William Parent - Santa Clara University

Professor: William Parent

Department: TBD

College: Santa Clara University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PHIL7A
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Easiest class I have ever taken at SCU. You need to attend class to get the notes or else you probably won't do well. The information you need from the books is discussed in class, so it's not necessary to read, unless you do not understand a concept. The class is group discussion based. Easy grader for essays. Cool guy, funny, & super nice.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PHIL7
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Best teacher ever. He's adorable and his classes aren't mandatory, but i want to go because its so interesting. Gets GE's done and his tests are right out of the notes.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PHIL25
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Bill is a great professor. He genuinely loves the material he's teaching and, through a multitude of jokes about politics and talking about his life, imparts the material effectively. Expect to learn a lot more than you think you could and if you're having a problem, talk to him about it! He loves talking to his students and genuinely cares.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PHIL52
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He is often unclear or boring. Often has misplaced humor that can be offensive at times or will unnecessarily single out students. Rubs me the wrong way. Sometimes his ideas/opinions don't make sense and he is not very good at showing that he values students' opinions in a debate. He is easy, however, and nothing he does in class is ever egregious.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PHIL25
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

This man is a legend. 70 years old and tells us every day that he's happy to be a bachelor (in his Bostonian accent). Very easy class, the guy is hilarious, tells funny jokes everyday, engages the class, by far my favorite professor at SCU no question.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PHILO5
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Best Professor and class I have taken at SCU. The only class that I really like going to and I am not an education seeker. If he is available take him!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PHIL25
• 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:

Charming man, but only decent lecturer in my opinion. A bit of a jester. Enjoys entertaining pretentious students on topics irrelevant to the course material during class. He means well, though. Passionate about Philosophy in general. Never replied to to my emails. Wasn't always available for office hours.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PHIL5
• 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:

Dr. Parent is excellent! He can be blunt and direct, a a breath of fresh air after dealing with stuffy, pompous professors. The class is near stream-of-consciousness, but the discussions are fresh and exciting, and often lead unexpected directions. First class that really got me thinking in quite a while. Parent makes everyone want to contribute.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PHIL5
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

He is absolutely hilarious and the class was never boring. The Midterms and Exams are very easy because he gives you the answers before you take it. Participating is easy because he is always open to different opinions. Great teacher I highly recommend him!

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PHIL5
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

incredibly easy class if you attend class, take notes, and parrot back his own opinions. the reading material is almost always the introductions only, so buy books, read, and return quickly. take for an easy A, but don't expect him to actually teach.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PHIL5
• 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:

Professor Parent by far is one of my favorite professors at SCU.Took him for winter quarter,and though it was an 8 AM he some how kept me awake.Course is interesting, and he is a fun and quirky guy with a great sense of humor. Fun and easy way to fill a requirement or if you are interested in philosophy. If you listen in class you will get an A!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PHIL7
• 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:

Really funny guy. A bit odd with grading but in a good way. Thought for sure I would be getting a C+ or B- but ended up with an A-. It's probably because I participated in class and rebounded with 2 good tests after a bombed first one. I would take him. Pretty easy professor and funny guy. Makes 8:00 AM's a little less miserable.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PHIL5
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

While the material can be depressing at times, Parent livens up the discussion with a great sense of humor and easy to grasp summaries. Attendance/participation isn't required, but the lectures will keep you stimulated and wanting to contribute. The tests are simple, but seems arbitrarily graded. Not an easy A, but you'll hone your philo chops!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PHIL5
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Parent is awesome. Easy. Didnt buy the books. Sometimes a bit vague on what he wants for test

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PHIL5
• 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:

Very discussion based which is nice and makes the hour 45 go by very fast. He lets you disagree with him, though for his tests (which are sometimes take home) he seems to be looking for answers that are a bit subjective and geared towards his own beliefs. Attendance not mandatory but tests are straight from the notes!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: PHIL5
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Very passionate. His talking style is somewhat manic, but he's friendly and keeps his classroom open to all opinions and views. He's very good at letting the students dictate the direction of the class. Don't be afraid to participate and you'll do fine. Take at least one class with him before you graduate.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: PHIL5
• 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:

Oh my! Dr. P is hilarious. I love him! I took Phil 5 during summer with few people and it was like a family. He is passionate about philosophy and teaching his students well. I personally think he should be an actor because he gets really deep in discussion. Take him! And for success, just dig deep in the topics, read, and review class notes.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: PHIL25
• 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:

Very knowledgeable and funny professor. Great class discussions. The tests are "interesting" and include a combination of definitions, examples, short-answer, and schematisms. Very entertaining class and overall great guy.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PHIL5
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Really fun teacher. Work load is manageable. Tons of class discussions/debates so it is entertaining.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PHIL11A
• 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:

Dr. P is hilarious if you don't take him too seriously. I had him at 8 am for two quarters straight and only missed 3 classes because he can explain the sometimes difficult readings simply. And, I repeat, he is hilarious.