Fred Smith - University of Iowa

Professor: Fred Smith

Department: TBD

College: University of Iowa

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: HIST1060
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Smith is incredibly knowledgable about India. If you are approaching this like a usual class, stay away as the class is disorganized. But if you have a passion for learning about India, just spend time with him. It could change your life. The class itself requires a little bit of work and reading, might be challenging for the unfamiliar.

Rating # 2

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Fred Smith was the best professor I had in seven years undergrad. The topics were interesting, the lectures bespoke, and the readings amazing. I was not a religion major, but I learned how to think and communicate because of his teaching.

Rating # 3

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Took his "Intro to Indian Religions" class. Again, he didn't dissapoint. Very precise, candid, to the point, helpful, articulate. Everything you could ask from a Professor really. Take his class! Do it!

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: INDIANREL
• 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:

My Second class with Fred went SO WELL! He really ought to be given more credit than he gets. His tests are easy, his teaching easy & precise and you will really end up liking this plain spoken guy by the end of the class. Wouldn't miss it for the world.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: SKTADV
• 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:

Knows Sanskrit, teaches it well. Very friendly and helpful.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ASIANHUMN
• 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:

One of the most under-rated and under-valued professors ever.An extremely valuable asset to this university.His knowledge about India is unsurpassed and just pick his brains on any topic and you'll be more than grateful.Very helpful outside class or in one on one sessions too. Just attend lecture, exams are moderate, but grading on papers is a joke

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: RLS014
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Knowledgeable and an overall nice guy, just a bit out of the zone sometimes...

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: REL172
• 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:

A well-organized course in comparative ritual that covered a great deal of interesting material. There is even a class ritual to make it more fun. Very helpful instructor, but paper is hell.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: LRE004
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Interesting material, terrible teacher. In fact, he doesn't teach. What people have said about him being unprepared, late, disorganized - it's all true. My TA wasn't very helpful, either. If you want to take this class, make sure you don't have him. I've heard some of the other professors are better... it's hard to imagine who could be worse.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: REL4
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Make sure to get a good TA. Lecture does not follow the book. Much of lecture follows tangents to the topic. ATTEND Discussion, it will save your grade.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: 324LROTE
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

This guy is the most unorganized, unprepared teacher I have ever experienced. He literally searches for pictures and definitions on Google to explain whatever he decides to talk about. The class was very confused as to what material would be covered on the exams, because there was loads of information thrown at us. He means well, but lacks structure.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: INDIANRELTEXT
• 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:

Sometimes a little bit disorganized but clearly knowledgeable and passionate about the material and receptive to student feedback.

Rating # 13

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

No discernible work ethic, but he doesn't expect you to have one either. If you thrive at language learning without a taskmaster, take this course. If you are scandalized by relaxed attitudes towards teaching (late/non-existent grading, teacher tardiness, etc.) forget it. Extremely enthusiastic, intelligent, knowledgeable, supportive, and kind.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: LIVRELOFEAST
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I find his lectures extremely hard to follow.. he tries to cover lots of information in this intro class, which is tough. Some assigned readings are very long, dull, and hard to get through. Plus, pop quizzes are never fun.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: EASTRELIGIONS
• 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:

No Comments

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: RELOFEAST
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Smith is a really cool guy and he knows so much, but I have a hard time following his lectures. I have to resist the urge to yell out at him "JUST SPIT IT OUT". Smith circles around and gets off track and I start clock-watching, but if you talk to him one on one he is soooo helpful and just totally cool.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: SANSKRIT
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Smart man, very knowledgable, loves to tell stories. However, may like to tell stories more than teach or clarify problems in understanding Sanskrit. Still a cool guy to know. If you're worried about passing- don't. Just show up.

Rating # 18

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Excellent professor! Very knowlegable about early Indian texts, Sanskrit,yoga, living in India, etc. Highly recommended!! A+++++