Professor: David Vander Laan
Department: Philosophy
College: Westmont College, Santa Barbara, CA
Rating # 1
Overview:
- Course: MANYUPPERDIV100
- 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:
Phenomenal professor. Incredibly sharp but is also really able to explain dense material in upper division philosophy courses. His handouts every class session are incredibly helpful for understanding the readings and doing well on the exams. Love that he gives us freedom in our assigned essays. He's extremely nice as well!
Rating # 2
Overview:
- Course: PHI006
- Grade Received: N/A
- Overall Rating: 2.0
- Course Difficulty: 3.0
- For Credit: Yes
- Textbook Used: Yes
- Would Take Again: No
- Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
As others have said, very rigid. Lowered my grade by a third of a letter when I missed an office hours appointment due to a roommate's health emergency, and snapped at me in public (?!) when I tried to apologize in chapel. There's more to philosophy than syllogisms, kids, and there's more to teaching than asserting your authority.
Rating # 3
Overview:
- Course: PHI006
- Grade Received: C+
- Overall Rating: 2.5
- Course Difficulty: 4.0
- For Credit: Yes
- Textbook Used: Yes
- Would Take Again: N/A
- Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
All tests and quizzes are oral. Lectures are boring, hard to stay alert and interested in the material. When you ask a question, he never answers directly, very unclear. Intimidating when you ask for help. Homework helps out your grade and is simple.
Rating # 4
Overview:
- Course: METAPHYSICS
- Grade Received: B
- Overall Rating: 5.0
- Course Difficulty: 4.0
- For Credit: Yes
- Textbook Used: Yes
- Would Take Again: N/A
- Attendance: N/A
Comment:
One of the most brilliant minds on campus. Has an incredible curriculum, really making you feel like you have a working framework for reading and processing metaphysics.
Rating # 5
Overview:
- Course: LOGIC
- 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:
Fascinating class, but you HAVE to read the book and do the practice problems if you want to do well. Super great professor, he's so sweet.
Rating # 6
Overview:
- Course: PHI006
- 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:
He is one of the most intelligent professors on this campus. I really enjoyed his lectures and class discussions, and I like that he taught us a basis of logic at the beginning. He is kind, wishes you to succeed, and is always smiling. Have you guys ever seen him blink? I don't think he blinks. Anyway, it's a wonderful class!
Rating # 7
Overview:
- Course: PHI6
- Grade Received: N/A
- Overall Rating: 2.0
- Course Difficulty: 4.0
- For Credit: N/A
- Textbook Used: Yes
- Would Take Again: N/A
- Attendance: N/A
Comment:
You leave this class without a sense of the field of philosophy. As somebody else said, he could update his approach a bit.
Rating # 8
Overview:
- Course: PHI6
- 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:
Very interesting class. There are no papers, but there are oral exams (you go to his office and he asks you questions on a range of topics) and one written exam. Most of the time he is very clear and helpful.
Rating # 9
Overview:
- Course: PY001H
- 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:
I took the honors course, which was my favorite class ever! Very good at explaining things, with examples from popular culture, easy grader, easy tests, helps you outside of class. We even went to his house for dinners, games, and movies! Get VanderLaan if you can!
Rating # 10
Overview:
- Course: 3PHILCLASSES
- 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:
No Comments
Rating # 11
Overview:
- Course: INTROTOPHILO
- Grade Received: N/A
- Overall Rating: 3.5
- Course Difficulty: 4.0
- For Credit: N/A
- Textbook Used: N/A
- Would Take Again: N/A
- Attendance: N/A
Comment:
He explains things well, but his class is tough. The oral exams are intimidating, but not bad at all if you study. You will definately learn stuff.
Rating # 12
Overview:
- Course: MANY
- Grade Received: N/A
- Overall Rating: 3.0
- Course Difficulty: 5.0
- For Credit: N/A
- Textbook Used: N/A
- Would Take Again: N/A
- Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Difficult and very rigid. Intense stare as you'll probably know by now, but still a decent philosophy prof. But his classes are no 'walk in the park' as they say.
Rating # 13
Overview:
- Course: 2PHILCLASSES
- Grade Received: N/A
- Overall Rating: 4.5
- Course Difficulty: 4.0
- For Credit: N/A
- Textbook Used: N/A
- Would Take Again: N/A
- Attendance: N/A
Comment:
No Comments
Rating # 14
Overview:
- Course: PY006
- 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:
Couldn't really keep my eyes open, but what a pleasant demeanor.
Rating # 15
Overview:
- Course: PYCOURSES
- Grade Received: N/A
- Overall Rating: 3.0
- Course Difficulty: 4.0
- For Credit: N/A
- Textbook Used: N/A
- Would Take Again: N/A
- Attendance: N/A
Comment:
No Comments
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