Howard Thorsheim - St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN

Professor: Howard Thorsheim

Department: Psychology

College: St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH125
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Tests are super-random, sometimes bizarre things we discussed in-class yet othertimes one sentence from the book. Not particularly interesting prof.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH125
• 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:

No point in going to class. The lectures are never on the test except the occasional question on a video watched in class. Don't expect much help from this professor if you need clarifying.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH125
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He's passionate about psychology, unfortunately he focuses a lot on his own research a bit too much (which has nothing to do with an intro level class). Be specific on tests, read the book and focus on the handouts and the class will be easy. Actually going to class is pointless.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH125
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Terrible professor. The only point in attending his lectures is for the worksheets he sometimes hands out. Probably one of the most boring professors ever, very few students actually pay attention to the lectures. He tests straight from the book. I would not recommend him to anyone

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH125
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Thorsheim's a good guy, but honestly almost none of what he lectured about in class ended up on the test. I could have just read the textbook and done perfectly fine on all the tests. Nonetheless, he's a nice guy and he cares a lot about what he teaches, so you gotta give him some credit.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH125
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Howard is the cutest old man ever! Granted, his lectures can be boring, but his intentions are meaningful and as long as you read the text and get the class notes, you're good to go.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH125
• 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:

In class, Thorsheim did not simply regurgitate information from the textbook. Class activities were surprisingly varied and engaging for a lecture class. Prof. T is quirky, but he has a great dry sense of humor and brings in interesting ideas to his lectures. I would take another class with him.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH125
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Awesome textbook, but the class itself is a mixed bag. A lot of the time it's really interesting stories, but class material doesn't gen. show up on tests. The tests can be frustrating b/c they're almost solely based on the readings he tests on really small details (think stuff covered in one sentence in the book) and doesn't give study guides.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH125
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Thorshiem was by far my least favorite professor during my first year. I think he wants his students to do well, but really is not realistic in making this possible. There really is no reason to go to class;he doesn't take attendance and almost all the material on the tests is from the book. If you can, try to take beginning psych from someone else

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH225
• 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:

He is an amazing professor! He gives lots of good advice! Highly recommended!

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH125
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

he's a nice guy, knows his stuff maybe better for upper level courses. i didn't dislike him or like him, but intro psych is hard to be taught engagingly without a little spunk which was definitely not this class. do your readings and group study, expand as much as you can on tests, to the point of exhausting all examples and you'll get an A, easy.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH125
• 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:

He is such a nice guy. I had him in psychophysiology as well and would 100% recommend him. You learn a lot, and he makes class interesting.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PYSCH125
• 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:

Howard or Howie as his fans call him is a really interesting guy if you're interested in the Minnesota Norwegian side of St. Olaf, but useless as a prof. I was interested in the subject but his class bored me and the other 100 students (too big). Don't take with him.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH125
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

He is a nice enough guy, but his class is borderline useless. The textbook was the only thing keeping me going--it was great. But Thorsheim, on the other hand, is getting a little too old to hold the attention of a 100-person lecture class, as well as the fact that he DIDN'T TEACH US ANYTHING. Would not recommend taking Intro Psych from him.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH125
• 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:

Boring, useless lectures that have little to no relevance with your reading assignments. He also loves to talk about his own accomplishments and experiments. The class itself is easy, especially if you keep up with the textbook reading.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH125
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He gets a bad rep. Obviously lots of freshman rate him and don't understand that in college the professor is not supposed to spoon feed you the material. Students are supposed to read and use that knowledge in class, not re-learn it. Prof. T is very approachable, but indeed he has a few weird teaching techniques..

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH125
• 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:

Seems like a nice guy, kind of quirky at times, but like everyone says, very tedious lectures w/ a ridiculous strict agenda and a specific way of passing out tests and such. Definitely feel like he talks down a bit, and never talks about the reading, which is annoying. Lots of videos.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH125
• 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:

The worst professor I have ever had. He tests on the most worthless material he can find-its like he's trying to weed out any not fully committed psych majors with his boring lectures and overall waste of a semester class. Take with somebody else. Worst professor I have ever had.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH100
• 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:

The guy seems like the shell of a professor. He appears worn down, and doesn't really inspire much in terms of approachability. Just skip his class. Study for your other classes. Read the book and take the tests. I don't hate him or anything, but for 3.5 hours a week at $80 an hour, it seems like you should be getting more than a reading assignment

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH125
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I'll ditto the condescending part. Had a high interest in psychology when I started this class & he squelched it completely. Not very approachable, I'd say avoid him if you can.