Richard Allen - Framingham State University, Framingham, MA

Professor: Richard Allen

Department: History

College: Framingham State University, Framingham, MA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: 2BADCLASSES
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

It is just too funny. The guy basically teaches one class as students are conditioned to avoid him like the plague. Therefore, you will be there with about three other people. He is everything that everyone says he is. Rude, obnoxious, unhelpful and grades like students are at Yale. I hate to even give him zero stars as even that is too generous.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: HIS301
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I had his Modern India class in 1997 and it was hard. Nothing has changed in 21 years. Be an adult and prepare to work. History majors are expected to take 12-20 pages notes per hour so if you're not, then your doing something wrong. HRW is a 100 level class and it was the worst class and grade but every paper is based on that class so suck it up

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: HIS154
• Grade Received: F
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Professor was an extremely tough grader. We were only graded on three tests for the whole course, which was straight up lecture without a powerpoint. For tests he wouldn't tell you what to study, he just expects you to know it.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: HIS154
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He is an incredibly smart man, however he is not a great professor. Students know to avoid him which results in his classes not running. He is very condescending, especially towards the work of his fellow professors. Once again, smart guy, bad professor.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: HIST155
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He is an absolute genius, but a genius does not a good professor make. He should stick to his research. Anything he says is fair game for exams, and he talks fast. There's no PP, and he barely writes on the board. He holds pretty open contempt for the other professors. His coworkers often suggest dropping his class, especially advisors.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: HIST154
• Grade Received: D
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I took this class as a genEd requirement and it dropped my GPA drastically. Tests are open book and notes so you think they'd be easy, but they're graded so hard and his lectures are so long it's hard to take notes on everything. You should try and avoid this class.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: HIS250
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

If you can avoid taking him, do so. He's insanely difficult grader but if you go to his office hours he might be able to help you. Or you'll just end up getting more confused and still get a bad grade. He's not very flexible in terms of letting you explore your own interests which as a major, that's important to me.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: HIS154
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Richard Allen is a fantastic professor. If you don't come to college to learn, then don't bother taking his class. He is a credible historian, and has coined phrases that crack me up. You can tell that he enjoys his work and has been doing it for a long time. As long as you keep up and ask questions, you'll do fine. Do not blow off reviewing!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: WORLDHISTORY
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Allen seemed like he was going to be a great professor during his lectures. However, his grading is preposterous. He grades mostly on grammar & not on content. His class was THE most unnecessarily hard class I took at Framingham State out of the whole 4 years I was there.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: HIS250
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Despite the harsh reviews, Dr. Allen is an amazing professor. Its HRW and he sees it as one of the most important classes, and grades like it. No interest in History or can't take the hit to their GPA, perhaps you should stay away, but if you want to become better at researching and writing. This class will help you throughout your college career.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: HIST154
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

the toughest grader I've had during my two years at FSU. Ask for help or you'll be stuck wondering "so what's going on?" at the end of each class. SHOW UP AND TAKE GOOD NOTES, that is key. He'll write like 5 terms on the board during an hour lecture. Grades are based on 4 assignments, (quiz, midterm, paper and final). F, C+ C+ C+ were my mine

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: HRWHIST250
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Toughest grader I have ever had. The other Historical Research and Writing class was full so I had no choice but to join his class. Two out of the five kids in the class dropped it and the rest of us struggled. There was no tests but the reading was ridiculous (300 pages a week) The best grade I got on a paper was a C+... do not take him

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: HIST154
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The toughest professor I've ever had. He'd lecture on and on for a half hour and write two things on the blackboard, so it was very difficult to know what to take notes on. Unless you're passionate about history and can write down everything he says each class, stay away. Exams were nearly impossible. But he's fair, as long as you have the patience

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: HIST154
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I was a History Major. This was the hardest class I took at FSU and it was 100-level. It was like story time for me, because I was interested in the content. However, you have to take detailed notes AND be able to regurgitate them in essay form on a test. Half the class dropped by midterms. No PPTS and limited board use. Proceed w/ caution.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: HIST154
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This class will set you up for failure. There are only four assignments: The quiz, a paper, your midterm, and your final. He's pompous, unclear, and an overall useless professor. His grading isn't explicitly laid out, so it all depends on what he feels like giving you. Incredibly arrogant. I don't recommend taking this class with him at all.

Rating # 16

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

I am a public school teacher, and Professor Allen was one of the least-skilled teachers in my entire college and graduate school career. He spouts knowledge but doesn't really teach anything. I would avoid him if I were you.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: HISTB
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Professor Allen does not mince words or accept mediocrity in his students. If you are a serious student, you will learn a lot from him. If you just want to get a distribution requirement, you will struggle. He is a tough grader, but he does it for the sake of a high standard of learning (that is to say, not arbitrary). I am glad I took his class.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: HIST154
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He's an extremely knowledgeable professor and can really teach you a lot. His class is tough, so I would not take it unless you have an interest in history. If you do have an interest it's a great class and I suggest it!

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: HIST101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

HE IS BY FAR THE TOUGHEST TEACHER IN FSU. AVOID HIM AT ALL COSTS. YOUR GPA WILL PLUMMET IF YOU TAKE HIM. IN MY CLASS 3 OUT OF 25 KIDS PASSED. CONSIDER THIS A WARNING!

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: HIST154
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Honestly, he's not THAT bad. I failed the first quiz and the midterm. I went to him for help around the time of the final and he cleared everything up that I needed and I showed I wanted to improve and I ended up getting a C+. That's not great, but he does give people second chances when he sees improvement!