Current instructor
Original student reviews · all captured dates
So. Many. Tangents. Will spend half the class talking about current events which may be interesting, but are completely unrelated to the actual material. Very nice prof, just needs to make better use of lecture time. Not a difficult class, but I skipped half the lectures because they were usually a waste.Rate My Professors ↗
He was very knowledgeable about the material (as you would hope a professor would be) and considerate about his students' concerns and feedback on how to improve the course. Overall 8/10.Rate My Professors ↗
Dr. McConnell is a great professor, his lectures are easy to digest and the exams aren't that difficult. The math can be difficult if it's not your strong-suit, but the exams are only ~30% quantitative and the professors/TAs are helpful. Honors project was pretty easy, it's an infographic and it's mainly graded on completion.Rate My Professors ↗
He is a good lecturer and cares about the success of his students. Lecture attendance is not required but discussion is. Readings get assigned but aren't necessary and as long as you pay attention in lecture, you'll do well. Math concepts are confusing at times but the exams only have a few questions regarding math. Lowest exam dropped!Rate My Professors ↗
The content is interesting, and he cares about teaching it to students. Homework was graded super lightly and was worth 50% of the grade. The other 50% is from two exams that are easy if you study and pay attention. The honors project was an infographic. Overall, a great teacher and would recommend him to astronomy and non-astronomy students alike.Rate My Professors ↗
Astronomy 103 was fairly easy. The math could be a little confusing, but if you're decent at algebra and pay attention, it's not difficult. Homework is graded lightly as well. The honors project was an infographic that was easy to complete. Dr. McConnell does a good job explaining the content to the class. He's passionate about teaching astronomy.Rate My Professors ↗
Personal experiences, not a representative survey. Profile matching and captured coverage are shown in the source details.
ASTRON 103 explores the universe, covering stars, galaxies, black holes, and cosmology.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Recent recorded grades — Spring 2025: 3.23 GPA, 59.6% A/AB (n=151 letter grades); Fall 2025: 3.42 GPA, 69.1% A/AB (n=152 letter grades); Spring 2026: 3.35 GPA, 63.3% A/AB (n=109 letter grades).
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026ASTRON 104 explores the modern understanding of the solar system, planetary formation, and exoplanets, covering celestial motions, gravity, and the history of astronomy.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Recent recorded grades — Spring 2026: 3.43 GPA, 74.5% A/AB (n=149 letter grades).
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026| Term | Course | Title |
|---|---|---|
| Fall 2026 | ASTRON 103 | The Evolving Universe: Stars, Galaxies, and Cosmology |
| Fall 2026 | ASTRON 104 | Our Exploration of the Solar System |
Teaching history may be incomplete. Course pages contain course-specific feedback and citations.
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