Great!
His classes always fill up first, which is a testament to how good of a professor he is. Patient in OH and always went over set time if students still needed help. Completing book problems is most important since he reuses questions on exams!!! Beware if exam averages are high (75%+) because he will make an incredibly hard final to even out grades.
Well-organized slides and lectures. Has online videos that are similar to lectures in case you don't attend. A good amount of practice material and exams that are similar to actual midterms and finals. The only down part of the course is having to deal with the homework platform ALEKs. But you have to deal with that in any gen chem class.
By far the best chem professor I've had so far. He explained concepts really well and I never felt lost during lectures. Recommend doing the practice tests heavily, multiple times and book problems too. His office hours were definitely helpful too.
DO THE BOOK PROBLEMS!!! Dr. Joseph loves his book problems and will put exact problems with different numbers on every exam! If you score poorly on an exam, it's not the end of the world. His class is always curved and the curve will help you out. Also go to CLAS! It's an amazing resource.
While Joseph definitely is not one of the worst chem professors, he is not accommodating to his students. He also made his tests quite a bit different than the practice and even book problems (I did both).
I would take Joseph again 100%. I had Price for 1A and thought his tests were so much harder. 1B is a really hard course, but Joseph makes it achievable to do well in the class. If you do all the book problems and fully understand them, you will do well as his tests are mostly all reused book/practice exam problems. Final was hard but class ok
Great prof, online videos a bit sparse on examples but book problem solutions will teach you everything you need to know for the tests. DO THE BOOK PROBLEMS! I went from a 45% on the first midterm to 88% simply by doing all the book problems once and understanding them. Guaranteed to see some book probs on tests and probs from previous tests too
I'm taking every series general chem at UCSB with a different professor and i will say Joseph's is by far the most consistent and most helpful in terms of the learning material and the actual test content. His expectations are clear and he is organized. He tells you how to succeed in the class + calendar. His exams are harder than most.
Professor Joseph's lectures were clear expect during thermochemistry (imo). His tests are very predictable. If you want to do well on the midterms, grind the textbook problems and practice test questions he makes it very clear that he likes to put these questions on tests. The final can be a bit of a curve ball but it is still fair.
Chem 1B is not easy by any means, but Joseph makes the class as simple as it can be. He is well organized and your week is always laid out in advance. The tests are based off the book problems: they’re not easy, but the questions are fair.
The lectures are really good and you learn a lot for them, but the midterms and finals are relatively harder than other chem professors. Doing book problems and aleks helps.
Do the book problems! Definitely a straightforward professor. If you do the problems, go to lecture, and study hard it's very passable. Lectures are also posted on youtube, so attendance isn't necessary which is very nice.
1A is manageable to students who have taken AP Chem. However, it still requires a great deal of work because most grades come from two (3 drop 1) midterms and final. He made those tests really serious, e.g. assigned seats, ID checks. Since I learned most materials before, I can really tell he is intentionally setting traps on exams.
If you took AP Chem, you'll be set for this course and it won't be as difficult as people say. However, that doesn't mean you won't have to put some effort into this class. Do the book problems, read the textbook, go/watch the lectures. But you'll definitely get a passing grade by just doing the practice exams and problems before midterms.
Joseph tells all of his students what to do in order to succeed and you need to follow through!! ALEKS, book problems, reading the textbook, and seeking help (if needed) all help you pass. Chem isn't an easy subject for everyone, Joseph does what he can to help his students.
He makes it really clear what you need to do to succeed in his class. His classes require a lot of time and effort, but if you put in the hours, study the right way, and do what he recommends, then you'll get an A.
DO THE BOOK PROBLEMS. Omg I can't stress this enough. Yes pay attention to his lectures, yes do the practice quizzes but DO THE BOOK PROBLEMS. You need practice to actually be able to do good on the midterms. grade based on 3 midterms (drops lowest one), final, and alecks. DO THE ALECKS ON TIME, it will help your grade in the end
Listen, this class is the thing that put my mental health in the trash. THIS IS A WEADER COURSE!! Yes, the rates are right, do the book problems and practice tests and alek's and you'll be fine. However, unrealistic if you have other STEM classes. This class is required for a lot of majors so just stick it out and pray the curve gives you a miracle
So glad I had Joseph for 1A. As long as you do everything he says, you'll pass the class. It is A LOT of work though. DO ALL THE BOOK PROBLEMS, because resuses them for the tests. Test averages were always in the 60s, so the curve saves you. He is a fair teacher with good lectures. He is super helpful and responds quick to emails. highly recommend
Joseph is a fair choice for chem 1A. This class is pretty difficult, especially in your first year of college, but with Joseph, it's not impossible to do well. He's pretty responsive in emails and really tries his best to help with questions in lecture. His final was hard but the curve will kinda guarantee you a C if you get average on themidterms.
Nice guy and put his lectures online in video form which helped me significantly! Honestly just do all of the book problems and practice tests he tells you to do and youll get an A. Hes very clear about what will and wont be on the test.
Lectures are so much easier than his exams. Complete Aleks and book problems!!! Also CLAS helps a lot. TRUST THE CURVE it helps a lot
He is extremely good at making expectations clear for the course and telling you what you need to do well, definitely a good choice for 1a