Richard Davis - Brigham Young University

Professor: Richard Davis

Department: TBD

College: Brigham Young University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: POLI410
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Davis is a funny guy. He's really smart and kind, but sometimes that's hidden by his very dry exterior. This was a class on film and politics, and even though I didn't learn a ton, I enjoyed it. More work than I thought necessary, but it wasn't too difficult. Very understanding and generous on accommodations extensions. Good guy.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: FHSS200
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

The lectures are kind of boring, but the guest speakers are cool and the assignments are easy. No final exam. Worth taking overall, but the class didn't really get me very excited about civic engagement.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: FHSS300
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Do not do the Civic Engagement Minor! Dr. Davis is very unclear about what he expects with the projects but has very specific expectations in his head. He let us take a T grade to redo our project the next semester but then gave us the same grade after we spent another semester and many hours redoing it and trying to meet his requirements.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: FHSS200
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I have a love-hate relationship with Prof. Davis. I've taken 2 classes from him. He sometimes rubs people the wrong way and doesn't have clear guidelines for assignments. HOWEVER, his classes are worth it! I've gained the most from his classes (being a self-starter, how to get involved, how to work without guidelines, etc.) He's reallynot that bad.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: FHSS200
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Not sure why people think he is so bad... He really is a lot nicer than people say!! He got some awesome speakers to come to our class and really helped me feel like I could make a difference. The readings are looooonnng with lots of work but the work is easy.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: POLI321
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

At first I was really nervous about taking this class, but it turned out to be awesome. You have readings, but he reviews the readings really well in class. There are two tests, a midterm and a final that are essays. You also have a group debate (which was actually fun) and a research paper. The paper was killer, but he was a really fair grader!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: FHSS200
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I took Civic Engagement from Prof Davis and it was my favorite class I've ever had while attending BYU. I hadn't had a previous love for political science or just community service in general. Worthwhile class that will impact your whole life. Davis is great at getting to know every student and brings in awesome speakers.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: POLI110
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Awful. Completely terrible. He actually yelled at me once when I tried to take a picture of a PP slide at the end of class because he didn't give us time to write it down. I studied my brains out for this class and let every other class fall to the side and I barely scraped a C. Killed my GPA. BYU should heavily consider firing him. DO NOT TAKE.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: POLISCI110
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The worst class, I have taken at BYU... I went to his office once, he was brutally rude. I have gotten along with every professor I have ever had but Prof Davis. He is a flaming liberal... I never missed class, but the only way I learned was reading the book. I got a good grade, all on my own. I hated every minute of his class and studying for it!

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: POLI110
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Prof Davis really cares about your feedback in class, so that made the class great. The lectures can be a little dull, but the discussion parts are awesome. 5% of grade comes from in-class pop quizzes. You need the book for tests. Take the book's online quizzes!!!

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: POLISCI110
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Davis is a pretty hard grader and there are pop quizzes, but if you read the book and go to class you should be well prepare. The essay questions on the test are hard because you have to give examples, and sometimes instructions are not clear. The critiques can be hard, but teach how to critically think properly. Overall, great class!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PLSC110
• 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: Mandatory

Comment:

Worst class during my BYU experience. Davis is the worst. Avoid at all costs. He never sets clear expectations, so everything you do is a shot in the dark. If you have to take him, good luck. Barely scraped an A as a 4.0 student with a heavy political science/history background.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: POLSC110
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This is a great class. Yes, it is time consuming. If you put in the time then you will get a good grade. Professor Davis is a great teacher. You need to come to class and read the text book, but if you do both then you should do well on the tests. The TA's help out a lot too. Great professor. Really Interesting Class. Don't listen to the haters.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PLSC110
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Horrible professor. Very liberal and disrespectful towards anyone with conservative views. Much of his agenda in the course is not related to political science and is trying to push his liberal views on freshmen by disrespectfully addressing people's conservative views in the class. One of the worst professors on campus. Take it from someone else.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PLSC110
• 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:

Worst teacher I had at BYU. Take if from someone else.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: PLSC110
• 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:

I wanted to minor in political science until I took this class. The tests were absolute killers, they never tell you exactly what they are looking for in the essays. I got one A the whole semester, which was on the multiple choice section of one of the midterms. My essay portion ended up bring my midterm grade to a B.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: PLSC110
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I was a Political Science Major and absolutely hated this class, because of Davis I will be changing my major. He is not helpful, I tried to talk to him multiple times. You have to memorize the textbook to do well on the test and the TA's are extremely harsh on grading essays. Take it from someone else and save yourself the trouble.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: PLSC110
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I didn't enjoy the class. Davis is pretty liberal. Has too much discussion instead of lecturing and in that he argues his point, sometimes with frustration. Tough class, but I got an A. You have to know completely what he said in lectures and book material. Really stingy on writing assignments. Very knowledgeable though. I recommend another class.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PLSC210
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

People really need to stop giving Professor Davis a hard time. Yes…the class is tough, but if you study the notes and read the book, you will be fine. I recommend Will as a TA…he's so much help. Yes, the course requires effort, but this is BYU. If you're not willing to put forth the effort, maybe another school is better for you.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PLSC110
• 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:

Worst class that I took at BYU. Professor Davis is inconsiderate. It is a GPA killer, and it simply is not worth the time you will spend studying. If you want to learn, and have a happy life I suggest not taking this class from Davis.