Benjamin Dykman - University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI

Professor: Benjamin Dykman

Department: Psychology

College: University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PSY509
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Dykman's Abnormal Psych class was definitely very difficult, but also very doable. Use the readings as reinforcements of the lectures, and don't be afraid to send him emails to clarify any confusion between the two. (he is good about sending emails to clarify content--if brought to his attention) The curve will help your grades in the end!

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PSY202
• 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:

Dykman is clear, interesting, knowledgable, respectful of students and very nice to students. Very smart, knows a lot about a lot. His liking of psychology is contagious to the class. I'm more likely to be a psych major now. He'll inspire you. All round great teacher. HOT smarts and hot bod.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH509
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Although abnormal psychology sounds super interesting, Dykman sucks the life right out of it. I enjoyed reading the book more than going to lecture; but you have to do both to pass. Thankfully, he drops one exam score.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PSY202
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The lectures are very dry. His test are based off of the lecture and the book, but he tends to contradict the book in his lectures. Test questions are very specific. For an intro level psych class he focuses more on small details than the big picture when it comes to the test.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PSY509
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I worked my butt off to get the grade I did and would not take this class with him again. He rarely acknowledged students with their hands raised. Lectures were dry, he doesn't do a lot to engage students. Tests are rote memorization but detail-heavy and require A LOT of studying to do well. Nice & knowledgeable? Yes. But he's not a good teacher

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PSY509
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dykman is an extremely knowledgable professor and an all around great guy. He cares about his students and really wants them to excel in his class, and his age adds a sometimes unintended, quirky humor to his lectures, which is a bonus. If you reciprocate his interest in the course, do the reading, and attend lectures, his exams are pretty trivial.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH509
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Dykman is the best professor I had the pleasure of learning from, and Abnormal Psychology is the best course I have taken in college. His lectures convey a lot of information, which can at times leave you scrambling to get everything down. His jokes are golden. Video clips give you an idea of what treatment is like. Read chapters twice.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH509
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Go to lecture and take good notes. Also take good notes on the book chapters. You'll need them for the tests, which are kind of nit picky but still doable. Study for tests at least 2 days in advance. Take extra credit chance. Professor has his funny moments and has ways to help ease the studying. A little effort goes a long way in this class.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH202
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Class is based solely off of 4 exams (but there is extra credit opportunity). His lectures are boring. Exams are 50% lecture/50% textbook, but lean more on the textbook, so make sure you read. Pretty nice guy, just boring. Makes a lot of stupid funny accidental jokes & goes on a lot of tangents. He tries to be helpful. Get a diff prof if you can.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PSY202
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Boring lectures. Impossible midterms. Worst class I've taken. Avoid Dykman at all costs.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH509
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Although Professor Dykman's exams are pretty tricky, I think that the class itself is enjoyable. His lectures are always entertaining and interesting, even showing videos so that we get a good idea of the material; however, the amount of reading is a lot with other classes and the exams are 50% lecture and 50% book. Makes you work for it for sure.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PSYC202
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I would have benefited much from a discussion class, but alas. Psych is the worst class I've taken so far, due to the heavy textbook readings that are hardly covered in class. While Dykman's lectures are far from bad, his tests are horrid, as 70% of the questions are based from textbook readings. And be prepared to do extra credit. you'll need it.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PSY202
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dykman is easily the worst intro psych teacher. His lectures are fine, but the tests and questions are way too hard. Definitely avoid having him if you can.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ABPYS509
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

good professor, really funny. I definitely learned a lot from his lectures! Do not miss a single lecture... he covers a lot of stuff that isnt mentioned in the required readings.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PSY202
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Do not take this class. He claims half of the questions are from the reading and half are from the lecture. Get ready to memorize every word of the textbook, as most of the questions use specific percentages etc. Lectures make no sense even if you have already read the textbook 3 times. Beware!!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH202
• 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 a really nice guy, but his syllabus says that the book is the only thing that will be tested on, when at least 40% of the exam questions are straight from lecture. There's no HW, so there's no real opportunity to boost your grade. Be prepared to memorize the textbook and lecture notes due to very detailed exam questions.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: PSY411
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Cog behavior therapy w Dykman is the best clinical course you will ever take, maybe better than what you'll receive in grad school. He's very smart, clinically insightful, and caring. The course covers everything you need to know to be a truly effective clinical psychologist--a true scientist practitioner. Well taught

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: PSY509
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

knows the subject matter inside out, very smart, very knowledgable. He's a very caring person, very responsive to students. you feel you really know the material when the course is over. if you put in the work you'll be rewarded. the best course I've ever taken.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PSY202
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

he's a really nice guy, super smart, very clear, very interesting, tries to help his students do well. supplements lecture with visual materials in an interesting way that helps you remember it better and want to come to class. super

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ABPYS509
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I had heard many negative things about professor Dykman going into this class. Despite this, I really enjoyed my experience with him. If you put in effort and are willing to learn, you will do well. He loves what he does and cares that his students understand the material. Dykman is a good choice for PSY 509.