Rich Houston - University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL

Professor: Rich Houston

Department: Accounting

College: University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: AC311
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Awesome guy to talk to and seems like he genuinely cares about his students, but compares to other 311 professors this guy does little to hep you. He has been filling in for my previous professor since she had her baby, and the class has gotten considerably harder. Expect a lot of conceptual discussion where he doesn't actually teach anything.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: AC311
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Rich is very helpful outside of class when it comes to recruiting, jobs, and careers. This is reason enough to take him for AC 311. However, his lectures are very scrambled and focus on concepts while the test does not have conceptual questions. He curves the class to a 2.6 gpa at the end of the semester, so actually very few people fail.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: AC311
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

While AC 311 was the hardest class I have taken, Dr. Houston went above and beyond as a professor. He was very accessible outside of class and genuinely wants his students to succeed. Those that did not succeed in this class probably didn't extend their full effort. This is supposed to be a hard class. If you need help, don't be afraid to ask him.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: AC311
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The material itself is not as difficult as people say. With this guy you have to teach yourself the material. Graded by 3 tests and are very hard. They are only a few worked out problems. Going into the final he said the curve was at 8 points and that it will not go down. It can only go up. He lied. The curve was 6. Over half of the class failed.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: AC311
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Straight up tells you he's gonna try and trick you on the test by loading it down with garbage you don't need. You'll have to teach yourself the material because you get little to nothing from the lectures. Does provide you with a lot of old tests which is a plus, but hardly makes up from 3 question tricky tests that your whole grade depends on.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: AC311
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

You would think the dean would be the most solid professors you could take for the hardest accounting course, but that couldn't be further from the truth. He is by no means an effective communicator and his lack of confidence is apparent. He also consistently blames the students for what many of us consider failed teaching methods of the professors

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: AC311
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Rich Houston is by far the best teacher you can get for 311. He is very clear about what's on his tests and is also very clear about how to study for them. If you understand the concepts and have worked out some his old tests, you should be fine. There are also three homework assignments that help you understand the concepts. I would take him again

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: AC532
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Here's what to expect: class discussions, weekly papers, guest speakers, and a final paper. This class is untraditional in the sense that you don't learn using a textbook. Dr. Houston believes you can and should think for yourself.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: AC311
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Really Great professor, and Hardest class I have ever taken. Go class, listen carefully, do all homework correctly yourself. Most important is do past exams as many time as you can before each exam, you will be fine.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: 523
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

One of the best professors at the university and a tremendous asset to the accounting program. This class has been one of my favorites by far. He truly cares about all of his students and offers invaluable real-world advice. He also has many influential speakers come and speak to the students in the accounting program.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: AC311
• 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:

Dr. Houston is an excellent professor. I never used my textbook. Go to class and listen because he writes all his tests from scratch and whatever he talks about in class will be on the test. It's not too difficult if you paid attention in 210 and 310. Midterm, Final, and 4-5 homework assignments. He cares about his students and will help you!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: AC311
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Very smart teacher and knew material, but did not teach by the book at all. Definitely go to each class because everything you learn are his examples that he does in class and it is much easier to understand if you attend his class. He is a funny guy and his class really is not too bad. I enjoyed it overall and learned a lot.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: AC311
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

You will have to teach yourself the material if you want to pass this class. He is a really nice and funny guy, but not the greatest teacher. His tests are really tricky, and the homework assignments are pretty difficult.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: AC310
• 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:

Teacher was one of the better ones I had there.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ACSECT
• 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:

Dr. Houston's class is great. He really cares about his students and goes the extra mile to help them if needed. He does tend to get off topic, but it is refreshing (esp. at 8am). He is also pretty hot and funny. His class is definitely not boring.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: AC310
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

After playing musical chairs with professors my 310 class wound up with Rich! Was pretty good teacher... but has a tendency to ramble on about pointless yet interesting subjects...i.e. Nothing to do with the actual course you are taking! And likes to notify students of what they will be learning about in future courses...but not the one you are in!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: AC532
• 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:

Put thought and effort into weekly assignments, and you will do well. Class participation also helps.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: AC310
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He'll tell you whats on the exam, but watch out because he likes to confuse people with semantics.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ACC523
• 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:

It is refreshing to have a class that enables the students to hear other classmate's perspectives in a relaxed setting. It's apparent that Houston has a passion for his students and accounting.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: AC523
• 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 least he is capable of spelling "incapability".