Randolph Widmer - University of Houston, Houston, TX

Professor: Randolph Widmer

Department: Anthropology

College: University of Houston, Houston, TX

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ANTH2303
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Tests are EXACTLY from lectures (only the stuff he writes on the board) he often says "this will be on the test" & questions are multiple choice/ matching. The lectures are interesting if you like learning about ancient cultures/ archaeology. He makes an effort to make sure the content is understood, and only teaches things that are tested on.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ANTH2303
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Not only is Widmer is the driest teacher ever, he also tests over material that was not covered in class. And, no, there was not a book or any other reading/materials he gave us. The course is not hard, but he makes it pretty unbearable and frustrating with his test questions.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ANTH3342
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The tests are take home and in Essay format, its a lot of work. Roughly 16 pages, with about a week to write them. You will also have a 15 page ethnography paper to write, but you have all semester to write that one. He is a pretty fair grader though. He is hilarious to listen to, and has lot of interesting information. Uses like 6 books read them.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ANTH4376
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

The material in this course was very interesting, but there's a lot of it. The 3 tests are extremely detailed, but luckily non-cumulative. Lectures are from powerpoints posted on BB, but he does sometimes add things in class that could appear on a test. Take good notes and things should go smoothly.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ANTH3342
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

This course is reading and writing heavy. 7 papers in all. Midterm is 3 essays, minimum 5 page double spaced, but realistically 7 to 10 pages. Final is 3 essay questions again, minimum 5 page, but more like 7 to 10, but this time, you have a 15 page ethnography due with it, it can easily be longer. Final is 4 papers due at same time. Heavy. Beware.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ANTH3342
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

This course wasn't as exciting as it sounded. Lectures were mostly from powerpoints that were all posted on Blackboard, so it almost felt like a waste driving to campus for class. Three papers determine your grade: midterm, final, and an ethnography on a food-related event. I love this prof, but this particular class was a bit of a slog.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ANTH2303
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr Widmer is all lecture, there is no textbook. He uses a marker on a board to write and draw pictures, I recommend copying it all or you will be lost. Use a pencil and paper because you cannot draw the pictures he does on a word program on a laptop. The first part of the course is actually cultural anthro, then he gets into archeology. Good class

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ANTH2303
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

This is an awesome professor! He's funny, engages with the class, and uses lots of outside examples to make the material easy to understand. Aside from that, he's always available to talk about things you don't understand, or if you want to ask him about the field of archaeology in general. He's great! Take him!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ANTH3342
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Lectures are awful and contradict information in the texts used, 2 exams and one 15 page long food ethnography. Constantly repeats questions on all assignments and gives incredibly poor instructions for those assignments. You have to reference text materials for both exams, as well as lecture material. Class sounds interesting, but avoid it.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ANTH2303
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Very unorganized lectures, no textbook used, he's pretty bad at drawing but insists on drawing diagrams every lecture. Lecture material can be very interesting, but also really boring. Everything is based on a curve, so your grades are determined by how everyone else does. Only grades are 3 tests, the first one is by far the hardest.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ANTH2303
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

No textbook required for this class. His lectures are very thorough, and make sure you write down everything he writes down, especially names of techniques. His exams are multiple-choice and can be a little tricky, but it is graded on a curve. No extra homework assignments. Take good notes!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: 2302
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Great professor. Must go to class or get notes from someone. There are no powerpoints, and the only information given is in outline form written on the board. The tests can be heavily worded, but if you memorize your notes, you will be able to get an A, especially with the heavy curve. Enjoy, and good luck!

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ANTH2303
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Doesn't use a text book so you need to go or get notes from a friend. He writes everything on the board, and while at times his lectures can be boring, he knows his stuff. You really do learn a lot. 3 test all curved, then the final grade is curved as well. I learned a lot though and would take him again.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ANTH2303
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I liked him a lot. The lectures were a little dry at times, but overall I enjoyed the class. He really knows what he's talking about and he's pretty laid back, and funny too. I would take him again.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ANTH2303
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Interesting class, there is no book. consists of 3 exams. he curves all grades generously, should have gotten a B but it got curved to an A. overall easy class if you attend and take good notes. the TA walker nile is extremely helpful

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: 2303ANTH
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

There is no textbook so you do have to attend class. Test were pretty easy and they curve them to where and 86 is a A. I actually enjoyed this class.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ANTH2303
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

MAKE FLASH CARDS!!! Cannot stress that enough. They help so much when you study for his tests. Everything he says in lecture he pretty much writes on the board, so pay attention. I always recorded his lectures which also helped. I thought tests ended up being more specific than what he covered in lecture. Nice guy, good class.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ANTH2303
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

He is hilarious and an pretty much easy teacher. Even though attendance is not mandatory I advise you to attend as much as you can because he does not post the notes online. The best part about the note taking is that he writes down everything on a dry erase board, so you really don't have to listen, just write. Also there is no textbook for class.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ANTH2303
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Awesome class. Great sense of humor, makes class fun and interesting. Tests exactly from lecture notes. No book.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ANTH2303
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Intro to arch. Widmer is a total trip. He is super, SUPER cockey and arrogant, but you can't help but like the guy. Kind of a dufus - like the absent minded professor. He is quirky and can be funny. Tests are multiple choice and not too hard.