Richard Smith - Taylor University, Upland, IN

Professor: Richard Smith

Department: Theology

College: Taylor University, Upland, IN

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: BIB330
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

A true legend. After a rural Arkansas upbringing, Smith Walked onto Lou Holt's Razorback football team, where he held weightlifting records for years. Recent sightings at the well confirm that he's still got it. And Richard can hit the books, too. An accomplished Hebraist with a PhD from Cambridge, the man knows his stuff.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: BIB110
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Loved him. Helped me in life so he rocks.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: BIB110
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Don't take this class unless you're prepared to get your final grade based on the five exams you take and ONLY those five exams. He's an amazing guy, knows a lot, and really wants you to succeed and learn, but his class is tough and was definitley a learning curve for me, personally. All in all I'd take his class again but I'd read and study hard.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BIB110
• Grade Received: F
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I was definitely not impressed with his teaching. He sent me into 4 to 5 panic attacks over the course of the semester, due to comments that were offensive and brought back horrible memories from my past. He did apologize to my class but his actions didn't change.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: BIB110
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He tends to get behind the syllabus, but whatever you do, do NOT get behind on the reading. He'll cram 75% of the content into three days if he needs to, and he will not move back the test.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: BIB110
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

There isn't a lot of work for this class outside of reading the entire Old Testament and course packet. Be prepared to read for the rest of your life. Dr. Smith is definitely knowledgeable in his field but can sometimes forget that his students haven't studied the Bible as intensely as he has. Be prepared to take a lot of notes. Go to class!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: BIB110
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Smith is my favorite professor so far. On top of knowing his stuff for his class, he seems to one or two about everything. A fantastic professor and a really interesting guy. I enjoyed his class.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BIB110
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

If you love digging into scripture and learning about the Bible, this is the guy for you. It's a whole lot of reading but totally worth it. Really understands students and is very fair in grading. Do whatever you can to take this class during the semester, bc J-term is definitely not enough time to get through all the material.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: BIB150
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He is the bomb. Southern guy who knows his stuff and also makes the class fun. Don't be an idiot and goof off or check out. You pay attention and you will learn a ton of stuff that will shape your theology for the good. All around bro.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: BIB110
• 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:

This was not an easy class. There was a huge amount of information to study for each test. But the content of the course changed the way I think about the bible and God. This class was invaluable to me.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: BIB110
• 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:

Fantastic prof. He changed the course up a lot this year, and it appears to be significantly easier than it was. Lots of notes to read, but no quizes on them. He can be serious, but is normally great, as long as you try in the class. He's extremely wise, funny, and interesting.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: BIB340
• 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:

Dr. Smith is my favorite professor at Taylor. He is very challenging and honest. His classes are difficult, mostly because he makes you think about what you read, write, or say. He has had an enormous influence on my theology and pushes his students to think outside of traditional thinking. Though the work is hard, it is totally worth it.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: BIB110
• 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 excellent professor and really understands his stuff. He uses his own notes as a textbook, which usually means that the tests are really hard. You also have to read the whole OT (or Tanakh). Your only grade is the reading and the difficult tests. But otherwise, this is an excellent class.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: BIB101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Very insightful, not afraid to ask hard questions that may be impossible to answer.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: BIB340
• 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:

Really difficult, but ultimately worth it. You learn a lot from his classes, even though they're usually quite difficult. But a little more feedback grade wise would be nice.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: BIB110
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Probably the hardest class I've taken at Taylor, but also one of my favorites. The tests are killer; you definitely have to study! The only grades are reading reports to check if you read (which you can easily BS) and the tests. The RR aren't worth much so about 98% of your grade is the tests. Still probably my fav class and I learned a lot!!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: BIB110
• 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:

His notes are online and you need to STUDY for his tests. They require a lot of knowledge and understanding. Smith knows his stuff and his lectures, though not always engaging, are brimming with knowledge and understanding that you can glean. If you can, take this class with Dr. Richard Smith.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: BIB110
• 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:

Wow... Bib Lit 1 with Smith is intense (reading the entire Old Testament) but challenging and very fun at the same time. I highly recommend him.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: BIB110
• 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:

Great guy...hard classes. Tests suck.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: BIB110
• 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:

Great teacher. Interesting. Likes to challenge people and ask probing questions. Tells hilarious stories. Doesn't take attendance very often so it's easy to skip. I think he looks like Luke Wilson...