Arizona State University - Academics

Quick Stats

College Prowler Take

ASU is home to a wide spectrum of professors and teaching assistants (TAs). Many are nationally-recognized for their work, some have relocated from the Ivy League and other renowned institutions, and a few come across as less competent than the students they teach. Professors at ASU can make or break a class. They can inspire or jade a student to the school or to the college experience as a whole. More often than not, it’s the quality of instruction that dictates a student’s interest, and subsequently his or her grade in a class, above any other academic influence. Most of the complaints about professors have to do with language barriers or how uninteresting they are. However, those students who work hard and care about their grades generally have better things to say about the faculty. It seems that the small classes hold the student’s attention better, while the large lectures leave students feeling small and at times afraid to ask for help. One thing is definite, though: The professors are always available for help and will always make time for students who have questions.

Though the most immediate benefit of actively participating in your education is a better grade, it may also open the doors to independent-study opportunities or other important prospects. Everyone will agree that the academics are feasible, yet challenging, if you have the ambition and mindset to both work hard and attain the goals you set. The ASU experience, like anything else in life, is about 10 percent your situation and 90 percent your attitude toward it.

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Students Speak Out

Anonymous says:

Classes at ASU may have as many as... Classes at ASU may have as many as 200–400 students. Fortunately, the professors hold office hours every week and there are usually a number of TAs available as well. As you move up in your major, you’ll have an opportunity to take much smaller classes. 12345 Academics Report

Anonymous says:

Most professors at ASU are great.... Most professors at ASU are great. There is, of course, the occasional exception to the rule. My advice is to register for an extra three credit hours each semester, so that, if need be, you’re able to drop a class and still satisfy full-time requirements. 12345 Academics Report

Anonymous says:

My teachers were very helpful.... My teachers were very helpful. They were available outside of class for any questions. It was a little difficult to get used to the large class sizes here at the University because you become a number rather than a student. 12345 Academics Report

Anonymous says:

I think the academics at ASU are... I think the academics at ASU are great! All of my teachers have been awesome. To break it down, I would say the small classes are better if you like more of a personal touch. My higher division classes were smaller, and consisted of more team work and hands-on learning. My larger lectures were still good, but consisted of more straightforward learning, like note-taking and grades largely based on the tests. 12345 Academics Report

Anonymous says:

I’ve gone to two other... I’ve gone to two other universities before finally staying at ASU. I think the classes and coursework are a lot easier at ASU, but there are still students who manage to fail their classes. I think ASU is not as challenging as it could be, but I guess it’s more a matter of how focused a student is. I’ve had an easy time with my classes, and no problem getting help from professors, but I’m also comparing that with the more difficult schools that I previously attended. 12345 Academics Report

Facts

Did You Know?

ASU’s undergraduate interior design program is ranked second in the nation, along with the undergraduate supply chain management program, which is ranked fourth.

There are more than 500 registered student organizations creating a vibrant campus life.

Arizona State offers a bunch of online courses every semester, and even in the summer and winter. Go to class in your underwear!

The Fine Arts Center houses one of the "single most impressive venues for contemporary art in Arizona," according to Art in America magazine. The ASU Art Museum collection includes one of the most important bodies of prints west of the Mississippi and an outstanding collection of American ceramics.

ASU has already developed nationally-recognized programs in a number of fields: accounting, creative writing; design science, ecology and evolutionary biology, electron microscopy, exercise science, geochemistry, music, nanotechnology, prevention psychology, psychology, psychology in education, solid state science, and engineering.

Ranking 22nd in the nation among public programs, the W.P. Carey MBA combines a curriculum of business fundamentals with marketplace issues and trends, offering students knowledge and experience to excel in a global economy.

ASU currently ranks fourth among public universities in its enrollment of freshman merit scholars.

Arizona State University was recently dubbed the fourth "up and coming" university due to recent academic improvements.

Before recent improvements to its academic repertoire, ASU was mentioned on shows such as The Simpsons, The George Lopez Show, and American Dad!

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