New semester, same classes
Sometimes it’s impossible to avoid the more intense classes at Utah State University.
According to an article from OneClass, some of the most consistently difficult classes at USU over the years include ASTE 3440 —science, technology and modern society; BIOL 5580 —mammalogy; CEE 3430 —engineering hydrology; and GEO 5460 —advanced physical sedimentology.
However, as upper division courses, these are not required for many students. But when it comes to preparing for difficult, upper division courses, math professor Matt Young recommends having strong foundations.
“These difficult classes are built on top of the previous classes,” Young said. “The 1000-3000 level classes are designed to prepare you for the more difficult content of the 4000 level classes. If you have a strong background in those earlier classes, you will be less shocked by the more difficult or harder material.”
USU sophomore Dillya Wagner is a business management major and took MIS 2100, or management information systems, which includes coding.
Wagner said she especially experiences troubles when her coursework doesn’t align with her passions.
“It was really hard for me to get the coding down because it’s not what I’m going into,” she said. “There was one assignment that took me 11 hours.”
According to a previous article from the Statesman written in 2014, some of the most failed courses at USU are Math 1010, Math 1050 and PSY 1010.
However, this may be because of the large number of students enrolled in these courses. It may also be a lack of understanding about the required time commitment.
“It’s probably a lot of reading, but I don’t think it’s particularly difficult material,” said Christopher Warren, a PSY 1010 professor.
USU student Richard Thompson said he didn’t research his classes and professors freshman year and has learned from his mistake.
Thompson now makes sure to check professor reviews on Rate My Professors, a popular website where students can leave comments about the teacher and the class.
He also mentioned he also checks the university’s Office of Analysis, Assessment and Accreditation, or AAA.
The AAA displays the data from IDEA surveys conducted at the end of each semester. After typing in the name of their professor or class, students can view how well past students graded their teacher in terms of reaching the course objectives.
Thompson was enrolled in BIO 4600 — Advanced Human Physiology — which is a five-credit class.
“I knew it was going to be hard going into it because I’d heard a lot of rumors about it,” Thompson said. “I just braced for it, but nothing could have prepared me for it being that bad. It was very difficult.”
However, students and teachers can ultimately agree hard classes can be worth the effort.
“I hope that students appreciate that the work was hard,” Young said. “They get a lot out of it for the work they put in, so it’s worth it to do hard things.”
-Maggie.Erekson@usu.edu