Kathleen Saunders - Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA

Professor: Kathleen Saunders

Department: Anthropology

College: Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ANTH201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Passive aggressive and constant messages on Canvas, rude about students making MISTAKES, condescending for no reason, doesn't seem to care about her students.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ANTH201
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Saunders has the charisma expected from an interesting lecturer, but you will realize she does this only because she finds herself clever. An essay worth an EXAM GRADE was outsourced, and costed $15 to submit. She sends passive-aggressive messages on Canvas (which she does not know how to use) about her disappointment with the class performance.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: HNRS221
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Kathy was an amazing professor to have. She made class fun, interesting, and somehow made every discussion feel organic. The classroom environment was very friendly, I thought. The honors class she taught was supposed to mostly just make us think, and her assignments were not rigorous but they were interesting reflections.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ANTH201
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Such an amazing woman. The class is full of awesome material. Papers can be hard, but the class is worth it and once you get the hang of it you're golden.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ANTH201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Lectures were occasionally disconnected from textbook readings, which made it hard to reinforce material moving through the course. Showing up to the friday small group discussions earned you bonus points, which was a helpful grade boost!

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ANTH201
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Kathy has a laugh that'll make your day. She knows EXACTLY what she wants, which can be a good or bad thing depending on what kind of student you are. Lectures aren't mandatory but discussion grades are participation based so that's that. Some readings assignments are significantly larger than others so be careful not to wait until the last minute.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ANTH201
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Saunders was great: ANTH 201 was structured MTWRF with three weekly reading where you write two sentences for each. Four small papers on videos throughout the quarter and one large paper for the Public Anthropology Competition. And the best part: YOU GET EXTRA CREDIT FOR SHOWING UP ON FRIDAYS! Average exams. Great Lectures. Fantastic overall.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ANTH338
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Personally not a fan of economics but heck this was a fun class. It's a service learning course where you spend time helping at a soup kitchen often to then write a short reflection on econ standing. Lectures off of book in a way, good textbook. You write 2 papers your topic choice, gives great feedback & helps your writing. She's funny too!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ANTH201
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

At the beginning of the quarter I had gotten the wrong impression of Professor Saunders, she's not as intimidating as she may seem off the bat. As the course progressed it was easy to learn the rhythm of the class which makes the tests, essays, and overall experience easier. Study vocab. Stay ahead on your essays. Expect to be graded on grammar.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ANTH201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Saunders is absolutely hilarious and she makes going to class everyday at 9am worth it for sure. She wants her students to do well, every Friday you get extra credit just for showing up! Learn the vocab and all is well

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ANTH201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Saunders was a great professor and I would recommend this class. She is very entertaining and her lectures are very interesting. You must read to do well on the tests, but mainly if you show up to class and listen you will succeed.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ANTH201
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

An absolutely amazing professor. Certainly one of the best I've had at Western so far. As long as you read the prompts for essays and actually follow them, then you'll do fine. Lectures are intriguing and Kathy gives great insight into the topics.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ANTH201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Relies on computers and textbooks to teach rather than herself.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ANTH301
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Kathy expects a lot from her students but is available to help if you need it. She is very caring of her students and it shows during class. She assigns a lot of reading but it is only to help you understand the material better. I completely understand people thinking she is a tough teacher but in my experience she's great. She posts lectures too!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ANTH210
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

She is honestly so great, and you write a lot of essays, but they are really short based off of weekly movies shown in class or available for streaming. Highly recomend

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ANTH201
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

She was a great professor but definitely grades harder than some. If you don't see things exactly the same way she does in an essay she will down grade you. You have to enter an essay contest but as long as you write the piece you are likely to get a good grade.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ANTH201
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

She really seemed to love what she taught. Posted lectures and there was a little extra credit.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ANTH201
• 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:

Best professor at Western. Lectures are very interesting and although the class is lot of work, it's worth it. Take the class and you will learn a lot!!

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ANTH201
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

A lot of complaints about Prof. Saunders say that her grading criteria is strict, which may be true, but she makes every instruction ABUNDANTLY CLEAR in her syllabus, which she leaves up on Canvas all quarter. She is easily reached for clarification, and has weekly "Tea and Sympathy" meetings on Fridays. She is very particular, but very clear.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ANTH201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Amazing professor, super funny! The material you learn about is interesting and relevant to current times, I found it to be fascinating. Lots of reading, you're going to need the books! Be sure to study for exams too if you want to pass!