Ray Van Dam - University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

Professor: Ray Van Dam

Department: History

College: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: HST201
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I took this class back in 2000-2001, and I remember it to this day. I learned a lot of information about Rome, sure, but even better is what I learned about studying primary historicalsources and reading between the lines.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: HIST497
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Delightful professor who truly loves what he teaches. Extremely knowledgeable about the late Roman Empire, and very excited to teach it. As a colloquium, the class was less than 20 people,and he taught and graded the whole thing. It was also VERY easy;entire class grade was attendance/participation and three 7-8 page papers,which he graded lightly.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: HIST201
• 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:

Van Dam is very passionate about what he teaches, this makes it interesting. He doesn't use lecture slides which can be irritating when he talks too quickly. Your grade depends on your GSI since he/she will be grading all of your papers and exams. Although lecture isn't mandatory I always went and found it helped me understand the readings.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: HIST201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Enjoyed the class and found it very interesting. By all means lecture is not mandatory and you can easily do well in the class and not go. However, discussion is necessary to do well. Fun class

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: HIST201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Loved this class! He was a great teacher and is very knowledgeable about the material. He also made the material engaging. Lecture isn't mandatory but it's nice to go to because he's a great lecturer. Take this class if you can, it's great!

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: HIST201
• 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:

Professor Van Dam is extensively knowledgeable and very interesting to listen to. He disseminates information in a clear, concise way, and has a deep command of the material. He is willing to talk and relate with students, as well.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: HIST201
• 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:

Crystal clear lectures with the themes and takeaway points outlined really well. Read coursepack, participate and it'll be a good class if the material interests you.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: HIST201
• 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:

Professor Van Dam is really cool, and he is very passionate about what he teaches. The only bad experiences I had from this class were because of the GSI. Attendance isn't mandatory in lectures, but GO anyways. He explains a lot of things in the coursepack and covers a lot of important material that you can't get in discussion.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: HIST201
• 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:

Excellent Professor, very interesting and useful lectures.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: HIST201
• 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:

Prof. Van Dam is, without question, one of the best professors at this university. His lectures are interesting and easy to follow. He relies heavily on the course pack, as the tests you take are essay-tests based upon your understanding of the readings. Emphasizes major themes in the Roman history and ties it all together in the end. Great class.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: HIST201
• 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:

Van Dam is a wonderful professor who loves what is is teaching. He keeps lectures interesting, although you have to attend to understand the material. The course pack is the most essential thing in this class, a must read.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: HIST201
• 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:

Read the coursepack!!! Very important! You will have several 450 word papers throughout the semester and two exams with an essay question and quotations from the coursepack, so it's important to thoroughly read the coursepack. GSI's grade papers and exams so go to office hours and speak up in class, show effort.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: HIST201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Van Dam is great and crystal clear in his explanations. However, it is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT to get a good GSI. Avoid Ryan because it is impossible to get an A on a paper in his section, whereas I've heard in other sections it's really easy to get an A on a paper. GSI=YOUR GRADE, NOT THE PROFESSOR

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: HIST201
• 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:

He is a great professor!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: HIST201
• 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:

Great professor and very interesting class. I highly recommend taking this course even if you generally don't like history. Professor Van Dam covers all important points in his lectures and throws in some fun facts to keep things interesting. The GSI to get is Mike Leese. Great guy.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: HIST201
• 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:

If you're not interseted in rome, then you'll hate this class. I loved it. Van Dam was a great lecturer and was easy to follow. He's also a very nice guy. Overall, my favorite class this semester.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: HIST201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Readings from the coursepack are annoying but the tests are based off of them. Go to a few of the lectures to have an idea of whats going on and then make sure you know the gist of each coursepack reading before the test so that you can give an opinion on the test. If you do this and are a good BSer this class won't be a problem at all.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: HIST201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I thought this would be an easy intro level...not at all. If you want to learn about the old Republic or early empire don't take this class. It was not at all what I was expecting for a History of Rome class.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: HIST201
• 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:

A pretty good class. His lectures were interesting and well-structured. The tests are really straight-forward, I didn't really like my discussion section or the readings, though. But I'd still recommend it as an interesting, fairly easy class.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: HIST201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He is a nice guy. Lectures are good to go to. Readings can get a little tedious. Tests seem fairly straight forward. Keep up with the readings, and you'll be fine.