Larry Bowlden - Portland State University

Professor: Larry Bowlden

Department: TBD

College: Portland State University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PHL221
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Bowlden sucked. Yeah it's an easy A but if you actually care about learning, find a different professor. He is intelligent but doesn't communicate information well. He doesn't teach in an organized manner. He also can't seem to orchestrate discussion well. If students aren't saying anything, he just gets frustrated. And his tangents are so boring.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PHL212
• 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:

Hands down, the best PHL Professor that I was able to take a class from at PSU. He doesn't even believe in the grading system, and doesn't make you take the final if you turn in all your papers and attend regularly. You can learn more from this guy than most, he's been teaching forever. Highly recommended.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PHL212
• 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:

Larry is a fantastic teacher, in that, he attempts to connect with every student. If you show a large interest in learning then he will spend extra time out of class talking to you about philosophy even if it doesn't directly pertain to the class. An extremely clear lecturer. He both challenges his students while making it easy for them to succeed.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PHL210
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He is fantastic, the only people that didnt like his class ended up being people who were easily offended and didnt understand what bowlden was looking for in his papers. its ohilosophy of religion, its not rainbows and sunshine! if you want to learn abour real life and do so freely, take one of his classes, any of them will be wonderful!

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PHL210
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Bowlden is probably my favorite teacher here at PSU. I liked his teaching style and his class was fun. Although he has his opinions of religion, he is very respectful. I recommend this class if you are open to new ideas about religion.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PHL210
• 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:

Smart, funny, witty, great at explaining difficult concepts. Great listener. Gets the best work out of my by not restricting it. love love love him

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PHIL210
• 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:

I will remember him as one of the best teachers I have ever had. We had no text book. The requirements were to write 3 papers (or 3 songs or poems or anything) and we could write them about whatever we wanted. The only way you would not like this class is if you are easily offended by jokes about Christianity or don't have an open mind whatsoever

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PHL308U
• 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:

I was more than disappointed after taking his class. He is extremely biased and indirectly ridicules and mocks those with a Christian faith, believing it to be OK since he's an ex-Mormon. Don't expect anything higher than a B grade if you don't share his views, even if you do quality work. The classroom is his own platform for political rants.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PHL201
• 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:

Take his Phl of Religion class. He has probably converted many to atheism. Very interesting outlook. He is irreverent and witty but very kind. An unforgettable teacher.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PHIL210
• 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:

Bowlden is the best instructor I've encountered. Attendance is mandatory, but everything else about the class is relaxed- he keeps textbook use minimal and tries to keep cost down. Your grade is based on turning in a couple papers or projects and creativity is strongly encouraged. He's one in a million!

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PHL210
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Very easy class, and interesting (for a little while). If you're an atheist, you'll probably like his classes. Although, listening to why it's foolish to believe in God, and even being called arrogant, I personaly wouldn't want to take another class from him.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PHL210
• 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:

Bowlden is such a great professor that I am now permanently spoiled. All the other philosophy profs seem like a bunch of ****s compared to him. He cares about the students, and doesnt make you feel like your on a conveyor belt, like others profs can. He is a truely great person, and I will never forget him!

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PHIL201
• 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 ever had.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PHIL101
• 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:

AWESOME!!! I love this guy and you will too. He is by far the best philosophy teacher at PSU. As for grading, he doesn't put too much emphasis on it, which I loved. As long as you show up and engage yourself in the learning you will get an A.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PHL301
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Don't disagree with him about ethics. I did, just to play devil's advocate. My paper was graded down, which I would have been fine with, but his explanation for why I was wrong was embarrassingly inadequate coming from not only a professor, but a philosopher. Overall he grades easy, though, and he's a pretty good lecturer. He's just kind of bitter.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: PHL301U
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

What a great professor! He is very knowledgable and actually cares about his students, a PSU first I think. He is greatly helpfula and actually wants people to understand the book not just read it. I recommend his classes and will probably take more from him!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: PHL200
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

part of this is my fault for taking intro when i was practically done with my phl major but the class was SO PAINFUL. all the newbies were so stupid and bowlden would only ever humor everyone. he never tells people they are wrong when they so clearly are and he never gets into the good stuff. everything is kept superficial and babyish.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: PHILOFSEX
• 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:

he is amazing! he's very open to ideas and comments, terribly funny, and overall has a great spirit. I can't wait to take another class from him. I hope his future students can appreciate what a rare and exquisite teacher he is.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PHL
• 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:

He's definitely not for philosophy majors. he barely gets into anything good, he's wishy washy, too polically correct, and too forgiving. He expects nothing from his students.

Rating # 20

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Simply a superb mentor