Balaji Hebbar - George Washington University

Professor: Balaji Hebbar

Department: TBD

College: George Washington University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: REL3990
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He was very enthusiastic about the subject (although his tone didn't convey it). He was also very helpful in getting students to learn. But the class was based too much on lectures, and if you missed even a second of notes you were toast. He wanted every detail that he said regurgitated on take home exams and was very strict about that.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: REL3990
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Hebbar as an amazing professor, and is one of my favorites at GW. He's really knowledgeable. The class itself was very interesting, and as long as you pay attention in class and take detailed notes you will be alright. Attendance is extremely important. There is no reading. Amazing class. Inspired me to become a religion minor.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: REL3931
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Hebbar is one of the worst profs I have had at GW. He is so confusing and acts like you are dumb for asking questions. He is rude and condescending with poor social skills and is one of the most arbitrary graders I have ever had. He will mark things directly copied from notes wrong and say you need more details on 3 page responses. Avoid if you can

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: REL2501
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Hebbar is great! He is very explanatory with the material. All 3 exams for this class were take home, and if you took good notes they were straight forward and you can answer with exactly what he said in lecture. There is no homework except for the exams which are A LOT of work, and a 10 page research paper due at the same time as the 3rd exam.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: REL2501
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Hebbar is an amazing professor! One of the most intelligent people I've ever met. I took his Hinduism course, and it's clear that he is extremely knowledgeable when it comes to Eastern religions. DO NOT SKIP CLASS. Taking intricate notes is necessary. All exams are take home, and he gives you a week to do them so they must be in-depth and detailed.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: REL1002
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Hebbar is possibly one of the most intelligent people I have ever met. Go to class. Write down everything he says. Exams are take home and come directly from the lecture. You will learn a lot but you have to work for it.

Rating # 7

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Hebbar was one of my worst professors. Yes, he offers extra credit field trips, which would have saved my semester, but he denied that I got credit for them, even though I sent in a picture of myself at the location. He makes you memorize dates and names that have little to do with the religion as a whole, which killed my love for eastern religion.

Rating # 8

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Oh my god. This class was the death of me. The material is super interesting, but he expects you to know at least 100 names and dates for each test instead of the actual concepts of religions. It's a lecture based class, which can be ridiculously hard to stay awake in. Unless you are extremely interested in religions, DON'T take this class.

Rating # 9

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Best professor I have ever had! Extremely intelligent. I took him for Indian Philosophy, Hindusim, Intro to Eastern Religions. Got As in all classes because his exams come straight out of his mouth. if you are a good note taker and hard worker you will do fine!

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: REL3931
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I had a much better experience in doctrines & debates than his 190 class. He said outright the first day that it wasn't nearly as serious a course, and I ended up learning a ton (maybe because he was more relaxed). If you pay attention he's actually hilarious, and extremely knowledgeable. Worth taking, regardless of prior experiences with Hebbar.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: REL1002
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Hebbar is a genius. But he is one of the least inspiring/charismatic professors on GWU's campus. Learning Eastern religions should be your primary reason for taking this class or you will fail. 4 quizzes (20 M/C's), 1 Midterm, 1 Final. Material is all from Hebbar. The book is worthless. Field trips & film reports boost grade by full letter.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: REL1002
• 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:

Do not take B.N. Hebbar's class. He is nearly impossible to hear or understand, and he does nothing to motivate or interest the students. I went to his office hours and asked for help and he suggested that I learn to speak Sanskrit.. very unhelpful. Hardest class I've ever taken, and least interesting.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PHIL3175
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Although the subject matter was incredibly interesting, Dr. Hebbar made this class dull. Unlike typical university-level courses, which place new material in a global, historical context, this course focused almost entirely on rote-memory exams. I studied and made the grade, but I would have preferred to write papers and have discussions...

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: REL1
• 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:

One of the most knowledgeable professors I have had at GW. He genuinely knows Eastern religions like the back of his hand. The course is very dense, so drink a cup of coffee before attending the lecture. You will learn a lot from Hebbar if you put forth the effort.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: REL157
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Unless you are absolutely fascinated with the subject, this class will be a huge waste. He is not helpful and does not care to motivate students to learn about the subject. Impossible to study for unless you memorize every word he says in the 2.5 hour class.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: REL190
• 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:

Lecture heavy course with an enormous amount of information. Record the classes and share notes no one can keep up with all of that detail. Also good for testing which he grades harshly and wants as detailed oriented answers as possible. No joke course. My hand was throbbing just trying to keep up withnote taking. Great very interesting course.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: REL002
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Hebbar is not going to force you to learn if you are not interested. If you are interested, you won't regret learning about Eastern Religions with Hebbar.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: REL003
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He speaks Pali. The man is a genius.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: REL002
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Go to every class and take notes on everything. memorize these notes and any handout. you will get a decent grade and if you find the material interesting all the better.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: REL002
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Impossible. Don't try going to him for help, it's useless