Alan Richardson - University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC

Professor: Alan Richardson

Department: Philosophy

College: University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PHIL415
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Favorite prof I've ever had. Dry sense of humor but actually cares about his students so long as you are interested in the material yourself. Is a complete encyclopedia of all things humanities-related. Go see him in office hours, so helpful. Only professor in the department who is respected by physicists, literature, history, AND sociology profs.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PHIL220
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

he does not care to explain material well, and it is obvious in his tone. Every week he'll say, "This is something you learn by doing," because he's done this 1000 times so he doesn't explain how to do it in the first place. Made us buy a $200 textbook that has far too many mistakes that can even cost you a few grades (over 15 within 100 pages).

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: HIST393PHIL360
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

He had a very high expectation from us in the beginning of the course but he eventually lowered them after realising our struggle. The subject is definitely not easy and not for everyone. He may appear intimidating initially, but I believe that cares deeply about his students. He has a good sense of humour (although it's very dry) and is friendly

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ARTSAA
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Excellent prof. Will challenge you thoroughly, however well worth the payoff.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ARTSA
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Adequate professor. If you can get another Prof for Arts One (Konoval, Frank), I recommend it. Quite a few times it took him longer than the other profs to get our papers back to us. Gives the impression he does not want to be there often. Some inappropriate remarks. Glaring. Lame jokes. Not a hard marker, however.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ARTSA
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

He was my Arts Nne instructor and he is AMAZING. He has a bit of scary looking and I think he uses it to scare off students. But don't get intimidated; it's his way of joking. If you are seeking for a brilliant prof who can season one's knowledge with inside joke, go for this guy. He will change your world view.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ARTS1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

You'll LOVE this guy and his beret. And his lunch bag. And his sense of humour. Very witty, knowledgeable, and helpful. Listen to his advice (and go ask for it!) and you will improve dramatically. Ask questions and engage in discussion! Treats students very well, especially small groups. Always joking!

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ARTS1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

He's my Arts One prof. Good sense of humor, very demanding when it comes to essays. He's almost a stereotypical bumbling professor, but he knows what he teaches, he's a very smart man, though he can ramble on and on and on.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PHIL314
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Alan's awesome. His classes are entertaining while staying on topic. If you don't appreciate dry humour it's your loss, but I highly recommend him as a prof. If you're not interested in learning the material and just want a grade then take some other course, but if you do he's fabulous.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PHIL314
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Excellent prof! Really cares about his students. Dry sense of humour.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PHIL314
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

He teaches more like a history professor than a philosophy (coteaches in both dept, but philosophy dept). He doesn't use a lot of class discussion like a lot of philosophy classes do. He gets up in front of the class explains the material well, but seems like he's ranting. You have to do the readings, but thats obvious his courses are 300 level

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PHIL314A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

I can't believe all the negative comments. He's a fantastic teacher, high standards but clear and fair if you understand the material.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: HISTPHIL360
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

No Comments

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: HISTPHIL360
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

I thought there would be history, but it's more philosophy than anything. He's an adequate lecturer who tries to be funny but barely succeeds. Midterm and final are easy but short paper assignments are tough.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: HISTPHIL360
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Funny prof. The overheads tell you what you need to know, densely packaged up with class and elegance. The class includes history of ideas, and how the authors covered think doing this might work. Going in not knowing any philosophy might make it tough to locate what's important.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: HISTPHIL361
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

pretentious

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: PHIL315
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

No Comments

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: HIST360
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

i don't know what everyone's talking about, but his class was awesome. he's engaging and his lectures are v. interesting. was one of my favorite classes at ubc so far. ta's do too much marking, and there's a lot of readings, but it was good overall.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PHIL415
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Excellent walk through of the first critique. Very hard subject. Very rewarding. By all means - take the kant class! Also, pester him to teach the 3rd critique.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: HIST360
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

At first I hated his class, but once you start to think the way he thinks it's really easy. He basically tells you what he is going to test you on, makes helpful overheads in point form which are all you really need. He is also helpful outside of class.