Alan Spector - Purdue University Calumet, Hammond, IN

Professor: Alan Spector

Department: Sociology

College: Purdue University Calumet, Hammond, IN

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: SOC101
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

When I looked into this professor before I started the course the comments made me nervous. He is NOT a bad professor. His teaching style is different, and you need to be ready to be responsible and do your own part. He is willing to work with students to make up any assignments and tests, even the final exam. I would definitely take him again.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: SOC100
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

takes a while to grade work. It is a sociology class and it boasts that everyone has their own opinion but he clearly thinks his is best. He also is very political in topics.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: SOC100
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Enjoyed hearing his perspectives. He's a character and it makes the lectures bearable.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: SOC314
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I enjoyed his class. His lectures are okay if you can stay awake for them. He assigns a lot of readings, but they are luckily all relevant and interesting. Very knowledgeable.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: INTROSOC100
• Grade Received: D+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Did not really enjoy him,but he made some good points.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: SOC314
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Spector is very helpful. He understands the everyday situations of working class people and is easy going when it comes to mothers having to miss class to take care of their kids, students who lose a family member, etc. He is a man of the people and has been one of the most helpful professors in my time at the university.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: SOC100
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Alan is very unconventional. Doesn't go thru the assigned readings; he talks about one thing&then something totally unrelated after. Only grades r midterm&final, then extra credit if u choose to. Attend all lectures, listen carefully, do the readings, take notes bc u can use it on the midterm/final. NOT AN EASY CLASS. Other professors may be easier

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: SOC100
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Most people skipped class. He mocks religious people and the material he teaches is not in the book. Furthermore, he punished my class because HE was 17 minutes late. He has bizarre and random questions on tests.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: SOC 10000
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Had him Fall '14. Absolutely awful. He drones on and on about how awful the world is. He rants about his political views (he's a "cynical liberal" type) and how Obama is the same as George W Bush. He gave us 3 tests with the most ridiculous questions ("T/F: This class has no doors or windows"). Easy A though. Didn't show for half the semester

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: 30039SOC100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Awesome professor! Took this class as a blow-off elective (Engineering Tech major) and it turned out to be my favorite class to attend this semester. Listening to his lectures is a lot fun, you always learn something interesting. Great sense of humor, the classroom is very relaxed. Wish I had another elective so I could take another class with him.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: 30037SOC10000
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Not clear, did not learn one thing from this course. He tries using examples from too many different categories. There is barely any note taking, homework, or even grades in the class. If you can learn from just listening to lecture then this is the class for you.....but I wouldn't recommend it.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: SOC10000
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

he's one of the best professors I've been taking classes with. I took this class in Summer, it was for 3 weeks, just understand what he is saying, read the book, and do the extra credit paper. it will be Easy A :-)

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: SOC314
• 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:

One of the most intelligent, good-natured people I have ever met. Even if you don't learn anything about traditional sociology you will learn some very interesting things. He is a treasure trove of information and experience. Whether you agree with his views or not, he will show you interesting ways to think about life.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: SOC100
• 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:

Prof. Spector?s classes are ALWAYS interesting. He speaks the crystal clear truth about the world, weather you like it or not. He is extremely approachable. He makes himself aviable to all his students. He knew me personally by name in a class of 100. I plan on taking the rest of his classes.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: SOC100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I loved hearing this professor's lectures. He had a sort of "angry old man" aspect to him coupled with very different political points of view that I hear from those same "angry old men". Sparked good debates.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: SOC330
• 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 teaches the truth. No lionizing history coming from him. He hits you with a ton of information. If you want to guarantee an A, listen to Jeff Ott's 'Will Work For Diapers' and every thing from the band Fifteen's two albums "Lucky" and "Survivor." It helped tremendously.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: SOC110
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

He was a great instructor, and I especially enjoyed his obvious attendance questions he would put on tests for those of us that didn't sleep in and miss.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: SOC100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Personally, this class was not at all what I expected. It was very political, and very controversial, but I must admit Professor Spector was always willing to discuss this issues candidly and without pretension. Overall, his clarity was hard considering the class was HUUGE but if you make an effort to talk to him or his TA they are very helpful

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: SOC100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

easy, but not clear or very helpful

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: SOC3
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

One of the most enlightening teachers alive, and an unusually ethical and fair man. Everyone at Purdue Cal should seek out at least one of his courses.