Richard Olmsted - Rhode Island College

Professor: Richard Olmsted

Department: TBD

College: Rhode Island College

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PHIL165
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He's a nice guy. But not a good lecturer. This is my second time retaking this class and i regret not passing it the first time. The other guy was better. Olmsted will ramble on and make class horribly boring. His exams are very hard. It's a lot of reading material and he tests you by quotes and you have to decipher who said it and explain it.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PHIL321
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He puts on a tough front, but if you stick it out you WILL pass. He is very fair if you present your case well

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: 263
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I think hes a good teacher! a little unclear at times but gives study guides that really help on test!

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PHIL318
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor literally rambles for the first 12 hour of class about non sense. His lectures make no sense. Only good thing is his study guide for exams are pretty much the exact same exam you will see again. if you study, you'll be fine. Just be sure to prepare the essay questions ahead of time and be as thorough and clear as possible.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PHIL165
• 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:

While he is a nice guy and has a lot of information to provide. He is not easy on grading. Just got a D- on the last exam. He doesn't clearly explain what he wants from an assignment. You get 3 exams and a term paper plus a documentation exercise which all but 2 people from my class actually got credit for. Find another teacher.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PHIL165
• 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:

At the beginning of the semester and upon reading RMP comments I thought *everyone says at least he grades easy* FAR from the truth. I thought I had a decent grasp for the first exam. Got almost 100 on the terms and a 0 on the essays for 35 F. Just completed a documentation exercise and a total of 2 people in 2 classes got credit. Just avoid...

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PHIL165
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Olmsted is very kind, you can really tell that he has so much knowledge and learnings in his brain, but he's just not entirely comprehendible. That said, the workload is minimal and if you're willing to put very minimal time into studying for the few tests he gives, you'll get an easy A. Overall a nice guy and would take him again.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PHIL165
• 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:

I was so excited to take this class. I find this topic so interesting, but he made it so boring and confusing. He had no structure to how he taught. Poor explanations. Hard to follow. You couldn't even turn to the book for backup because that was zero help. I felt like I was taking a religion and language class combined. Horrible Teacher.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PHIL165
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Most inadequate lethargic and boring instructor i've encountered. He destroyed my interest in asian philosophy and i highly advice to not take a class with him, you are in for merely said- an unpleasant experience.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PHIL200
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Worst professor EVER. So boring it's not even funny. He sounds like kermit the frog, you can't understand a word he says. I loved philosophy before taking his class and because of his poor teaching methods, I have lost intrest. Avoid his class by all costs.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PHIL359
• 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:

Professor Olmsted is great. Knows everything about the history of philosophy. Has taken courses with Putnam. Not aloof. If you are a serious student of philosophy, you will love him. His low rating on this site is mostly a product of the low quality of most of the philosophy students here at RIC. His storytelling is not inimical to his teaching.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PHIL205
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Do not take his class. 1. when he teaches he gets too off track 2. he isnt helpful at all 3. his classes make no sense 4. it is almost two weeks after the class has ended and he still doesnt have grades up. worst teacher i have ever had.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PHIL200
• 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:

Run for the hills!!! This guy is so boring that not even air molecules will stay in the room, AVOID IF YOU CAN! TAKE CASTIGLIONE OR SHOGENJI.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PHIL300
• 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:

Boring but easy you will learn from this guys class trust me.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PHIL300
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Can anyone say nap time... zzzzzzzzzzzzz Wake me up when class is over!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: PHIL300
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Rating # 17

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Dr. O. is a real good teacher only had him once ...was about to have him for Amer Phil but got into a class i needed for my soc major so i had to drop it. He and his wife are awesome!

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: AMERICANPHIL
• 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:

Less than half the class showed up on any given day. Rambles on and on, lots of times about things that have nothing to do with class. Just make sure you do the short papers, and the term paper (10-15 pages) and you'll do fine. I hardly ever went to class and I got a B.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PHIL165
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

ALOTof reading, but if you look up and study all the terms on the list he gives you you can save time and know enough to ace the tests. Lectures are really dull so you can either look up the terms in class to save time or skip all together cause he doesn't take attendence. 1 paper, 8-10 pgs. Good luck!

Rating # 20

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

This man right here be sayin anything! I don't understand a damn thing. He madd borin' yo i mean you cant squeeze blood outta rock but he cant squeeze blood outta flesh wound. I mean asian philosophy is interesting (thats what i thougt b4 i enrolled in his class) and the only thing that was interesting was the Kama Sutra.