Steve Phillips - Towson University, Towson, MD

Professor: Steve Phillips

Department: History

College: Towson University, Towson, MD

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: HIST111
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

He is really passionate about the history of Chinese, Japanese, and Korean civilization. It shows in the way he goes over the lectures (on powerpoint). Quiz every class, so SHOW UP. The quizzes are one question each, and the midterm/final are take-home. Plus it covers a CORE requirement. WIN/WIN class!

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: TSEM101
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Phillips is the absolute BEST professor at Towson. I took a TSEM about China in the 21st Century & even though the topic was kind of boring, Prof. Phillips keeps you entertained and engaged. He gives you quizzes about the readings every tuesday (or every other) and he provides so much help with the papers. I'd take ANY class at Towson w/ him.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: 111
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Amazing teacher. You will not regret taking history with him. He's passionate, really knowledgeable about the topic, and laid back. He will tell you a big idea and start working around it. I never leave the class confused. He has power points online & a term sheet that highlights all the important terms and ideas you need to know. Do your reading.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: HIST370
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Lectures are well-constructed and engaging. Quizzes, assignments and tests are always based on lectures and readings. Fair grader. Good sense of humor.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: HIST354
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Interesting class overall and a good instructor, but lectures are long winded and sometimes get boring. Reading is WAY too much, as he assigned over 5 different books. Weekly quizzes and papers are annoying as well. Needs to cut the reading material in half, its way too much.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: HIST111
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Phillips is an amazing professor, not only does he really know his stuff but he's also hilarious! I loved his class even though I had absolutely no interest in the course. I took it for a GenEd but later found out I already had a credit for it... Midterm, final, & pop q's. Tough grader, prepare!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: HIST110
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He is a great prof. He knws his topics. He is a fair grader. TAKE NOTES, its really helpful. Good notes will lead u to a good grade. Willing to help anytime u ask. If something not clear just ask him. He'll happly help u. Go to him if u get bad grade in 1st mid term, Gives great advice, which will help u improve your grade drastically. Take him

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: HIST111
• 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:

GREAT PROFESSOR. He knows the topic well and is highly enthusiastic about the class. His exams are essays so it's important to prepare for them. Reading is also an important part of the class. He doesn't write notes but he talks but you are interested, it's not boring at all. Great sense of humor, the right combination of sarcasm and wit. Take him!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: HIST316
• 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:

Wasn't sure about a class in Chinese political history, but boy did he make me leave wanting more! Very insightful, passionate, enthusiastic, and not afraid to say certain things (sarcasm). Good at getting material stuck in your head! Very tough, expects a lot, but it can be done. How I got a B+, I still ponder. I'll definitely look him up again!

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: HIST482
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I love this man. He is one of THE best professors out there. Sarcastic, funny, very intelligent. Although, EXTREMELY TOUGH! But he's actually easy on grading. You better be prepared for a LOT of reading and a LOT of writing. Pop reading quizzes! It's all worth it though; I'd take him again in a heartbeat.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: HIST110
• 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:

He's really nice. This class was really hard for me, but I somehow managed an A-. READ. Seriously the novels he's not kidding. Not reading one was the biggest mistake. I skimmed the text book, but only really referred to it when I was unsure of something. He's also pretty funny, which is a nice plus. He is also very helpful and will answer question

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: HIST110
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Grade consists of 2 midterms and a cumulative final plus simple reading quizzes when novels are due. He's a great lecturer but this is a class that you should only take if your interested in the subject. Overall it's enjoyable and a light workload (you just need to study for exams). If you need a SOSC survey take him rather than Katz or Pineo.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: HIST300
• 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:

Make sure that he's also teaching at SAIS, Johns Hopkins in DC, and he is the editor of the Foreign Relations of the US. Then, he is the director of Asian Studies. He's a nationally famous scholar and he does care about students. He is seriously willing to offer help if you need him. His class is not easy, but it's worth taking. It's not easy A.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: HIST110
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Prof Phillips is such a goofball, but thats why we love him. You cannot slack off in his class so don't come in expecting an easy A; its one of those classes you come out of actually having learned something. Added bonus- speaks Chinese!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: HIST110
• 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:

Don't take this class as a GenEd or if u have no interest in the subject..your life will be hell. If youre into Asian studies or History than this will be a worthwhile class to take, but BEWARE, you will work your butt off just to get a B. Phillips is a great a guy- super smart-but he thinks level 100 gen ed is equivalent to a level 400 seminar

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: HIST111
• 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:

Lol Phillips..I swear by now he hates me xD Second class with him and most likely won't be the last. He's sarcastic, cynical, and prob one of the best teachers at Towson. Very passionate about China, it rubs off on you but other than that he doesn't care about anything.. seriously... but in a bad ass kind of way. You WANT him as your teacher! Haha

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: HIST300
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Great teacher. Fair grader, rewards hard work. Sense of acomplishment after succeeding because he dosn't except half rate work. Will motivate you to read volumes. If your thinking of going to grad school he his the teacher to take, as he tries to prepare you for that and not stand in the way of getting a degree like some other profs.Highly recomend

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: HISTSECT
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He is a great teacher. His lectures are organized and crystal clear. I did not have any problems with writing essays or taking notes. If you note what he says in the class you will not have any problems with constructing essays but you have to be organized and clear. If you want to say Japanese do not say Japs or you will loose points. If you do n

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: HIST320
• 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:

He knows his subject well! He is really nice and funny guy, but as some people say, his class can be hard or easy depending on how you can take good notes and devote your time. If you have some knowledge, it should not be a big matter. But if you are history major and wanna know much about history, this is the guy whom you need. The best professor.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: HIST320
• 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 is nice professor. He knows his subject really well. But as someone mentioned, taking notes is the hardest thing for you if you don't know anything about the subject. My class is about Japan, and he just speaks. If he mentions some Japanese name, he just says spelling really fast. So if you don't know the subject, it might be really hard