Bruce Owen - Sonoma State University

Professor: Bruce Owen

Department: TBD

College: Sonoma State University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ANTH201
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

His lectures are long and boring. I almost never went to class because attendance isn't mandatory and he posts all his slides & lectures on his Moodle. Tests are all short answer/response which were always tough to study for. Online quizzes every night for the reading, 1 quiz, 3 tests, and 1 zoo project where you have to pay to go to the zoo.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ANTH201
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

The dude actually cares about the field and the class was a cake walk. I learned a lot and did not even have to attend all of the lectures. The tests are extremely difficult but he curves them so just answer everything to the best of your ability and a C is basically guaranteed. Awesome 10/10.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ANT201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

If you're looking for an easy A this is not the class to take. All of his tests are written answers and are almost impossible to answer all of the questions. He does curve his grades but if he didn't I would definitely have a solid F in the class. He didn't finish some lectures at the end of the semester but we still had to know them for the final.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ANT201
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He lectures all class long and when he gets behind he just says "learn it for the test". This happened for all three of the tests we took. All short answer paragraph tests where he is very specific about what he is looking for. Hardest class. Do not take it if you can avoid it!

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ANT201
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He will quiz you on material he never taught you, as he is always behind on his lectures. Also, to give you an idea of how insane his tests are, on the last test 39/180 was a C. Only time I have ever been thankful for a curve!

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ANTH203
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

As someone who went to every class and did all the readings/study guides, I found the class doable. He wants you to know lots for the tests but its not unreasonable. If you're not up for a little challenge don't take the class. The lectures are a bit long but overall we learned lots of cool things.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ANTH203
• Grade Received: D
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

HARDEST CLASS EVER!! DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS!!!He is so unclear on everything and he only see's one side to a story.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ANTH341
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

For a GE class, it was ridiculously difficult. The essays weren't a big deal, 4 essays ranging from 3-5 pgs & I got As on all of them. But the midterm and the final are what made this class the worst I've ever taken. It doesn't matter if you understand the concepts and topic covered - if you don't know every little arbitrary detail, you fail.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ANTH341
• 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:

Took this course out of necessity for upper division units and regret it just one month into the course. This guy is an insanely strict grader, very vague when it comes to his teaching material, and unbelievably boring; furthermore, he is under the impression that you know as much as he does about anthropology, so don't be half right, or you fail.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ANTH201
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Has poor time management when lecturing. Often not all material is covered before the test, but we are tested on it anyway. Tests are almost too long to finish in the class time. Lectures are slow and he gets distracted easily. Not a bad guy, not a great professor.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ANTH201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Definitely a hard GE. Tests are all short answer questions, and you have a 3 question quiz on reading every single class that counts for attendance. The class is really hard, but he curves it a lot in the end, which helps. I have a B+ but had to work hard for that grade. His lectures are also super boring, and he never lets you out on time.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ANTHRO201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He is very boring. Lectures are boring as well. Goes over the same topic twice in one week. His Zoo project is annoying. Have to go out and observe 2 kinds of apes for 45 minutes each, on your own time and money. It can either make or break your grade. Take another GE.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ANTH341
• 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:

Boring Lectures, lots of quizzes, Midterms are extremely difficult lots of readings. Not a recommended GE class if you can avoid do at all cost!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ANTH201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

One of the best teachers at SSU! Quizzes focus on key points, and tests are short-answer on core concepts. Strong writing skills required! PowerPoints published after class. Loves his topic. Grades on a curve; my B+ became an A+. Didn't buy the book. Half the class leaves after the quiz; you're not disrupted by fratties who don't want to be there.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ANTH203
• 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:

This class is too hard to be an introductory course. I got a B+because I worked very hard and had to memorize and understand all his powerpoints for the written tests which are ridiculously hard. The reading is usually 25-45 pages before every class and to pass the quiz on the readings given every class you actually have to read and understand it.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ANTH341
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This was a general education class that focused on the emergence of civilizations. Quizes every class, extremely boring lectures. Sparked very little interest in class. Turned off the lights so students fell asleep half the class withdrew from class. Horrible teacher that needs to learn how to lead and teach a class. Overall did not learn much!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ANTHR341
• 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:

Literally the worst class I have ever taken. Most unreasonable GE class, very difficult grader, expects you to read up to 30 pgs every night, took 2.5 months to get back an essay grade. Assumes everyone cares about Anthro as much as he does. Never missed a class and was more nervous for this final than my Calc 4 final, which must say something.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ANTH341
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

One of the worst teachers ever. There is a quiz every day about the readings, and by the middle of the semester the readings are so far ahead of the lecture! He can't keep up with the grading of the assignments he gives, and still assigns more. I didn't know where my grade stood until the week before finals. 1 nice thing his notes are all online

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ANTH203
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Bruce is a great professor. He is extremely helpful; he edited every paper I wrote for his class for me which really helped. I thought the class was very interesting. There is a lot of reading and the class can be a lot of work, but I found it to be a very valuable class. Professor Owen is very kind and helpful.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ANTHR201
• 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:

This teacher is very boring, you will go into class excited to learn about the class and come out hating the subject. If possible try to take a different teacher. He has q short quiz on the reading every class, there are 3 midterms and they are all fill in answers so you really must know the material in depth.