David Roochnik - Boston University, Boston, MA

Professor: David Roochnik

Department: Philosophy

College: Boston University, Boston, MA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PH100
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Roochnik defeated the education system. Teaches like no other, unique style of lecturing. He forgets how well known he is in the field and would debate with us about any idea really. He's basically challenged many of my predetermined ideas and look at life in different ways. You have to work for the grade, but he is stoically fair (no pun)

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PH100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Roochnik himself is a good guy. Very funny. All assignments are graded by the TFs, and they do a poor job with mediocre feedback for tough grades. Very few assignments, but they are one page each and they account for a lot of your grade. I do not recommend

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PHIL100
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Roochnik made me think of getting a minor in philosophy. He is super funny. His style of teaching is unique. I had three classes every week, each class is 2 hours and a half, but I wish it was longer! You never get bored in his class because it is so engaging and exciting. He simplify the hardest concepts and give simple examples.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PH100
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Roochnik was the best teacher I've ever had. Ever. The concepts could be intricate, but Roochnik would simplify them and often make relatable connections until people understood. Very funny and helpful. You have to work for the grade, but if you show up, pay attention, and know how to write argumentative essays, you're all set. LOVED this class

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PH100
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

His lectures are surprisingly entertaining! I had no interest in Philosophy and struggled for my grade in this class, but it definitely could have been worse. The TA's usually grade papers and mine was extremely unhelpful, but the class overall was worth taking.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PH100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

His class was pretty interesting, but if you miss any of the lectures you have no hope of passing. The grading on the papers is absolutely ridiculous and unfair. The TA's grade them and they don't tell you what you did wrong or how to improve. You learn a lot from Roochnik but you definitely won't get an A in his class.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PH100
• 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:

Roochnik is definitely one of the best professors at BU. He is funny, and explains concepts really well. However, the grading depends on your TA and it is literally impossible to get an A in the class because the 7 short papers are graded strangely. Also, if you skip lecture you're done.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PH100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The professor is really good!! He inspired me a lot in Philosophy and I will definitely choose his courses in the future!!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PH100
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Really great prof. I had literally zero interest in the class, and still somehow enjoyed the lectures.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PH223
• 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:

This was my favorite class that I've taken at BU. He's definitely a very difficult grader but, with it is possible. My writing improved so much more throughout this class than through WR100 and 150 combined. The topics are interesting. In terms of the papers, he seems to like if you take a risk as long as you back it with a personal story.Love him.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PH300
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Awesome Teacher! Extremely interesting. Cracks jokes. Explains topics thoroughly. Makes you work for even point. Not an easy A. But extremely enjoyable class.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PH223
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Taking the class was a complete waste of time. If you don't agree with his views then you'll never get a high grade on your papers. He can be very biased and contradicts himself a lot during class which makes writing papers even more difficult. He acts very full of himself. Don't take his class. It's a waste of time and effort.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PH300
• 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:

One of the best professors I've ever had at BU.He's very insightful and encourages discussion in class. An A is not impossible, but certainly requires work.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PH300
• 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:

He is possibly the best professor I have ever met. He is nice, helpful, witty and has a sense of humor. He is definitely an expert in ancient philosophy. I learned so much in his class and never felt regrets for a second. He is a tough grader though, but I ended up with A-. So, not that bad. All in all, I love him, and take him if you have a chance

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PH110
• 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:

Roochnik is a dynamic speaker but terrible at structuring his class. You end up writing many papers and it almost seems impossible to excel at them. You write pages about your opinion only to give you a B for them... But i think this falls more on the TA grading then Roochnik, but he encourages it - easy to get a B, nearly impossible to get an A

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: PH350
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Take a class with Professor Roochnik, you won't regret it for a second. He is a tough grader, it's true. Nevertheless, he knows the material so well and class discussion is extremely productive. He really knows how to engage the material with the class.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: CC101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

By far the best professor I've ever had! He's funny, nice, and relaxed, but he expects a lot out of his students and truly cares about their thoughts and questions. Definitely go to office hours if you're having trouble with an essay because he's very helpful!

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: PH300
• 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:

Certainly not an easy A, but a great professor. Weekly papers, very straight-forward midterm and final, just a tough grader. Maybe a bit arrogant, but is a seasoned teacher and his experience shows. Plus he wrote the book for the course, which is an added bonus.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PH300
• 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:

Best professor I've ever had

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: CORE1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Hands down the best instructor I have ever had. Without a doubt the most difficult prof of CC203, but your writing will improve tremendously. He is also witty, informal, and a really really fun guy to have class with. Truly an asset to Boston University.