Charles Bolyard - James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA

Professor: Charles Bolyard

Department: Philosophy

College: James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PHIL342
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Really nice and helpful outside of class. He teaches a really cool class BUT even the best philosophy majors should prepare to have their GPA wrecked. You'll learn a ton and become a better writer & thinker, but just depends how you value that compared to your GPA. Class is so hard, but definitely a learning experience.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PHIL342
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

It sounds like his gened classes are great, but if you're not a philosophy major, and if you're not a GOOD philosophy major, I wouldn't advise taking any other classes of his, because they're just downright impossible to get a good grade in.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PHIL394
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He definitely knows his stuff, but he's nowhere near as good as they say on here. Harsh grader, trouble communicating, doesn't give your work fair consideration if he can't understand it--and very easily offended. Take Piper instead.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PHIL394
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Bolyard is so smart! His lectures are very long but very interesting. If you don't enjoy philosophy you may be bored, but he really does a good job explaining the material, and will work hard to make sure you understand. He is also hilarious. Really knows his stuff and you will most likely get a good grade if you put in effort. Take him!

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PHIL200
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Chippy is one of the best professors that I've had at JMU. Get to know him personally and you'll love him. He's DA bomb :)

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: GPHIL101
• 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:

Chip is an awesome professor. He really is interested in his material and he explains things so you can understand. YOU MUST MEMORIZE every argument verbatum or else the test will be difficult. 1/2 multiple choice, 1/2 essay. A lot of readings, but he give you an A if you attempt it. I highly recommend him if you're willing to do the work.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PHIL101
• 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:

So the class itself is pretty interesting, but it's ALOT of work. There's a one page paper due every class, and they're based off complicated philosophical readings. The tests are pretty difficult, but you can do well if you spend 5+ hours memorizing the material. It's not not hard, per se, it's just a ton of memorizing very similar arguments.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: GPHIL101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Chip is a really good professor! He gives you everything you need to know for the tests which are hard but i haven't gotten below a B. Attendance isn't mandatory but it definitely helps to go! there is alot of reading with homework but i barely read and i still got good grades on the homework plus he drops the lowest 3!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: GPHIL0002
• 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:

I found this class really interesting. Chip is a real cool guy and has some cool stories. The first test was incredibly tough,if you take this class you HAVE to memorize the arguments word for word. I would recommend this to someone though, you learn a lot, it is worth the experience.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: GPHIL101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

tests are far too hard for the subject, definitely too hard for a 101 class. interesting topics, homework due every class but drops 3 grades. will argue anything you say.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: GPHIL101
• 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:

i really love chip :) but philosophy is hard in general for most people straight out of high school and who are used to just spitting out facts. Speak up because even though he is going to play Devils Advocate to whatever you say, it helps the class think as a whole and when he compliments your argument it feels AWESOME

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PHIL342
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I've had Chip for two semesters now, and he has to be my favorite teacher thus far. He takes time to make the reading comprehensible in class, while having you try outside of class. Which isn't easy, but is great practice and quite fun for me. Extremely helpful and quite fun, would recommend his class for anyone. I took gphil 101 on phil 342 w/ him

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PHIL394
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Lectures are very note-intensive. Tests are difficult, his grading bar needs to come down a bit, especially for us who are just trying to fill a BA requirement! No cumulative final, just a terrible 6 page paper

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: GPHIL101
• 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:

I loved Chip. He did a good job of teaching, and we had some good discussions in class. Most people don't participate though. The tests are made up of multiple choice and an essay, and the essay part was pretty hard for a 101 class. Otherwise, it was a great class.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: GPHIL101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Horrible. Worst professor ever. AVOID HIM

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: PHIL342
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

As a non-philosophy major, I appreciated his ability to make really difficult material comprehensible. As the person below me noted, he's not too tolerant of stupid discussions, but if it was relevant, he usually listened. Really funny philosopher death stories...Aquinas falling off a donkey was probably pretty sad, but not the way he put it.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: GPHIL120
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He is a horrible teacher. He does not ever listen to a respectable arguement because he gets too carried away in simple details. He is the master of passive agressive behavior. Even if he is certainly wrong he will never admit it because he is stubborn. Have fun, his class is the worst I have ever been in. Even though it was easy.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: PHIL390
• 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:

Chip is a good guy, very knowledgeable. However, he does not run class effectively. He allows for tangent discussions and "sharing" which is unacceptable for a philosophy class. 90% of the students in my class were total dullards and this seemed to drag down Chip's enjoyment as well. Be prepared for the idiots who seem attracted to his class.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PHIL390
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Bolyard is a good teacher, but his heart ain't in the right place (philosophy). Does not return students' emails regarding a tangent discussion of philosophy, which makes me want to cry.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PHIL390
• 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:

Good guy, encourages participation; I enjoy his class. Covers lots of material, so don't fall behind.