Allan Back - Kutztown University of Pennsylvania,Kutztown, PA

Professor: Allan Back

Department: Philosophy

College: Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, Kutztown, PA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PHI30CT
• 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:

He's such a nice guy! He is always cracking jokes. YOU NEED THE BOOK! it's a lot of short essays (one page) and two papers. no homework aside from that and he is VERY lenient and a fair grader but you need to do the work to pass. you don't need to show up for every class but he does take attendance and it would help you more if you did

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PHI101
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Back is a great professor. You can work for the grade you want. People who say his class is hard or unfair just dont get it. Many oppertunites to work for the grade you want.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PHI030
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Ok, well he's actually a really nice guy, but this class is just so hard. the material is very difficult to understand and there are a lot of readings to do. the 2 major essays are completely open ended so figuring out a topic is really hard. and there are a lot of shorter essays to write. hes a tough grader, but will allow you to redo work.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PHI030
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Talks about goats. Often. Gives short essays & small pop quizzes. 2 5-page papers. One final (another paper). The material is extremely difficult to understand because he DOES NOT make sense. Does not put grades online. TOUGH grader. If you have to take him, I recommend watching 'Crash Course' Youtube videos explaining the concepts. NEVER TAKE HIM

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PHI100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Worst professor I ever had. If you need to take him, make sure you sit in the front so that you can attempt to understand anything he says. Always gets off topic and you constantly have to be on him about knowing your grade because he doesn't use technology.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PHI310
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

GREAT prof. He is a tough grader but he's also not ridiculous. He will go out of his way to make time to help you, as much as needed. He does a lot to help students outside of the classroom and is the reason I am a philosophy major. Unorganized lectures seemingly, but if you listen and read the material you'll get a lot from it. Very insightful.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PHI030
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

worst prof. ever, i mean he was cool, but got off topic and talked about dumb stuff and he dragged on. never again, if i didn't withdrawal i would of failed.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PHI010
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Very smart professor and knows his stuff very well. However, he is almost way too smart for the average person to understand. He doesn't write a lot of notes, just words on the board and he talks very quiet so it's hard to understand. I did go to his office hours a few times and it honestly was helpful but I eventually dropped the course.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PHI140
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Back is by far the most intelligent professor at KU. He genuinely cares about his job and wants all of his students to succeed. For those who don't like philosophy, do yourself a favor and don't take him or any other PHI course. However, if you do like PHI, then he will always be my go-to prof. PHI is my minor and he makes life easier for me.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PHI105
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Awesome Prof! Best class and teacher at Kutztown! makes you think outside the box and opens new ways of looking at life. Inspirational and hysterical.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PHI010
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This class was tough because I don't understand philosophy, but back himself is a genius. I never went to class and passed with a B anyway, but I'm a strong writer and got As on all my papers. He does take attendance and gives 6 random quizzes. He's nice, but good luck following his lectures, which is why I stopped going.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PHI130
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Back is awesome. If you don't like his class, I'm sorry to tell you that you don't like college. He wants students to get a similar education to those at top tier schools, which means you are going to have to actually work for your grade. I know, that's hard for some of you. But if you just read the book and write the papers, you can handle it.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PHI030
• Grade Received: INC
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Back didn't write down any of my grades for the majors assignments, although I have copies of grades on them. If you're going to take him, make sure you're on top of HIS grade for you.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PHI30CT
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Great guy, one of, if not the best, Professor at KU. Such a smart guy, you just have to sit close cause he doesn't talk loudly. Changed my life forever, brilliant man, give him a chance and listen to his wisdom. Don't expect easy grades, but put in the work and you'll pass. His handwriting is a little rough try emailing for more clarity in feedback

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: INTROPHI
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Back is a good professor, brilliant, and holds interesting lectures; but, don't expect an A without working for it. Lots of extra credit opportunities. People at kutztown want an A without working for it, dont be scared by other comments if you need to take this class. But, the chances of actually getting an A are slim. Get ready, Goat jokes.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: 116
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

If you take his class you should 1. read 2. sit up front 3. actually put in effort. he's a really good teacher but doesn't just hand you the grade he wants you to take from his class and actually try. if you do that and go to all the classes you'll pass with no doubts.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: PHI240CDWI
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He's one of the best professors at Kutztown. As someone who has struggled with writing for his entire life taking a writing intensive course was very nerve wracking, but he helped me out and even offered an extra day for my term paper when I turned it in and I felt it was incomplete. If you talk to him he will always help you. Also goat jokes.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: PHI121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Hands down the best class I've had here. He opened my mind to philosophy, and might open yours if you're up for it. Some of his jokes are corny, but some are downright hilarious. No powerpoint, but not sure why that would be a problem. You have to just pay attention to, like, words. The work is hard though; but you can do it, smarty.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PHI240
• 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: Mandatory

Comment:

He is a horrible teacher. uses no technology, and you can barely understand what he is saying when he's lecturing. Which is everyday. Lowest grade I've received at KU. Avoid at all costs.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PHI310
• 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:

Allan Back is, in my opinion, the best professor at Kutztown. He he does high expectations of students. He actually wants them to learn something at Kutztown. But if you're willing to put in the work he is willing to go out of his way to help you succeed. If you're one of those people that don't like puns though, he'll really get your goat.