James Blumenthal - Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR

Professor: James Blumenthal

Department: Philosophy

College: Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PHL
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Generous, caring & luminous professor and inspirational human being. Absolutely brilliant in the most humble, humane way possible. Will be sorely missed for his knowledge, writings and all around eloquence. Made the world (& me) better for having been here. Truly a builder of cultural bridges and deep philosophical, spiritual understanding.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PHL208
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Relatively good professor, obviously knows what he's talking about. Took his Intro to Buddhism class. LOTS of required reading (try 4 textbooks) and pretty hard grader, but a nice guy. Sometimes lectures seem like they're about four times as long as they are...

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PHL160
• 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 professor!! Really has a lot of passion for what he teaches! The class is pretty easy as long as you go to class and take notes. He gives you a study guide before the tests and as long as you do them you'll get at least a B on the test. Definatley take the class with him if you can!!!

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PHIL160
• 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:

He's such a funny guy - sometimes I don't think he even knows he's funny. He's a really good teacher in my opinion - he has alot of background in Tibetan Buddhism and even speaks the language; so he definitely knows what he's talking about. very easy grader. on a multiple choice quizzes, he even gives partial credit for some of the questions!

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PHL160
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Definitely worth it. However, requires you to read lot for a 100 level course, but he grades easy on exams and reports. Be prepared for 3 reports and pop-quizs. But they are really easy.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PHL160
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Brings politics into every lecture, sometimes stopping to have 15 minute discussions about Iraq or whatever. He grades you better if you write your papers with a liberal bias.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PHL160
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I think most people like this guy, but I wouldn't take him if you want to do more than simply regurgitate the information he feeds you. From my experience, if you butt heads with him or question anything he says, things get ugly.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PHL308
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Helpful if you see him during office hours-nice guy. Grades easy. He knows an amazing amount about Buddhism-he actually knows classical Tibetan! It would probably be good to have a little grounding in Buddhist basics before you take his higher level classes, although it's not required.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PHL160
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Blumenthal's class is interesting, and it's easy if you never miss a lecture... but if you fall behind just a tiny bit in the class, he's not very understanding or accommodating when help is needed. Never try to ask him for an extension on a paper, because he made me feel stupid when I did.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PHL430
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

LOVED this class. The prof is super accomodating, and has a great lecturing style. He is so soft-spoken and such a gentle person - totally Buddhist to a tee. I learned a ton, and hope to take more courses from him in the future. Such a nice guy.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PHL160
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He is very helpful, and he knows his stuff. The tests are based on the lectures, so you can't skip the class, but it's pretty easy.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PHL160
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Great class. Very easy.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PHL106
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Good teacher, but he is boring to listen to

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PHL430
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

One of the smartest people at Oregon State. His classes may be hard, but Buddhism is a hard thing to learn.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PHL430
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

eh

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: 308X
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

he is a great guy that knows tons on Buddhism, he wants you to learn, but you have to go to classes or you will not do so well

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: PHL308X
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Awesome guy, but material can be difficult. Teaches only buddhism.