Merlin Swartz - Boston University, Boston, MA

Professor: Merlin Swartz

Department: Theology

College: Boston University, Boston, MA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: RN205
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor is one of the best professors I ever had and one of the most respected scholars I ever knew.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: RN205
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Swartz changed my life. He was the best professor I ever had and inspired me to pursue a career in the Middle East. I went on to earn four degrees all because of his encouragement.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: RN205
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I have completed four degrees (BA, MA, MBA, JD) and Professor Swartz was the best educator I ever encountered. He taught me more than anyone else. His own life is an inspiration. I would not be the person I am today if I had not met him.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: RN104
• 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:

Completely inspiring. I used to go to his office hours just to talk to him--he was that great. This is one of the BEST lecturers at BU, bar-none! Sorry for any of you who didn't get the privilege of having him as your professor. He was BRILLIANT, exciting, and extremely organized. I was so sad when the fall ended at we finished our final.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: RN104
• 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:

Prof. Swartz is incredible. EXTREMELY knowledgeable and easily one of the best lecturers at BU. You will learn a TREMENDOUS amount. I'm not a religious person at all but actually considered majoring in it after this class. One of my best academic experiences at BU. He's just a very sweet, wise, old man. I loved him & never wanted to miss a lecture.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: RN104
• 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:

easily one of the greatest professors at BU. he is extremely helpful, gives you exam info before the test, and actually wants to hear what you think about material. he is a sweetheart. class only has 3 short exams and one paper. definitely take this class!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: RN104
• 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:

great class! makes timelines and history interesting!! focus on lecture material, and study for exams. only 3, non-cumm. 1 paper, topic of your choice. no final exam. anicent but enthused about topics. take notes, study them, and you'll do great. i can't wait to take him again. one of the best profs at BU

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: RN214
• 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:

what an awesome prof. Def one of the best at BU. I changed my major to religion after this class. Swartz teaches Islam in a way that makes you want to learn more, and appreciate its beauty. Awesome class.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: RN104
• 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:

One of the best professors I've had at BU. Very organized/informational lectures. Vaguely dry presentation style, but somehow not boring. Lots of information covered on tests. Very kind man. Lots of reading, but you don't really have to do it. Focus on info in lecture.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: RN104
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

if he says its a watershed event, its a watershed event. this class is one of the easiest i've taken at bu. take some notes, study a little, laugh about jewish holidays, get an a.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: RN214
• 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:

Incredibly awesome, sweet man. Very willing to help you at office hours, or for advice in general. Great Prof, def knows his stuff. You learn a lot of information from each lecture, and tests/papers are assigned way in advance so you have tons of time to prepare. One of the best at BU, it's a same he's going on sabatical.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: RN104
• 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:

Great class and great teacher. Says "um" way too much, but gets a lot of info into each lecture. Willing to help if you approach after class (go to his office hours for brownie points). 3 fairly difficult tests, and 1 paper. Lots of reading that you can skim (use the index to look up identities)

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: RN104
• 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:

Prof Swartz is a very smart guy. He does tend to lose track in lectures, but the tangets he goes off on are interesting. The tests are very encompassing but fair if you attend the lectures and do some of the reading. I am unhappy with how the TFs grade the papers though, far too subjective.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: RN104
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I honestly have NO CLUE how this class has so many good ratings. His lectures are unorganized, the tests have TONS of material and are graded very subjectively. This is not an awful class or professor, but I strongly feel neither are worthy of the praise you'll see here. OK at best.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: RN104
• 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:

Yes, he does say 'umm' a lot and every once in a while loses his train of thought, but what can you expect from an old man. His tests are fair, he is interesting to listen to and he is always willing to talk to you. He generally picks excellent TF's as well.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: RN104
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Nice little old man, really easy class, lots of history, though

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: RN214
• 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 one of the most amazing professors I've had. His lectures are clear and so interesting and the exams are so fair. They cover all the material on his lectures. Very very nice guy and tries to answer questions as well as possible. I LOVE his class. I never miss it, even on fridays!!!!!!!!!!!

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: RN214ISLAM
• 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:

Hes a really helpful professor, and tries to answer all questions thoroughly. He is not afraid to admit hes wrong at times, which is very nice. There is a lot of reading, but it is interesting and there is NO homework. (Midterm & Final) He has a good sense of humor.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: RN104
• 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:

He is a very nice teacher. Always thinks the best of his students. The classes are well organized and the material can be very interesting. He gives us possible exam questions in the course booklet which is very helpful.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: RN104
• 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:

A very nice professor who cares about the students. His lectures are interesting and I thoroughly enjoyed the class. The only gripe I have is that the TA's screw you on the tests and Swartz doesn't grade them