Robert Matthews - Rutgers - State University of New Jersey

Professor: Robert Matthews

Department: TBD

College: Rutgers - State University of New Jersey

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PHIL428
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Matthews is a clear philosophy professor who does not like to simply pontificate. He encourages you to be clear about your claims when raising objections within class, and the standards for his papers, contrary to what other comments here, are not too high. The quality of a paper in a 400 level course will necessarily be higher.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PHIL438
• 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: N/A

Comment:

Professor Matthews is an all around solid educator. He's very clear in what he expects from you, and he's very articulate when explaining the material. You're definitely going to have to work hard for an A but he's reasonable with his expectations. You have to show up to class though he had an attendance sheet that went around every class

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PHIL201
• 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:

Matthews is a great professor. For logic, he was clear and thorough. He is more than willing to explain difficult concepts more than once, is open to questions, and is very patient. For those who can't perform at a high level, they might feel ostracized by the standard that he teaches at. Go to class, pay attention, and meet him halfway.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PHILO428
• 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:

The warning I would say about Matthews is that your arguments made in papers/exams must be FLAWLESS!! ONE WORD used in the wrong context can literally lower your grade. Making a cogent argument and demonstrating your understand of the concepts is not enough and in that sense I do find his standards too high for an undergraduate philosophy course.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PHILO400
• 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:

The most pompous __ I ever met. Attendance mandatory in a philosophy lecture? A ridiculous amount of readings. Grading based on popularity and ass-kissing. Has no problem embarrassing students as if we didn't pay 20 grand a year to be insulted.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PHILO428
• 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:

Matthews knows his stuff but holds students to an almost absurdly high standard. Expects you to understand/regurgitate every detail of every concept/argument in his own terms.Long readings that are incomprehensible w/o lecture. Takes attendance. Memorize class notes but use examples from the text to pass his exams. Also, do NOT get on his bad side.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PHIL420
• 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 professor ever. I hate this class so much and its because the man doesn't teach anything. you have to do an oral presentation and that's what you use to study for the midterms and final... if you have a choice, DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS....

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PHIL220
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

horrible. he refused to allow class discussion in a seminar class and discouraged intelligent thought of any kind.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PHILANG
• 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:

Matthews does play favorites, but its pretty much based on how hard you try... if you ask him for help he will help you, but he holds you to a really high standard that seems unfair sometimes, but you end up learning a lot... atleast in phi language

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PHIL420
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Took this in S06. The class was half-taught by student presentations, and he's a bad lecturer. Giving the presentation was fun tho. Essays were primarily explanatory. I did all the readings, skipped most lectures, and got an A.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PHIL297
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Do not under any circumstances take any classes with matthews unless you really want to learn about philosophy of mind and animal thought. every class he teaches is the same. not worth the work, not interesting, and not nessisary for any requirements. DO NOT TAKE ANY CLASSES FROM THIS PROFESSOR. you will waste your time and money.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: CNP301
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

President of out country? i dont think you should be allowed to speak anymore....ever....he sucked and the reading was just too much

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: CNT
• 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:

He is fair and makes an effort for students. I have to warn though, the material is difficult and he is harder than other graders. Will give C+/B for work that's usually inflated to B+/A.

Rating # 14

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Ok, maybe his handwriting sucks, but he repeats everything several times so you get everything. Subject matter might be a bit dry so he can be boring but when he gets to something he finds interesting, he makes it interesting. Also yet to see his mysterious temper. Bob is awesome, but you do have to go to all the classes unless you like reading Fod

Rating # 15

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

this girl's a waste: "I LOVE this professor! he is the cutest man, he reminds me of my ex- boyfriend. all people who say he's bad are complete morons. they're just jealous because he won't as much as glance in their direction because they're so ugly. i think he should be president of our country!"

Rating # 16

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Material is hard and going to class is a must. He gives you all the notes you need and without them the articles are a bit obscure. He's a boring lecturer most of the time with glimpses of entertainent when he comes accross something exciting to him. Really smart guy, I wish I had gone to office hours to just shoot the bull.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: CONTEMPORARY
• 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:

very clear teacher, made classes interesting... only take if u plan to attend class though, otherwise u wont be ok

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ENVETHICS
• 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:

I LOVE this professor! he is the cutest man, he reminds me of my ex- boyfriend. all people who say he's bad are complete morons. they're just jealous because he won't as much as glance in their direction because they're so ugly. i think he should be president of our country!

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ENVETHICS
• 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:

He is by far one of the worst teachers i have had at rutgers. He does not know how to teach for****. He writes everything on the board so it seems like its easy...too bad you can't read a word of what he writes! Take his class and I guarentee you will know just how long 80 minutes really is.

Rating # 20

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Worst teacher I've had by far at Rutgers! Doesn't explain the subject material, is as confusing as the articles he assigns, and gives the worst tests ever! We had to take a second midterm because he messed up on the questions the first time. Do not take him...you will regret it!