MSE 2010

Easy course especially if you’re in the eschool. Still need to do the readings to do well in this course. Everything is open note so just try to have a general idea of the topics so you can do well on the tests. Tests are like a scavenger hunt for the answers almost. Kelly is a chill guy.

This class was one of my easiest classes at UVA as an engineering student. The first test had some formatting issues, so the format was changed for the second exam and, predictably, the exam average went from a C- to a B (the new format was also used for the final). There was definitely a curve to the class to cover the first test, which I thought was fair. I found the lectures and content to be pretty interesting and easy to understand. The quizzes and exams were all open book and open notes, so you could pretty much ctrl + F through almost all the questions. Would recommend for any engineering student who wants a light, interesting elective and/or a GPA booster class.

This course is also cross-listed as EVSC 2010. Many people were upset about the course the semester I took it. I personally was too after the first midterm. However, things got a lot better and I ended up with an A- despite scoring a 68% on the first midterm. Kelly is very flexible and willing to help out, but don't take advantage of this. He also has a great sense of humor and I actually found the material to be pretty interesting. I think a lot of people didn't take the time to understand even the bare minimum amount of the material which is all it takes to do well (since everything is open-note). I recommend compiling every question with the answer he's ever given you along with an index of topics covered and the page numbers associated with them in the textbook -- have this all open when taking any exams. If you can find answers quickly, you'll do well.

DO not take this class. Its useless, uninteresting, and the grade distribution is messed up. Tests have vague questions that have nothing to do with lectures and are 300 points, but reading quizzes and participation paints are 5 points and 1 point respectively, so they don't actually help at all. The professor is entertaining, but also extremely condescending.

This class isn't very difficult. All of the tests are take home, however most of the questions just asked pretty trivial questions about specific facts that didn't really seem to get at the main point. A lot of the time it seemed like a scavenger hunt through the slides or textbook to find the exact statistic he wants. Generally though the class is pretty chill, Kelly gives extra credit, the textbook is free online and you really only need to go to class for learning catalytics. The biggest downside of this class was it was SO boring. It's not very difficult and requires very little work, but don't take it if you're looking for a fun or interesting class.

One of the most rewarding and relevant classes I've taken so far at UVA. Professor Kelly is clearly extremely passionate and knowledgeable about the material he teaches, and the topics covered in the course directly address everyday processes, like recycling and energy production. He posts PowerPoint skeletons on Collab before each lecture and records his lectures --- Would highly recommend taking notes in the skeleton (especially because it includes diagrams with precise numbers you often can't draw by hand) and using the recordings to fill out anything you may have missed. The textbook is FREE, online, has a soundtrack (yes, songs about recycling and reducing waste), and downloadable as a PDF. At times, a lot of numbers and technical terms float around, but all of the weekly or biweekly reading quizzes and tests are completely open note (CNTR+F is your best friend) and he gives abundant extra credit opportunities. He has the ultimate dad sense of humor, but combined with the easy-to-follow ways he describes processes and concepts, that's just what makes him an even better professor.

Kelly is a great professor...really approachable, cool, makes lectures easy to pay attention to. Few exams are on collab, and quizzes occurred every couple of weeks on the readings. Textbook was free and online....you could CTRL + F the textbook to help you with quizzes and tests. Offers extra credit. Lectures are recorded so if you miss something, you can easily go back and catch it. Learning Catalytics make you come to class but they're just participation based and help your grade. Overall, really manageable class and you actually learn a lot. I'm a Politics major and thought this would be way over my head, but I actually learned a lot of relevant material. Definitely worth taking if you need some extra, manageable course credits.