Charles Hagar

i admit, there were times when i fell asleep in his class... but this prof. knows what he's talking about!!! the school's planetarium was named after him coz he knew one star was missing from the night sky model!!! but anyways, if you study for the test you'll do okay... and he gives a review sheet... and extra credit work!

i took this class during fall 2002. this class is easy if you pay attention during the sometimes boring lectures and look over class syllabus notes now and then. prof. hagar is way helpful and wants you to pass the class as much as you would. really fun loving cute wrinkled grandpa kind a guy. he makes astr interesting. class consisted of 2-3 quizes and 2 tests, not including final. many extra credit opportunities and even chances to take failed test over. I with a rough start, bad quiz grades and horrible attendence, but i made up for it with extra credit and retaken tests. reccommended.

Prof. Hager is a great teacher. You actually can learn about Stars. I used to not knowing anything about star but now I know pretty much of it. He doesn't take roll and it open note for final exam. He gives attendence and participation by see how well you do in the final exam. If you have all answers correct on the final exam then you will recieve full attendence and participation points. This class is easy. He allows student to do extra credit work assignment.

Prof. Hager is a great professor and as long as you come to class and pay close attention, you can get a good grade. I did not open my book once so I would save your money and not buy it if you are going to go to the lectures. It really suprized me to see the lack of respect that many students had, sleeping, talking and not coming. I am sure that they did very bad in the class, but I was still surprized to see people act that way. Grow up. So yeah, it is an intro class, so you do go over some background material that isn't very exciting, but going to class you learn a lot and you have the opportunity to do a ton of extra credit, which is very helpful. Oh - and he's very funny!

I enjoyed the lab for this class much more than the class itself. I would recommend taking the lab with Hagar because he makes it easier, or so I've found out by talking to others who have taken another teacher.

Tests: Pretty much based on learning constellations and other small astro bits here and there. He gives you a lot of preparation. I got 100% on most of them. *The final is easy and open book.* He goes over every question the day before and you can write it in you book.

*Fun-Level: This is a fun class at times and a boring class at times. Make friends and it helps a lot. The planetarium is fun to play in, but some of the labs are boring.

*Out of Class Time: Not much. The homework is easy and sometimes actually fun. You have to dedicate maybe 5 hours in the whole semester total outside of the class looking at the moon or going to the roof of Thornton hall to view things through telescopes.

*Extra-Credit: A chance for 14 points, that really helps if you do it.

**This class helps you understnad ASTR 115 better and 115 helps you understand this class, so I would suggest taking them together! If you have to take a lab, which most everyone does, I would make it this one.

Hagar is a cute old man, but a boring lecturer. The class was asleep or not there at all. I found myself skipping class because I felt more productive that way. But if you read the book you don't even need to go to class. And vice versa, you don't need the book (saves you money) if you are willing to go to class.

*Tests: Semi hard. The average grade is always a "C" because he grades on a curve. There are 2 tests and 2 quizzes along with the final. He gives you a chance to make up 1 test and 1 quiz at the end of the year for bad scores. He also gives you a study guide which is helpful to prepare but still useless if you don't go to class or read the book.

*Extra-Credit: He gives you a chance to get 17 points. It doesn't seem like a lot, but with 145 points total in a semester it adds up. Just do it as soon as you can.

*Fun-level: Boring. I love astronomy and the stars but this was just so dull. The only thing that was fun was laughing at his idiosyncracies, but that got old after the first week.

*Out of Class Time: Not much besides the normal studying, unless you do extra-credit.

Overall I would say take it if there's nothing else. You can pass the class with a "B" or even "A" if you put in effort, it's just finding the stimulus for that effort because there's nothing stimulating about Hagar's lectures.

BORING BORING BORING BORING!

I gave him a C+ because he really is a nice guy, he just shouldn't be teaching anymore. The sad thing is this subject could be really interesting. There is a wealth of information out there, but Hagar chooses to simply show us slides - EVERY DAY. I was really excited to take this class, as I've always thought astronomy would be really interesting. But now, I wish I hadn't. I don't think I have EVER taken a class this boring - and I have taken plenty of boring classes. If you want to take a class that keeps you awake and that you may actually do well in, do not take this professor. Sorry, he's a nice guy with good intentions, but he just ain't cutting it anymore.

This class is one of the most boring classes I have ever enrolled in. If you like just sitting in a big lecture class, never interacting at all with the teacher, and being bored out of your mind, then take this class.

He is a nice guy, and every once in a while will make a funny joke, but for the most part you will find yourself either leaving the class early or skipping it because you know you can just hear exactly what he says by reading your book.

Professor Hagar opened up the first day of class with the statement, "People call me Hagar the Horrible." I find this hard to believe. He is an OVERLY fair person; not only do we have a chance to receive Extra Credit points by visiting SFSU's Planetarium and Observatory, he is also letting us gain up to 10 points by turning in the answers to review questions for the final. This is especially helpful for those who just can't ace the tests, but know the material fairly well.

The class did not have any homework to do except read from the book. If you pay attention in class, take notes, and absorb all of the information, I'm sure that you could get a "B" just by attending the lecture.

His humor and cheerful mannerisms seem to give the class energy. It's not often that you get to see a professor do the moonwalk when talking about the moon.

I highly recommend Hagar's ASTR 115 class. If you show up, read the book, and take the time to understand the information, there is no way that you will not do good in his class.