Robert Benson - Miami University, Oxford, OH

Professor: Robert Benson

Department: Architecture

College: Miami University, Oxford, OH

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ARC221
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Everyone says his classes are tough, but then again, they're probably the ones sleeping every morning in the back of the lecture hall. I had no issues in studying. Bob, who has retired unfortunately, was always very humorous and, outside of the lectures, was very easy-going and willing to help.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ARC221
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Do NOT take this class if you aren't an architecture major. It is FOR ARCHITECTURE MAJORS.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ARC221
• 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:

Very difficult course. I was taking this for a little bit of a break and it was difficult, lot of date memorization. That being said, the class was very intriguing and Prof. Benson was clearly passionate about the subject matter and made it engaging. Sit in the front bc ppts in a dark room make it hard to stay awake.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ARC221
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This class is hard. It's very hard. I made flash cards of all the buildings we learned as we learned them & memorized them that way. Otherwise cramming for these exams are awful. Very very boring though & have to teach yourself everything

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ARC211ARC212
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I'm an architecture major who was required to take both of these classes sophomore year and I would absolutely not recommend it if you are a non major. It's a lot of memorization off of the powerpoints and everyone falls asleep in the class anyway since it's taught at 8:30 in the morning. He can be funny at times if you listen, though.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ARC188
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Awful class. Try to get out of it if possible. It was a complete waste of time and miserable to sit through. The lectures made no sense and the teachers were horrible. The written assignments were pointless and difficult to get a good grade on. No need to even attend lectures because you won't even pay attention during them.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ARC188
• 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:

Worst class i've taken at Miami University. could rant about it for hours but to put it simply, it's a confusing, unorganized set of useless lectures. Benson's powerpoints are impossible to follow since each slide is just a paragraph of liberal mumbo jumbo. tests are hard, but if you use big words in your essays you'll do fine on them. DONT TAKE

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ARC188
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

HORRIBLE. The class description makes it seem interesting and fun. What it is it the most boring, confusing, pointless and useless set of lectures

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ARC188
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

This guy was awful. Provided alot of simply incorrect information, including mistaking Stonewall Jackson as president Andrew Jackson. Class is simply about how much he loves Mies Van de Rohe and not architecture

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ARC188
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Worst class I've ever taken at Miami. He rambles on and on and writes a textbook in his powerpoint slides. Not necessarily hard though. The class is just SO BORING. No emotions, always monotone. I got an A by somehow always going to class so do that and you'll be fine but still don't recommend this class

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ARC188
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Worst class I've ever taken. 3 senile professors rambling about a different topic everyday. Unless you tape record their lectures and memorize every word you won't do better than a C on the tests. Literally gave 3 pages instructions for a 2 page paper. DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ARC188
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

From day 1, I have learned little about architecture. He teaches the entire second section of the class, and the only thing you can do is take notes on the paragraphs he posts as slide shows (which are also online). I haven't learned anything, the tests are hard, and the class is a waste of time. On the upside very little homework.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ARC188
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Benson and his panel are completely dull. They switch off teaching classes providing little structure and useless information. Take this class if you enjoy mindless liberal rants as well as being lectured on everything but architecture. Fill your abstracts and papers with intelligent sounding thoughts and appropriate opinions and you will do well.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ARC221
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Benson is horrible. Dry and extremely dull.Read slides that are paragraphs long. for a simple 200 class, it resembles a 400 in knowledge and difficulty. He expects an INSANE amount of knowledge from his students, giving quizes that are more luck than knowledge. Tests are impossible, and are complete luck as well. Worst experience with a professor.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ARC221
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

take this class if you enjoy looking at power points that are several paragraphs long. simply the worst

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ARC188
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

This class is useless and a waste of money. It has little to do with architecture, mostly just a boring liberal rant. If you are looking for a fairly easy Miami plan B+/A-, take this class. If you are looking to learn something, do not take this class. Benson is a terrible speaker...out of boredom I counted "uh,er,um" over 700 times.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ARC452
• 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:

This course really made me think. The interactions between the students and between students and professor were just wonderful. I particularly enjoyed the global dimension of the course that I hadn't expected when I signed up. Benson has the passion!

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ARC221
• 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:

This course is hard but really worthwhile. I am not a major in architecture or interior design, but I really learned how to use my eyes and understand visual information. This will help me in lots of ways that I never imagined in the future. Great course!

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ARC452
• 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:

This is probably the best class I ever took at Miami. I had to think critically and in new ways. It has a global dimension to it that is really engaging and compelling. Benson has a special way of drawing good discussions out of the class and of validating contrasting or divergent opinions. I felt he treated us all with respect.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ARC221
• 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:

At first, I didn't understand that the professor actually expected me to learn the material. Once I decided that it was my job to really think and use my eyes, I loved it. Some of my classmates never got past the fact that they wanted to be entertained.