John Fourkas | PlanetTerp

Information	Review
John Fourkas CHEM276 Expecting an A+ Anonymous 06/05/2025	I agree with the last couple reviews. I just wanted to add something about the 30% participation grade. The class was at 9am, so I did end up skipping a few lectures which made me super nervous about my participation grade. In the end, we never saw a grade go into canvas for participation, and all of our exams/quizzes were graded based on std deviations from the mean. Anyway, even with missing a few classes I ended up with an A+, so I think they are ok if you miss a couple without affecting your grade too much.
John Fourkas CHEM276 Expecting an A Anonymous 05/30/2025	He's a super nice guy. Class is technically flipped but you don't really need to watch the videos. Participation was 30% of the grade so just showing up and being there automatically got you a half decent grade. The weekly quizzes and exams were super fair and very similar to the practice material. He does everything he can to make it so that you get the best grade possible.
John Fourkas CHEM276 Expecting an A- Anonymous 05/27/2025	Such a kind and understanding professor. While I don't love flipped classes this one was okay. Videos are always in between 20 and 30 minutes which was not too bad to keep up with but can sometimes be a bit word heavy. But that was kinda the point of this class, we did all practice problems during class which was very helpful. Also he had participation points, 30% of the grade, so def go to class and be on time. Sometimes they were at the beginning of class and only then so you would miss it and have to email him. Exams were not horrible but def needed more studying then I did for them. Averages were always high but he does curve a bit. Quizzes and homework were alright. I would say review the Tutorials he posts and the homework to study for quizzes. All in all, he's a great guy and a great prof!!
John Fourkas CHEM276 Expecting an A Anonymous 05/29/2024	Dr. Fourkas is GREAT! If he is your professor you have nothing to worry about his lectures are amazing. This class was set up in a way where you watch a 20-minute lecture before class then during in in-person lecture you do practice problems which was great for this class. His homework reflects questions found on exams, you can tell he cares about this course and the students.
John Fourkas CHEM276 Expecting an A- Anonymous 05/29/2024	10/10 no notes except you do not know your grade until the very end however he makes it VERY possible for you to get an A.
John Fourkas CHEM276 Expecting an A Anonymous 05/24/2024	Fourkas is a great professor. He teaches everything in a very straightforward manner that really helps you understand. The homework and discussion problems are extremely similar to exams, so if you understand them you'll do very well on the midterms and the final. He also drops one of the three midterms. He was very helpful during office hours and you could tell he wants all of his students to succeed. He does have clicker questions graded for completion and a quiz every Friday, so you have to come to class. However, the quizzes are easy if you've watched the lectures, and he drops two of them. Overall I learned a lot and I definitely recommend him.
John Fourkas CHEM276 Expecting a B+ Anonymous 05/17/2024	I loved Dr. Fourkas, the only commentary I have is that his practice exams often do not highlight theory whereas his exams usually contain a theory section. He's a very sweet guy and forgiving, I was just frustrated that you never actually knew how you were doing in the class until final grades were assigned because he did not update canvas properly.
John Fourkas CHEM276 Expecting an A Anonymous 05/16/2024	Dr. Fourkas is the best professor I have had at UMD. He is very good at explaining concepts and he actually tests on what he teaches. He is also super nice and easy to talk to which makes asking questions not intimidating at all. He will stay after class to explain concepts and genuinely cares about his students doing well. Would definitely recommend!
John Fourkas CHEM276 Anonymous 05/04/2023	Honestly, the best professor I have had at UMD. He truly makes sure you understand the concepts. His quizzes and exams are straightforward and similar to the homework problems you do.
John Fourkas CHEM276 Expecting an A Anonymous 04/26/2023	Dr. Fourkas is definitely the nicest professor I've had since starting college. He's a very kind and patient man. The structure of his class really helps you understand the topics as well as the work behind the problems. He's great at explaining things in his videos, and he's very understanding when it comes to weekly quizzes and exams. I honestly wish he could teach for the rest of my classes until graduation. Definitely recommend 100/10.
John Fourkas CHEM276 Expecting an A penguin 04/15/2015	Dr. Fourkas is literally one of the best professors in the Department of Chemistry. Not only is he a fantastic professor, but he also sincerely cares for his students. If you do not understand a concept, he takes the time to help you understand it. He will even send you different documents and resources to help you understand them more fully. He also understands that we have a tough courseload, so he changes assignment deadlines and even exam dates to different days to help us focus more. He is very generous with grading and is very willing to give back points to you if your work makes sense. I would love to take Dr. Fourkas again. He is literally one of the best and kindest professors at UMD!!!

John Fourkas
CHEM276

Expecting an A+
Anonymous
06/05/2025

I agree with the last couple reviews. I just wanted to add something about the 30% participation grade. The class was at 9am, so I did end up skipping a few lectures which made me super nervous about my participation grade. In the end, we never saw a grade go into canvas for participation, and all of our exams/quizzes were graded based on std deviations from the mean. Anyway, even with missing a few classes I ended up with an A+, so I think they are ok if you miss a couple without affecting your grade too much.

John Fourkas
CHEM276

Expecting an A
Anonymous
05/30/2025

He's a super nice guy. Class is technically flipped but you don't really need to watch the videos. Participation was 30% of the grade so just showing up and being there automatically got you a half decent grade. The weekly quizzes and exams were super fair and very similar to the practice material. He does everything he can to make it so that you get the best grade possible.

John Fourkas
CHEM276

Expecting an A-
Anonymous
05/27/2025

Such a kind and understanding professor. While I don't love flipped classes this one was okay. Videos are always in between 20 and 30 minutes which was not too bad to keep up with but can sometimes be a bit word heavy. But that was kinda the point of this class, we did all practice problems during class which was very helpful. Also he had participation points, 30% of the grade, so def go to class and be on time. Sometimes they were at the beginning of class and only then so you would miss it and have to email him. Exams were not horrible but def needed more studying then I did for them. Averages were always high but he does curve a bit. Quizzes and homework were alright. I would say review the Tutorials he posts and the homework to study for quizzes. All in all, he's a great guy and a great prof!!

John Fourkas
CHEM276

Expecting an A
Anonymous
05/29/2024

Dr. Fourkas is GREAT! If he is your professor you have nothing to worry about his lectures are amazing. This class was set up in a way where you watch a 20-minute lecture before class then during in in-person lecture you do practice problems which was great for this class. His homework reflects questions found on exams, you can tell he cares about this course and the students.

John Fourkas
CHEM276

Expecting an A-
Anonymous
05/29/2024

10/10 no notes except you do not know your grade until the very end however he makes it VERY possible for you to get an A.

John Fourkas
CHEM276

Expecting an A
Anonymous
05/24/2024

Fourkas is a great professor. He teaches everything in a very straightforward manner that really helps you understand. The homework and discussion problems are extremely similar to exams, so if you understand them you'll do very well on the midterms and the final. He also drops one of the three midterms. He was very helpful during office hours and you could tell he wants all of his students to succeed. He does have clicker questions graded for completion and a quiz every Friday, so you have to come to class. However, the quizzes are easy if you've watched the lectures, and he drops two of them. Overall I learned a lot and I definitely recommend him.

John Fourkas
CHEM276

Expecting a B+
Anonymous
05/17/2024

I loved Dr. Fourkas, the only commentary I have is that his practice exams often do not highlight theory whereas his exams usually contain a theory section. He's a very sweet guy and forgiving, I was just frustrated that you never actually knew how you were doing in the class until final grades were assigned because he did not update canvas properly.

John Fourkas
CHEM276

Expecting an A
Anonymous
05/16/2024

Dr. Fourkas is the best professor I have had at UMD. He is very good at explaining concepts and he actually tests on what he teaches. He is also super nice and easy to talk to which makes asking questions not intimidating at all. He will stay after class to explain concepts and genuinely cares about his students doing well. Would definitely recommend!

John Fourkas
CHEM276

Anonymous
05/04/2023

Honestly, the best professor I have had at UMD. He truly makes sure you understand the concepts. His quizzes and exams are straightforward and similar to the homework problems you do.

John Fourkas
CHEM276

Expecting an A
Anonymous
04/26/2023

Dr. Fourkas is definitely the nicest professor I've had since starting college. He's a very kind and patient man. The structure of his class really helps you understand the topics as well as the work behind the problems. He's great at explaining things in his videos, and he's very understanding when it comes to weekly quizzes and exams. I honestly wish he could teach for the rest of my classes until graduation. Definitely recommend 100/10.

John Fourkas
CHEM276

Expecting an A
penguin
04/15/2015

Dr. Fourkas is literally one of the best professors in the Department of Chemistry. Not only is he a fantastic professor, but he also sincerely cares for his students. If you do not understand a concept, he takes the time to help you understand it. He will even send you different documents and resources to help you understand them more fully. He also understands that we have a tough courseload, so he changes assignment deadlines and even exam dates to different days to help us focus more. He is very generous with grading and is very willing to give back points to you if your work makes sense. I would love to take Dr. Fourkas again. He is literally one of the best and kindest professors at UMD!!!