Michael Cosby - Messiah College, Mechanicsburg, PA

Professor: Michael Cosby

Department: Biblical & Religious Studies

College: Messiah College, Mechanicsburg, PA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: GREK205
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He's an immensely knowledgeable man. We have a quiz at the beginning of almost every class, which seems tedious, but it's just so that you actually do the work and you don't get behind. I found it really helpful. He wants nothing more than for you to be able to read the NT in Greek by the end of the semester. TALK TO HIM OUTSIDE OF CLASS.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: BIBL201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Cosby loves what he teaches and makes something you thought you knew seem brand new. He is funny and so knowledgable. And, he wrote the textbook, so he definitely can help clear up any confusion you have about it!

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: BIBL201
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Encountering the Bible was an edifying, though often surprising, course. Dr. Cosby was a great professor, encouraging discussion and thought-provoking assignments. Though he is very knowledgeable about the subject (far beyond the level of the course), he simplifies the information for students while making it very interesting.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BIBL201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He's extremely knowledgeable, so you can't take that away from him. But it's really weird taking his class since he wrote the book. Lectures are somewhat disorganized--more like a discussion than a lecture. But the problem is you can't tell what info you need for exams and what is just some tangent, and he has no powerpoints to study online.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: BIBL101
• 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:

Dr. Cosby is a good prof. He wrote the textbook, so many of his lectures overlap with the readings. However he's a caring guy, happy to explain anything you don't understand, and his tests are very fair. If you study well, you will do well...if you don't, you wont. If you take interest and put effort into learning, it'll be well worth it.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: BIBL201
• 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:

I do not recommend this teacher at all! He did not treat me with respect and wrote me an email that almost made me cry. Messiah offers so many teachers that genuinely care about you as a person, in my experience, this teacher does not. He enjoys making fun of his students and is not nice.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: BIBL201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I found this professor to be difficult and hard to talk to. He basically has his book memorized and expects students to, as well. Has extremely high expectations and does not reward effort.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BIBLE201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Cosby is very intelligent, arrogant and opinionated. argued with one kid that she wasn't the denomination she said she was. hard grader. gives lots of hw assignments but sporatically collected them. it sucks when you put alot of effort into assignments and it isnt collected but collects the ones you didnt have time to do. he wrote the textbook....

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: BIBL201
• 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:

I hated the first 3/4ths of this class because it really challenged what I believed and I came out of his class questioning my faith all the time. But I really got alot out of the class and I glad I took it with him.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: BIBL201
• 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:

Encountering the Bible was the best class I've taken so far in my college career (3rd semester). Cosby is great and challenges your thinking. If you don't want your beliefs to be challenged, don't take his class. I loved it because he makes you think about the text, not your preconceived ideas. Forget Sunday school stories and really dig deep.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: BIBLE201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This class is hard and really challenged what I believed. Alot of times I came out of his class really confused. He also wrote his own book, which is very opinionated. I learned alot in his class. His tests are hard but they do come from his lectures and book. He also likes to play devils advocate and does not tell you his real views.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: BIBLE202
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Tests were very much from the textbook, which he wrote, so he knows it quite well. class was like a repeat of the textbook, so it was pretty boring. took it at 9am and could not stay awake. has weird views on somethings.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: BIBLE101
• 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:

he wrote the textbook so he definately knows what he is talking about. the tests that he makes are really hard. they are right out of the book and cover the chapters that you go over in class. also he does a lot of group disscusion.

Rating # 14

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Cosby is super learned although doesnt relate well to many of his students, Ive witnessed his classes fall apart due to poor classroom management on his part. DONT get sick while taking his class, he'll punish you for it! Listening to him lecture was always a pleasure, its my opinion that he doesnt undertand his students and treats them like crap

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: BIL241
• 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:

really challenging class, but you learn a ton, very thourough. Tests are hard. He can be pretty funny. Overall a worthwhile class.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: BIB238
• 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:

Horrible! He apparently missed the memo that this is not highschool anymore. Tests are nit-picky and don't test on comprehension or understanding of key concepts, just facts. Grades hard, expecially if he feels you are a student who shouldn't do well. He wrote the workbook- redundant and boring.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: BIL106
• 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:

makes class fun . . . expect to learn . . . tells lots of stories . . . attendance is mandatory . . . tests STRAIGHT from lectures . . . lots of work . . . makes you think!

Rating # 18

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Super nice person, intelligent, lots of stories from ancient history to his own life, not too challenging

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: BIL106
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Extremely Boring on a Tuesday Morning after chapel..unless he's feeling happy and full of jokes, otherwise, make sure you get to bed early

Rating # 20

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Very hard class, especially for a gen ed. But he is very intelligent and you learn a lot. I recommend him if you want to learn something and think deeply about things.