Imants Baruss - Western University, London, ON

Professor: Imants Baruss

Department: Psychology

College: Western University, London, ON

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH2011A
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Just read the book and you'll get a solid 80% or higher! He doesn't try to trick you in the multiple choice, so if you know the gist of something, it should stand out very clearly! His lectures come straight from the textbook, so I wouldn't say you HAVE to go to lecture, but hearing him talk about it does help understand it better. FAIR PROF!!!

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH2011
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I think what I appreciate most about this class is how short the readings are! You do have to know specific details for the exams, but the chapters are literally 12 pages, so you can easily retain it all if you look over it a couple times. Overall, Baruss was definitely unlike any other prof I've ever had, but I'd say it was a fair course.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH2011
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Best Prof/class ever if you like this kind of material!

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: 2011B
• 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:

Professor Baruss is a great combination of lighthearted and humarous as well as knowledgeable and idea driven.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH2011B
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Amazing professor and I love that he worked straight out of the textbook! Classes are not mandatory and participation marks are not recorded which is nice. Read the textbook inside and out if you want to to good! This is a mind opening class.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: 2011B
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

There is no need to attend lectures. Vast majority of exam questions are straight from the textbook (written by him), and what's not in the text, he posts on his website. Exam questions are extremely specific and focus on trivial details, meaning that you have to know the textbook inside and out.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: 2011B
• Grade Received: D+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This professor was by far the worst professor I have ever had in my undergrad. I was in my fourth year when I took his class, and it was nearly impossible to do well. His lectures were interesting, but that was the only positive thing about his class. The exams consisted of material directly from the textbook, and extremely specific.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH2011
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Honestly I found the class super interesting and you could tell Prof Barurss is super smart and really knows his stuff (he literally wrote the textbook). This class will blow your mind, just be prepared to know the textbook inside and out. Also only 2 hour lectures which is sweet.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH2011
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Best professor I've had at western during my 4 years. Imants has opened my eyes; I look at life differently now. He definitely had more to teach than just his textbook. You must read his book as a story instead of trying to memorize if you want to do well. Go to lectures! He is so caring and will help you anytime you need it! Overall amazing course

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH2011B
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Lots of pseudoscience and confusing jargon at the start, but later you realize that the course is just there to present a view of what people see alterations of conscious as being. There is no hard science here as it's a 2000 level course but there's enough open discussion that science, faith etc, is explored, but also not confirmed, nor denied.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH2011
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Absolutely terrible professor. Book is insanely complicated, terribly written. Facts have little to no factual back-up. Pseudo-Science at best. The course wouldn't be that bad if he didn't focus on statistics the for virtually 25% of all the exam questions. Be ready to remember stupid meaningless numbers because his material is worthless.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH2011
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I am interested in the subject material of this class, but the way he explains it in the textbook is IMPOSSIBLE to understand. I didn't miss a lecture at all - but tests are all about the textbook. I read the book and understood the bigger picture, but he doesn't test on that! He tests on details that are mentioned ONCE in the book. Wtf.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: 2011A
• Grade Received: C-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He speak very fats and can sometimes be hard to understand, his lectures are not structured and there is no slideshow while he is speaking. All the tests/exams are multiple choice and are quite difficult.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH2011
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I almost switched out of this course based on the reviews. SO glad I didn't. Read the textbook and you will do great. If you don't read it you'll end up like all the rest of these disgruntled reviewers. Tests are fair/easy if you actually read the textbook. READ. THE. TEXTBOOK. The chapters are very short + only 3 per exam p.s. read the textbook

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: 3177
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

DO NOT take this course. This professor makes claims that cannot be supported and discredits anyone who's opinion does not directly reflect his own. He turns this course into a philosophy course when it is supposed to be a psychology course. He wrote the textbook and it has no empirical evidence to prove his extraordinary claims.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH2011
• Grade Received: C-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

The worst prof I've ever encountered. Be prepared to memorize every insignificant detail in his textbook (wrote it himself), he will test you on meaningless statistics. Take a real class, with legitimate studies, not this garbage.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH2011B
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I loved Imants Baruss. His topics are interesting and unconventional. He pushes a lot of peoples boundaries and makes you think outside the box. I found the tests very fair, and enjoyed the lectures. My only criticism is that his textbook could be written in simpler language and still convey the same message. Overall a very brilliant man.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH3120G
• 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:

One of the most interesting people I have ever met. His classes require Lots of work and open minded was but he is by far my favorite professor . His classes aren't for everyone but I can say that if you are interested in the subject matter he will blow you away !

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH2011
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Very confusing. I ended up dropping the course before the midterm because I was so lost while trying to study for it. He is not good at explaining things in general terms, just in his own words. Read the textbook chapters over and over again and I'm sure you will be OK.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: 2011B
• 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:

Awesome Prof. Great lectures. Like most classes the key is showing up, doing the readings and asking for help if you need it. Material is explained in an understandable fashion, even for a student without a psych background. I strongly recommend this class to anyone looking for an interesting course and a bit of a challenge.