John Ruch - Mills College, Oakland, CA

Professor: John Ruch

Department: Psychology

College: Mills College, Oakland, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PSYC162
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Instruction is very clear and methodical. The material is not easy but you will learn it because he is so thorough.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH180
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This guy is super straight forward. He really just wants to be a catalyst for your learning. He is super mellow and methodical about getting the important information in your head. The subject matter is hard but he is really good at teaching it.

Rating # 3

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

He does use old videos but what he shares during lecture is very valuable. Even on the first day, he gave insightful and useful information. He was a first generation college student who went to Harvard when it was sink or swim. Because of this, he goes out of his way to make detailed definitions and explanations so that no one leaves class without full understanding of what was covered during the lecture. If at all possible, take one of his classes.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PSYC162
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

The final grade for Professor Ruch's Embodied Mind course is based entirely off reading responses (which are due every class, takes about three hours roughly) and three essays, but the overall grade is cumulative points. As long as you do the work, it is an automatic A (basically even if you get a C on every essay).

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: 162
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

You will learn so much in this course! Dr. Ruch is very clear about what he wants from you in terms of assignments and they are easy to do as long as you read. There is a decent amount of reading but it's all interesting and useful for a Psych major to know (especially if you plan on taking the GRE). No tests, which was awesome.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PSYC162
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

There is 50-100 pages for each class and 1-3 pages single spaced writing on that as well as 3 essays that are graded really harshly and APA is more important than the essay itself. He uses video from the 1980s it seems like and reading material from then as well. Reading is interesting, but lectures are boring. Try to avoid it.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PSYC132
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Ruch is very old-school, yes, but also hilarious and very understanding. The class material is dense and the tests are hard, but he gives you everything you need to know in the reading. Only tests on boldfaced terms in book, and he even made a study guide for the final exam when I asked for one. Very helpful if you just ask for it.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PSY070
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Very old-fashioned. Lectures, doesn't really teach. Tests were challenging, but mostly fair. It would be nice to see less antique videos.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PSYC070
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

This was my favorite class I have ever taken! He is an older teacher, but so very knowledgable, professional, enthusiastic, and he communicates quite clearly. He provides a wonderful balance between lecturing and taking questions--I didn't realize how good he was at this until I had teachers later on who did not have this skill.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH180
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I took psyc 70 with him as well. He is my favorite professor. I am a freshman. He is very helpful and if you email him questions he emails you back with thorough answers. He is so sweet and I learn so much in his class. If you love psychology definitely take a class by him. We use best seller books instead of text books.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PSYC070
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

very interesting! but you need to take good notes. he's very helpful outside of class and through email!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PSYC070
• 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:

No Comments.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH049
• 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:

I was in two of his classes so far & have enjoyed them. His test are based solely on the book & for the most part are multiple choice. However, he is picky grader when it comes to research paper, mostly the APA format. He seems to love what he teaches & can be funny, but at the same time you can fall asleep. You watch tons of interesting videos.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH49
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dull class. You won't do well unless you are good at taking multiple choice exams

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PSYC049
• 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:

Seems to enjoy what he teaches, though he is rather dry. Some of those dry jokes are amusing though... You get to watch some cool videos. Tests are basd solely on the book. A straightforeward class. Watch out--he is a VERY picky grader when it come to research reports!Still I'd be more than willing to take another class from him.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH049
• 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:

Nice teacher, very dry humor. He grades on a curve so you will most likely pass- but don't fall into the easy behavior of never attending class. It is perfectly possible to fail one of his tests even with the curve because they are HARD. Remember that he only important part in of the research paper in psych 049 is format.

Rating # 17

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

great class, totally interesting, and ruch was awesome. one paper, 2 midterms, 1 final (all tests multiple choice).

Rating # 18

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Prof Ruch is one of a kind. At first I thought the class was dull and boring, but after a while I realized it was one of the most interesting class. He lectures a little (about 30 mins) and the rest of class is videos(which are all really interesting) on the topic. 1 paper to write, 2 midterms and 1 final all multiple choice.

Rating # 19

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

At first I thought that the class was a boring waste of my time. I nearly fell asleep in the first few lectures. Once I actually started listening to what he was saying, I realised that his lectures are incredibly interesting & he has a pretty good sense of humar (always good) + we watched a bunch of movie clips - 80% of class was visual examples.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: INTROPSYCH
• 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:

He knows what he's talking about and doesn't treat us like highschool kids like some of my other teachers do. Psychology rocks, and so do multiple choice tests.