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
Senior Honors Thesis
3 creditsIndividual study for seniors completing theses for honors in the major, arranged with a faculty member.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
No recorded grade history
Senior Thesis
2–3 creditsSenior Thesis: Individual study for seniors completing theses as arranged with a faculty member.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
No recorded grade history
Senior Thesis
2–3 creditsSenior Thesis is an individual study for seniors completing theses arranged with a faculty member, serving as a continuation of ASTRON 691.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
No recorded grade history
Directed Study
1–6 creditsDirected study projects for juniors and seniors as arranged with a faculty member.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
No recorded grade history
Research and Thesis
1–12 creditsAdvanced level mentored reading and research for graduate students in the Astronomy PhD program, focused on thesis work.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
No recorded grade history
Recorded teaching history
Distinct courses recorded per term
Explore courses taught by this instructor →Browse recorded courses
| Term | Course | Title |
|---|---|---|
| Spring 2027 | ASTRON 681 | Senior Honors Thesis |
| Spring 2027 | ASTRON 691 | Senior Thesis |
| Spring 2027 | ASTRON 692 | Senior Thesis |
| Spring 2027 | ASTRON 699 | Directed Study |
| Spring 2027 | ASTRON 990 | Research and Thesis |
| 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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