Richard Holzapfel - Brigham Young University, Provo, UT

Professor: Richard Holzapfel

Department: Religion

College: Brigham Young University, Provo, UT

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: RELC225
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He is the best Professor I've ever had! He makes church history understandable and fascinating. I recommend him to everyone!!!

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: RELC225
• 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:

I've never been a huge fan of how BYU religion classes are taught but Dr. H gave me hope. :) This class focused on helping us gain a greater testimony of the Restoration and to seek and not assume. The reading was totally doable, assignments were easy, and I saw my testimony grow so much. Dr. H cares a lot about his students and even brings snacks!

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: RELC225
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr H is awesome but the class is pretty difficult. I took it over spring term so it went twice as fast, but it was still more work than my other classes. We had about two hours of reading/homework every day; eight essays in eight weeks; and super nit-picky tests. Still wasn't bad though, and the insight and testimony were worth it.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: RELC225
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

By far one of the top religion teachers I have ever taken. His insights into church history is eye-opening. I highly recommend him. It was a lot of reading at the beginning, but it is worth it.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: RELC225
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

It's worth it to take Dr. Holzapfel's class just for the person he is. He is a highly qualified historian and historian. His personal experiences were my favorite, and the way he cared individually about his students. As far as the class goes, there was a lot of reading, easy essays, and tests were a little nit-picky, but extra credit will help.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: RELC225
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Holzapfel is by far the best religion teacher that I've had at BYU. His lectures are incredible and inspiring and his stories are super interesting and relevant to the topic that is being discussed. It's a lot of reading, but he cancels class when there is a lot of reading. 10/10 would take again.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: RELC225
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Holzapfel was one of my favorite professor. All the tests and essays were online (3 tests, 3 essays) and they were fairly easy. During one of the tests I got into a car accident and wasn't able to complete the test, he worked with me so that the test did not have a major negative effect on my grade.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: REL225
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Brother Holzapfel is absolutely incredible! He wants you to succeed! All of your essays (even group ones) are one page only! Gives extra credit! There is a decent amount of reading but it is all designed to increase your understanding of the Restoration! I would take this class 10 times over if I could! Focused on increasing your testimony!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: RELC225
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He is very loving and has an obvious passion for the Gospel. He goes out of his way to make classes and tests very interactive and learner enabling

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: RELC225
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Dr. H is one of the most caring professors I've ever had and I'm super glad I took his class. He really helped strengthen my testimony of the restoration and I never had to worry about my grade (finished with a 105%)

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: RELC225
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He really cares about his students and wants us to be happy. He has a wealth of knowledge about the gospel and shares it with others.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: RELC225
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

One of my favorite professors this semester! His lectures were informative and inspirational. I felt the spirit almost every class and learned a lot. He really care for his students and truly shows it. I'm glad I took Foundations of the Restoration from him.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: RELC324
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I don't know where most are coming from here in regards to his personality, but I found Dr. Holzapfel incredibly kind & helpful (he really cares about his students), & lectures are terrific. He really brings the Spirit. Extra assignments aren't bad, & really add to the class. Testsquizzes are on Learning Suite, closed-book, pretty straightforward.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: RELC324
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Holzapfel is incredibly knowledgeable in the scriptures and with life advice but his quizzes and tests were so tough it made it hard to concentrate in class. Mountains of Extra Credit were the only way I got an A in the end. Pay lots of attention in class to the minor details because that's what he quizzes on.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: RELC324
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

If you want to spend your semester focused on memorizing all the little facts, dates and section numbers, just to forget them right after the semester, take it from him! If you want to be spiritually touched from reading the D&C take it from someone else! He also likes to brag about how he is close with church leadership and byu athletes.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: REL325
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Holzapfel is kind and genuinely concerned about his students, but his tests are absurd. They are all about dates, years, and section numbers, so get ready to memorize what every single D&C section talks about in fine detail to do well on the tests. He's also pretty self-aggrandizing and will tell you all about his lunches with general authorities.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: REL324
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

The class was okay, and getting an A isn't too difficult. But, Holzapfel told a lot of self-aggrandizing stories (especially a/b when he was a mission president), talked constantly about his connections to church hierarchy, and generally seemed a little full of himself. His knowledge of history/doctrine is okay, but I would recommend someone else.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: REL324
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He is a great teacher and I loved his lectures! He even bought us all donuts and hot chocolate a couple times. Super nice guy and you can tell he really cares. Weekly quizes that I underestimated in the beginning which killed me. Its not an easy A if thats what your looking for, but you will feel the spirit and learn ALOT. He knows his stuff

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: RELC324
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Holzapfel is a great lecturer, but has a bit of an ego. Grading procedures are clear. He doesn't really respond to student feedback or answer questions. Expect to learn a lot from him.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: HONORS240
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Weekly readings and quizzes along with in-class lectures/discussions. Not hard to do well if you put in all the time for reading etc. Includes fun movies/experiences. Overall a pretty decent class, though we also had a great TA and that makes a difference. Sometimes acts as thought who you know is more important than who you are, but still good