Michael Welch - Rutgers - State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ

Professor: Michael Welch

Department: Criminal Justice

College: Rutgers - State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PRIS202
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He is a cool guy and is funny. However, he lectures solely on his own experiences, meaning his tests are difficult to study for. You'll also have a brutal 12 page single spaced paper to write at the end of the semester.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PRISONS203
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

While I agree with the other reviews, I have to admit the guy is incredibly intelligent. He does talk a lot about himself, his lectures/exams are vague, but the paper is worth a lot of the final grade. I got a C & B on the exams, an A on the paper, and an A in the class overall so it's not impossible to do well/recover from an eh exam in his class.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PRISONS203
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I originally liked him. He seemed a little bit eccentric but he seemed to be super knowledgeable about the subject matter, so I thought it was going to be a good semester. I was wrong. His lectures are unclear and boring. He has no slides to take notes off of so you don't know what to study. Tests are full of nothing. Avoid at all costs.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: CJ202PRISONS
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

speaks too much on his personal experiences. exams are very difficult, and he is a tough grader. really do not recommend this class if you're looking for an easy A or B.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: 496TORTURE
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Theres a reason why he's a professor but he forces his success on you every class. Usually just shows slide shows of pictures he's taken from foreign places then talks about them so you do not know what is important or not. Papers are long but easy, exams are extremely difficult. He asks the most random questions (some about his personal life). Bad

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CJ202PRISONS
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

LITERALLY the worst professor I have ever taken and I think even at Rutgers. Lectures are just random pictures he takes and super confusing. 12 page SINGLE spaced paper that truly hurts to write. Avoid!!!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: 496TORTURE
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

His exams are hard for so reason. He asks the most trivial questions. His class is a total indoctrination. He's totally partisan.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: CJ202PRISONS
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Worst Professor ever, I took Welch for Prisons and Prisoners and it was terrible. This is by far the worst class I have ever taken. Grades are based upon 2 exams and 1 final paper. His lectures are random and unclear, subsequently making the exams difficult. Read the book for the tests, lectures are a slide show of pictures. DO NOT TAKE HIM

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: CRIM203
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

His lectures are as weird as he is. 2 tests 50% from the 2 books he writes and 50% from lecture. One 10 page single spaced paper that nearly breaks your heart. His tests are 50 multiple choice and some questions are the most random like what his girlfriends first and last name is, what are the subtitles in one of his books. Avoid this professor.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: CJ202PRISONS
• 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:

One of the worst professors I have taken at Rutgers. He talks way too much about his personal life and gets off topic. His lectures are long and he somehow manages to make an interesting subject so boring. His classes consist of his vacations. His tests are hard and he tests you on his personal life as well. DO NOT TAKE HIM.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PRISONS202
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

i actually really loved the class, the material is interesting but he makes you work. the book is ESSENTIAL to passing; you NEED to show up for class. you have to do the readings because he only has 2 tests so you have to make them count. he also has a 10 point extra credit essay at the end of the course

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PRISONERS203
• 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:

There are 2 exams, half of the exam is based on what he "lectures" in class and the other half is from the book. His exams are very difficult along with many trick questions. I also found him unhelpful and unwilling when I went to his office hours. Like many of my classmates, I was not a fan of Welch. Interesting subject though.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: CRJ203
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

After taking Prisons and Prisoners with Michael Welch I can say that he is a horrible professor. He talks about his person life way to much and some of it will be on the test. His tests make no sense and are VERY difficult. In order to pass you have to take detailed notes and do the readings. There is only a midterm and final.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: 496TORTURE
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Welch has an interesting sense of humor and take on things. I liked him, but I can see why many didn't. As long as you go to class and read, you will do fine, but people usually don't do both of those things and wonder why they don't do well. Tests are very tricky. He makes you work for it, but you will do well if you are not a slacker.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PRISONS
• Grade Received: D
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

DO NOT TAKE PRISONS WITH WELCH. I failed this class miserably. He does not post the slides, talks about himself too much, barely teaches anything that'll be on the exams. Oh, by the way, his class is so boring. Sure, his stories are funny and interesting, but they won't be on the test. Save yourself. Save your GPA.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: 496
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Great professor. I didn't do too well on the two exams, did okay on the papers but still got an A because I went to every class. If you keep up with the readings and attend class, you'll get a good grade. Take him if you want to actually learn.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: PRISONS203
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Welch is not a good professor. Far too invested in himself to truly teach the course material. You have to really pay attention and catch the smaller details to survive this class. Couldn't even be bothered to show up for the first class of the semester. Arrogant as a professor can be. Would not take again.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: PRIS203
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He doesn't use powerpoint so you really have to pay attention for each lecture or you won't pass. Don't wait until the night before the exam to read the textbook; you really have to study to pass this class. Final grade is based off of a midterm and a final and he gives opportunity to 10 extra credit points at the end of the semester which helps.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PRISONS203
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I wasn't sure what to expect at the beginning of the course. Professor Welch gave awesome lectures. He has so much real world experience in the field and they really aided in understanding the material. Exams are challenging. You have to pay close attention to everything. Great professor though. Just read and go to class and you'll do fine.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PRISONS
• 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: Mandatory

Comment:

Welch is definitely an abstract thinker with twisted logic, extremely funny, and nonetheless brilliant! His exams and papers are difficult, but remember on exams to keep in mind PEOPLES SPECIFIC NAME AND WHAT THEY DID when you go through course material. I learned a lot academically and in life from Michael Welch. Best professor I have had at RU.