Shelly Matthews - Furman University, Greenville, SC

Professor: Shelly Matthews

Department: Theology

College: Furman University, Greenville, SC

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: REL125
• Grade Received: C-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

she wont answer your questions but instead makes jokes out of your questions

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: REL125
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Interesting professor for this subject matter. Knows her stuff really well but comes off a lot of times as conceited.. Some days are great discourse, others are frustrating for a conservative. The class is awesome nonetheless

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: REL112
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

My least favorite professor so far. Very cocky - she mentioned a book she wrote and that she would autograph it for us several times. Very arrogant in answering a question she didn't agree with. Only good thing about the class was the subject matter.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: FYW1145
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Really nice lady. Knows her information, but isn't always that successful in informing the students of what she wants. I could never really understand what she wanted with papers. Not my favorite class, but not one to avoid.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: REL112
• 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:

Very smart. Very interesting in class. It's very hard to sleep or not be able to pay attention in class. Will answer and question that you have. I strongly suggest you take this class.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: REL201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Having completed two undergraduate degrees from two universities, as well as law degree from Columbia, I can objectively and unequivocally state that, Dr. Matthews the worst professor I've ever encountered. I would rather retake the Bar exam than listen to the ill informed and all-to-often erroneous information spewing from her mouth. Stay away.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: REL35
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

The best professor I've ever had. A bit scattered, but extremely intelligent. Always on the cutting-edge of scholarship.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: REL33
• 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:

Great professor! Very intelligent and a complete academic. A bit scattered sometimes, but very helpful. Definitely take her while you're at Furman! Added perk: whenever you say something in class, she usually responds, "Yes, no, sorry." It doesn't really make sense, but it's funny.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: REL11
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Matthews is nice enough, and well meaning enough, but she's pretty much a space case at times. While it keeps you awake, it doesn't lend itself to teaching. If you can learn to pick out what SHE thinks is important you'll have NO trouble with the tests. Quizzes are super easy point boosters--just do your reading. If you try, you'll be fine.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: JESUS
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Incredibly socially inept, even to the point of coming across as aloof and dismissive, although I think that's nervous ditsiness. Confusing, unfocused, and most unhelpful. If you have a problem understanding her she just says the same thing again, like you don't speak English. Very poor professor but generally well-meaning and nice.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: REL35
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Very very very nice person, but a confusing airhead in the classroom. Presents very one sided views (I agreed with them, but would have liked more balance), incapable of answering questions, and picks favorites. Stick to just being her friend.

Rating # 12

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

One of my most influential professors. Conservatives knock her, but her teaching reflects the cutting edge of current religious scholarship (as it should at a top college). Her courses put me well ahead of most classmates in div school biblical studies. She's not perfect, but if you want excellent preparation for seminary/div school, take Matthews.

Rating # 13

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

I was bored out of my mind in that class, and I'm a female and I hated her theories of feminest theology. It was a lot of poo and I wanted to cry on a daily basis.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: LOTSOFCLASSES
• 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:

Dr. Matthews is one of my favorite professors from Furman. She truly approaches her teaching as if it is her ministry. A brilliant professor who loves and cares for her students. Dr. Matthews' classes are always stimulating and eye-opening. I would rec

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: HUM11
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Not always together in class, but makes some great points, and is very intelligent. Just keep your ears open and you'll understand what she's saying. Perhaps gets flustered bc of Harvard background- need perfect answers? Kicked around Dr. Short & everyone else at the CLP too and that's a plus :)

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: HUM
• 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:

Although she had some praise-worthy moments, I would estimate my experience with her as below average. The "looking at ceiling" point is very accurate, and while I appreciate her efforts to think, it makes her appear slow and unprofessional.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: HUM11
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Lectures go nowhere, she mopes around for ten minutes before getting started, and if you want to have some real fun, ask her a tough question and watch her stare at the ceiling for five minutes.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: HUM11
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Not at all helpful. Nervous, stream-of-consciousness thinker. For the non-Christian, her lectures are beyond confusing. Don't sweat it, though, because the other three professors for HUM11 compensate.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PAUL
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Matthews was by far the worst professor I had during my four years at Furman. She was a bumbling mess and was extremely unhelpful. If you don't agree with her liberal bias, she'll grade you harshly. Avoid her at all costs.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: HUM11
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

A ridiculously nervous professor!! I dread any day that has her name next to the lecture on the syllabus. Lectures are boring, and with much rambling, she often gets confused or flustered if anyone disagrees or asks a question that she can't answer.