Susan Swithers - Purdue University - West Lafayette, West Lafayette, IN

Professor: Susan Swithers

Department: Psychology

College: Purdue University - West Lafayette, West Lafayette, IN

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PSY428
• 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 took two of her classes: Food & Behavior and Drugs & Behavior. Both were amazing! She is a great professor and is really passionate about what she does. She was never boring and I was always fully engaged. One of the very best professors I have had at Purdue.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PSY428
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

I loved Dr. Swithers! She is very honest and open about drugs and how it impacted us and others. The lectures are fun and exciting because you can tell she really cares about the topic and wants students to do well. She is a tenured prof but she is PHENOMENAL!! Do the work in the class and you'll absolutely love it and her. Best prof at Purdue!

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PSY120
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Shes an incredible teacher, I learned so much in her class that I still remember. That being said, shes tough. Be prepared to work hard, she doesn't make it easy to get an A. Don't just memorize terms, learn how everything connects.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PSY428
• 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:

There was ONE very difficult test, which was right after fall break that explain my B. I think she's a very good professor and she makes the subject being very interesting. You need to attend and read the assignments. People find the class difficult when they are not serious about it. I wish all my classes were like this one.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PSY428
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I took her Drugs&Behavior class. i loved the class, and if you're a behavioral neuroscience major, the stuff you learn is extremely useful. tests are hard. its like 10 essay questions & 5 multiple choice. it may be that she's lazy to type up multiple choice questions. I learned so much in this class but dont skip class, NOT EVEN ONCE!!

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PSY222H
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

She's an OK teacher--a better discusser than lecturer, if you will. My biggest beef was the Exams: you're given the exam questions prior to the test and can use anything while writing it in class, yet it has to be written by hand in class. WTF. Just make it a take-home and let us type the answers instead of figuring out how fast/much we can write

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PSY120
• 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:

best teacher for psy 120h by far, and always there to help

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PSY222H
• 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:

I thought this was a great class...but don't expect an easy ride. Gives essay questions BEFORE exam and you can use your answers/notes ON the exam (becomes a how-fast-can-you-write test). She was very engaging and really loves her subject. Participate! I went to EVERY class AND asked questions, but didn't do well in "participation." Overall, good.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PSY222
• 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:

This woman did not teach, she talked at her class for the duration of the power hour. I attended every class, but was put to sleep! As a visual learner I need something to keep my focus centered! With the exception of occasionally scratching something up on the board, there were no visual aids! The only good days in class were when her TAs taught!

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PSY222H
• 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:

I was shocked to see all of the negative comments; Dr. Swithers is, bar none, the most engaging professor I've had so far (and I've had many great professors). Perhaps the distinction is that students must be extremely interested in the course content, show up for class, read and participate. Perhaps that's too much to expect of some students?

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PSY220
• 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:

Definitely the worst professor I've had in 4 years at Purdue. Obviously does not care for her students or teaching.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PSY220
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

how is she a professor? she cancels classes, does not care for her students, and puts everyone to sleep.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PSY222
• 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:

Exams are very difficult. 60% of points come from short answer essay questions. Grade is based solely on 3 exams and a Final exam. It's hard to know what to study for, the study guide she posts is topical which includes everything covered in lecture plus reading assignments. Difficult material.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PSY222
• 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:

Cancels alot of classes, lectures worthless.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PSY222
• 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:

I do not agree with these other comments at ALL. She gives very detailed lectures. You have to go to class. She puts an outline of material to know for exams. I haven't studied incredibly hard, and I will end up with an A in that class. She is probably one of my favorite teachers.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: PSY222
• 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:

I totally agree with what you said, the exam is impossible, the TA sucks, just randomly deduct the point from my answers, the professor always not showing up and the class cancelled all the time, but she still keep the exam in the same day

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: PSY220
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

She always cancel her class and the material is not really helpful. I think her TA is the worst TA I ever had, the test is nearly impossible. I wish I didn't sign up for this class at all...

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH120
• 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:

I wouldn't say HOT but better looking than most. I would also say that she could have been much more organized than she was and could have been teaching out of out book. But i did get quite a bit out of the class

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PSY120
• 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:

looks good, teaches bad.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PSY120
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

She's hot! Isn't that enough to go to class?