Brent Gilchrist - Brigham Young University, Provo, UT

Professor: Brent Gilchrist

Department: Political Science

College: Brigham Young University, Provo, UT

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: POLS1000
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Gilchrist knows his stuff about political science. He teaches and tests only important information on the subject, and you do not need to take notes because all the information you need is posted on canvas. He will answer questions, and help you out until you have a crystal clear understanding of what he is putting out. No assignments, 3 tests.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: POLS1020
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

There was a LOT of reading but you don't really need to buy the required books, he provides almost all of it as PDFs online. He isn't a tough grader but he expects a lot out of your work. The assignements were 4 or 5 3-4 pg papers and he took the best 4, the final was 2 papers and that's it, if papers aren't your thing do NOT take this class.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: POLS1000
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I took this class at UVU as one of my GE. Show up to class, take good notes on his power points, read the chapters he assigns you to read, and you will pass the class. There really isn't any homework besides reading out of the textbook. Also, there is only about 2 test and the final through out the semester!

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: POLS4320
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I had this guy at USU. He shared way too many Mormon bashing stories that should be left out of a secular college course. The class was mostly a waste of my time.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PLSC202
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Gilchrist was the best professor at BYU campus. The people that left the class confused or upset had their panties tied in so tight a wad they couldn't even see the brilliant way he wove personal interest into the learning process. He simultaneously makes philosophy simple and profound. What a guy!

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: POLI202
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

If you want to be entertained take gilchrist; however, if you want discussion and collaboration in thinking look somewhere else. Great guy but a overrated teacher or rated appropriately by those looking for fun. Just invest in TA time and use the "key" words get your grade to protect the GPA and get out.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PLSC202
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

What a guy! The stories he told are life changing. The way he can relate those stories to politics is amazing. He is brilliant. His quizzes are tough if you don't pay attention. Review power points for quizzes. Essays are graded tough, but if you get help from TA's you will survive. This class is so worth it USU. It was his last year at BYU. Bye!!

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: POLS2300USU
• 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:

His tangents mean something, pay attention. Relates everything to modern problems. Very intelligent and flexible for his students. Funny.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PLSC202
• 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:

Gilchrist is honestly fantastic. He goes on tangents, tells lots of stories, and turns a lot of the "organized" students off. But he has fascinating perspective and makes you want to learn more. More of a teacher than most, he's interested in you learning. His classes are not hard. HIGHLY recommended!

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PLSC202
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Worst class I have taken at BYU!! Gilchrist is a great guy but he sucks at teaching! I went to class everyday and left wonderingwhy I bothered, he goes off on random tangents that have nothing to do with class. And the TA's are not very helpful, they have "lab times" but half the time they cancel them or dont show up.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PLSC202
• 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:

Great guy. Gets the typical Provo-republican-mormon to think. He plays devils advocate often and intentionally. I didn't agree with all of his opinions but they got my to think and that's what I loved. Hilarious stories. It was a relaxed and fairly easy class

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PLSC202
• 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:

Gilchrist is the hands down best teacher I've had at BYU. No he's not perfect but he recognizes that - AND the recognizes that not everyone who takes his class is going to be a PLSC major - ie he makes the class easy but informative. Easy A, but I LOVED going to class because between his hilarious stories and thought provoking questions I learned!

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PLSC202
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Often gave lengthy, off-topic personal stories, then try to relate it to political thought. If you memorize the online powerpoints, you'll ace the quizes but not the tests. No deadlines on papers. I turned mine in on the last week of semester and he LOST them! I have contacted him multiple times, resubmitted my papers and still do not have a grade.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PLSC202
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Take him while you can. Not your typical BYU prof, he's actually a normal guy. Sometimes hard to understand what the papers are expecting, but that's because we're used to professors holding our hands and telling us exactly what they want to see. Gilchrist promotes actually using your brain to draw conclusions from the material. I recommend him.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PLSC202
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Gilchrist is really a good guy, but not a good teacher. He wants to teach you about life, but just teaches nothing instead. Classes really felt wasteful. Grading was extremely unclear, and his assignments were jumbled. I would not recommend him as a teacher. But as like an uncle or something, I bet he would be great.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: PLSC202
• 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:

For those who described his grading system as "ambiguous" or "messed up", they missed the point of his class. Gilchrist doesn't want you to read the syllabus and give him what he wants, he wants you to have an original thought and learn something. Not for students who want their semester spelled out for them.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: POLS201
• 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:

Great professor. Very helpful. If skim the readings and take good notes in class you will ace the tests and be able to write the papers no problem. This is a very easy class, but professor Gilchrist teaches it in such a way that you really feel like you are learning not just getting ready to barf things back up on a test.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: POLYS201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Easy professor. Goes off on wild tangents. Some classes are not useful. Lab is where the learning occurs. Get a good TA for lab.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PLSC202
• 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:

This is the first time in my four years at BYU that I am writing about a Professor on this website. Only because HE IS THE BEST! period!

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PLSC202
• 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: N/A

Comment:

Prof. Gilchrist is amazing. He honestly loves what he teaches. He can go on rants, but they are very interesting most of the time. He makes the class so much more relaxed by not being too hard on grades and due dates. Go to TA labs, and you will do great.