Richard Zach - University of Calgary, Calgary, AB

Professor: Richard Zach

Department: Philosophy

College: University of Calgary, Calgary, AB

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PHIL579
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Zach is clearly the best! I'm sure that necessarily at least 25% of the class was in love with him and for good reason.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: 279
• 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:

I spent on average 10+ hours every two weeks on each assignment. The course material was challenging, but Dr. Zach and his TAs made it clear. Dr. Zach is extremely helpful and very knowledgeable. Attend the PASS sessions and go to office hours. He's much less intimidating when you speak to him alone. Exams were tricky but not worth much.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PHIL279
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This course is easy, except Dr. Zach gives you a ridiculous amount of homework. As a student with a family, I had to drop the course. Not because it was hard (was sitting at a B+), but because of the workload. If you miss an assignment, you automatically lose 10% of your grade, and his grading scale is very harsh.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PHIL279
• 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:

The workload is ridiculous for an intro class. There's an assignment every two weeks, and if you don't have a knack for the material, it can take days. I didn't find Zach very helpful, and he's a bit intimidating.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PHIL279
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Zach is a good prof. Definitely a fun loving hipster, and really loves logic. The class contains resonably difficult concepts which prof. Zach sometimes over complicates. The work load is far too high for a first year course, tests are worth very little each though.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PHIL279
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Prof is extremely boring in class. I find the TA's more helpful then the prof. Zach complicates the topics way too much. If you review the material and get help from TAs it isnt as hard as Zach makes them sound in class. He does not curve grades even though our class average was less then 50.. If you are not upto a challenge go with a diffrent prof

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PHIL279
• 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:

I wouldn't recommend to take this course with this professor since he is the only one that uses a program to teach/mark. During class time he spends 10% of the time teaching concepts used in higher level Math or CompSci courses, 80% of the time teaching students how to use the program, and 10% going through examples while teach class concepts.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PHIL279
• 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:

Hands down the best introductory-level class. The assignments do take time, but they are worth half your mark and it is possible to get >100% (I did), and you can computer-grade them before submitting. Zach is a brilliant professor that is far above his position at the University.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PHIL279
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Do not take this class with a full course load.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PHIL279
• 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:

Dr. Zach is impeccably dressed and professional. He has a clear lecturing style and is enthusiastic about logic. Assignments are difficult and time consuming and grade rubric is tough (98% for an A+). Helpful in office hours, and cares about students. Very intelligent and has a deep understanding of a wide variety of topics in logic and mathematics

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PHIL279
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

If you are taking a full course load, do not take this class! Homework assignments take a ridiculous amount of time compared to my other courses. Overall nice guy, but hate philosophy after taking this class (It was mandatory)

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PHIL279
• 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 guy !

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PHIL279
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

While he dresses impeccably, the volume of work is insane, you'll never be able to hold down a full course load with this. Fortunately I took a compsci class and knew alot of predicate logic beforehard, because I didn't find the level of instruction particularly good. Avoid this class/instructor at all costs!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PHIL279
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Very smart guy. Very helpful, and understanding. He cares + tries, but his lectures are very dry, and his lectures explain what should be simple concepts by using overly formal, complicated definitions followed by one typically complicated example. Book is weak, and reads like a novel instead of a text book. Assignments rely on software from book.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PHIL279
• 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:

I struggled with this course and the lectures were very boring. I tuned out a lot thinking of other things. Otherwise he knows his stuff and is pretty cool if you get to know him.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: PHIL279
• 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:

His slides are vary helpful use them parallel to the book.Always use the hints he gives.Start the assignments as soon as you get them.Form a study group.Get help from the prof and the TA's.Final and the mid term are some what similar to the actuals.Final was challenging than the mid term. The best prof ever ! Select him if you taking this course!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: PHIL279
• 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:

He taught us very well.You have to put lot of effort into this course.I had 4other courses and I'd have done better if I had more time to concentrate on logic.Don't take this with a full course load.Always engage in the discussion board.Take maximum use of office hours.TA Teppei is also helpful.Exams are similar to the practice.He is the best!!!

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: PHIL279
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Awesome class. Do let me point out the fact that he uses a textbook that requires it to be new(~$70) & there are 6 assignments in this course which really makes you *learn* your stuff. I highly suggest that if you want to enjoy this course, to make use of the discussion board and form a study group. Tons of fun and fairly easy on grading.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PHIL279
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

smart. assignments were the hardest thing ever but lots of help available (online was crucial), and midterm and final are much much easier than assignments. provides practice midterm/final very similar to actual exams. oh and once i saw him not wearing a suit!!

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PHIL279
• 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:

Excellent teacher, he definitely knows his stuff. The lectures and handouts are organized and helpful. There are tons of resources available: TA's, blackboard, and of course, the prof himself. I had a great experience with this course, although it can require a significant amount of time. (The prof is also frighteningly well dressed.)