Carney Curve

Boston College course evaluations · every published number, ranked class by class

Top of the board1.ECON 9902962.LAWS 8856973.PRTO 3300984.BSLW 2299975.PHIL 4932986.LAWS 8308987.SCWK 9960998.EESC 99011009.MUSP 16609610.UGMG 10109811.UNCP 55119712.SCWK 883197

Positions account for how many records stand behind each number, so one perfect review does not outrank a semester of them. Every score shown is the real average — only the ordering is adjusted.

Instructor record · Physics · Fall 2021 – Spring 2026

Andrzej Herczynski

Research Professor · Physics · 48 evaluation records across 6 classes

On each class's board
PHYS 205036th of 37 instructorsPHYS 205134th of 34 instructorsPHYS 77321st of 2 instructorsPHYS 1400only instructor on recordPHYS 77112nd of 3 instructors ProvisionalPHYS 4150only instructor on record Provisional
What the overall is made of
61BC evaluations48 records · weight ×1.0 · Fall 2021 – Spring 2026
60RateMyProfessors5 ratings · weight ×2.0 · 40% would take again
—Student reviewsno reviews — does not contribute

Sources are averaged by how much we trust each one and by how many records sit behind it, so a handful of reviews nudges the number rather than replacing it.

What the challenge rank is made of
37thMore challenging than 37% of BC instructorsranked against every one we hold
86BC — “Intellectually Challenging”48 records · raw score out of 100

Boston College's own “intellectually challenging” question — students answer it positively about courses that stretched them, so it measures intellectual challenge and NOT grading, workload or quality. Almost every BC class scores high on it, which is why it is shown as a rank rather than a score. RateMyProfessors separately rates this instructor 64 out of 100 for difficulty — that IS a difficulty measure, but it is about the person across everything they teach, not about any one class, so it is shown here rather than folded into the number above.

What the workload rank is made of
80thMore work than 80% of BC instructorsranked against every one we hold
61BC — “Workload”48 records · raw score out of 100

Boston College reports workload as one of five bands, not as a number of hours, and it does not publish what the bands mean — so this site will not translate it into hours. Higher means more work, which is not the same as worse.

Ratings from outside BC

Not evaluation data

Collected from RateMyProfessors, not from Boston College: 5 ratings, 40% would take again, difficulty 64 out of 100. Difficulty is not a quality signal in either direction — a harder course is not a worse one.

Anyone can post there — no @bc.edu check and no enrolment check — so it is weighted alongside the evaluation data, never above it.

The line

All 13 items · means across 48 records
The Professor4 items
Clearly Explains MaterialThe instructor was effective at creating an understanding of difficult subject matter.
692nd pctl
Available Outside of ClassThe instructor was available for help outside of class.
691st pctl
Brings Out Your Best WorkThe instructor motivated me to do my best work.
671st pctl
Sparked My InterestThe course stimulated my interest in the subject matter.
671st pctl
The Course3 items
Well-Organized CourseThe course was well organized.
778th pctl
Clear Learning GoalsThe learning objectives for the course were clear.
744th pctl
Useful Beyond the CourseWhat I learned is applicable beyond this course.
650th pctl
Assignments & Feedback3 items
Assignments Help You LearnAssignments and exams contributed to my learning.
692nd pctl
Gives Feedback PromptlyI received feedback on my work in a timely manner.
7912th pctl
Meaningful FeedbackThe feedback I received on my work was meaningful.
724th pctl
Workload, difficulty & attendanceNot ratings
WorkloadHow much work the course took outside class, on Boston College's five-band scale — the band boundaries are not published, so this is not a number of hours.
6180th pctl
Intellectually ChallengingThe course was intellectually challenging.
8637th pctl
Attendance MattersAttending class was necessary to do well in this course.
9271st pctl

Bar length is the rank against every comparable record we hold, not the raw score: BC's questions all have a median around 4.5, so a raw-scale bar would be nearly full on every row and would tell you nothing. Every bar is one ink colour — nothing here is graded green or red. The hatched bars are not ratings at all: a higher number on either describes a different course, not a better one.

Class by class

6 classes · 48 sections

How each position is worked outPositions account for how many records stand behind each number, so one perfect review does not outrank a semester of them. Every score shown is the real average — only the ordering is adjusted.

PHYS 2050 Introductory Physics Laboratory IOvr60Chal19thWork78th
On this class's board36th of 37 instructors

20 sections on record · course itself rated 51 out of 100. See the full board for PHYS 2050.

TermSecInstrCourseWork
Fall 202101454080
Fall 202103685860
Fall 202104545460
Fall 202105504760
Fall 202106655760
Fall 202107665560
Fall 202108533860
Fall 202109475060
Fall 2021104542—
Fall 2021116352—
Fall 202113575460
Fall 202114404060

Showing the first 12.

All 13 items for PHYS 2050
The Professor4 items
Clearly Explains MaterialThe instructor was effective at creating an understanding of difficult subject matter.
691st pctl
Available Outside of ClassThe instructor was available for help outside of class.
690th pctl
Brings Out Your Best WorkThe instructor motivated me to do my best work.
660th pctl
Sparked My InterestThe course stimulated my interest in the subject matter.
660th pctl
The Course3 items
Well-Organized CourseThe course was well organized.
777th pctl
Clear Learning GoalsThe learning objectives for the course were clear.
743rd pctl
Useful Beyond the CourseWhat I learned is applicable beyond this course.
650th pctl
Assignments & Feedback3 items
Assignments Help You LearnAssignments and exams contributed to my learning.
701st pctl
Gives Feedback PromptlyI received feedback on my work in a timely manner.
789th pctl
Meaningful FeedbackThe feedback I received on my work was meaningful.
722nd pctl
Workload, difficulty & attendanceNot ratings
WorkloadHow much work the course took outside class, on Boston College's five-band scale — the band boundaries are not published, so this is not a number of hours.
6178th pctl
Intellectually ChallengingThe course was intellectually challenging.
8519th pctl
Attendance MattersAttending class was necessary to do well in this course.
9572nd pctl

Bar length is the rank against every comparable record we hold, not the raw score: BC's questions all have a median around 4.5, so a raw-scale bar would be nearly full on every row and would tell you nothing. Every bar is one ink colour — nothing here is graded green or red. The hatched bars are not ratings at all: a higher number on either describes a different course, not a better one.

PHYS 2051 Introductory Physics Laboratory IIOvr53Chal29thWork48th
On this class's board34th of 34 instructors

18 sections on record · course itself rated 47 out of 100. See the full board for PHYS 2051.

TermSecInstrCourseWork
Spring 2022013746—
Spring 2022034040—
Spring 202204524660
Spring 202205484260
Spring 202206554960
Spring 202207514860
Spring 202208855360
Spring 202209605660
Spring 202211686360
Spring 202213433640
Spring 202214675360
Spring 202215566260

Showing the first 12.

All 13 items for PHYS 2051
The Professor4 items
Clearly Explains MaterialThe instructor was effective at creating an understanding of difficult subject matter.
630th pctl
Available Outside of ClassThe instructor was available for help outside of class.
620th pctl
Brings Out Your Best WorkThe instructor motivated me to do my best work.
600th pctl
Sparked My InterestThe course stimulated my interest in the subject matter.
600th pctl
The Course3 items
Well-Organized CourseThe course was well organized.
744th pctl
Clear Learning GoalsThe learning objectives for the course were clear.
691st pctl
Useful Beyond the CourseWhat I learned is applicable beyond this course.
590th pctl
Assignments & Feedback3 items
Assignments Help You LearnAssignments and exams contributed to my learning.
620th pctl
Gives Feedback PromptlyI received feedback on my work in a timely manner.
779th pctl
Meaningful FeedbackThe feedback I received on my work was meaningful.
681st pctl
Workload, difficulty & attendanceNot ratings
WorkloadHow much work the course took outside class, on Boston College's five-band scale — the band boundaries are not published, so this is not a number of hours.
5948th pctl
Intellectually ChallengingThe course was intellectually challenging.
8729th pctl
Attendance MattersAttending class was necessary to do well in this course.
9357th pctl

Bar length is the rank against every comparable record we hold, not the raw score: BC's questions all have a median around 4.5, so a raw-scale bar would be nearly full on every row and would tell you nothing. Every bar is one ink colour — nothing here is graded green or red. The hatched bars are not ratings at all: a higher number on either describes a different course, not a better one.

PHYS 7732 Electromagnetic Theory IOvr78Chal36thWork93rd
On this class's board1st of 2 instructors

4 sections on record · course itself rated 75 out of 100. See the full board for PHYS 7732.

TermSecInstrCourseWork
Spring 202501757380
Spring 2024018078100
Spring 202301747480
Spring 202201837460
All 13 items for PHYS 7732
The Professor4 items
Clearly Explains MaterialThe instructor was effective at creating an understanding of difficult subject matter.
817th pctl
Available Outside of ClassThe instructor was available for help outside of class.
8612th pctl
Brings Out Your Best WorkThe instructor motivated me to do my best work.
817th pctl
Sparked My InterestThe course stimulated my interest in the subject matter.
814th pctl
The Course3 items
Well-Organized CourseThe course was well organized.
8728th pctl
Clear Learning GoalsThe learning objectives for the course were clear.
8829th pctl
Useful Beyond the CourseWhat I learned is applicable beyond this course.
783rd pctl
Assignments & Feedback3 items
Assignments Help You LearnAssignments and exams contributed to my learning.
808th pctl
Gives Feedback PromptlyI received feedback on my work in a timely manner.
9040th pctl
Meaningful FeedbackThe feedback I received on my work was meaningful.
8831st pctl
Workload, difficulty & attendanceNot ratings
WorkloadHow much work the course took outside class, on Boston College's five-band scale — the band boundaries are not published, so this is not a number of hours.
8093rd pctl
Intellectually ChallengingThe course was intellectually challenging.
8836th pctl
Attendance MattersAttending class was necessary to do well in this course.
8112th pctl

Bar length is the rank against every comparable record we hold, not the raw score: BC's questions all have a median around 4.5, so a raw-scale bar would be nearly full on every row and would tell you nothing. Every bar is one ink colour — nothing here is graded green or red. The hatched bars are not ratings at all: a higher number on either describes a different course, not a better one.

PHYS 1400 The Art of PhysicsOvr68Chal18thWork39th
On this class's boardonly instructor on record

3 sections on record · course itself rated 62 out of 100. See the full board for PHYS 1400.

TermSecInstrCourseWork
Fall 2023018175—
Fall 202201434060
Fall 202101797040
All 13 items for PHYS 1400
The Professor4 items
Clearly Explains MaterialThe instructor was effective at creating an understanding of difficult subject matter.
670th pctl
Available Outside of ClassThe instructor was available for help outside of class.
721st pctl
Brings Out Your Best WorkThe instructor motivated me to do my best work.
701st pctl
Sparked My InterestThe course stimulated my interest in the subject matter.
782nd pctl
The Course3 items
Well-Organized CourseThe course was well organized.
682nd pctl
Clear Learning GoalsThe learning objectives for the course were clear.
661st pctl
Useful Beyond the CourseWhat I learned is applicable beyond this course.
640th pctl
Assignments & Feedback3 items
Assignments Help You LearnAssignments and exams contributed to my learning.
681st pctl
Gives Feedback PromptlyI received feedback on my work in a timely manner.
789th pctl
Meaningful FeedbackThe feedback I received on my work was meaningful.
641st pctl
Workload, difficulty & attendanceNot ratings
WorkloadHow much work the course took outside class, on Boston College's five-band scale — the band boundaries are not published, so this is not a number of hours.
5039th pctl
Intellectually ChallengingThe course was intellectually challenging.
8418th pctl
Attendance MattersAttending class was necessary to do well in this course.
8417th pctl

Bar length is the rank against every comparable record we hold, not the raw score: BC's questions all have a median around 4.5, so a raw-scale bar would be nearly full on every row and would tell you nothing. Every bar is one ink colour — nothing here is graded green or red. The hatched bars are not ratings at all: a higher number on either describes a different course, not a better one.

PHYS 7711 Classical MechanicsOvr78Chal51stWork78th
On this class's board2nd of 3 instructors Provisional

2 sections on record · course itself rated 82 out of 100. See the full board for PHYS 7711.

TermSecInstrCourseWork
Fall 2025019095—
Fall 202401676960
All 13 items for PHYS 7711
The Professor4 items
Clearly Explains MaterialThe instructor was effective at creating an understanding of difficult subject matter.
8616th pctl
Available Outside of ClassThe instructor was available for help outside of class.
848th pctl
Brings Out Your Best WorkThe instructor motivated me to do my best work.
8514th pctl
Sparked My InterestThe course stimulated my interest in the subject matter.
9022nd pctl
The Course3 items
Well-Organized CourseThe course was well organized.
9146th pctl
Clear Learning GoalsThe learning objectives for the course were clear.
9253rd pctl
Useful Beyond the CourseWhat I learned is applicable beyond this course.
8820th pctl
Assignments & Feedback3 items
Assignments Help You LearnAssignments and exams contributed to my learning.
9474th pctl
Gives Feedback PromptlyI received feedback on my work in a timely manner.
8939th pctl
Meaningful FeedbackThe feedback I received on my work was meaningful.
8833rd pctl
Workload, difficulty & attendanceNot ratings
WorkloadHow much work the course took outside class, on Boston College's five-band scale — the band boundaries are not published, so this is not a number of hours.
6078th pctl
Intellectually ChallengingThe course was intellectually challenging.
9151st pctl
Attendance MattersAttending class was necessary to do well in this course.
9252nd pctl

Bar length is the rank against every comparable record we hold, not the raw score: BC's questions all have a median around 4.5, so a raw-scale bar would be nearly full on every row and would tell you nothing. Every bar is one ink colour — nothing here is graded green or red. The hatched bars are not ratings at all: a higher number on either describes a different course, not a better one.

PHYS 4150 Nonlinear Physics and ApplicationsOvr82Chal25thWork25th
On this class's boardonly instructor on record Provisional

1 section on record · course itself rated 78 out of 100. See the full board for PHYS 4150.

TermSecInstrCourseWork
Spring 202601827840
All 13 items for PHYS 4150
The Professor4 items
Clearly Explains MaterialThe instructor was effective at creating an understanding of difficult subject matter.
9134th pctl
Available Outside of ClassThe instructor was available for help outside of class.
9558th pctl
Brings Out Your Best WorkThe instructor motivated me to do my best work.
8926th pctl
Sparked My InterestThe course stimulated my interest in the subject matter.
9551st pctl
The Course3 items
Well-Organized CourseThe course was well organized.
8523rd pctl
Clear Learning GoalsThe learning objectives for the course were clear.
8727th pctl
Useful Beyond the CourseWhat I learned is applicable beyond this course.
8822nd pctl
Assignments & Feedback3 items
Assignments Help You LearnAssignments and exams contributed to my learning.
8728th pctl
Gives Feedback PromptlyI received feedback on my work in a timely manner.
9358th pctl
Meaningful FeedbackThe feedback I received on my work was meaningful.
8936th pctl
Workload, difficulty & attendanceNot ratings
WorkloadHow much work the course took outside class, on Boston College's five-band scale — the band boundaries are not published, so this is not a number of hours.
4025th pctl
Intellectually ChallengingThe course was intellectually challenging.
8625th pctl
Attendance MattersAttending class was necessary to do well in this course.
8936th pctl

Bar length is the rank against every comparable record we hold, not the raw score: BC's questions all have a median around 4.5, so a raw-scale bar would be nearly full on every row and would tell you nothing. Every bar is one ink colour — nothing here is graded green or red. The hatched bars are not ratings at all: a higher number on either describes a different course, not a better one.

How to read this pageScores are out of 100 — Boston College's 1–5 agreement scale, ×20, the way these numbers were printed for years. Almost every class scores high on that scale (the median is about 90), so challenge and workload are shown as a rank against every instructor we hold rather than as a score; the raw figure is in the breakdown above. Neither describes quality, and neither is ever marked better or worse anywhere on this site. A dash means the question was not reported, and is never a zero. The position printed against each class is this instructor's place on that class's own board, computed from the same records the board itself is built from.