Joseph Novak - University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON

Professor: Joseph Novak

Department: Philosophy

College: University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PHIL250A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He's a great Prof; very friendly and always smiling. He's approachable and easy to talk to. One of the best Profs at UW, very smart and non-judgmental. I had two classes with him last semester and loved both.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PHIL208
• 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:

Great professor. Very knowledgeable, and makes a great deal of interesting connections between different topics. At times, can get fairly off-topic (as can any philosophy teacher, I suppose) but generally covers all material. Very helpful and friendly as well.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PHIL380
• 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:

Refreshing perspective in a department that's pretty materialist. Also, always entertaining. Love the South Park references.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PHIL200B
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Socrates in the flesh...seriously. The oldest prof in the department now, a true philosopher and a great teacher. Holmes just retired so you better take one of his classes before its too late!

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PHIL200A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Great prof who obviously enjoys teaching classes. This guy really knows what he is talking about, and has amazing talent with languages. Speaks/reads 8 languages! incredible knowledge of ancient to modern western philosophy

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PHIL208
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

A happy guy, interested in teaching what he knows and also learning new things. Loves science fiction to death. He tends to mumble to himself every once in a while so beware of that. Ask questions in his class to keep interest levels high. Other than that, he's a nice guy who is always up for a little philosophical discussion.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PHIL200A
• 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:

good guy, very smart, always jolly. however, you have to sit somewhere in the first two or three rows to have a chance at hearing what he is saying half the time. i swear, his tone is below a whisper sometimes. average marker.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PHIL388
• 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:

One of the best profs, I have ever had. He is so smart, and one of the happiest people i have ever met. He is constantly smiling

Rating # 9

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

I have taken many courses with Dr.Novak and he is probably one of the last phil profs at this school who is still doing actual philosophy and understands what this is. Dr. Novak recognizes what is important and it is refreshing to be taught useful things, as opposed to "nothing really exists" and "language is meaningless." ...An excellent prof.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PHIL200A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Novak, while clearly full of wisdom and very philosophical, is the least clear professor I have ever encountered. His notes are cryptic, his sentences ambiguous and strange, and he literally mumbles EVERY TIME HE COMES TO HIS MAIN POINT. If you risk a class with him, get used to hearing "What we really need to understand about this is-(mumblemumble

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PHIL208
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Seems a little distant when you talk to him, but generally easy to understand his lectures. Is always jolly and doesn't feel the need to be PC on everything. Brings in guest lectures every now and then, class notes are huge and expensive.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PHIL100
• 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:

OMG!!!!! it couldn't get any worse. the class is murder...wow...boring boring boring...he's cute to watch but even after a while that gets boring..oh man.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: GRK100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

good prof, approachable

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PHIL200A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Far too much time was spent on discussions that had little to do with course material. Ended up squeezing the final two three-hour lectures into one class. Final exam questions given ahead of time, but covered material that was barely touched on in class.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PHIL200B
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Lectures are always fun. Course material is difficult at times.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: 2COURSES
• 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 200A and arts 301. Dr.Novak was a very good professor. He is always smiling! I appreciated how he doesnt feel any need to be politicall correct to appease feminists in his classes. As a woman I understand man includes male and female! :)

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: PHIL208
• 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:

A very nice guy. Interesting lectures, 3 hours is a bit too long though