Bob is honestly such an authentic person, both in class and out of class. The class is hard, no doubt, and he expects a lot of you, but the tests and homework were not unfair nor impossible if you paid attention in lecture, read the material, and asked questions. He is not always 100% super nice, but he is kind and truthful and tells it like it is.Rate My Professors ↗
Current instructor
Robert Mathieu
What students say
Original student reviews · all captured dates
He was a very nice professor, it was a very interesting class to make more sense of Astronomy (as part of the fig). That being said, if you intend on getting a major in Astronomy, do not take the fig, just start taking the classes required to achieve that degree. Reading "the structure of scientific revolutions" was not fun, however.Rate My Professors ↗
Very belittling, do not take this FIG. It would be more beneficial to any students interested in astronomy to just take astronomy courses. Book we read was complex for a freshman level. Does not believe women can succeed in astronomy. (His words not mine). AVOID AT ALL COSTS.Rate My Professors ↗
Bases all grades on very few homework assignments (which are extremely tedious) and exams. Extremely disrespectful in lectures and plays favorites with those who do the best in the course. Fixed curves with no compassion for those doing poorly in the class. If you start off the class poorly, drop it.Rate My Professors ↗
Honestly he's a great professor and great guy, but the final was worth 40% of the grade with normal grade cutoffs (92+ for an A, 89 for an AB, 82 for a B, etc), and his homework required a lot of thinking and work, making it a lot each week just for it to be worth only 20% of the grade. If you're fine with a lower grade, definitely take him.Rate My Professors ↗
Prof Mathieu is an awful professor. Final was 40% of our grade. Hw's took more time than all my other classes combined. Didn't post notes or practice tests. Used standard grade cutoffs (93 for A, 89 for AB...). Not caring or understanding of personal circumstance. His attitude is pompous, arrogant, and always belittled students in lec as a "joke"Rate My Professors ↗
Personal experiences, not a representative survey. Profile matching and captured coverage are shown in the source details.
Classes with Robert Mathieu
Directed Study
1–3 creditsASTRON 199 is an introductory directed study allowing students to conduct mentored independent research arranged with faculty.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2022 · limited sampleSenior Honors Thesis
3 creditsASTRON 681 is an individual study course for seniors to complete honors theses in the Astronomy major under faculty supervision.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
No recorded grade history
Senior Thesis
2–3 creditsASTRON 691 is an individual study course for seniors completing their theses, arranged with a faculty member.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
No recorded grade history
Directed Study
1–6 creditsASTRON 699 is a directed study course for junior and senior students to conduct independent projects arranged with a faculty member.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2022 · limited sampleResearch and Thesis
1–12 creditsASTRON 990 is a research and thesis course providing advanced mentored reading and research opportunities for graduate students.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
No recorded grade history
A first-year seminar exploring interdisciplinary topics in the social and natural sciences.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Robert Mathieu is described as very belittling and accused of holding sexist views about women in astronomy, with one reviewer advising to avoid the course entirely.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Fall 2025 · limited sampleRecorded teaching history
Explore courses taught by this instructor →Browse recorded courses
| Term | Course | Title |
|---|---|---|
| Fall 2026 | ASTRON 199 | Directed Study |
| Fall 2026 | ASTRON 681 | Senior Honors Thesis |
| Fall 2026 | ASTRON 691 | Senior Thesis |
| Fall 2026 | ASTRON 699 | Directed Study |
| Fall 2026 | ASTRON 990 | Research and Thesis |
| Fall 2026 | INTER-LS 107 | First-year Seminar in the Social Sciences and Natural Sciences |
Teaching history may be incomplete. Course pages contain course-specific feedback and citations.
Instructor identity & provenance
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