Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus Top Questions

Academically, I have found that classes vary a lot. In the bigger classes, generally your Gen Eds, professors don't often know your name and you generally get lost in a crowd. Some professors from these settings are willing to meet outside of class and some aren't. I find that some professors care only for their research and are teaching only to fulfill a requirement and teach accordingly. However, in the smaller classes, I find that the teachers are much more open to spending time with the individuals and going over things that were not well understood. Furthermore, they seem more open and likely to spend time with students outside of the classroom. As for intellectual conversations, I really feel that depends on the group of people you are hanging around. In some of my circles of friends, we have really deep discussions all the time but other groups you just knock around and have a good time.

Professors know your name if you participate generally speaking. I like my smaller classes because the students bother to get to know each other, most of the time. I don't really spend time with professors outside of class, but I could if I desired.

All of my professors know my name now. I'm a senior. Plus I'm a liberal arts major, so most of my classes have always been small. I've had lectures with 100's of students, but it's really not bad. If you want professors to know your name, and if you want a personal relationship with them, you can have that. It's really up to you. I love all of my Fiction Writing workshops. English 212, 412, and 422. My professors were great, my classmates were great, and the workshop setting is optimal. But I also LOVED BiSci 003 with Chris Uhl. It counts as a Gen Ed Science, and I suggest every freshman take it. It could change your life. I've hated every single one of my math classes. They were all taught by impossible to understand foreign professors and were incredibly boring. I don't study that often. Certainly not every day. And I've made dean's list once or twice. Class participation is huge in little classes. It gets kind of annoying, being graded on attendance. I hear intellectual conversation almost everywhere I go on campus and off. Some students are competitive and others are really laid back. We have a variety of attitudes here about school work. You can be yourself and do what you want. The most unique class I've taken was BiSci 003 with Chris Uhl. you learn about yourself and the earth... it's very personal and it's an amazing experience. I reccomend that every student take it. The English Department is small but very helpful. I know a lot of the professors and there are people in the department from all different background and different professors are interested in different fields. The major has the option of several different emphasis areas as well. No matter what part of English you like, 19th Century, contemporary, fiction, non-ficton, poetry, writing... we have classes for all of that. You can really personalize your English major.

Yes, IST 501, CSE Something, They do study on sundays and near exam. Yes. Yes they do have intellectual conversations outside the class. Students are competitive but in a normal way. Well as I was a graduate student so nothing out of ordinary. My major was IST, it was a blend of various departments analysing information people and technology all the professors were coming from different specialities and were very fridnly and cooperative. Inside my research lab we had dinners and retreats, we often went to our professors house so it was fun. Academic requirements are pretty stringent and strict and they are very focused on getting their graduates jobs as well as making them a better intellectual

Main campus is huge. Most classes are over 100 people. If students make the effort to get noticed, it is possible to gain your professors' attention. But it's a lot easier to just disappear and float through 4, 5, 6 years unnoticed. The most unique class I took was World Religions 001. It opened my eyes to understanding other ways of being. Most people love Soc 005 with Frank Clemente. It is also a pretty eye opening class, and I would say a "must-take" course.

Yes, some professors know my name. My favorite class is theater 101 and least are comm 381 and geog 120. Class participation is common. I don't like my major, I am a senior and still don't even know what it is (telecommunications???)

In some of the smaller classes, professors do know my name. My favorite class would be psychology 270, since that kind of education always interests me. My least favorite class was comp sci. In a few classes, class participation is common, and that is one thing that I do not like, when half of one's grade is based on class participation. My major is SCM, supply chain management, and time is spent with professors outside f class. I feel that PSU's academic requirements are not soley geared towards getting a job, but also focus on teaching students about their major and how this knowledge can be applied to the real world.

I would assume most of my professors know my name. Chinese & Finance 410 would be my favorite classes. Least favorite would be BISCI 004 and Geography 124. Most unique class would be Gemology: The chemical properties of gemstones. I am a double major: Finance & Chinese (Mandarin). I don't spend time with my teachers outside of class. I think the academic requirements are fine. I would say education here is geared toward getting a job.

Depending on the size of the class, professors know your name. Usually, as you start to take higher level classes you have professors multiple times and class sizes are smaller. My favorite class was Family Therapy. My major is Human Development and Family Studies and I thought family therapy was very interesting. My least favorite classes were math classes. They were mostly taught by Asian Graduate students who I could not understand and who did not care about my progress or success, I hated math because of it. Class participation is common in English or Speech classes. Yes, PSU students have intellectual conversations outside of class. I do not think that the majority of students in my major were competitive. The most unique class that I took was Art. I love it because the teaching method and presentation of the drawing class was so different than any other that I have ever taken. My major is great. Most of the professors are really personable and willing to help. The administration for the department, though, is below par. Academic advisers do not offer much help and the internship faculty offers little support.

all of my professors know my name. my favorite class was english 215 and my least favorite bio141. students study a lot. the library is always crowded. class participation in my classes is common. i have lots of intellectual discussions outside of class, and students are competitive. im an english major. i dont spend time w/ profs outside class really.