Reid Buchanan - University of Calgary

Professor: Reid Buchanan

Department: TBD

College: University of Calgary

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PHIL347
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Really great prof. Made the transition to online really easy because he posted lectures consistently and was super clear about everything. His lectures were short and relatively interesting. Super easy if you take notes and watch all the videos. Great guy.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PHIL461
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I never got the sense that Reid was the most brilliant professor I ever had. He was never a wealth of knowledge and didn't have answer for everything. But he was down to Earth, taught interesting material and kept it real. Reid is the everyman professor. Lectures were interesting. Grading was somewhat unclear.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PHIL331
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He spends lectures clarifying the readings and explaining them in-depth. For the exams, he gives the exam topics in advance and allows a cheat sheet which makes it easier. Definitely take a class with him if you want a good grade or if you are interested in philosophy courses.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PHIL347
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

really interesting course. prof only had two midterms and one final paper. no group projects. no hassles. attendance not mandatory but will help as he doesn't have slides online. cheat sheet allowed for exams. would recommend to a friend.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PHIL347
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Buchanan has clear expectations and gives many opportunities for students to succeed in his class. He elaborates on the readings well and allows a detailed cheat sheet for exams, would recommend!

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PHIL347
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

he physically doesn't show a whole lot of enthusiasm, but he's well-versed on the subjects he teaches. He's very lax with requirements for the exams and paper, in fact, he wants you to write less so he doesn't have to mark as much. He also lets you have a cheat sheet for the exam. Definitely recommend taking a class with him.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PHIL314
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

He isn't the best lecturer, I found that the papers we read gave better insight and knowledge about the material than his lectures did. Going to lecture just helps to clarify concepts that you'll need to write about on papers/ exams. You're able to bring a cheat-sheet into the exams where you can essentially write your entire paper beforehand.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PHIL305
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Reid as an instructor I find is one the most generic "professors" at the philosophy department. He has absolutely no enthusiasm for what he teaches and also has little wealth of knowledge for what he teaches. He makes no attempt to advance and teaches the same courses with no variety. Desire an A without effort, or challenges? Register today!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PHIL314
• 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:

Easiest class you will ever take. Reid will give you the topics couple days before the exam, and you can pretty much write your entire paper you want to write for the exam and bring it with you the day of because he lets you bring a cheat sheet. You only want to do the reading that you will be writing on. - Hakuna Matata

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PHIL314
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

tells u the topics of the test before hand just need to do 1 reading on it and write a paper that pretty much makes up 70% of ur grade rest is on a paper which is the same deal super easy class

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PHIL399
• 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:

Reid is an honest, good guy who cares about his students. Occasionally his lectures can be dull and, though I can't say I learned a whole lot from him, he is worth taking as both a philosophy student and those who just need a good grade.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PHIL331
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Reid's lectures are quite interesting, although I feel that he doesn't add much to the book's content. His grading criteria is fairly vague, but the class doesn't require a ton of work to get a good mark. Also, he is very approachable.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PHIL305
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

If you can take a class with him, do it. He explains things in a way that are easy to understand and all he's truly looking for is if you understand the material - if you show that much you'll get a good grade. Doesn't post lectures but they are worth going to just to listen to him talk.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PHIL347
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Best prof I've ever had at the University. If you want quality education and an experience, this class is for you. Don't expect any surprises, he is straight-forward and lets you bring cheat sheets into his exams.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PHIL314
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Great prof, lectures are pretty interesting and they give you the basics of what you need for the tests. Class consists of 2 in-class midterms which are written papers worth 30% each and then one final in-class paper worth 10% and one final term paper worth 30% out of class. Definitely a fair grader. Only bad thing I have to say is no D2L.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: PHIL305
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Lectures are interesting and helpful in understanding the readings. Attendance is mandatory as he posts almost nothing on d2l and it's important to hear updates/grading guidelines and study tips.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: PHIL305
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Reid is by far one of the best professors I've had. Although I couldn't make it to all the lectures because of work, I still learned everything I needed to know from the assigned readings he gave. Lectures are long but he keeps you focused and you learn a lot when your there so I definitely recommend going to them. Think I'll get between B+or A

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: PHIL331
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Reid is very easy going and easy to understand. His lectures are almost pointless to attend if you read and understand the textbook. However, he is quite unclear on what he expects from you in your papers. Additionally, his feedback is haphazard and sometimes it felt like he didn't even read my papers fully.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PHIL305
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Reid is a decent lecturer, very approachable, easy-going, and an all-round great guy. His lectures are fun, evaluation methods are fair, and he seems to be genuinely interested in teaching and helping students. You can't go wrong taking a class with this guy. Unless you hate Descartes or arguments regarding God's existence, because he loves both.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PHIL331
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

PHIL 331 was very easy. Literally, u can read the textbook and pass but sometimes the readings can get confusing so class is helpful. This prof is so slack and doesn't expect much. Cheat sheets for the tests are allowed which were one simple question essays. No final with only one short term-paper. This is a must class if you can get in.