99% of students take his Elementary Astronomy class for a Gen Ed. Don't take astronomy just because you like star gazing. While the class is very interesting, it also includes a lot of conceptual thinking and math. Hard to understand course, very good teacher though. He is generally laid back. 3 exams total; NOT CUMULATIVE. Thank God.

Just make sure you study and show up to class because he teaches a lot of out of the book stuff. He's hilarious!

Makes it very clear from the beginning that this is a tough course and you will have to work hard. Great teacher makes things as easy as possible (thank god). He will keep you entertained and interested through his great sense of humor. I highly recommend him as a Physics Teacher.

Great teache. definitely knows the content well. he makes it clear in the beginning that it is a hard course. Material is not so hard but the test are rather difficult. His tests are not as content based as most other courses. hey re multiple choice and require more of a compare this to that thought train. Nice guy definitely knowledgeable teacher.

He's a pretty witty guy and his sense of humor comes out a lot in class which keeps things interesting. He knows the stuff really well and makes it look deceptively easy. Tests and HW are extremely difficult. That said, he is the most willing to help outside of class of any prof I've ever had and will happily work through problems with you.

Probably the best professor I've had at UofL. He really teaches the material in an engaging way and cares about his students. Tests are not overly difficult if you know how to do the hwork. Weekly quizzes keep you on top of the material. He was INCREDIBLY helpful during his office hours. Has a great playfully cynical sense of humor!

Great at explaining concepts

Dr. Chastain is the BEST!He helps students all the time. His class is always fun and enjoyable. I recommend him for anyone who wants to take physics! He really ROCKS.

Chastain is a great physics professor. His lectures are well organized and he makes a strong effort to help students understand how to work problems. His homework is pretty hard, but his tests are based on his homework problems. He is an absolutely hilarious lecturer and class is pretty fun to go to. He is very quotable and has good explanations.

He makes physics make sense. One of his degrees was a masters in education, so he knows how to teach well. Another one of his degrees was his doctorate in physics, so he knows physics well. Those combined in a cool, down to earth guy creates an awesome combination

Relates the tougher material well to already learned physics material

Great teacher. Would love to take one of his classes again.

Honestly one of the best professors I've had at UofL, and THE best I've had outside of Speed School. The homework is intimidating but honestly the tests are usually a peg below the homework. If you can do and understand the homework, you will ace his exams. If you have trouble with homework, he's always to willing to answer questions in his office.

Dr. Chastain is possibly the best professor I've had at UofL I took his class this past summer and received a well earned grade. The guy is hilarious and I would recommend to anyone that enjoys sarcasm. He really knows what he is doing and putting another degree in education to work, and it definitely shows in his students.

I had him my first semester of college and he was by far my favorite professor. I personally struggled in the beginning of the course and he picked me up made sure I came to his office and was always asking if I was understanding everything. His lectures are hilarious and he is very outgoing. Study the notes, do the homework, and you will be fine.

Dr. Chastain is by far the best professor I've had at U of L. Before taking 221 this semester, I had ZERO experience in physics. He made class enjoyable and covered material at a very reasonable pace.

I went in knowing nothing about physics but after going to every lecture and trying to do the problems on presented in class actually learned a lot from Professor Chastain. Lectures were helpful but online homework was horrible and more of a headache than a learning material.

Professor Chastain has been my favorite professor since coming to the University of Louisville! Physics is not usually a easy subject but he makes it easy and fun! I would rearrange my schedule if I could take him again. He is down to earth, funny, smart, and helped me understand difficult problems. Take Chastain if you can!

Chastain is an amazing professor! He is very nice and makes you feel comfortable asking questions in class. The tests are tough, but not unfair. He lets you correct your tests to get some of the points back that you missed. I have found that his test questions are simpler than what they seem, so don't overcomplicate them.

Best 298 teacher out there. The online homework was crazy hard and his tests weren't the easiest, but he made the concepts pretty easy to understand. Do your work, try hard, and you won't get worse than a B. Rarely used the textbook, although he encouraged reading it.

Dr. Chastain is one of the best professors I have ever had. He's hilarious, he's a good teacher, and if you're having trouble he's always happy to help. I picked up the content really quickly because of him. He does a flipped classroom style, BUT IT ACTUALLY WORKS!!! He walks you through a basic problem then lets you have a go. Love love love him.

One of the best professors I've ever had. Amazing sense of humor, very intelligent, always willing to help students better understand material. Not that difficult of a class if you show up and do your homework and of course show up for exams. Be friends with him and he'll be friends with you. Participate in class and he'll help out with anything.

Raymond Chastain was the best teacher I've had at the U of L. Initially I was terrified to take physics but Chastain knows how to ease your mind and make you feel confident in the material. I wouldn't say he 'dumbs it down' but rather he explains it in a way that is easy to comprehend. If you need help, he is extremely approachable.

Hands down the best professor. He cares about his students and their understanding of the material. He's hilarious & makes the class fun. Go to his office hours for extra help; he is always available. Don't be afraid if the grade you get is "low", he cares more about you improving with the material. He gives the grade you deserve.

Professor Chastain is easily the best science professor I have ever had at UofL. I came into physics with ZERO background knowledge and was able to get an A in the class. Tip: don't lose your stupid points, do all of the homework, watch his youtube videos, and practice his lecture problems for the exams. He wants you to succeed, I promise.

Great professor for intro physics 1 - mechanics, heat, sound - PHYS298. Wish he taught 299 this semester!! Has great way of going about the class - lectures immensely help, but not required. Hand in homework is helpful, as well as recitation quizzes (open note, book, laptop, take home, and group). Tests are clear and easy. My major is not listed!

Dr. Chastain is by far the best professor I have had at UofL. He makes physics fun and approachable. Go to class, take notes, watch the videos, do your homework, and take advantage of your notecards! The test questions are very similar to the class problems so when you're studying, make sure you know how to work all of them.

It has honestly been a pleasure having Chastain as a professor for physics. His lectures were very informative and the quizzes each week in recitation were especially helpful. Chastain seems to genuinely care about the success of his students in his class. He'll make you work for a good grade but I would still recommend taking him.

One of the best professors I have ever had. I wish I could have him teach all of my classes. He presents material in very easy to understand terms, relates new concepts to previously learned material, and actually cares if you understand the material. Take his course, you will be so happy you did.

Dr. Chastain makes a clear effort to get to know each of his 200+ students. He is able to point out what you might need extra help on, and is always willing to help or direct you to additional resources. His lectures are fun and he encourages participation, but it's not mandatory. If you go to class and review before the exams you will do well.

Dr. Chastain has been my most valuable professor at UofL - he keeps his lectures fun and intersting. His tests are not impossible and he will tell you a summary of what concepts will be on each test. He is ALWAYS in his office when he says he will be and is willing to drop what he's doing to help you. He likes to know his students - great resource.

God I love Chastain. He is the best professor I've ever had. Always makes you remember things by presenting it in an understandable and interesting way that you want to remember. He is always willing to help and makes an effort to get to know his students. He is such a great guy and a great professor. 10/10 would love to take again.

Professor Chastain was easily the most enjoyable Professor I have had while attending the University. He has the ability to use humor to make learning fun without sacrificing productivity, which is a skill that very few teachers have. He also appears to genuinely care about the well-being of his students learning the material. 10/10 Professor.

Be sure to attend every class.

Awesome prof and am so exited to have him all semester

His lectures are easy to follow. Gives clear examples that are very similar to quiz and exam problems. His recitations are very useful and if you show up, and do the work, you'll probably get an A. Homework is not like the exams but you need to do them for the grade. Read the syllabus cause there are a lot of easy things to help with your grade.

I'm a senior engineering student and Dr. Chastain's freshman level Phys298 course has been extremely helpful in succeeding in other classes beyond 298. His lectures are very good and he provides extra on-line videos over all the subject matter covered. He's very knowledgeable over his subject and cares about his students comprehending his teaching

It's a hard class but he's a great professor. Great at teaching, definitely take advantage of the recitation and office hours, because he's a huge help 1-on-1. Definitely talk to the people around you, as he will make you do assignments in class with them (for a grade) and it's good to have others to study with. STUDY. And do practice problems.

He knows how to engage a whole class in a discussion. Some of his jokes still crack me up. This class not only helped me boost my GPA, but now I feel very confident with higher level Physics classes. He polishes your basic knowledge in 298. Wish he taught 299 and other level classes.

The absolute best physics teacher you could ask for! Chastain is not only funny, but an incredibly caring teacher that wants you to pass his class & excel. There is online homework, hand in homework, & quizzes weekly, but all can be done at home and deadlines are very clear! Work with classmates and attend his office hours if need & you'll be set!

Chastain makes the long hours of physics homework worth it. His lectures and recitations are funny and make the time pass faster than you think. The class is four times a week, which can be less than appealing, but he cracks jokes and doesn't make it too serious for the early hours.

Physics is hard sometimes. His tests are not always fun, but you have the chance to earn back lost points. Despite being a large lecture, Chastain does an amazing job of getting to know his students throughout recitation and helping individuals when needed. He notices how much attention and effort you put into the class, do the work!

Dr. Chastain is a genuinely kind professor that really wants his students to understand . He will go above and beyond to help you succeed in his course . I will almost miss finishing my physics requirements solely because of how awesome Chastain is .

He is the man. The best professor that I've had in college, and many other have said the same. Take him without a doubt. Only downfall is that the class was out of 170 points, and you needed 155 for an A but it's very doable. TAKE HIM

He's an amazing professor and your best choice for 298. Will answer any question, very engaging and funny, and clear on the content. Assigns lots of homework and quizzes but it's all group work with plenty of time. Tests are straightforward if you understand the homework and practice problems, and exam points recovery is offered. Take him!

Favorite professor ever. He is hilarious and lectures are engaging. Grading scale is harder than other physics professors but still worth taking his class. Lecture problems, hw, and recitation is formatted like the tests so you know exactly what to expect. Posts pre-lecture videos which I am using now because my current 299 professor is terrible

One of the best professors I have ever had at UofL. He's such a personable guy and really cares about what he's teaching. Try to get to know him and the class will be so much fun, even if you don't love physics.

I don't know what I can say that hasn't already been said. They should make a movie about what a good professor and genuinely good person Chastain is. He's famous on campus and for good reason.

Dr. Chastain is one of my favorite professors. He's hilarious, down to Earth, but still extremely knowledge about the subject. He has the class very well-organized and will give you every chance to succeed. I would take any class that he was teaching.

I had Professor Chastain for PHYS 221 and I loved his class so much that I built my current semester around his 222 class. Super helpful in every way and even makes the class fun to attend. The class is not particularly hard, but you will be expected to show what you really know on tests. I hold Chastain to the utmost respect.

Dr. Chastain is a great professor. I was worried about taking physics after receiving a C at another university, but Chastain was always there to help. I went to his office hours every week, and he is so helpful and really cares. He always encouraged me. My test scores went from an 82 to a 99.5 with his help.

I had him for PHYS 222 and i liked it so much that i scheduled the next semester around his PHYS 224 class. Besides making sure i watched the videos, the only studying I did was doing the homework problems the night before. It is possible to get an A, you just have to work for it. I wish all professors were as good as him.

Grades on 3 types of hw, and 2 exams. Optional cumulative final exam to replace other exam. 10 individual hw assignments, 10 group hws, lots of Lumen quizzes online. Lets you use any size notecard, front and back, on each exam. Super easy to pass. If u really want to learn, go to lectures. Funny and great prof. He really cares and is accessible.

Dr. Chastain has been my favorite professor at Louisville so far. He truly cares about your success and is easily approachable. On top of his lectures being hilarious, they are also highly effective. I have't been a fan of the flipped classroom in the past, but he executes it perfectly. Keep up with the online hw before class and you will be golden

First time ever taking a physics course, and he made it very simple and easy to learn. One of my favorite professors so far.

Best professor I've had. Funny and very effective lectures. Handled the transition online due to COVID-19 flawlessly. Pay attention, do the homework, take notes, and make a good notecard for the exam and you will pass 298 easily.

A relatable and understanding professor. He does a good job of making sure everyone has a good chance of succeeding in his class.

Chastain is awesome. He makes flipped classroom work, and it's not a structure that works for every prof. Do hw, go to class, and you'll do well. Lots of hw means more work during the week, but you can really beef it on a couple of things and still end up with an A/B bc there are so many points. Really cares about students. Cannot recommend enough.

The best professor Ive ever had hands down. He found a way in a pandemic to effectively teach rather hard physics material to a high degree while keeping stress levels down and mental heath strong. I looked forward to Chastain's hilarious lectures and felt prepared going into every assessment throughout the course thanks to his teaching.

This man is the GOAT. He teaches a relatively hard class but makes it easy to pass. As long as you apply yourself you will understand and will get a decent grade. His grading scale is difficult to understand at first but you'll wish that all classes will switch to his.

Chastain is easily one of the most caring professors you'll find. He will go to the ends of the earth to make sure you understand every concept he covers. If you want an A he will get you there. Definitely take him.

Chastain is one of the most caring professors on campus, and known as the best professor in the science department. His lectures are engaging and fun. He knows my name and encourages me. The class is hard but also hard to fail as he provides ample help and extra credit.

He's a great person and a great professor. Due to being sick, I missed a lot of classes and he was very forgiving and wanted to help. He explains things simply but thoroughly. He teaches you everything you need to know. The tests are exactly what he teaches.

Absolutely amazing of a person. Unfortunately, had to miss quite a bit of class and he was very understanding. Homework and exams reflect exactly what is taught. Lumen material is important to doing well in class. Would take again without giving it a second thought.

If you have to take physics 298, take Dr. Chastain. He is fantastic in every way. He's charismatic and very funny. His lectures are engaging and he understands his audience well. He makes things easy on you without sacrificing the course. In other words, he doesn't dumb things down, but he is conscious of your other responsibilities.

Dr. Chastain is an amazing teacher who really cares about his students and makes physics interesting and understandable. I would highly recommend taking him!!

Professor Chastain is likely the best professor I have had by far. He knew me by my first name by week three and that meant a lot to me considering I had only shown up to his classes by this point and hadn't contacted him outside of class. If you can I recommend taking this class over any other PHYS 298 Professor.

Chastain is one of the most caring professors at UofL and is always willing to help. His lectures are engaging and hilarious. I also found office hours to be very helpful in understanding homework assignments and complicated topics. PHYS 298 is not an easy class, but as long as you put in the work, you will succeed.

This man is your dream teacher. He not only helped me with physics, but I went to him with general college questions and advice and he was more than happy to help. The only thing I wish was different is that he was a Speed School professor so I could take him for higher-level classes.

One of the best professors I have had at UofL so far. You can tell he genuinely cares about his students, and that he wants everyone to pass his class. Sometimes the work was a lot, but as long you go to his lectures and watch the videos, you should be fine.

Dr. Chastain knows his stuff. The class inherently sounds difficult, but he does his best to make the material easy to learn--online class, so there are not too many interactions. Pre-recorded lectures are how you learn the material. All quizzes and hw are done in Pearson. 11 total hw's and 4 quizzes. Recommend buying PH stat Add-in for Excel ($10)

This is a heavy stats course. I'm great at math and this was my hardest class yet! Prof Chastain has amazing video lectures! DO NOT wait until the last minute. Watch the vids & start on HW a week early! Trust me. Go to office hours if you're struggling at all. The example vids are extremely helpful!!! Keep updating Excel workbooks to use later.

Tests are hard. Professor is great though! Takes concerns into consideration and attempts to address it. The book is hard to apply to actual assignments but very similar. Prepare to retake questions to understand and familiarize yourself with the material.

This is the best professor I have taken. He is so funny but gets the material across in a way thats easy to understand.

Statistics is a hard course, but he really cares about students and wants everyone to succeed. Responds to emails and helps with questions. 1 weekly homework assignment that does take a few hours to complete, I recommend using excel and taking advantage of the example problems. 5 tests that are identical to homework problems. Extra credit on tests.

This was overall a great class. He had clear, helpful lecture videos posted and made the material easy to understand. I would highly recommend!

He's great! Statistics is hard for me, but he helps me out a lot. If you struggle, don't hesitate to email him or go to his office hours. He'll get back to you fairly quickly.

The class seems challenging, but Professor Chastain makes it incredibly doable! His lectures are thorough and weekly ones were no more than 1.5 hours. He provided multiple follow up examples and even homework example walkthroughs. He was also extremely accessible, even after school hours. He takes evaluations into high consideration as well.

Homework is through Pearson & you get full credit if you get up to a certain amount of points. Exams are a little hard. There is in class excel activities that you work on with whoever you sit next to. Funny and good professor

I struggle heavily with math and have never looked forward to a class. I looked forward to this class not because of the content but because I knew that my professor was going to help me when I struggled and I wasn't gonna struggle by myself. Prof Chastain deserves every award this university has to offer. Would forever recommend taking his classes

This man is the best professors I have ever had. He cares so much for students and if you dont understand something, he will sit down with you and explain it to you until you understand. He is super funny and loves getting to know his students.

Amazing teacher! Great at explaining the material we are learning and ensuring we understand it before moving on. Great experience and very funny! 100% recommend taking a course with him!

A very caring professor

Good videos to watch for the subject. Weekly homework, quizzes are like the homework, 2 big projects, but it went with what we were learning. Good professor.

Great professor with a funny, energetic teaching style that actually keeps you awake in class. Explains everything clearly and makes even tough concepts feel simple. Super organized, easy to follow, and genuinely cares about helping students understand.

Raymond Chastain is a good teacher and an even better person. This course can be confusing at times but he makes sure to help everyone every step of the way. There are pre-lecture videos you're supposed to watch before every class, but that is the only real negative of this course with him in my opinion.