Tests are difficult, but there are many opportunities for extra credit.

Just remember this: DO NOT leave his class early. He will destroy you!

yeah, this is one of the hardest Smad classes you're gonna take, so deal

the class sucks, but the teach makes it bearable

great teacher... take notes on printed slides and do readings...you will be fin

Not easy, but go to all classes and do the readings

WONDERFUL teacher! My absolute favorite. So nice and helpful!!!

soenkensen is a really nice prof. works well with ADD students.

SOOO HARD but good teacher!!!

actual class isn't bad, but tests are impossible

Excellent teacher, very approachable, u gotta study for the Tests!

Take this class. Big hints: do your readings, go to class, and study.

A really great teacher but he kinda treats the class like children...

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u never know what to expect on tests, extra credit helps out, ATTENDANCE a must

There's tons of extra credit...it's annoying work, but totally pays off.

tons of extra credit....nice guy

If you thought smad101 was unclear, perhaps you should enroll in ESL 101

It doesn't matter who you take for this class becuase they teach together. You will get bad test grades but do the extra credit and you'll be fine. As for help. He will like you then.

nice guy. read all readings and do extra credit cause the tests are a little hard sometimes. visiting during office hours are a plus to you!

Very good teacher but very hard class. Make sure you study and do the readings. They give you alot of extra credit points. Boring class however, dont jugde SMAD by that

You have to take this class if you're going to be a SMAD major, so can't be avoided. Nice guy as long as you pay attention. Keeps class interesting and keeps you awake at 8 am most of the time.

Very knowledgeable on subject matter and always ready. A little corny but funny. Study hard there is a lot of memorization.

Soenksen has a very dry sense of humor and it's hard to stay awake in class but he's a really nice guy. If you are in trouble, go talk to him. Tests are harder then they need to be.

He's much clearer and more straight forward than Johnson, but the class is still boring. SMAD majors, have fun taking it at 8am, I sure did. You have to go to class and study because the tests are hard if you're not prepared.

Class can be a drag, but he genuinely likes what he does. Will help you with any questions you have, so make sure to ask them. Slightly more straightforward than Dr. Johnson, but they are both great professors.

I thought he was a good teacher, with lots of knowledge on the subject matter, and a cheery disposition. Seems tough, but always willing to help. Strict attendance policy, go to class because lecture notes are on the test. I enjoyed the class, despite 8am

nice guy, makes cute jokes. attendence policy sucks and it is an 8am class but all us wanna be smad majors have to deal. tests are difficult so do ALL the extra credit and attend class so u can turn them in. he is a good speaker.

Soenksen is a clear, easy to understand professor and his tests are not as bad as rumor says they are. For a B, all you have to do is memorize the flash cards and know the other info on his slides. I usually love his classes.

Whoever gave him a 4 for easiness is wrong. He also thinks he's king of smad, even though he's not. Loves to hear himself talk, but hates to listen. Good thing i like SMAD.

Very nice guy. Attendance policy bites. Funny guy talks loudly so you can stay awake in the 8am class. Very helpful and personable.

Really awesome guy. Can get strict at times but is just a wonderful teacher. Very clear and thorough. Tells you exactly whats gonna be on the exams and collects extra credit every few weeks.

He will definately wake you up in the morning with his loud voice. Be sure to attend class and take lots of notes! His exams are hard but not impossible if you keep up with your studying. Definately DO NOT FALL ASLEEP in his class! But he's very helpful and clear...I enjoyed the class.

he is very lively and willing to help you. the class is very boring but dr. soenksen will keep you up with his loud voice. but don't fall asleep in class or he will call you out.

He treated students like high schoolers sometimes...but he's harmless. Loud voice. Tests aren't very hard - gives study guide with everything you need to know. Do extra credit, go to class, be on time, and don't fall asleep or he'll humiliate you. If you do the ex.credit you'll get lots of points.

One of SMADs greatest assets. He is a tough but fair and effective professor. No BS & no fluff. You know what needs to be done. He makes an effort to teach so that understanding is obtained by anyone interested in learning. Always friendly and approachable. The epitome of an effective teacher.

Coteaches with Dr Johnson. Soenksen is much better than his partner. Material is interesting if you like the subject. He tries to make references to our generation to keep interest. Tests are medium hard. Go through the study guide, go to class, take notes. You will get at least a C. I guarantee it

test are kind of difficult... i studied for over a week for the 1st one & only got a 74...studied two days for the next one & got an 88 so hmm? Some material is boring bc its the history and****.. but you have to take this class anyway SMAD major, so deal. its not toooo terribly bad. I got a B- tho

Really nice guy, willing to work with you and help you out. He has a loud voice which will definately wake you up in the morning! The class is both interesting AND boring, but for those of us who had to take, we lived! Tests arent too bad, even with minimal studying you can get a C.

Really friendly guy if you actually go up to talk to him. Class is hard, but not impossible. Dont fall asleep in class, have your cell phone on, etc. Have fun waking up for your 8 am! lol

i have never been so satisfied with a B... ever! the extra readings are SO HELPFUL, doooo themm!!!!

A very intense bald man. Truely he is the ying to Dr. Johnson's yang. Whatever that means.

Dr. Soenksen has been one of the most helpful professors ive had at JMU. Any question i have concerning the future of my career or my future classes, hes bent over backwards to help me.

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Really good knowledge of the material. Plus, always good for a chuckle.

man o man...Roger...what can i say about him. reallly bald and shiny man. Looks kinda like big bird if you squint. I constantly question his choice of clothing...we're talking blue shirt...same color blue tie..yes..RETARDED! collects massey readings randomly - reallll annoying. changed my major after taking this class...HAVE FUN

In SMAD 101 the two professors take turns teaching each slide. Dr. Johnson goes and then Dr. Soenksen goes. Dr. Soenksen is the better of the two, because when he talks you listen. If the two were dating Dr. Johnson would def be a the woman in the relationship.

Smad 101 is a very hard class and its a weed out, its supposed to be hard! The description of them dating in an earlier post is accurate. Seems very nice, and willing to help if you go to his office hours. Good luck keep Smadding!

Soensken is the best professor I have had at JMU. Though he co-lectures with Johnson he is the better of the two. He tells great stories that relate to the material, he gives awesome examples, and he is actually quite funny. Though the class is difficult he is worth paying attention to at 8am.

legal com is a lot of memorization. you just regurgitate material back on the test. soenksen is very clear about what he wants. kind of pompous and kind of an ass, but funny and enjoyable over all. even if you don't have to take the class, i recommend it.

What a friendly guy! I dont know how he is so awake at 8am. The class is hard...its a weedout. you shouldnt take it if you arent willing to work really hard. i got 80s by barely studying and a 100 by studying my butt off. its possible if you are willing to memorize an enormous amount of information. dont leave studying to the last minute!!!

I finished the first exam in Soenksen's SMAD 101 class that he co-teaches with Dr. Johnson. The class is definitely tricky and shouldn't be taken lightly. If you listen to his lectures carefully, take notes on what he emphasizes and do all the reading that he assigns, you shouldn't have a problem Acing the class. It's working for me so far.

Awesome professor. Can only miss two classes, but I have this at 8:00 am and i don't mind going at all. Interesting and funny and definitely isn't boring for an 8 am class. 3 tests and a project, but he gives you good study guides and as long as you study you should do fine. The final is optional.

They are very good teachers and they know what they are doing. Do the taking sides, they will collect them when you least expect it and it helps our your final grade. Show up the class, take notes on powerpoint printouts and read the chapters, easy B.

He's a great guy. Very loud. You will get at least a B on every test if you do the study guide thoroughly and dont wait till the night before to study. It's difficult, but it's a weed-out course. The people who do well are the ones who really want to be SMAD majors. Do all the extra credit. Even if he doesn't collect it, it'll be on the test.

Great class. Interesting material, well organized. Only 4 grades. DO THE EXTRA CREDIT. Go to class always- lots of material covered in a short time. Tip: Print out the study guide ahead of time, take that to class, and fill it out as stuff is covered. Saves time and helps you sift through the material.

Dr. Soenksen is a great professor. He is able to maintain your attention throughout lectures even at 8:00 in the morning, uses great examples to get points across, and if you pay attention, you'll actually learn a lot from this class. STUDY for the tests & you should do fine. He's also strict about attendance...don't oversleep!

Best teacher hands down. Knows everything, is fair and doesn't change the rules for anyone! Tough class, study hard and ALWAYS do extra credit. Learned the most from him and the material even though it was at 8 am!

Explains things very well. He is very smart and keeps current with industry news. Attendance is MANDATORY. You are given 3 sick days and if you don't go over you get a grade boost. The only thing that sucks is that it was only offered at 8 am so a lot of people didn't like him just because of that. You need to prepare for tests. Take notes and read

everyone says that SMAD 101 is a really tough "weed em out" kind of class. its NOT THAT BAD. just come to class, PAY ATTENTION take good notes, do the study guides before tests, do the extra credit! if you do all the extra credit you can get a full letter grade higher. theres a lot of extra credit. seonksen is really nice, pretty funny cool guy.

This class is really well organized and the profs do a great job explaining. The guidelines are super clear - go to class, take notes, study slides, do well on the test. You get extra credit for reading worksheets and going to class. There's really no excuse for doing poorly if you do all of that.

By far the best professor you will ever have at JMU. Real nice guy and material is straight forward. Will always give extra credit to help you out, and is extremely knowledgeable in legal studies. Highly recommend having him at least once!

Easy class. Just study! Extra Credit is a must. Do it! It will help a lot. Do the study guides, they are usually all over the place but they help. Lectures are very informative but boring at times. Still a good class to take if you are not accepted into the Smad major. 4 tests. Thats about it. Don't miss over 7 classes. Automatic failure.

He's easier to understand than Johnson (who he teaches the class with). You'll never have class cancelled because of the fact that there are two professors. Tests are really hard, but if you do all of the extra credit (WHICH YOU DEFINITELY SHOULD DO) it'll keep your grade up a lot. No assignments, just 4 tests and final isn't comprehensive.

If you're majoring in SMAD I'd definitely try to get the best grade possible in this class. Do all the extra credit and never miss class even though it's early. You'll never have a cancelled class because there are 2 teachers. They're very strict so don't sleep in class or go on your phone and study hard for the test...they're hard!

LEGAL COMM: Great teacher, really well taught class. Students set attendance policy and test format at beginning of year. 3 tests, one 3 pg paper, the final is cumulative but optional. EASY 400 LEVEL ELECTIVE FOR SCOM!

It's pretty easy to get a B in 101 if you do all the extra credit, but getting an A takes a little extra work. And by that, I mean going to office hours. Soenksen is very clear (more so than Johnson!) and lays out the main points you need to know. He's got quite a personality!

This man has the LOUDEST voice you could ever imagine, but it is all the more entertaining. I love listening to him and he makes perfect sense when he talks. He def kept me awake when I needed it. Take him, one of the better professors.

Loudest guy ever. It's a tad off-putting for an early morning class. Nice guy, enthusiastic about the topic. Tests are way harder than they should be (way too specific). If you try really hard, you can get an A. Fairly strict attendance policy, too.

This class fly's by very quickly, so take good notes. All in all a wonderful professor though.

He is very loud and is an awesome professor to have! His style is mostly lecture and has about 4 large tests throughout the semester. He has LOTS of extra credit opportunities though…use them! Great class…great professor.

I LOVED THIS CLASS. I originally took it for an elective requirement, thought it would be boring, but I love it. Soenksen is the most helpful guy ever. He so obviously wants you to do well, it's adorable. Attendance not mandatory but you get 20 extra points at the end if you go. Amazing! Take his class!!!!!!

Soenksen is easily the loudest professor I have ever had. He is very clear, is pretty funny and wants you to do well. Gives LOTS of extra credit on the 4 tests and doesn't give a cumulative final. Really great guy.

go to class, study a lot for the tests, do the extra credit and you'll get an a. Soenksen is a great man.

Soenksen is the man. Perfect for a 9:05 lecture with his loud, energetic voice. Extra credit quizzes are your friend. Sit up front. Must study hard for tests. Go to the late night study sessions in Rose or wherever they hold them. Very helpful if you like working in a group. Or find a study buddy. Interesting material is covered.

This man is absolutely amazing. My favorite professor this semester. He is engaging, interesting and time flies in that class. I honestly wish I could take it again it was SO interesting. A lot of studying for the tests, but if you dedicate the time you'll get the grade you want. What you put in is exactly what you get out. GREAT professor!!!

Soenkson's class is pretty easy. I'd advise having a buddy in class who you review lecture material with and knowing the slides he says to know. Read thru the book chapters because some of that information will be on the tests. If you come to class regularly, review notes before tests, and read the book, you'll EASILY have an A. (DO open book EC)

Soenksen is amazing! This class is so interesting. If you didn't think so, you shouldnt be a SMAD major. I loved learning all the info in this class. There are 4 tests, 50 questions each. He gives you 36 extra credit points with weekly quizzes online where you can use the book. DO THE EC. I have a B right now. Make sure you study lecture notes.

Soenksen is one of the best professors i've ever had! He speaks very clear and lets you know exactly what will be on the exam. I got mostly Bs on the tests. DO THE EXTRA CREDIT.. it can take your grade from a c to a practically and its so easy. He's now my advisor and I LOVE HIM!!! really awesome and nice. always makes time for you. 4 tests and EC

Really engaging and straightforward with what he expects from his students. 4 tests, not accumulative, that make up your grade. Homework is optional but HIGHLY recommended, since its paired with tons of really easy extra credit opportunities. Sorensen is a really nice guy and easy to approach for help, but long lectures!

Dr. Soenksen is a great teacher! Class will never be cancelled because of the two professors but Soenksen is interesting enough to keep you awake during the morning class. DO THE EXTRA CREDIT. It's straight from the books and super easy. Test are pretty specific but study and you'll be fine. He's super friendly and willing to help if you ask.

Dr. Soenksen is an amazing, enthusiastic teacher. I am taking his legal communications class now and have enrolled to take another class with him because I love how he structures his classes. Very laid back and fun and understanding. Good scom elective to take!! He also cancels class sometimes because he works with the president of JMU

Great lecturer. Class has 4 exams with weekly extra credit quizzes. DO them, they're so easy, you can answer them without reading the textbook, just skim it while you're doing the quiz. He answers your questions really thoroughly, makes lecture fun.

only reason I survived SMAD 101, this professor and index cards. must take TONS of notes not just from the powerpoint but also what he (and johnson) are saying in lecture! make index cards in preparation for the tests - VERY HARD. must not the material, memorize it.

Soenksen is great! I am taking SMAD 101 with him and Johnson. The class overall is very difficult; there are 4 noncumulative tests that are extremely difficult because they are based off of their lectures and there is no study guide. STUDY HARD FOR THEM. He also offers extra credit every week. DO IT! It brings your grade up one letter.

Soenksen is actually pretty cool if you get the chance to know him. He's been teaching SMAD101 forever so he knows his stuff but sometimes isn't the clearest about it. Ask questions if you're confused and he'll answer them clearly. Use quizlet to study (there are great sets for the exams on there already). Also DO THE EXTRA CREDIT!!!

Dr. Soenksen is one of the best professors I've had. His passion for what he does is infectious, and his enthusiasm makes my 9:00am well worth it. He gives awesome lectures that go by quickly, he's always open to explaining things more thoroughly if needed, and he can get a lecture hall of 200 students to all laugh. He is a fantastic professor.

SMAD101 is a hard class to begin with. Soenksen is super into the material and is a very loud talker. It's a lot of information per test, but luckily the tests aren't cumulative.

This class was honestly harder than it needed to be for a 101 class. It was interesting and he's very enthusiastic about the topic but the tests are ridiculous. They ask super specific details that you would never think were that relevant. Also, DO NOT take this class if you're not 100% positive you want to be a SMAD major, it's not worth it.

He is such a riveting lecturer and made you feel excited about the subject matter. He's always so happy and cheerful and it makes you almost feel excited to go to the 9 AM class. Tests were a bit hard at times, but other than that, great professor and great class!

Prof. Soenksen is awesome! It's so easy to get to know him even though it's a big class. He's super helpful and nice and animated/funny during lectures. Gives a ton of extremely easy extra credits, DO THEM! Class definitely isn't easy but just take good notes and you'll be okay!

hes awesome! super enthusiastic and fun to listen to. you have to study for the tests, but i didn't think they were that bad. other than that theres just the extra credit, which is easy so just do it! class itself isn't THAT interesting, but he's a character and makes it fun. attendance is mandatory, go to class so you get extra points

Soenksen is the only option when it comes to Law. Soenksen actually makes law interested and bearable. The test are hard, but he offers extra credit quizzes for the tests. A MUST take for the law requirement. Textbook is only used for extra credit quizzes, I suggest sharing one.

Dr. Soenksen is super into what he teaches! He makes the class much more interesting and is so enthusiastic. He definitely keeps you awake and gives really great examples during lecture. The tests are super hard but definitely take the extra credit quizzes which are pretty easy. Share the textbook with someone & don't skip class or use your phone!

Soenksen is great. This course is difficult but he makes it fun to learn about at 9am. DO NOT use your phone! They take 20 points from your grade if they see it. Tests are hard and if you wait for the last minute to study you're kind of screwed. But if you do study a decent amount, you should be fine. Extra credit that they give every week saved me

Everyone is so weird about SMAD101. It really isn't that hard of a class. All you have to do is listen and take really good notes during the lecture, and actually READ the book and take notes on the chapters on your own. Dr. Soenksen is a great lecturer and cares about you doing well. He's always willing to help. Always do the extra credit!

Make sure you go to class, because if you miss more than 4 I think you immediately fail the class. Tough on classroom etiquette but has great, enthusiastic lectures. Pretty chill outside of class too. Would recommend.

SMAD 101 is a difficult class because they are trying to ween out people who are not serious about the program. I loved this class, Dr. Soenksen was an amazing teacher and made the class interesting. He was always available during office hours and was very helpful. If you put in the work, it will reflect in your grade.

Dr. Soenksen is an awesome guy and he's too funny. He made the lectures really interesting. Attendance is taken and honestly you don't want to skip because there's a lot of info in each lecture. Sometimes they say important stuff that's not on the powerpoints. Tests are about 75% lecture and the rest textbook. Very straightforward class.

Do the extra credit quizzes. All of them.

He is so nice and makes the class bearable.

Very nice teacher and will take the time to help you out in office hours! This is a hard class, but with of studying you will do fine.

Soenksen co teaches with Johnson and is definitely a better lecture and makes dry topics interesting. You DO NOT want to miss lecture - almost all test info comes from this! Take advantage of EVERY extra credit quiz, they're based on the textbook reading and straightforward. Read the textbook for test info as well! An A is achievable if you WORK!

Everyone has to take this class in the SMAD major, so it's important to do well. Super lecture heavy, I missed one class and was confused afterward. Miss four classes and you don't get extra credit, so go! The extra credit brought my grade up an entire letter. Only tests and extra credit so work hard. Soenksen makes the class interesting and fun!

Every SMAD wannabe must take SMAD101 and a lot of people say it is "the hardest 101 class on campus" but I don't know why! If you're a bad test taker, you might struggle to get a good grade in the class. The extra credit is a blessing. Make sure to study hard and try not to fall asleep in class. Soenksen is a good teacher and guy.

If you want an A in this class, you have to work for it. Although, I did think it was going to be harder than it actually was. Be a good note taker and go to every class and the tests will be fine. The extra credit is incredible and you're stupid if you don't take advantage of it. Soenksen is great and he keeps the class interesting.

SMAD 101 is a difficult class in general because of the amount of information but Soenksen makes sure that you know which information is really important (listen for when he repeats things over and over because it'll probably be on the test). only take this class if you're a SMAD major, but GO TO CLASS and read the textbook to prepare for the tests

Our grades were four tests, an argument, and a brief. There were also 4 extra-credit quizzes that each offered 6 extra points. All of the course content was immediately available to us at the beginning of the term, so we could complete it on our own time, which was awesome. He seems like a great prof, I wish I could've taken in person.

Out of the two SMAD 101 professors, Dr. Soenksen was my personal favorite. He was overall amazing professor, and had a way of teaching that sucked the students in. Although he was tough on us at some points, there was always a sense that he truly cared for us and wanted us to succeed. One of the best professors at JMU!!

This class was super hard for me because there is a good amount of reading and a ton of information to be memorized for tests. However, this professor is so nice and super intelligent. Even though his courses tend to be hard, its because he wants his students to be proud of what they do in his class.

I took SMAD 450 this summer online so the whole thing was asynchronous. The lecture videos can be long so prepare well in advance. The 4 tests, 4 quizzes, and 4 assignments are due at noon each week so be prepared for that as well taking this class in the summer. He's a pretty good professor, responded to emails very quickly to help you.