David Eckel - Boston University, Boston, MA

Professor: David Eckel

Department: Theology

College: Boston University, Boston, MA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: RN210
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Eckel is incredibly sweet, kind, and caring man. He really cares about his students and can teach an amazing amount about Buddhism. He keeps lectures light-hearted but also very educational. With that said, you have to work for this class. If you don't do the reading class can be miserable. If you do the reading you can have a lot of fun

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: RN103
• Grade Received: INC
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Eckel is such an amazing professor. He is so enthusiastic and caring. Mandatory attendance which kinda makes sense because all you have to do is attend classes and listen to his lectures. Essays worth more than exams so look our for that. Visit office hour because you'll find him sooo helpful

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: RN102
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He is an amazing professor. Don't listen to the other people that gave negative reviews for him. The fact is that he is an amazing person. He will help you if you go to his office hours and he tries to remember the names of everyone in the class. If you have interest in the material you will naturally do well and remember the material given.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: RN102
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Eckel is adorable and an overall wonderful teacher. Lectures can get a little boring and you definitely have to study hard for exams, but nothing is unmanageable. The best of professor Eckel is what you can get outside of class - he's been all around the world and will happily tell you about his experiences in office hours.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: RN102
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

If you remember alllllll the vocabularies, take notes of every single detail he mentions, and read all 6 books, you will do just fine. He likes to remember student names, so it might help if you go to office hours. He certainly knows about religion, and have great stories to share. If you don't study, you fail.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: RN102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Great class if you want to learn more about religion take it. Focuses on Judaism, Christanity, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism. He tells you what he wants you to do. Go to office hours! If you talk to him and go through handouts exams and quizzes and papers will not be too hard. Initially the class seems indimidating but you learn to love it.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: RN210
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He's a very sweet prof and really cares about your work. The class requires a lot of memorizing but he does what he can to make things fair. Don't expect an easy A but I would recommend the class anyways.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: RN103
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I don't know why other people say he's a good lecturer. He bounces all around and goes off on tangents. I don't gain anything from lecture. He's the sweetest and nicest guy. I wish I could say he's a good lecturer, too. The concepts are hard to wrap your head around, but it's possible. Tests are hard to study for because there is a lot of info.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: RN103
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He's very kind and nice, there's only one midterm and final exam. but you'll have weekly response, and it's very short

Rating # 10

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Excellent lecturer!

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: RN210
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I learned so much about Buddhism and loved this class! His grading criteria can be a little unclear, so if I did it over again I would go in to office hours before each paper. Take this class if you are interested in religion or Buddhism!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: RN103
• 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:

Eckel is a great lecturer, very engaging. His exams and quizzes are mostly based on memorization, so if you study it's an easy A. I also learned a lot for an intro course.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: RN103
• 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:

Eckel is a great professor - I learned more than I ever have in an intro class about something completely out of my major. Class was more challenging than I expected, mainly due to quotations on quizzes. Lots of memorization. In retrospect I'd rather just have audited it because he's such a good lecturer.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: RN103
• 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:

prof. eckel is the best. his lectures are always fun, especially when he starts going off on tangents. he strives to keep you awake and entertained. i've learned SO MUCH in this class. he gives quizzes a lot (which are actually helpful) and the tests aren't too hard. the only problem is that the TAs and discussions sections are boring.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: RN103
• 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:

Prof. Eckel was awesome! He knows a lot of information and has cute little stories that keep the class entertaining. Such a nice man. I would take another class with him in a second!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: RN103
• 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:

Professor Eckel is a great professor. He made me love eastern religions, and I know that's just what he tries to do in his classes - he always wants to try to make you see what is really cool about the subject. He is a good grader; he never tries to trick you or deflate your grade. He really cares about his students, we're not just faces in a crowd

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: RN103
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Great lecturer, but hard tests. The class is a bit abstract for concrete thinkers. It changed my view of religion, but this class is definitely not an easy A.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: RNB2
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

idk why hes being harshly criticized here but hes one of the best professors ive had the material isnt too hard as long as you study and spend some time on it and get to know your tf (especially david scott if he still tfs)

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: RN103
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Funny guy, entertaining lecturer. The class, however is very scattered. Textbook readings that are relevant, but loosely important. Online readings are posted but barely discussed. Each lectures jump around and lack a clear purpose. Overall, Eckel fails to pull everything together. But if you're thorough on your own, you can do well.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: RN103
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

No comment!! >:o