Matthew Silliman - Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts

Professor: Matthew Silliman

Department: TBD

College: Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PHIL110H
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I honestly have no idea what he expects. He told us specifically that he had no limit/minimum amount of pages for essays, and then had a meltdown because no one in the class stapled their papers. He gives you no rubric or way to determine what you're supposed to do. I got an A- and I still wouldn't recommend him.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PHIL101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He is tough

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PHIL110H
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Silliman "doesn't believe in grades" but is the hardest grader I've ever met. If you get a B in the class you must be a freaking genius. He has little respect for his students but seems like a decent human being on occasion. I wouldn't take a class with him again but I did learn a lot in honors world religions.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: LOGIC
• Grade Received: C-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Has good intentions but is very unclear with the material. The final paper is the hardest thing ever and he doesn't give good feedback on drafts. Not many grades in the class so what is graded is important.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PHIL300
• 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:

Matt is far and away my favorite professor at MCLA. Yes, his classes are hard, and yes, you will have to follow his instructions carefully on essays. But if you came to college to challenge yourself and learn, then take a class with Matt. I promise you will be a better student for having done so.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PHIL200
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Professor Silliman's class was an interesting one for sure. Very difficult, so be prepared to be challenged intellectually. He can be intimidating because of the way he presents himself, but the man taught me a lot in a semester, and he's more than willing to give the help if you're willing to reach out to him. Oh, and do the work. It's worth it.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PHIL385
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I have no idea why there is such hate on here! Matt is a man of tremendous intellect and, although he has a rather hokey and often tiresome sense of humor, he is an incredibly thoughtful and intellectually stimulating professor. I recommend taking as many courses with him as you can. He likes students who care about engaging and learning.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PHIL110
• 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:

His class was not very easy, and he is a very challenging professor with perhaps unrealistic expectations of his students, but that's why I am here: to push my limits. He is definitely not very welcoming of ideas that don't agree with his own, and he's ... abrasive (I guess that's a good word). He's brilliantly intelligent and unique.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PHIL110H
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

VERY difficult teacher, tended to not give any guidelines for essays, which made it hard to understand what it was he wanted (because he always wanted something very specific). However, I learned so much from him in such a short time, it was worth it.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PHIL110
• 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:

This professor was a complete know it all. He will reject your personal opinions and stray way off subject. He rarely allows time for his students to speak their opinions. A 100 level course should not require more work than a 400 level course. My overall opinion is avoid him at all costs.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PHIL2
• 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:

Pretentious does not even begin to describe him. I went into this class genuinely interested in the subject matter & ending up having to drop & receive a W. I am an A student who has never had to drop mid semester before. He takes all the fun out of learning, belittles students, has unrealistic expectations, is very unclear about offers Zero help.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PHIL102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

If you are a liberal elitist, Matt Silliman is for you. If you want to have smug personal views forced down your throat, he is for you. If you have an affection for professors who blatantly think they are better, he is for you. If you are a masochist..you guessed it. Make sure you have nothing going on in your life if you take one of his courses

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PHIL110
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I have never spent so much time on one essay and everything I turned into him was just not good enough. He never said anything else to help or explain. It is so much stress just to learn to write exactly how he wants rather than any other way. I understand writing is an important skill but there are multiple ways of approaching papers.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PHILPHIL
• 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:

Matt was a challenging professor. It's frustrating too see all the "but this was a required course" comments. It's a required course because you're there to get an education, not check a box to say you're intelligent. Matt is a very smart guy who loves what he teaches, and I'm happy to see that he hasn't caved to low student expectations.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PHIL101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Im sorry to see so much hate here. He is a good teacher to those who are actually willing to learn. Was in a class of his and the others students were mentally there about 10% of the time. He took a lot of time to help me with paper writing. I am a considerably better paper writer having taken that class. He irrevocably changed my perspective.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: PHIL100
• 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:

Very hard, very demanding class, but WORTH IT. If you're looking for a challenge, take any class with him and you will get it. This class made me more passionate about learning, I can now write a better essay, and I've discovered a love for Philosophy. However, DO NOT TAKE THIS COURSE AS A CORE REQUIREMENT. Take it because you're interested.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: PHIL110
• 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:

Hard teacher but very good class. Would take another class.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: PHIL110
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

don't take any classes with him, it's not worth it

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PHILOSOPHY
• 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:

No Comments

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PHILOSOPHY
• 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:

No Comments