Robert Louden - University of Southern Maine, Portland, ME

Professor: Robert Louden

Department: Philosophy

College: University of Southern Maine, Portland, ME

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PHI105
• 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:

Very smart guy. Very fair.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PHI290
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Very good, intelligent and knowledgeable. Let's people discuss and also contributes. The course gives even highly intelligent students everything they need to keep going. His grading was fair without being dillatory in nature. He seems to have applied his philosophical virtues to the course construction.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PHI260
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Very hard to take a small, discussion-based class with a man who only wants to hear himself speak. Interrupts students after he asks a question, belittles people when they have a different view than his own.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PHI105
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Louden is really passionate and knowledgable about what he teaches. He is a nice guy and cracks some jokes during his lectures. He assigns a lot of reading every class and his lectures can be pretty boring for those not interested in philosophy. He only grades you on two tests, three short essays, and participation.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PHI105
• 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:

I loved this professor. He knows his material. He is an inspiration. I personally don't like it and found the reading very demanding and different to the class explanation but he reduced the stress for us. I Would totally recommend it for someone who wants a not stressful class. It's just reading and 5 assignments. Love this class and professor!

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PHI105
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Passionate about what he teaches which makes the class a lot better to attend. Even if you're not interested in philosophy, it's kind of a cool course to take but it's definitely interesting.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PHI105
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I would not recommend this class as an elective, if you can avoid it. As a Nursing major, I thought it would be an easy pass as an elective, but ended up being my hardest class. Professor is really smart, but his exams are SO hard, can't stress this enough... Unless you're a philosophy major, or truly interested in it, DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PSY101
• 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:

Really interesting. you can pass if you dont care about the class, but if you are interested in philosophy he is the guy to follow

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PHI220
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Louden is a great teacher -- probably the perfect example of an absent-minded professor.. His classes really aren't very hard, and you don't *really* need to keep up with the readings if you don't want to as long as you're good at skimming. I've taken him 3 times now and loved all his classes.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PHI105E
• 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:

Very smart, good sense of humor, careful of staying objective and knows how to respond well to obnoxious students.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PHI105
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Most boring teacher I've had at USM. Only interested in hearing himself speak. Constantly pushed the books he wrote at us and took a subject I had heard was interesting into something that was like nails on a chalk board to sit through. Easy to find answers to take home essays in book. I do not recommend this teacher unless you want to take a n

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PHI210
• 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:

Probably the most intelligent teacher I had at USM. His lectures are interesting and he's clearly passionate about philosophy. I found him very fair-minded and open to all opinions, and he encouraged discussion. I'd recommend all of his courses.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PHI260
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Louden was one of the best professors I have had yet. I was a bit nervous take the class. It does require a lot of effort and involvement but well worth it if you want a class you will learn in. I found him to take student opinions with an open mind even when they differed with his, he also challenged you to think outside your own box, great class

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PHIL105E
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Horribly boring, seems to make no attempt at engaging the students. He basically stands at the front of the class and mumbles about God knows what. Pretty easy class though, regardless of teaching style. Just remember to copy down what he writes on the bored.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PHI105E
• 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's an odd guy, but smart and accomplished. In an intro class, his lectures are a bit straightforward, probably because philosophy sidelines so many unsuspecting students. Doesn't grade very harshly at all, but has a bone to pick with almost anything said in-class. Seems like he'd be more helpful in more demanding courses.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: PHISECT
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He knows the subject thouroughly and cares about it but seems to expect that everyone shares his enthusiasm for philosophy and is appalled and frustrated when we won't join in on class discussions. He does care if students succeed but he's not very helpful and is in fact a bit condescending when he tries to help.I don't like him as a person,though

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: PHI105
• 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:

Robert Louden is a somewhat casual and loud teacher with no underhanded tricks to use against serious, trying students. He lets students with any medium or strong view speak out, even by email, especially if they show that they "get" the challenging readings. He nearly always has insightful counterarguments, no matter what perspective you take.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: PHI120
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Nice guy, knowledgeable, fair. I wrote a paper with opinions contrary to his own and recieved fair, balanced and helpful criticism. I liked the class although it was a bit disorganized and could sometimes be monotonous. it was interesting to see him always thinking out loud; he is very active and open for friendly debate with students.

Rating # 19

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Great prof. He likes to talk a lot, which can be a good and a bad thing. You will learn a lot if you simply attend class. His mind always moves at 1,000mph so he can seem rude when he interrupts or corrects students but I don't think it is intentional or mean spirited.

Rating # 20

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

hard class but he scales the exams (alot) and grades the paper fairly. if you fail this class then it is your own fault.