Ronald Simkins - Creighton University, Omaha, NE

Professor: Ronald Simkins

Department: Theology

College: Creighton University, Omaha, NE

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: THL470
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Don't take Dr. Simkins if you want to just get by and check a core req off the list. He is highly knowledgeable and highly respected within the field. His work is amazing, and I have learned a lot from him. I really struggled at first, but he was fantastic in office hours and really helped me along. Highly recommended if you want to learn.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: THL215
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He assigns a two paragraph assignment before every class, and that is mandatory for attendance. He was really helpful when I ran into difficulties. However, the quizzes are very difficult. A lot of the time he doesn't cover the entire printed lecture, so make sure you read those. It's a lot of work, -wouldn't recommend to someone outside humanities

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: THL215
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Simkins is a very nice man and is very knowledgeable in his field, and this comes out in his lectures. He grades fairly easy on the daily assignments and the midterm essays, but study hard for the online quizzes! However, there is a LOT of homework (too much in my opinion for a core class) and attendance is mandatory (dont plan on getting sick

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: THEO201
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Way harder than it should be. He gives abstracts that are due before class, where you summarize the biblical story and ask a question and answer it based on the themes in the story. Come to class and don't turn in homework, 0/3. Turn in homework but skip class, 0/3. And the online quizzes are tricky. Wouldn't recommend for non-theology majors.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: THL215
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Fair bit of reading (up to a twenty page lecture and 15 chapters from the bible) and a short writing assignment nightly. The assignments are easy once you figure out how he wants you to write them (he explains it well), but he doesn't accept them unless you show up to class the day they're due. The midterm and final are 25% of the grade each though

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CNE350
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Simkins is really a great guy, and it makes me sad I didn't enjoy his class. He knows his stuff but the class is disproportionately difficult, and the assignments are poorly explained and graded tough. Showing up every day will not earn an A-- the class banded together to create google docs for every test, only reason I made it through.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: THL215
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Simkins is a great guy but this class was somewhat challenging. If you want an A, it is attainable but be prepared to work for it. There are assignments for every class but as long as you apply some effort, you will get full credit. Must attend every class or you will lose points. Mid-term and final are in-class essays.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: THL215
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Too much work for a core class. LOTS of reading (but sometimes not needed for the HW). HW everyday (1 due before each class & either group work in class or a discussion post after class). 6 quizzes that are all based off of lectures/readings. No exams. Midterm & final are in-class essays that are randomly chosen off of assignments done.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: THEO201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He's hard. You have to do an assignment before each class and a discussion after. Talks fast, so note taking is hard. The assignments are your attendance key, so if you do them but don't come to class, you get 0/3 and if you show up to class but don't do the assignment, you'll still get a 0/3 (but will at least learn what he taught that day).

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: THL201
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

When I met with an academic advisor, he told me this professor usually taught graduate courses. I felt that was a big influence in how much time and commitment he wanted for THL201, which was too much for a core credit.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: THL2
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I think this class was very easy and straightforward. He gives 10 quizzes and no tests except for the final which is 30 questions of the 10 quizzes. You will have an assignment after every class which is basically a paragraph on your interpretation of the assigned readings which are fairly short. Quizzes are a little more difficult but bearable.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: THL215
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

No exams. 10 quizzes throughout the course of the semester. The final exam was about 30 questions long. Every question was pulled from the 10 quizzes. Expect a short writing/reading assignment after every class. He's very helpful during office hours, especially when asking questions about the two essays.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: THL201
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Simkins is incredibly knowledgeable. The assignments were short daily writings. Quizzes instead of tests and a paper instead of a final. If you pay attention and do the assignments as he instructs, it's easy to get an A. He really is an amazing man to learn from - worth the daily assignments.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: THL201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

The class discussions and assignments are A's if you do them and show up to class. Quizzes aren't bad if you know the vocab and what's going on. Essays can be ambiguous and thus difficult. No exams, which is awesome.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: THL201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Simkins is very unclear in his directions, although the daily assignments and discussions are easy. Quizzes are mostly true false and are made to trick you. The essays, once again, are not clear on instructions and he does not give out very many A's. I do not recommend him, he has too high of expectations for the amount of time we have.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: THL212
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I really liked Dr. Simkins, daily writing assignments aren't hard-automatically gives 100 percent. Quizzes arent too bad and the one paper is easy. The final is essay and is given to you before and it is not dificult at all. If you don't want to work too hard and don't like to participate, I recommend him

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: THL202
• 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:

Some days were interesting but most were not. I'm glad I took this as the Old Testament requirement though because it actually provided me with a lot of insight to a few questions I had, so I think taking the class was a good personal choice. Also there is a lot of ancient history and archaeology stuff included. Dr. Simkins was a really nice guy.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: CNE523
• 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:

What a sweet man! He is very helpful and is an expert in his field. He clarified all the material for us, but you still have to read because you have to do the summaries. One paper, a midterm and a final. Really nice and understanding guy, take him!

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: HIST418
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Simkins is a great guy, and as a teacher is all right. His class though is difficult to get through, as his paper instructions aren't clear at all, and his tests are subjective to him. It's frustrating, and just a class to get through.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: HIS201
• 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:

I took his online class, so I don't know what he's like in a classroom. But his lectures were crystal clear, and and made reading the Bible easier. His daily assignments were free points and participation is mandatory but do-able. He doesn't make you look at the Bible from his views, rather he has you find your own views to write about. great prof!