Richard Soderlund - Illinois State University, Normal, IL

Professor: Richard Soderlund

Department: History

College: Illinois State University, Normal, IL

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: HIS102
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Great guy, talks very fast, he is insanely smart. be ready to take alot of notes in a short period of time.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: HIS200
• 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:

Dr. Soderlund is a great teacher for classes that don't involve improving students. Like his 102 and 229 history courses. His 200 level course is a whole different animal. The course is supposed to help students grow as history writers, however he is simply cruel in feedback and grades harsh on a subject matter few know anything about.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: H102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He's no doubt one the most knowledgeable people I've ever met. If you enjoy history at all you'll enjoy this class, he offers some great insights. They're pretty involved though, so be prepared to take solid notes. He's a pretty tough grader on his written exams, but nothing impossible and it's worth it for what you'll actually learn. Take him.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: HIS102
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Richard Soderlund has to be hands down the worst teacher at ISU. His lectures being 75 minutes, all he does is stand in front of the class and talk and half the time not on topic. He does not slow down or use power points. His papers and test are extremely unclear and his grading is all abort his opinion of you and your writing skills. DO NOT TAKE!

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: HIS229
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He's a bit odd, but that makes his class so great. Knows the material well but can get off topic easily. Takes class feedback into consideration for due dates. Graded on 2 written exams, 2 papers over books read, a paper over a film in class, and participation. Just read and ask questions about the material and you should be fine.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: HIS102
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Wish I could give this man 6 stars. Inspirational, respectful, totally invested in his work, and a deep, critical thinking professor. Certainly a brain. I looked forward to his classes and will miss them when I graduate. Go to the review sessions, and youll be fine. Hands down, favorite teacher at Isu

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: H229
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

His class consists of nothing but pointless lectures that typically go into off topic rants of President Trump. He is as left wing as it gets, but he is deceptive about it and pretends to be a moderate, when he is the furthest thing from it. He is also the worst grader I have ever seen in academia, and will mark you off for anything & everything!

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: H102
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Amazing lecturer, and very understanding when going through personal problems. Tests are all essays, however, this should be expected from a humanities class. Extremely knowledgable and very involved in his students learning. You have to go to class though, because there is no way you will pass if you don't.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: HIS102
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

While this is a lecture heavy class, he is very passionate and knowledgeable about the topics and makes it feel more like story time than lecture. Its all essay tests but the questions are given out before. There are a couple of papers on books but there is always a discussion day before the paper is due so that helps

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: H102
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Classes are only lectures, this is so terrible is because he provides no notes for his lectures, they are entirely him just talking. He speaks way too fast and it is impossible to understand the main points needed for the exams. All the tests are essays and he grades them way too hard. He also does not use reggienet and puts no grades up online.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: H102
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Tough grader and tests are not easy but if you read and go to lectures you have no excuse to fail this class. He asks if people are confused and if you need help he will give it to you. Great teacher, lectures and books are very interesting.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: HIS102
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Richard Soderlund is one of, if not the, worst instructors I have ever had in my life. This professor bases his class off of his "talk for an hour and fifteen minute" lectures with a very brief outline of the lecture, which he rarely finishes. That being said, the content he does not finish, you must educate yourself on. DO NOT TAKE HIS CLASS

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: HIS102
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

A genuinely nice, caring guy who you can tell is very passionate about the material he is teaching. Expect to do a fair amount of reading, albeit not a ton. A few quizzes that are mostly multiple choice. Three tests which are all written tests. Fair grader from my experience. Would certainly take again.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: HIS102
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He's one of my favorite professors. Very entertaining and generally cares. I had him for 3 classes and would choose him again.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: H102
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I highly recommend not taking his classes. He does give lots of extra credit and easy quizzes, but he's hypocritical when grading exams and marks things wrong that he said verbatim in lecture. He also does not follow university policy and has a short temper when questioned. He is unorganized and strays from the syllabus and his point system.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: H102
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Awesome professor. Really passionate about his work. Tough grader for a 102 course, however it's manageable for any student who genuinely tries. Extra credit is offered. The quizzes are easy if you read. Grades exams tough but gives the essay questions out ahead of time.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: H102
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Great teacher! Goes on rants sometimes but if you're a history major you won't mind it. He's super helpful if you go in for office hours and is really personable. The only bad thing this that he hates computers and all kinds of technology so he doesn't post the grades on Reggienet, you have to go in to see your grade.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: HIS102
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Soderlund is an odd duck. I took this course in the summer, and I was glad that it was over after 4 weeks. He is very loud and in your face. Makes you feel stupid if you don't respond the exact way he wants it.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: HIS102HIS200
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Fascinating man and very intelligent. Class can be dry at times, especially if it's a morning class. Difficult grader - attendance policy can very easily hurt grade.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: HIS102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Soderlund is amazing! Love his lectures! Very passionate and knows his stuff. Attend lectures, take good notes, and go to the review sessions! There are 3 Exams all long essays and he assigns writing assignments throughout the semester. Very fair grader, but very particular, he likes thorough, clear, and precise essays.