough, very helpful out of class and wants you to know material

Very good professor. Is very helpful, but hard to impress. He knows good work!

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He's a great teacher! Had him at 8am and I wasn't even falling asleep. He makes PR as interesting as it possibly could get...it's still boring but you'll be entertained. Read the book!!!!

Funny, entertaining man, even at 8AM. There are only 2 tests, so you better study for them. Read the book, take good notes, pay attention and study hard and you will do well :)

Nutcase, but an entertaining nutcase. Definantly take his class if you have a chance.

He is an awesome professor. Not very easy but its a really good class and it'll keep you interested even at 8am. He really cares about his students and is always ALWAYS willing to talk to you and help you out. JMU needs more professors like him.

GREAT guy...extremely helpful and clear. Hard tests, but don't sweat it.

Funny, energetic guy...type of guy you'd want to hang out with outside of class! His lectures are really clear and he obviously knows so much about PR. The tests are hard but fair if you study. Even though its at 8AM, it's worth it!

Very nice guy, tells jokes. Study for the tests, and read the book

His tests make you want to cry after you take them. Class is boring but he is a fun guy

Very good. His tests are hard, but everything on them is in the notes. One of the few profs. who has actually worked in the field he teaches. Cool sense of humor. Take good notes...

oh smilowitz, what a funny little jewish man he thinks he is. Can be a ****, but he knows what he's talking about and really wants you to succeed and learn. Hard tests, lots of info. and boring.

Not bad for an 8 am class. Dr. Smilowitz is one of the most knowledgable professors I've had and really knows what he's talking about and does his best to convey this to his students. Make sure to read the book and study your notes and you'll be fine.

The only 8am that I do NOT sleep through, he tries to keep things interesting and moving along. All the information he gives seems important,relevant, so I think it is time well spent. Have to read the book, take good notes, and study for the tests.

Only 3 tests and that's ur grade :/ . Wants u to laugh at his jokes at 8am. Too much material on just one test, it's crazy. At least he tries to make class at 8am interesting.

Professor Smilowitz is an excellent instructor. He has taught me so much about fly fishing. I highly recommend his "Green Drake."

It is a hard course with a lot of information but dr.smilowitz is a great teacher. He is funny and really wants you to do well in his class. He is always willing to help you understand. Class is much easier in maymester

Senior class was challenging with our project,and he did help our group out some. Was not very helpful with job searching. He was the most humorous professor I had -- I never did fall in love on the quad in springtime.

Smilowitz is very cool. funny guy who makes the 8am a little easier, though i still struggle sometimes. 2 tests and 1 cumulative final....study hard and you'll do fine. takes attendence

he's funny (at times) but his tests are nearly impossible. There is SO much information on tests... there is no way you can cover all of it studying. Only three (hard) tests and that is your grade. Only take this class if you HAVE to (not an easy elective).

he's a funny guy, but lectures can get boring sometimes. if you want to do well on tests you have to read book and study slides. if you do the work you're fine.

his bark is a lot worse than his bite. 280 is not meant to be a really painful class and it was, he justmade it hard. But he's wonderful for 260. you can handle the 8am because the class is worth it. just read the book and go to class. that's all it takes for an a in the class.

Honestly, not as bad as he tries to make it sound. Gotta buy and read the book. Might be almost as important as the slides. Final exam is very tough but I don't know if he actually uses it in the computation of your final grade.

Best professor at JMU. I may have learned more from him than I learned in my 1st 2 years at JMU. You'll become a better educated individual simply by sitting in his class.

Dr. Smilowitz is funny, smart, and accomplished. He loves teaching the class, and I feel like I learned alot. There is alot of reading (which you def. have to do), and the tests are hard, but Dr. Smilowitz is my favorite JMU professor thus far.

he's great!

his bite is worse than his bark ;)

funny, very helpful, tests arent horrible if you study and pay attention

Very challening class, lots of work (Lit Review), but you will learn a TON. He is very clear about what he wants, and is fun--he keeps boring info interesting. If you work hard and read, you can definitely do well.

I had him for two classes. More than any teacher he taught me to be proud of my major and to be proud of myself. Smilowitz in the best.

He's an ok prof. the tests are soooo hard and there is way too much information on each bc there are only 2 and a cumulative final. He can be entertaining at times but mostly drawn out. If you get a B or higher.. you're lucky

He is not as hard as some say. I got an A and so did my friends. Only have three tests to study for. We studied in a group and did fine. It helps that his classes are interesting and funny.

Smilowitz is awesome. Most of these comments below are completely off. His classes are interesting and he jokes around all the time and is a really nice guy. He is also always willing to help if you need it!! I Definately reccommend him for any scom class!!

Class is not as bad as people make it out to be. Strict attendance policy. Tests can be tough, don't expect to get higher than a C without studying notes and READING. Posts slides online. 2 exams worth 50pts each and a cumulative final worth 100pts. Your grade will end up higher than you expect.

I went into this class a little scared but honestly, he's my best profesor this semester. He is an exceptional teacher. He really explains the material well and makes sure you get it. He also works hard at making the class interesting and funny. Have to study for tests and read.

This was one of my 2 favorite professors at JMU. Take his class, it is enjoyable and you'll learn too.

this guy is awesome. not only is he interesting and hilarious, he really cares about the material and is qualified to teach it. i LOVE smilomeee. TAKE him. study and read.

His financial advisor said he lost about $1 million becoming a professor instead of staying in his PR job. The guy is dedicated and knows his stuff inside and out. His lectures are hilarious and he wants his students to pass. You must read the book or you're done. Take notes in class, read the book and make outlines and you're golden.

Smilowitz is engaging, funny, experienced and seriously passionate about his work. Be prepared to put in some serious studying hours including making chapter outlines and notecards, however, his class is very much worth the effort. He wants you to come talk to him if you need help and gives GREAT advice on school and life in general.

Difficult class no matter what because research sucks. Tells interesting stories, tries to make it fun, but uses a LOT of jargon and is confusing when he talks. READ THE BOOK, 2 75 question tests, cumulative final, write the lit review as you go, but you never really know your grade. Not too bad overall but the class just sucks in general.

Knows his stuff inside and out so BSing this class isn't really much of an option. Read the book. Only knows how to write one kind of test - 75 Q, multiple choice. Really dedicated to his students and always willing to help. The class sucks but he'll do his best to help you out however he can, as long as you're really trying. Would recommend.

he's a nice guy and he loves teaching but he is really hard. you HAVE to read the text book which is the most boring thing ever. and he takes attendance so you do have to go to class. take him if you are willing to put the work in he is a very entertaining lecturer and he wants to help you do well. tests are all multiple choice but still v. hard.

Really helpful if you see him during office hours. Test material comes from power points which he posts online and book. Absolutelt necessary to read everything assigned.

Excellent teacher...a lot of people don't like him because his tests are so hard (and they ARE so study) and because he doesn't cut people any slack...but he just wants you to know PR inside and out, which you will if you put the effort in.

I LOVE SMILOWITZ! Read the book, study the powerpoints. The tests are pretty difficult, he pulls material from everything: lecture, powerpoint & textbook. The book can be dry but READ IT. GO TO CLASS. Very dedicated to his job and students. TAKE HIM!

So Awesome!

I've had Smilowitz for 260, 280 and I'm taking him this semester for 461. His classes are HARD. It requires that you put time and effort into the material but you will come out of his classes with knowledge of the PR industry. He is hard but he is also willing to do what he can to help us. Smilowitz is one of my favorite professors of all time.

I've had Smilowitz for 260, 280 and I'm taking him this semester for 461. His classes are HARD. It requires that you put time and effort into the material but you will come out of his classes with knowledge of the PR industry. He is hard but he is also willing to do what he can to help us. Smilowitz is one of my favorite professors of all time.

I really liked Smilowitz. Tells a lot of stories that relate to lectures. Likes when students ask questions and come into his office for clarifications. I have taken two classes with him and enjoyed both. It is not an easy class, but if you try he definitely notices.

3 exams. 75 questions, half from lecture, half from book. Questions from book are WORD FOR WORD, so read. Study PowerPoints and lecture notes too and the tests are not hard. Class can be boring, but smilowitz is the man.

Loved him! Listen to him on how to study for his tests, you will do really good if you put the effort and time he says. Makes lots of notecards and read every chapter and make outlines! The information is really interesting and he knows what he is talking about, very smart professor.

His class is challenging. However if you read at least 2 chapters a week and TAKE NOTECARDS on what you read, you will be fine. Oh and come to class prepared. Print out all the powerpoints and take GOOD notes. His personal stories appear on his tests as easy questions, so just pay attention! He does make his lectures interesting if you just listen

I really liked Smilowitz. His class is hard though. You have to pay attention to his lectures and take very detailed notes on what he is saying. I had trouble with the book because it was boring and he would put test questions saying "according to the author..". Other than those questions I knew everything else and got a B-

If you show up and do the readings you won't have a problem. The tests are very hard, but he is very helpful. You just have to pay attention, if you miss class you miss a lot of information. And you have to read the entire book. But if you can deal with the work, he's not that bad.

Overall he was a great professor. I found him very helpful and kind in his responses when I emailed him with questions. His tests are quite hard however, but he presents the information in an intersting way. Possible to get a B if you study well for tests and pay attention.

Dr. Smilowitz is a phenomenal human being. GO IN AND SEE HIM if you're having trouble because he literally so helpful when you go in for help.

Smilowitz is an incredibly good teacher. MAKE SURE YOU DO THE READINGS. Class is a lot of fun. He's just a really great guy with a lot of real world experience. Lectures are easy to follow.

One of my favorite professors. Take advantage of office hours, whether you need help or not. He knows a lot and is always willing to help. Lectures are very entertaining but test are hard. Be prepared to read and take good notes, and you will be fine.

Smilowitz is an amazing professor. He want his students to do well but doesn't give any hand-outs. Go to office hours, even if you don't need help. He knows a lot! Even at 8am he keeps things entertaining and moving quickly. Highly recommended.

Extremely smart professor. Listen, take good notes, and keep up with the work. I would recommend the online class. Really great guy.

Took this class as an elective and I'm not sure I would recommend it to others. Smilowitz means well but seems very opinionated. He tends to tell stories that never end and just left me confused. Maybe he would be better to take in the afternoon because the 8am did not work for me! Two tests and a cumulative final.