Christina Van Dyke - Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI

Professor: Christina Van Dyke

Department: Philosophy

College: Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PHIL152
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

VanDyke is amazing! I had her for a 3 hour Philosophy night class, and she managed to hold everyones attention. She is excellent when it comes to explaining philosophy at a first year level.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PHIL153
• 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:

Van Dyke is an awesome prof. A little crazy, but just the right amount. Very helpful! Tests are a little tough, so make sure you study, but other than that it's a pretty fun class. Sometimes it is hard to stay focused, but you just have to power through!

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PHIL211
• 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:

An extremely, wickedly, foolishly, intensely, magnanimously, ridiculously, pleromatically, scathingly, almost-salvifically, overpoweringly, refractively, explosively, fearfully, unmatchably, incomprehensibly, un-evangelically, phenomenally, noumenally, astoundingly, splendidly, marvelously, totally remarkably awesome professor.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PHILW40
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

This was an interim course. Lots of readings, but I did not read them all and I was fine. You do have some journal entries due about the readings. Christina is very charismatic, funny, and interested in what students say. A great prof!!

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PHIL211
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

A professor who is brave enough to tackle "touchy" issues at a Christian college; a fantastic lecturer; a wonderful person; extremely cool; fills you with happiness; teaches you things and instills in you interpretive skills that will stay with you your whole life; the bomb.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PHIL153
• 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:

She's kinda crazy, but it's cool. She really tries to make the material interesting and her lectures help a TON. NEVER SKIP this class. Always be specific when writing essays. Reading before class isn't all that necessary. At least Spark-notes it to get an idea, but no need to read the whole thing.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PHIL211
• 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:

Van Dyke herself is amazing, although I didn't much care for the class. Take her if you can, but try to get a different class.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PHIL251A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Ultimately a good prof. Her notes were fairly clear, and you knew what was going to be on tests. Some find her sense of humor pitch-perfect, but I'm not one of them.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PHIL153
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Amazing! Prof Van Dyke made extremely difficult readings crystal clear! She used tons of relevant examples and was always willing to help. Her assignments didn't take too long, and she was a reasonable grader. One of Calvin's best. Highly recommended.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PHIL153
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Since we all have to take Phil !153, I would 100% recommend taking this class with her. I actually enjoyed coming to class.. (yes, i said enjoyed and Philosophy in the same sentence) She is one of the greatest Prof's I've had here and makes it easy to attain a good grade in the class if you try. take her if you have the chance!!

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PHIL211
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Very interesting and inspiring class. Great teacher with captivating teaching methods

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PHIL211
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

One of the best classes and best professors I've had.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PHIL211
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Very good.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PHIL251
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

BEST TEACHER EVER! She knows everything. Her clarity on topics even as obscure as Ancient Philosophy is excellent. Her Gender class especially is enjoyable, life-changing, and practical. That is, she shows how philosophy can be and is not just heady contemplation, but practical and meaningful reflection.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PHIL153
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I did not want to take philosophy, but I actually enjoyed it because of her. She explained the text well, and she also let us know what was going to be on the test. In review sessions, we could basically ask her what she was looking for in the essay-- that way it was easy to prepare for and do very well on. She made philosophy an interesting topic.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: PHIL153
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

well philosophy sucks, but she tries to make it as easy for you to not fall asleep as she can... its an easy class - not much homework... only 2 tests and one paper which you get to write 2 drafts for.. real easy.. but shes kinda a weird grader... make sure you take your paper into her.. shes picky, but youll get a B+ if you write it on your own

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: PHIL153
• 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:

she is a sweetie. Funny, uses her kid as examples to make this intro class understandable. Easy going, totally willing to help. She rocks, she really knows what shes talking about. She giggles alot and makes lots of fun examples. take her, youll enjoy the time you spend in class (which you dont actually have to go to if you dont want to)

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: PHIL153
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Laughs a lot. Contemporary examples, fun.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PHIL251
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

She's always willing to clarify points if needed and she is very understanding of student's situation/needs. However, what bugged me was the fact that she's not totally clear what she looks for in a paper; you have to talk to her 1-on-1 to get out of her what she wants in a paper otherwise you're left in the dark = tough paper grader in this sense.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PHIL153
• 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:

Great energy, wonderful at answering questions, very approachable.