Steven Benko - Meredith College, Raleigh, NC

Professor: Steven Benko

Department: Religion

College: Meredith College, Raleigh, NC

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: REL104
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

His class isn't bad at all. I have him for an 8am and its a good 8am because you just sit there and listen. There is a lot of out-of-class work but nothing too bad. I personally do not like the out-of-class work and sometimes its really hard but nothing too extreme. Overall I like his class. He does not put any grades in until the end which I hate.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: REL104
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Benko really only does lectures based off readings you are required to do outside of class. There are no quizzes and tests which is nice, but there are tons of empathy journals to write and a group project which is a real pain. He wants his students to succeed and pushes them really hard but sometimes he is too tough and it can be discouraging.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: REL104
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I was nervous to take Benko's class but im really enjoying it. He's very intelligent and funny. His 8am class is worth getting up for. I learn a lot and i think its a class everyone should have to take. he really makes you think. try to particpate and do the readings and you will do well.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: RES104
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This is only a Gen Ed class for me but Dr. Benko makes it feel like this should be a major class. I do more work in this class than I do in my biology classes. If this is not for your major, then do not take this with Dr. Benko.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: RES104
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I love Dr. Benko! His classes are really interesting and he is a really smart and funny guy. There is a ton of reading material, but it helps you understand a lot more of what happens in class (and if you forget to do one once it's not the end of the world). And absolutely speak up in class!

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: RES104
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

If you don't talk you won't pass his class- which is hard for shy people

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ETHIC104
• Grade Received: F
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Only grades essays and participation - which, I may add, only the chosen few get to participate. What you might think could be handled in a couple of paragraphs, he wants pages. Don't fail this class if you're shy.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: REL104
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I appreciated that he went out of his way to call on people who didn't talk much, and he always challenged people's viewpoints regardless of whether he agreed with them. However it was frustrating for me that the lecture wasn't very structured and it was hard to know what information I was expected to retain. And the readings seemed irrelevant?

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: RES104
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

This class is challenging, but the goal of the class is to broaden your knowledge of controversial and ethical topics. It is supposed to challenge you to open your mind and learn to rationally argue for your view point. Dr. Benko can come off as a little arrogant, but he really cares about his students and wants them to succeed.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: RES104A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

If you want something beautiful to look at I suggest taking this class. ;) I really enjoy the way Benko teaches. I learned more in this course than I have in any other. It made me more open minded about the way others view topics and changed my own beliefs about specific topics. I would most definitely take this class again.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: RES104
• 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:

PARTICIPATE!He loves for you to talk as much as you can and for the students to state their beliefs. It does not matter if you're beliefs are different than his, he wants to hear what you have to say. LOTS OF READING... and the quizzesessays are EXTREMELY HARD! He is a very deep intellectual thinker and wants you to give evidence for your thoughts

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: RES104
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

If you talk in class, you will do fine. He doesn't care what your position is & welcomes all views. As a conservative Christian, I did great in the class & really strengthened my arguments. I felt that he respected me as a person & was extremely helpful. I was terrified of him at first; go talk to him during office hours & he will seem less scary

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: RES220
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Classes with Dr. Benko are the embodiment of the idea that you can only get as much out of something as you put into it. Sure, it's a lot of reading and the assignments take time and effort, but you end the semester with a wealth of knowledge and perspective that you wouldn't have recieved otherwise.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: RES220
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Ability and willingness to think critically is extremely important in order to be successful in his class. Also important is class participation and demonstrating that you have done the readings which are long, but interesting if you're interested. Take advantage of office hours since his expectations can be unclear. Tough grader, but reasonable.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: RES220
• 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:

Seriously, though, this class shouldn't have been the hardest one that I'll ever have to take. The only grades that he took for this class are participation and essay grades. And the essays are hard. So please listen to me and do not set yourself up for failure for a class that you don't even need.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: REL104
• 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:

Benko completely reshaped my ability to pose and support an argument. His class was one of the more difficult courses I have taken and I have never regretted it. Benko challenged my writing abilities/simultaneously forced me to think critically/originally. people love to spread rumors, but take a class with him and you will be a successful student

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: RES140
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Did not find this class to be interesting or helpful. The reading is unreasonable and the professor is not very helpful.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: RES220
• 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:

Dr. Benko is by far my favorite teacher I have had during college. If you keep up with the readings and provide your input during class discussions, you will do well! Dr. Benko is very personable; he offers help if you have questions about the course or life in general.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: RES104
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He makes class interesting and teaches well. However, the quizzes were very hard and the homework readings take up a whole lot of time.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: RES102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr.Benko was funny, entertaining and informative. But the papers that we did as a final for the class were a real challenge for me.