David Sowerby - Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, CA

Professor: David Sowerby

Department: Psychology

College: Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PSY250
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Sowerby was a dope professor. Take him for sure. In psy 250 we were graded on 4 multiple choice exams and 2 papers/presentations. He curves all the exams. I took the 7-9:45pm class and we never really ended early. This class was an easy A though. Show up and take good notes. Presentations aren't bad- they're in front of your weekly small groups :)

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PSY250
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Great professor. Please take his class, it will be one of the best classes you take here. Graded on 2 4-page papers and 4 tests (which are curved).

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PSY302
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Good teacher. Give you the ability to pass the class with an A, but you have to do the work. 2 paper/presentations, and 4 tests (curved). Would take Sowerby again.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PSY302
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Show up to class, doesn't post lectures online and tests are exactly the info on lectures. Just write whats on the screen, goes fast so use a laptop. Gives you pages to read, if you want an A read but if not you easily get a B without reading. Only few questions on test based on the book. 4 tests, two easy papers. Lectures then small groups.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PSY302
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Second time I have taken him, same format as 250. Lectures for about an hour an a half then break into small groups to talk (run by Ta's) Two easy papers, four tests. If you go to lecture, take notes, and review before the test you'll pass. Pretty easy. Nice. Tries to crack jokes but often repeats the same ones and tells many of the same stories.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PSY307
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

tests or based solely on all of this mumbo jumbo experiental transpersonal blah blah lectures and you don't really need the book since that doesn't make any sense either. memorize which theorist did what. attendance counts towards your grade. TA groups are just deep group discussions. 2 "presentations" and 2 tests total. curves his tests! he's nice

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PSY307
• 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:

very nice and caring prof! don't be intimidated by the in class presentation on the book, you get to choose your own book and you can just sit down at the front and explain how it personally relates to you. 2nd presentation is on your own topic of personal growth. tests are tricky b/c of wording, study and take good notes as there are only 2 tests.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PSY250
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Class is broken down into 4 tests (20 points each) and 2 papers/presentations (10 points each). Tests are not super complicated, he lectures straight from the book so if you memorize what he lectures on, you will probably get an A. He also curves the test grade which is nice. 1-1.5 hours of lecture then 1 hour in groups. Get ready to write/type!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PSY302
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Sowerby is nice. Class consists of lecture for 1st half, meet with assigned group to present 2 papers (which are super easy to write) during the 2nd half, and 4 tests. Grades on the most massive curve I've ever seen. You have to really try to not get an A. I didn't open the book at all. Almost all necessary info for tests comes from lecture.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PSY311
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I took Psychology Dialogue Series (on the topic of Diversity) with Dr. Sowerby, which was an easy and interesting class. He brought in guest speakers from SSU and the community to talk about different groups of people, organizations, mental illnesses, and more. There was only one short paper due. If you need an extra unit, take this C/NC class!

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PSY307
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Ego-driven professor who chooses to have limited interaction with students. His class is part lecture, part group component. The group component was unfulfilling, being directed by a peer TA, and mainly consisted of questions about ambiguity and thoughts related to human existence. The lectures are uninspired. Finished out being disinterested.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PSY307
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Awesome professor, I wish I could take another class with him. He tells you exactly in the syllabus what he expects from you. Only 2 presentations, 2 tests including the final and he curves!!!

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PSY250
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

All of our work is graded by our assigned TA, who is not a Psychology Major and who knows nothing of the topics that students present. I have heard so much incorrect information presented by my classmates that I myself have had to speak up and correct. This is a terrible class set up and an absolute waste of my time.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PSY250
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Completely easy. Only have two papers for attendance (20 %) the rest of your grade is from the four test you have (which all are 20% each) The "final" is test number four which isn't a cumulative final.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PSY322
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

His voice is just too mono-toned. It's hard to keep up with his lectures. Super confusing he's never clear gives you a defintion then his defintion and on the test they both appear so who knows which one is the correct one.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: PSY250
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He teaches topics as a show or display. His tests are tricky but at least only specific page numbers are assigned. He projects himself onto others and uses spirituality for justification of relational aggression. I would never take him again, and he is jealous or something of people who are extra sensory, bad ego.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: PSY490
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Really interesting class if you are into Intuition and the more spiritual/psychicish side to Psychology. You basically show up for an hour and do a lecture for a few weeks and then you sit in a circle while a few people each week present their intuitive experience. Your grade is attendance (up to 2 absences), participation, and your presentation.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: PSY250
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

4 tests including non cumulative final. 2 very easy 4 page papers. Lectures for about an hour and a half and then break into small groups for discussion. Gives page numbers for the text to review for each test so you don't actually have to go to lecture. Gives random breaks during lecture.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PSY307
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

best psych teacher hands down. very clear and helpful. only two tests including final. two presentations that are super easy. get the book to study for tests and go to lectures because you need to know the information from the powerpoints. easy A!

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PSY250
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Sowerby is one of the coolest and easiest professors ever! He's very layed back. His lectures are not mandatory but the class session is. He gives you all the page numbers that will be on his test so you HAVE to READ! There's 4 test and 2 short papers that are Credit no Credit. The best part about his teaching style is how he curves the grades!