William Hirstein - Elmhurst College

Professor: William Hirstein

Department: Philosophy

College: Elmhurst College

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PHIL210
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

The lectures were basically him just talking so its easy to fall asleep. But if you manage to stay awake, he actually has a lot of interesting information to share. There a bunch of quizzes, a midterm, final, and two essays. If you put in an average amount of effort then you'll probably get an A.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PHL101
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I LOVED Dr. Hirstein. I took him spring 2014 and he still remains one of my favorite professors. He is so nice and wants you to do well in life. He is the most laid back professor, which I think allows students to connect with him. I have a lot of respect for him. I recommend participating in class, he respects everyone equally.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PHIL210
• 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:

Overall this class is incredibly easy. He seems more interested in teaching philosophy than grading us on it, which is a good thing for us students too. If you're taking this class on not interested in philosophy then you can be absent as much as you want and you could still pass. If you're interested in philosophy, you'll love this class.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PHL106
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Super kind, friendly, helpful, and subtly hilarious. Hirstein WROTE HIS OWN BOOK for the class, which is just proof this man is a genius - he's the must published professor on campus. His class is not boring at all... One of the most interesting I've had at EC.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PHL303
• 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:

Dr. Hirstein had the most boring class ever, even for those of us who love philosophy. A select few brownnosers sit in the front and argue at each other while the prof interjects. The reserved students who like philosophy do not participate, and the majority do not care and do not pay attention. Bring your laptop, you can take lecture notes while you surf the Internet. And there is not much to take notes on. Magazines and iPhones work too. The papers are graded hard. Tests are easy, gives answer

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PHL305
• 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:

You are missing out if you do not take a class with this man during your time at Elmhurst College. Get to know him, ask questions - it's your fault if you don't understand something - he will explain until you understand. A genuinely kind man, to boot.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PHL305
• 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:

Took Philosophy of Science with him this time, I've had him as a professor 3x. He is a brilliant man and really knows what he is talking about. Awesome person to bounce philosophical ideas off of and full of very interesting knowledge! Class was a little boring but I learned so much. One big paper, two take home essay finals, relaxing but challenge

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PHL106
• 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:

:)

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PHL303
• 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:

Awesome teacher, really explained things well and made it interesting and fun to learn.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PHIL210
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

really easy class!!! he rambles on a lot so it can get really boring... feel asleep a few times..

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PHL210
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Worst teacher i have had to date! Really confusing, not organized, rambles ALOT! goes on wikipedia too much instead of teaching! do not use the text book he wrote, very confusing, or readings book, so don't buy it! only good thing is there is no homework, just 2 papers, but a hard grader! would not recommend! is a smart guy, but CAN NOT teach!!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PHL106
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

This is a great class with the greatest man that ever lived. Of any class I've ever taken at college, this entry level class was the one that I learned the most from. He's so awesome he makes his own textbook and you don't have to buy one.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PHL210
• 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:

It would be a mistake to pass up the opportunity to be taught by this man. An experience for sure. The work goes no where near fatal. He uses his own textbook that he wrote and an expensive readings packet that you should try to get from someone who took the class.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PHL301
• 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:

Great professor. I appreciated his mind and his attitude. Can ramble a bit in lecture but mostly he is cool.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PHL303
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

This guy is the best prof I've had here. He is the reason I'm majoring in philosophy. The class can be fun and boring sometimes. The work load is easy. Just have to worry about a few short papers and a test or two.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: PHL106
• 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 teacher to ever take a class with at Elmhurst College. I didn't really know about Philosophy before him but he made me want to be a philosophy major. He is the most intelligent man I have ever met. I will take many many many more of his classes. Besides being an unbelievably great teacher with a very open mind he is a wonderful person.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: PHL106
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

this was basically a very easy class if you study for the tests which are identical to the study guide and do well on the papers

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: PHL106
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

A very easy class, but extremely boring. Only write 3 papers.

Rating # 19

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Best way to go for the PHL gen ed requirement. Easy, and just what a philosophy class should be. Kinda vague. Just write about whatever you want, and you'll be fine.

Rating # 20

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Hirstein, besides having an unbelievably open mind, is also a terribly friendly and thoughtful professor. He tolerates an unusual amount of abuse from students before pausing, but he is, and always has been understanding and fair. His intelligence is uncanny, and his perception is frightening. He is also very helpful with his grading - comments A++