Raymond Christensen - Brigham Young University

Professor: Raymond Christensen

Department: TBD

College: Brigham Young University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: POLI200
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Christensen is awesome! His class was difficult and had a heavy workload, but he is extremely approachable and was always willing to meet outside of class during office hours. He even invited the entire class over to his house for crepes. Would highly recommend.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: POLI200
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Was not an easy class, but it wasn't as hard as everybody made it seem. Took the class while taking 16 credits and working 15+ hours a week and it didn't kill me. I did not do a single reading the whole semester and still got an A in the class. Show up to every class, lab, and turn in all assignments and you'll get at least a B.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: POLI373
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Law class style where you''ll only be graded on midterm, final, and a group project (and participation). He doesn't believe in grades higher than a 92% but he also rounds. This was a very reading heavy class and it's easy to get confused, he emphasizes that the lecture reading is more important, so ask if the textbook is really necessary.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PLCS200
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I'd recommend another professor, especially for Poli 200. Christensen is energetic, but a little too energetic. Poli 200 is notorious for being difficult, but Christensen makes it significantly harder than it needs to be.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: POLI200
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

This class was so great! Definitely not easy, and takes a lot of time and effort. With an essay due almost every week, immense reading, and a brutal final, it takes a lot out of you. But Brother Christensen makes it so much fun and his lectures are amazing! Take advantage of your TAs and the review sessions. Great class!

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PLSC200
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

This class is definitely not easy, but Dr. Christensen makes it so enjoyable. Don't miss the lectures; he is hilarious and really good about answering questions. He makes it very easy to get help in the class with all of the office hours available. Do the assignments, do the readings, go to class, and take advantage of the help offered.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: POLI200
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Dr. Christensen is one of BYU's finest. He excels in lecture; attending class is entertaining. Don't blow off the major writing assignments; it takes a lot of work to get a good grade. I'm not a poli sci major, but I learned a lot of great transferable skills from Dr. Christensen. He's an amazing guy! I definitely learned to write coherently.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: POLI200
• 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:

Prof. Christensen is a really fun lecturer and he is super funny. There are quite a lot of papers during the first half of the course, so get ready to spend hours writing every week. The content itself isn't too difficult until you get to the stats part of the class. He is not amazing at teaching the stats in a way that makes it easy to understand.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PLCS200
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Christensen is a funny guy and very passionate, but the course content is very unorganized. He doesn't give a review sheet or connect the reading to classes or anything that you can review later. He just screams his way through important material that would be much easier to learn if it was structured better.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PLSC200
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Christensen knows his subject and loves to teach poli sci 200. The class is hard, but not impossible. Put in the effort, do the papers, and sit in one of the first 4 rows - you'll participate more and will make friends with the students who are doing well. He's a funny guy and makes class as enjoyable as possible. He wants you to do well.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PLSC373
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He spends most time of lecture screaming about things. He is funny, but has taught it too many times. He grades very heavy, but curves if necessary.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: POLI373
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Dr. Christensen is awesome. He will make you work to get a good grade, but he is super knowledgeable and very passionate about the subject; he always finds a way to make his lectures entertaining. Would absolutely take a class from him again.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: POLI200
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

LOTS of work, but the class is set up so that there is help whenever you need it. Professor Christensen is amazing and hilarious. I ended up switching my major, but I still think this class was worth taking just to improve my writing skills. Do the reading, talk to the TA's, and you'll get a great grade.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PLSC200
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

This class has a lot of work. Overall he was a good teacher for the first half of the class but didn't do well the second half when it was focused on statistics. First half of the class was entertaining and good, second half was boring and easier to learn from TAs.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: POL200
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Poli 200 changed my life. Professor Christensen is a tough grader and he tells it like it is. The work load was extremely difficult for me, but all of the paper writing made me a great writer. I honestly didn't think I had it in me, but after a low grade on my first paper, I made a real focus on my writing and saw dramatic improvement.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: POLI354
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Took Japanese Government and Politics from him. One of the hardest classes I ever took, but also one of the very best. Prof. Christensen is smart, opinionated, and passionate, and while he demands a lot from his students, he makes the class so worth it in return! Avoid him if you're lazy; definitely take from him if you're not. Remarkable guy.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: POLI200
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Professor Christensen is awesome. Writing papers will become second nature to you. You learn a lot of skills that will benefit you in other classes. But make no mistake, this class is hard. Be ready to spend countless hours on papers. Pollock will become your new best friend. The final will destroy you.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: POLI373
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

One of the best classes I've taken. More like a graduate style class. Lots of discussion.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: POLI200
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Do your assignments early. Sitting in the front row is a 4D experience...

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: POLI200
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Poli200 is tough, there's no way around that. If you have to take it, take Christensen. He's goofy, helpful, and very intelligent. He makes talking about grammar, research, and stats fun. Quizzes and practices (participation) every week in lab. Big assignments every 1 or 2 weeks. They're tough, but you learn a lot. Office hours will save you.