Joel Smith - Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY

Professor: Joel Smith

Department: Philosophy

College: Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PH215
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Professor Smith is a great guy, and knows his stuff, but his class is incredibly difficult and 80% of the final grade is determined by two essays. Not a good writer? Sorry. Hoped that maybe some of the final grade would be influenced by participation, and the bi-weekly two hour long assignments but nope! Thanks for reminding me why I'm not a major.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PH215
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Professor Smith is one of the best professors I have ever had. He challenges you intellectually, expects greatness, and if you do the work, you'll learn a ton! That being said, there is a TON of work that you must do for this class - at least a one and a half to two hours of work per class period.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PH215
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

One of the most difficult classes I've taken so far at Skidmore - yet the most fruitful. He has the ability to 'question' your common sense, and makes you more critical on your overall arguments. He can sometimes be stingent upon his interpretation, but definitely helps you grow both academically and personally. MUST TAKE A CLASS WITH HIM!!

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: RE213
• 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:

My favorite professor at Skidmore. the class is hard and you have to work alot but is defintely worth it. He assigns alot of attendence and expects you to attend all classes but the man is a genious.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PHIL311
• 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:

Awesome professor. Huge workload, difficult grader, zero-absence attendance policy - and its the best class I've taken at Skidmore. He's making me work harder than I thought I could and the fruit is that it feels good and I'm learning a ton. Plus he's a genuine guy and there are hilarious moments at least a few times per class.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: REL213
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He's a hard professor who doesn't give away good grades for free. He is very knowledgeable and makes the topic interesting. Take a class from him only if you are interested in the subject, because if you're not, you're screwed.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: RE203
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Definitely a great teacher for either religion or philosophy, but he's extremely hard. (zero absence policy!) If you're interested and serious about the subject, take his class, especially if it's about Buddhism and Hinduism - he's an expert. He's worth the time and effort that goes into his classes.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: RE103
• 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:

Extremely intelligent and very helpful. He is a hard worker and tries to make his students think.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: RE103
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

His own predetermined opinions regarding the subject of class discussions sometimes hinder his feedback towards student opinions. Though otherwise, he is genuine and obviously interested in what he teaches. Also very helpful to meet with him about papers!

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PHIL300
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Joel was my thesis advisor, and he forced me to write and think at a level that I had never done for my entire time at Skidmore. It ended up being the most rewarding thing I did there. Joel demands a lot from you--a lot--but he also gives much more of his time and energy than any other professor I know. Well worth your time if you're serious.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PHILSECT
• 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:

Truly a teacher that challenges all students to think for themselves while diving through the burning rings of existential questions. All of this is of course ever so gently guided with experience, care, and compassion to make one a deeper individual.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: RE103
• 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:

everytime i say something he disagrees with, he puts up a fight. i leave that class every day incredibly frusterated. but he does provide lots of insight and help with papers, so thats good. but unfortunatly, thats about it.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: RE330
• 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:

His expertise of Buddhism/Hindiusm is the best, he is great at advising in the technical sense (what you need to graduate) but less so in terms of mentoring. You will def. learn a lot in his classes but he def. favors those who agree with him. FYI not the best for rec. letter unless you know he loves you!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: RE330
• 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:

No Comments

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PHRE200
• 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:

Joel is a difficult professor in the best sense. His classes aren't easy but its becuase he really challenges you to think about the material. His classes are challenging but very rewarding (and he's hilarious if you get his humor)

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: RE220
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

The material was diffuclt, and I have never taken another religion class to compare to, but I thought he did a very good at making the material interesting and he is a very intelligent, kind man.

Rating # 17

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

He made me cry!!!

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: RE220
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I thought I would be really interested in this class, but he makes it really boring. And, if you disagree with him you won't do well.

Rating # 19

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Professor Smith is interested and knowledgable in what he is teaching, but he is not willing too see others' opinions or understand others' situations.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: RE220
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Worst teacher ever.