Sharon Systma - Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL

Professor: Sharon Systma

Department: Philosophy

College: Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PHIL321
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Her lectures can be a little scattered & drag on for a while.. but if you redirect her by asking questions she's more than happy to get back on track. As long as you listen and try to understand what she's saying, you will see that she is the most passionate philosophy professor you'll ever have. She has some quirks, but you learn to love them.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PHIL101
• 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:

Very nice, and you can learn a lot if you actually pay attention. She can be awkward to listen to and sometimes a little unclear, but you can tell she really loves the subject. Interesting class!

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PHIL405
• 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:

ENJOYED HER CLASS

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PHIL321
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I wouldn't recommend her. Her lectures are all over the place, she doesn't seem to know how to relay information to the students. Notes are difficult to take, much less study. Exams are essays-not really clear questions. Grading is a different system than normal. She's really nice, just hard to follow.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PHIL101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

An extremely nice woman, but exceedingly nervous and breathless. Going to class wasn't really necessary if you did the readings and are a decent writer on the tests. Loves her subject a LOT.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PHIL331
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Not recommended. She is very unclear in her teaching style. He gets very flustered. Her exams are not clear, along with paper assignments. She was somehow able to make an interesting topic intellectually monotonous.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PHIL231
• 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:

PHIL 231 would be an interesting class, if it weren't for this teacher. She is terribly difficult to understand and is of little help when (and you will) need it. Her exams are ESSAYS which will take the entire class period. She does not grade the exams, a TA does. She is not a confident teacher and is easily thrown off track.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PHIL231
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Do NOT take her. Her tests are short answers, defs, and essays. All of which take the WHOLE time. She does not grade them. Some TA does. Dont count on extra help either. Show up to class and do all the tests so you don't have to take the final. Also make sure you read her powerpoints.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PHIL231
• 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:

DO NOT TAKE THIS PROF. She is one of the worst. She would have no one there if she didn't take attendance. Doesn't know what she is talking about. Test start at 6 "short" essay and 3 full length. She doesn't even grade them herself. There are much better prof. for this class. Take them or plan on a bad grade.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PHIL321
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This was my first philosophy class ever and I got a B. I took it two years ago and it still has effects on me. She's interested in making sure all the students are learning the material. I had many more misgivings about philosophy and the basics than the rest of the class, but she remained patient in answering questions. Awesome professor!!

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PHIL231
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

She really does care about her students. She does not just punch the clock and get away as fast as possible. She will exchange emails with you, take time in her office, etc. She is a genuinely nice person: and that is higher praise than is commonly believed.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PHIL101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

She is a fantastic professor. For those who bother to pay attention, she will really inspire you. She is one of the best professors I have had here.

Rating # 13

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

No Comments

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PHILOSOPHY231
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

No Comments

Rating # 15

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

every time i go to her class, i feel like she is going to have a stroke. she cant even say a whole sentence before she talks herself into a circle and loses her breath. so freakin weird, but shes nice i guess...

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: PHIL
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I would never have been able to understand the books we read in her class without her explanations, but she tests on her explanations, not by your interpretations. Make sure to go to class and know what she thinks, just bare with her nervousness and rambling, if you pay enough attention, you'll really get a lot out of the class. Such a sweet lady

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: PHIL231
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

she acts as if this is her first time giving a lecture

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: PHIL101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Took this class as a freshman, as a senior I wish I could take it again. Dr. Systma is amazingly passionate and it's a shame so few people pay any attention to what she's doing. Granted I hated Ivan Illyich @ 1st but in the end I kept that book and all my papers, learned a lot and had a great time

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PHIL231
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The class was harder than it should've been. Your grade relies on 2 tests, about 10 pop quizzes, and the final. She is very open about the fact that she easily forgets things because she is in the first stages of alzymers.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PHIL321
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Second class I've had with her. Probably going to be my second D with her. She just doesn't teach well. It's hard to listen to her and learn from what she's saying. Avoid.