Dale Fields

AST101 · ASTRO002 · ASTRON002 · ASTRONOMY1 · AST001 · ASTR01 · ASTRO2 · ASTR001 · ASTRO1 · AST1 · ASTRON001 · 204 lifetime ratings

AI rating: 84/100
RMP rating: 4.4/5
Take again: 78.48%
Difficulty: 3.5

The decision

if you care about space and will use tutoring and redos; if you only need an easy GE science A.

Best fit · Effort For RewardAmazing lecturesPassionate about astronomyTough but fair with redosFree textbookNot a free A

Passionate lectures make astronomy engaging and memorable for motivated students.
, and an 85% A threshold help dedicated students recover.
Online sections feel heavier with free-response exams and occasional Proctorio; in-person is warmer and more flexible.

Key questions

Four answers before you build your schedule.

Is this an easy A?

HardWork

38/100

Many A grades exist, but students , and write thorough answers; it is not a free A.

Online reviews stress tougher grading and AI scrutiny; , and an 85% A cutoff.

Is the course easy?

Challenging

36/100

, and free-response thinking make the content intellectually demanding beyond a light survey class.

Both formats call it hard; .

Is attendance flexible?

WorthIt

78/100

, though GE shoppers who want minimal work are frequently warned off.

In-person recommendations are warmer; online opinions split more sharply between love and leave.

Course guide

See how this professor fits your week.

Grading

Fair

54/100

Tough-grader tags are common, but , and an 85% A scale soften outcomes.

Format shift

Online students report more nitpicky AI and .

Workload

Heavy

34/100

, and labs add up; several call the load absurd for a GE course.

Format shift

Online and .

Teaching experience

Excellent

88/100

and genuine care for student success.

Format shift

; a minority of online students find instructions unclear.

Assessment method

Balanced

52/100

Grade blends frequent homework/labs with written midterms and .

Format shift

; lab courses center group hands-on work.

Luni fit check

Weigh these signals against your actual schedule.

Get help balancing workload, grading, and timing when no option is an obvious fit.

Course format

Compare the in-person and online experience.

Classroom format

In person

33 reviews

High confidence · Best fit for Hardcore Learner

In-person students highlight inspirational lectures, caring support, homework redos, , and a doable path to A if you show up and study.

Main concern

Content and ; not ideal purely for checking a science box.

What students said

“Professor Fields was awesome, he makes learning astronomy very interesting and understandable.”
ASTRON001

“They are relentlessly funny in lectures and allow for . The A is not easy to get, but if you do well on the homework and go to tutoring, it is achievable.”
AST001

“Fields is a very challenging but inspiring prof. I'd specify that this class is not an easy A but should be taken by anyone interested in space/astronomy.”
ASTRO1

Remote format

Online

17 reviews

High confidence · Best fit for Effort For Reward

Online Astronomy is homework-heavy with tough free-response exams; and free textbook, while others call the load stressful and .

Main concern

Strict AI/homework scrutiny and Proctorio midterms/finals can tank .

What students said

“He lets you do the work until you get it right! get full credit”
ASTRON001

“Midterm and Final are difficult but as long as you do the and use the . and not favorable though, also used Proctorio on Midterm and Final.”
ASTRON001

“Literally just run away from this class. Was the hardest class I have taken in college.”
AST001

Exam style

Know what to expect from exams and major assignments.

Exams are written and demanding; friendliness comes from preparation .

Free-response examsProctorio onlineHomework redos allowedStudy via reading and tutoringA at about 85%

Assessment risk

Standard

48/100

Low score means less forgiving assessment conditions.

In person

and tough, but , and prior assignments sometimes help recovery.

Short-answer midterm/finalHomework redosExtra creditCurved final options

“ and the help.”
ASTRON002

“His midterm and but the more you write the .”
AST1

Online

; at least one cohort reported Proctorio proctoring.

ProctorioFree-response midterm/finalDifficult written exams

“ and Final”
ASTRON001

“The and given only 1 hr to take.”
AST001

Student evidence

See what students actually said.

Top student voice
“This professor was insanely difficult going into the semester but ended up being one of my favorites.”
Voice snapshots generated from 50 reviews (17 online, 33 in person), highlighting teaching passion, workload, and grade recovery paths. Credibility rating: High.

🌟 Lecture Energy

88/100

“Professor Fields makes astronomy fun to learn about with his amazing lectures.”

📈 Effort for the A

38/100

“Not an easy A but you will get it if you try a little.”

🔁 Recovery Paths

70/100

“Do the , and because they really add up.”

⚠️ GE Shopper Warning

40/100

“If you are taking this class to fulfill your science requirement, do yourself a favor. Choose another course!”

Theme 1

👨‍🏫 About Teaching Style

he makes learning astronomy very interesting and understandable
They are relentlessly funny in lectures
he truly cares for the students

Theme 2

📈 About Difficulty and Grades

this class is not an easy A
allow for
He's paranoids about ai in homework

Theme 3

📚 About Workload and Resources

lots of but he provides a link of the textbook what is a pdf so no cost
Offers multiple chances
but they're really great at clarification

Data context

See exactly what the AI read.

Analysis sample

Recent reviews read by the AI

204

Lifetime ratings

90/100

Evidence confidence

Fifty detailed reviews across years and both formats show consistent themes of strong teaching and non-trivial difficulty.

Inside 50 stored ratings

Quality ratings

5 out of 5144

4 out of 533

3 out of 512

2 out of 54

1 out of 511

Course coverage

AST00120 reviews

ASTRON00112 reviews

ASTR0013 reviews

ASTRO0023 reviews

AST12 reviews

Show 6 more courses

AST1012 reviews

ASTR012 reviews

ASTRO12 reviews

ASTRO22 reviews

ASTRON0021 review

ASTRONOMY11 review

Reported outcomes

A range results lead the reported letter grades.

43 reported outcomes

A range

A+ 7 · A 15 · A- 2

B range

B+ 4 · B 6 · B- 1

C range

C+ 2

D range

D 1

F

No reported values

No letter grade reported

Drop/Withdrawal 1 · Incomplete 1 · Not sure yet 2 · Rather not say 1

Dale Fields

x x if you care about space and will use tutoring and redos; x x if you only need an easy GE science A.

Four answers before you build your schedule.

HardWork

Challenging

Recommended

WorthIt

See how this professor fits your week.

Compare the in-person and online experience.

Know what to expect from exams and major assignments.

In person

Online

See what students actually said.

🌟 Lecture Energy

📈 Effort for the A

🔁 Recovery Paths

⚠️ GE Shopper Warning

👨‍🏫 About Teaching Style

📈 About Difficulty and Grades

📚 About Workload and Resources

See exactly what the AI read.

Quality ratings

Course coverage

A range results lead the reported letter grades.

A range

B range

C range

D range

F

No letter grade reported

if you care about space and will use tutoring and redos; if you only need an easy GE science A.