Richard Thames - Duquesne University

Professor: Richard Thames

Department: TBD

College: Duquesne University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: COMM400
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Terrible professor. Will lecture you for an hour and a half, ramble for 1:15 and only 15 minutes of it is important and he leaves you to figure out exactly what that is. Also did't have a working webcam for online testing during the quarantine, I asked if I could take the exam on zoom, he replied I would have to buy a webcam or fail the course.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: COMM304
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Very smart, but doesnt explain things very well. He has a good background on what he is talking about but gets off topic very easily and the lectures drag on. He never ended class on time even when he knew time was up. Tests were very difficult, you really have to study for them. Only way he grades are the 3 tests, no homework or papers to help.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: COMM301W
• 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:

I emailed him twice to meet about a final paper. He didn't reply until after the semester ended & yelled at me for my paper being wrong. When I explained my misunderstanding he allowed a redo for a new grade. I did & emailed him the paper, no reply, emailed him again and no reply and he didn't change my grade like he said. Don't bother taking him.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: COMM0
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Thames is the best. He is wicked smart and funny. Don't be intimidated by his intelligence -- just listen, read and learn. Duquesne is lucky to have him and he's an incredibly caring guy.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: COM304
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This guy knows his stuff. He is familar with everything from Greek Philology to WWII propeganda. He tends to be the kind of professor students love or hate. Those who are capable of high level thinking and have good note taking skills like him, while those who like discussion, lists to memorize, and panic when faced with an objective test hate him

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: COMM304
• 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:

One of the best teachers i've had at Duquesne so far. He gives three tests worth 40, 40, and 20 out of a total 100 points for your final grade. Study everything thoroughly and you will do fine. No homework and attendance is not mandatory. Take him!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: COMM304
• 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:

Great teacher! Attendance not mandatory, study the lecture notes and you'll be fine!

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: COMM400
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I took Dr. Thames for Political Comm, and it was one of the best comm classes I've taken. The calss lacked structure at first, but it was always very interesting. We never took a test which was great, so grading is easy. He's conservative, so if your liberal that may get annoying. Thames though knows his stuff, and he's really nice.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: HUMANCOMM
• 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:

Tests are hard, difficult to study for and designed to trick you. He gives you three of these impossible tests with NO other grading opportunities. Tests are all scantron, the lectures are unspeakably boring and you have to study extremely hard just to get in the B and C range. Take somebody else!

Rating # 10

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Blathers about conservative politics, and whatever we are presenting. Don't get into an argument with him, it's irritating for the rest of the class because he will argue right back for the entire class. Loves what he does, enjoys his class, talks a LOT, super easy grader. Grad students got off super easy.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PERSUASION
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

gave the same lecture about 4 times in a row. not the most respectful teacher because: 1. he comes 10 minutes late to class every day and then lets out late. 2. answers his cell phone during class. he's very smart, but doesn't particularly care about anyone else's opinion.

Rating # 12

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

im really surprised at the comments. hes obviously not lazy n is very well read. his lectures are funny, not really hard to get a's just read lecture notes, he answered questions of mine in detail a few hrs before an exam

Rating # 13

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

The lectures are the most boring I've ever heard. He makes no attempt to make class interesting. He doesn't care about his students' opinions and doesn't bother to get to know people's names. (There wasn't even a sign-in sheet when I took his class.) The tests are entirely scantron. You need to study a lot just to get a B. Avoid him if you can.

Rating # 14

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Hands down one of the worst experiences of my academic life. Boring, arrogant, and lazy are just a few words I can use to describe this man. Avoid his classes at all costs!! He gives education a bad name.

Rating # 15

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Take LOTS of notes, don't do the readings because he never asks your opinion after the first class anyway, and be prepared for class to run late every time. The only grade in this class was the final when I took it, so study your ass off.

Rating # 16

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Thames is amazing. He was quite crazy at times (with Brainwashing, etc) but overall a brilliant man. He was a great prof. and I cant wait to take his persuasion class! Definitely take, and if you go to class, it will be great.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: PERSUASION
• 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:

I'm torn about this guy: his class is semi-easy, but his lectures are SO boring and sometimes I can't figure out how his lectures relate at all to what we are doing in class. You don't have to go all the time, that's a plus.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: HUMANCOMM
• 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:

The class isn't that bad if you "memorize" the lecture notes. I got an A, pretty much thanks to the curve. I skipped more than half of the classes and slept or did work for other classes when I did go.. so it really is a joke if you have his lecture notes. And the curve on the tests does help!

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PERSUASION
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Funny and energetic guy, makes the course content interesting. His exams are a bit tough, but the grading is fair, and if you study, you'll pass his class.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: HUMANCOMM
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

His class was super easy, mainly bc he provided all the lecture notes beforehand. You really only had to come to class if you were confused about something or just were interested in his lectures (which only extrapolited a bit on the notes). Interesting class, but I rarely went bc I didn't need to.