Reviews for PLSC113

Information Review
Bill Phillips
PLSC113

Expecting a C
Anonymous
11/14/2024 		PLSC 112 - Dr. Phillips is a good guys with great knowledge of agronomy, however his lectures are super dry. Lecture is twice a week Mon/Wed plus two-three quizzes that are due on the weekend instead of meeting on Fridays. All exams are online; there are three 'midterms' and one final. PLSC 113 - The problem with this class is the lab. The first lab report that we did was fine because we did it over a few weeks. However, the second was a MESS. We were barely given any information on what we were actually looking for and the lab groups were split up, so the information collected isn't even mine and could be totally wrong. Very little guidance was given on the lab reports which was extremely frustrating for someone who has never written one before. Plus, the identification quizzes are ridiculous. The questions are too specific and you have to identify grasses that are practically the same just by touching them, which is not something you can study. As a non-science major, this was very frustrating. He teaches you how to identify by comparing one plant to another and then you have to identify the plant while it's on its own, defeating the whole purpose. Not to mention, most weeks the lab takes place in the Greenhouse which is BEHIND the Xfinity Center. He gives you extra time to get to/from the lab, but it's a hike. This was NOT made clear on Testudo. Other weeks, we took a field trip to a farm where transportation was provided and another time we went to a turf farm where transportation was not provided. If I didn't have a car, I don't think I would have made it in time. Overall, the lecture for this class is boring, but easy. You will have to put in work for the lab and walk around a lot. This was the only lab option that I had because I needed to take it this semester, but avoid if you have other options. If you can't avoid it, it won't be the end of the world but don't expect an A in the lab unless you have a photographic memory.
Bill Phillips
PLSC113

Expecting an A-
Anonymous
12/12/2023 		Professor Phillips is kind and knows a lot about agronomy. His quizzes can be a bit hard if you don't properly pay attention when overviewing the crops and weeds. This semester, the PLSC113 lab included three identification quizzes and two lab reports. For the identification quizzes, we had to identify the different types of agronomic crops that we were studying. We went on two field trips to the turf farm and another UMD farm about 20 minutes away. This class does take place in the UMD Research Greenhouse which is behind Xfinity Center (it's a bit of a walk to get there), but Professor Phillips starts class late and ends class early to make sure we all have enough time. Overall for a Gen Ed Lab, it was a fine class.