Gerry Philipsen - University of Washington, Seattle, WA

Professor: Gerry Philipsen

Department: Communication

College: University of Washington, Seattle, WA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: COM202
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

One of my favorite professors at UW. He teaches effectively by not assigning too much work or reading, but just enough so you can actually learn. He uses a lot of great examples as well and he makes learning fun and easier than some of these other classes at UW

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: COM202
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Philipsen - one of my best professors. Lots of reading, lots of academic freedom. P.S. I'm the one who turned in a crayon drawing of a carrot as part of my final project. Unlike others who may have tried this, my use of the carrot was brilliant. If you tried this in a class and didn't get an A, don't be jealous.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: COM484
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

One of the best professors I've had!! Super nice and clear with expectations and grading! Great professor

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: 220
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Online class, 10 assignments plus one final exam. Assignments are long, but he's an easy grader, as long as you submit it, u will be fine. Finished this class within 10 days, the final exam is pretty much the same as the practice exam. Easy class.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: COM373
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Took Com in Small Groups in Fall 2012. Was very interesting, good mix of having to retain info exactly (word by word) and also overall understanding the material. Stay on top of it and you will do fine. Also important to be in class. Takes attendance. I like how he hands out notes he asks about.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: COM484
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Took Culture of Comm online in Sum '12 after I already took another in-person class with Phillipsen. You have to stay on top of the material, but it is interesting and doable. I like the structure, makes learning fun and easy, but do not fall behind! He was super quick and helpful when I emailed questions. Liked the mix of cultures we investigated.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: COM334
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Took Essentials of Argument in Spring 2012 and enjoyed it very much. Very hands on debate class with materials that can be used in everyday life. Found the debates exciting. Like the professor, he is very knowledgeable and makes the class fun.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: COM484
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Great professor! Do the reading and try your best- you'll do fine. A lot of the material was older (1980's), but he had great structure and knew what he was talking about. I took the class online and really enjoyed it! It wasn't too hard (I learned a lot) but you have to stay on top of it.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: COM202
• 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:

This online class was okay. I think I learned a lot.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: COM373
• 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:

Fairly easy.. Tests were Annoyingly specific and require lots of pointless memorization, but he gives you typed out note sheets with pretty much all you need to know on the tests. Boring lecture-er, but some of the "fishbowls" we did in class were interesting.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: COM373
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

All of his readings are ancient (Newest is like from 97), he avoids making an original comment or analysis, and he test on the most ridiculous material. Literally forcing you to memorize passages word for word. Attendance is mandatory, because no one would show up, he is so boring. Worst teacher I have had at UW, maybe ever. Don't take his class

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: COM373
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He was very clear about what was going to be on the tests in this class. Learned a lot. He may seem to go off on tangents, but overall, for the subject he was teaching, it was fine.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: COMM102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I could have talked to him for hours, very engaging and trys hard with all his students.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: COM484
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I attened all lecture sessions, kept on top with all of the class readings (there is a lot), and completed all the papers..yet managed to get a frickin B-! I was a 3.8 student until I took this stupid class for a "elective" now I feel like an idiot. Everyone snoozed away in this class..an absolute horror! Don't take it!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: COM484
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Philipsen LOVED what he was talking about, but to us it was all "blah blah blah." Really interesting subject, but you must attend lectures and read his book. Easy to get a good grade, but at the same time really easy to lose it. Take it if you can memorize things.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: COM484
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Interesting subject matter I guess but REALLY subjective stuff to be honest - you have to have a passion for it or you'll be bored and wondering why you're waisting the time. I found it quite hard to 'get into' many of the things he stressed + there's a lot of writing required. Not really recommended unless your a physiology or related major.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: COMM484
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I did more crosswords in this class than my entire tenure at UW. He bases his research on a book he wrote in 1969- yet the class is about how culture in communication is ever changing. The 3 papers I wrote were 500 words of BS, yet I managed to get A's. Most pointless class I've ever taken.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: SP10
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

One of his students turned in a crayon drawing of a carrot. He got a A. Thirty four years later, that student finally got a job in communication studies. He's speaking like a marketing analyst in webtown.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: COM202
• 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:

I wish he was my grandpa. He was so nice and very proper. He did, however, seem to have some bad days (maybe 3 in a quarter) and when there were bad days it was Very Clear! However, very nice overall and he was very interesting and intrested in the subject.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: COM202
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Good lecturer, funny guy. It was an enjoyable class, not too labor intensive. I didn't read too much but the whole point of his lecture is to tell you what the important stuff from the reading was. Take good notes, safe your tests, go to sections, reading will be fairly minimal unless he makes a big deal of something in class, you should read it.