MAE 2000

Professor Thacker had interesting lectures, even though the material was pretty boring. The first half of the class focused on properties of materials, which required a lot of memorization (and I mean a lot if you wanted to get an A or B on the first exam). If you did the homework assignments, which was answering elementary questions about the readings, you got an A on the assignment. For the second half of the class, which focused on engineering drawings, expect to spend more time on the homework assignments but no memorization is needed. At least one homework assignment was due in every class. Only homework assignments and two exams are graded. NO FINAL.

He is a really nice guy, just not the most exciting lectures. If you want to be a MechE you gotta take it. Attendance is required, otherwise your grade will go down for every class you miss. No final, and as long as you do well on the hw, the tests don't really hurt your grade.

200 is one of those courses that will hindsight be the most beneficial for you as a practicing engineer. Some of the material is pretty dry, but it's good stuff. The assignments for the most part is the most demanding part of the course. There are on average 3-5 a week, but they are almost guaranteed A's. The tests are very, very difficult to study for and make an A. This course needs to be a 3 credit hour class.

Thacker is bi-polar or something. He can be awfully grumpy one day but helpful the next. He means well, but he's getting old and I get the feeling that he doesn't like teaching as much as he used to. He's inaccesible out of the classroom.

The amount of work due was inconsistent throughout the semester. It provided a foundation for the mechanical engineering major but the workload for the second half of the semester was not fair relative to number of credit hours (2 credits). Workshop was fun, in which we learn how to make drawings in Inventor. You will be surprised to find out how much work you can have from a 2 credit course.

For a 2 credit course, it feels like a 3 or 4. If it weren't for Gavin as TA, the lab with Inventor could have been pretty tough. Thacker's tests are known to be difficult no matter the course (these are actually easy for him with 77-83 being about right). Do the reading and SAVE THE TEXT. Despite the typo's, it is a great resource.

He's kind of a goofy guy -- go to class he'll hand out homework or in-class work on a random basis. He let our Tuesday-Thursday class out half an hour early most days.

This class is required for mechanical engineers at uva. its boring but pretty easy if you put a little time into it. Study the manuals he gives out. Theres also some solid modeling but nothing difficult

Thacker's lecture's are very very dry, it's hard to pay attention and homework can be very frustrating. He is helpful in office hours though if you make the effort to go.

I would not recommend this class unless it is required.

This class requires a ridiculous amount of work for two credits. Homework starts out pretty easy but then becomes disproportionately hard in the middle of the semester. The midterms are ridiculous, and each encompasses an entire book. Lectures are taken straight from the book and are terrible. Avoid unless you have to take this class for your major/minor.

Very good TA. Not a good professor, much more workload than the credits given.