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Awesome lecturer, his stuff is always really interesting. Tests are pretty easy, nothing too tricky as long as you read the material (in a timely fashion...don't wait till the last minute). He's really helpful and loves when people ask questions and participate. He uses a lot of great examples in class to teach concepts.

After psy301 I was scared to take another psy course but Brian is fantastic! Great sense of humor combined with a laid-back approach. Makes learning dry info quite interesting. Tests are not too bad as long as you do the readings and take good notes. Out of class assign. are easy. TAKE HIM, you'll be glad you did. Indiana's loss is our gain...

Prof Bowdle is a great teacher. You can tell he is excited about psych and wants kids to understand it. He is always happy to answer questions and lecture isn't boring at all. Exams are easy as long as you keep up on the reading, he doesn't try to pull anything tricky. If possible, take this professor!!

One of the nicest professors you could ask for. He is always willing to help you out, gives extra credit, and has no problem with questions. Makes everything interesting and easy to understand. If you can take this class with him do it.

Although the readings don't always match up to the lectures, his class is pretty straight foward. Don't dick around because it seems easy, just pay attension during lectures, know what the readings are about and do the homework every week and things should be alright. Good prof.

Great prof! Always willing to help and very nice! Gave our class enough extra credit to boost our final grade by 7%!! Tests are fairly easy if you take notes and do the reading. I did well in the class and only skimmed the readings! I STRONGLY recommend this teacher! Also, he has no attendance policy!

Very interesting, approachable and willing to help you with anything you need. One of the first teachers at Grand Valley who is not trying to trick you on tests

He is an awesome professor. He let us pick what we wanted to learn about the last two weeks of class. His tests are easy, and never tricky. I have never gotten an A in a psy class and I got an A in this class. He also gives extra credit!

He was a good teacher but his lectures could be boring at times, not a typical psych teacher as he uses many different books that are more about studies. Make sure you know the studies for the tests. Gives extra credit if people ask and make sure you do the experiments and you should be fine. Overall, he was a pretty good teacher and was helpful

Good professor. Be sure to read the book and do the assignments he gives.

I loved this class! I took it as a summer class and professor Bowdle made what could have been an extremely boring class very enjoyable to attend. We always got out early and both exams were take home. Homeworks were extremely easy also. Class discussions were interesting and he always wanted our input. I would definately take him again!

While the lectures were a bit on the boring side, he does throw in some quick whit you will catch if you actually pay attention. Do all of the reading and tests will be much easier.

Brian is amazing! Loved the class, easy but interesting.

Funny guy. Has his nerdy moments but he's tolerable. Willing to help if you ask for it. Class wasn't very hard, he assigned homework once a week if that. If you want a good grade, do your reading.

Very interesting class. I had friends who took it with a different professor and were dying of boredom. He can be slightly nerdy sometimes, but he's very passionate and even funny sometimes. He cares about his students, as well as the class. Ask for help and he'll help you. Reading the book will help you on tests, but not mandatory. VERY GOOD PROF!

TAKE THIS PROF FOR INTRO TO PSYCH!!! Brian is so friendly and makes the somewhat hard information much easier to understand. Your final grade in the class is based mostly on things other than the test (homework, the paper, class assignments, etc.), which is awesome! I got a B on every test and got an A in the class. Hope this helps :)

Awesome Professor. I skipped alot and still got a B+ overall. The tests are only worth 40 points, so they don't kill your grade if you bomb them. He is funny and talks about interesting things! I'd take him again in an instant.

Nice guy who had a pretty cool way of structuring the course. No exams, but a weekly journal + homework as well as projects are what make up a chunk of the grade. The textbook was dry, but he's a very good lecturer... the strength of this course comes from the in-class discussions more than anything else. Recommended prof.

In this particular class he gets you to learn so much out of the least amount of working having to be put forth. He's so knowledgable and is a great instructor. I took the 3 hour course and attendance was required but the class wasn't bad at all. I would reccommend this professor to anyone. Show up to class, do the homework, and participate.

I took him in a 3 hour night class and this made it really difficult to stay in class. I left early a lot, but I don't think it really mattered. He is very passionate about what he is teaching. If you can get him for a short class I say go for it.

Great prof! I had him as a prof in a 3 hour class over the summer, so it got boring at times. However, I thought the class was very laid back and enjoyable. There were no tests, or even a final. The class was discussion and our grades came from weekly journal entries and homework assignments. Used books instead of textbooks. Recommended prof.

Passionate about the subject & really knows his stuff. Lectures are dull and boring and consist of him talking the entire class period with an occasional visual...kind of hard to sit through. Take good notes and do the readings or you will not do well.

Is a decent teacher but extremely boring. All you do is take notes all the time with an occasional movie thrown in. Tests consist of you getting three or four days to learn 160-180 terms and then getting a 50 question multiple choice test.However homework, journals, and activites make up 50% of grade so you can do very well if you just do homework.

Great professor, does not mind if student miss class. A VERY light work load. I would recomend him to anyone that is taking 101 as a gen-ed.

Easy class, but lectures are extremely boring. Exams are all MC. You get to watch 2 in-class movies Easy A, gpa booster for sure.

Prof. Bowdle is very relaxed and easy to listen to for the most part. He offers really interesting examples and is always available outside of class for discussion. I never did any of the reading and still got a B in the class, he gives a great review before every exam! He geniuinely cares that students LEARN in his class!

Bowdle is a really cool teacher. He really cares about his students learning the material. If you just read you will do fine in the class. His lectures are just a deeper understand of the readings. He let us take a retake exam after the final to switch with a previous exam. Great professor take him!!!

Great professor. Quite easy, no tests or quizzes, not even a final. The grade was mostly based on weekly journals and assignments, with 2 big projects thrown in there. The class was mostly discussion but I got a lot out of it, I recommend him as a prof.

Really cares about what he teaches and that all students get as much out of the class as they can. His exams are all multiple choice and pretty easy give the study cheats he hands out. He even lets you retake one of the first 2 (of 3) exams. He said if we got a 0% on the first exam, but got 90's on everything else in the class, you still get a B.

prof. bowdle is an amazing prof.! he really cares about what he teaches and it shows because his class is always interesting. the tests are fairly easy, and they are all multiple choice, he gives good reviews as well. as long as you read you will do fine! i love brian bowdle & take his class!!!

Bowdle is really a great prof. As long as you do the reading the tests are easy. You can tell he really cares about the subjects and he always keeps it interesting. Most the psy teachers are really hard but Bowdle is not bad... take him!

I really enjoyed him, the class was very easy as long as you do the reading and "homeworks." He genuinly enjoys what he teaches and it shows!

He makes the class entertaining but you have to do lots of reading to do well.

I would definitely take this professor again! This course, along with him teaching it, was by far the best educational class that I've taken here at GVSU. I definitely recommend him.

Great great professor! Not a lot of feedback on how you are doing until the very end... a presentation and a paper, and a few movies too. All of the content is designed to challenge you to think in new ways.. highly recommend!

Brain is an AMAZING teacher He knows his stuff and relates it to real life expirences! What he goes over in class is what is on the exam. I had him for psy101 and I took AP psy my senior year and so I knew some stuff going in. He explains things extremly well...I would take him again in a heartbeat!

prof bowdle is a pretty good professor. the only thing bad i really have to say is that covered in class wasn't really covered on exams, which made them difficult. Class is pretty easy and some interesting topics are brought up. there are assigned homework but they are pretty easy & assigned once weed. be sure to read the book also.

Great Professor! He uses a lot of interesting and fun studies in class. Grade is based on a group presentation, homework assignments, and quizes. No midterm or final.

He was extremely lenient when it comes to homework assignments, and he keeps your attention during class which is always a nice surprise.

Good professor. He keeps class interesting, and really cares about what he does. Exams are hard because a lot of the test is not covered in class, so you have to do all of the reading to do well on the exams.

Best teacher that i've had at GVSU ! I retook psychology and i'm so happy that I had him for a teacher. He loves what he teaches, and really makes you interested!Light reading, and study guides for exams are very fair.

Great professor, the class can be annoying and redundant, but that's okay. No papers, no tests, just a lot of reading! You gain a lot of insight from his class, highly recommended.

Very interesting class, fun professor. Bowdle tried to get the class to participate to discussion and tried to help the class out with assignments. I would very much recommend him.

Professor Bowdle is my favorite professor at GVSU. He's funny, laid back, relatively easy and nice. That said, you still learn a lot during the semester because you aren't pressured to memorize. His assignments make sense and the books you read are difficult but satisfying. This is THE capstone section to take.

I would not recommend him for capstone. The amount of reading assigned is the most ridiculous thing I've ever encountered here at GVSU. It has added so much stress to my semester. Nice guy, but 8 complicated books to read, front to back, over the course of the semester is unbearable

Best professor possible for psych capstone. There is a huge amount of reading, but it is all interesting and worth the work. He is very generous with grades. He has a great personality and passion for what he is teaching. One of the most positive experiences I have ever had in a GVSU class.

great class and great professor. i had him for my 830am lecture and i looked forward to every class. there are 11 books you need to read for the semester but he helps you pace yourself. there is no long paper to write at the end and there are no exams. class is basically all discussion back and forth. it is very enlightening and fun. great guy.

Interesting, funny guy. Doesn't expect too much work from students, he asks for just the right amount. Keep on top of the reading and attend the days he plays movies. REMEMBER TO POST ON THE BLOG. A huge grade comes from the blog posts, so don't forget. Not too hard of a grader on the papers.

Overall, very enticing class. He keeps the discussions interesting and thought-provoking. However, there is A LOT of reading to keep up with. Don't let yourself fall behind or else you'll find yourself drowning.

Professor Bowdle is amazing! I have taken both PSY 311 and PSY 492. There are no exams just a lot of reading but its worth it. I would definitely take the class with him again.

Brain is a awesome professor. You have to read a TON, and write quite a bit, but its all relevant stuff. He treats you with respect and like an adult which is always a plus. I took Brain for Summer 2015 capstone and would highly recommend him. Just seriously be prepared to read (8 books). You also watch 6 movies for the summer so bring food!

Such an interesting man! This class is all discussion based, with a movie for each topic we discuss. The books were interesting, just hard to keep up with when I had so many other classes. One group presentation, quite a bit of reading, weekly homeworks and discussion board posts, and one big paper. Such a great class, definitely recommend it!

Dr. Bowdle is the most amazing professor I've ever had. He's fun, hilarious, and easy to talk to and he knows A LOT of information. I would recommend any of his classes to anyone! You don't need textbooks, just some novels.

What a fun professor!! A lot of reading but no exams or final papers!

If you are taking Capstone you MUST have Bowdle. Here is his deal for you: No papers, no tests, no exams/finals but you need to read, A LOT. The books are very very interesting, but expect to read a book about every 10 days. Then you do a journal entry, and there are a few short homeworks. You have to SIGN UP EARLY for his class. Take him!!

Great class overall for capstone. You don't have a final paper but do have to read 10-11 books during the semester so do not get behind. You can skip 2 class periods but lose participation points if you miss more than that. There are 6 hw assignments and 9 journal entries. the class only has 100 pts so every point counts! do the work, easy A.

You have to read some thicker books but they are actually very interesting and not like text books, but he does give book quizzes and you HAVE to read the book to get a good grade on those. Before every new section you spend a week watching a movie and it is such a nice break. There aren't that many points in the class so it's easy to do well.

By far the best professor I've ever had at GV. This is a discussion based course and you will actually learn about important topics and issues. His character is caring, hilarious and the most critical thinker I've ever met. Lots of reading but there's only a 20 question quiz after each book. I didn't read any books and got a 70-80% on each quiz. A+

Be prepare to read! 6 books in a 6 weeks course. Crazyyyy!But you will love him and the class. Excellent professor and great person! Amazing discussions and quiz every week, no final test, one group project, and one position paper.

TAKE THIS CLASS, WITH THIS MAN. His lectures are hilarious and they will make you question everything you thought you knew and believed at the same time. He really teaches you how to think critically about topics, and he's the nicest guy, super approachable and willing to help out if you ask for it. Can't say enough good things

Professor Bowdle is awesome. I could not recommend him enough. I took him for PSY311 (Controversial Issues) you will have a lot of reading and you only get two excused absences but he made the class so fun. Talking about controversial topics is usually tough but he does a great job being objective and making it interesting. 10/10!

Such an awesome prof with so much knowledge and insight! Lots of reading for his capstone but it truly is useful and interesting! 10/10 recommend!!!!!!

He is my new favorite professor. Is so intelligent and great at what he does. The books are really annoying to read sometimes but they are very intriguing. He requires a ton from you and its hard but it is completely do able

I was very nervous about taking this class with Bowdle when I found out we had 6 books to read but all of them ended but being very interesting and decently easy reads. As long as you find something interesting in the book to talk about in class and in your discussion board posts you'll be okay. Overall an amazing professor and keeps the class fun!

There is so much I could say about how awesome Professor Bowdle is! I've taken him for both psy 311 and capstone and I have enjoyed each class immensely!! Take his class, it's amazing, he really does care about what he teaches. Just make sure to keep up on readings and participate! His classes are the best when everyone is involved.

I cannot stress this enough. If you go to GV and don't take Prof Bowdle you are missing out. He is the most caring and thoughtful prof I have ever had. He is real and raw and upfront. He has put so much thought into his capstone class and it shows. No long papers due?? yes please! Honestly the greatest, I'm begging you to take his classes.

Professor Bowdle is one of the most caring and entertaining profs i've ever had. There is a lot of reading, but it's not as bad as it seems since you don't write any long papers on them. He's very passionate about what he teaches and trying to expand everyone's thinking. I highly recommend taking him as a prof!

Such a fun and interesting professor. He gives the easiest homework assignments which are actually very fun to do. I had no trouble with this class and he was always so fun to listen to during class. Very cool and laid back guy. He does not accept ANY late assignments though which is reasonable considering how easy they are, most took like 15 min.

Professor Bowdle is easily the best professor I have had yet. He is the most caring and compassionate guy. His class wasn't too hard and was actually the most interesting class I have taken yet. He also offers extra credit a lot. There is a lot of reading, but as I said it is actually very interesting and the homework assigned is interesting too

You can tell that he really cares about his students and he's flexible. He changed one of our assignments because he knew we didn't want to write a big paper right before finals week. He's a very fun prof as well and made online fun. There is a lot of reading and writing, but 311 is an SWS course so you should know going into it. Bowdle is awesome

Take Dr. Bowdle if you can! He switched deadlines when he knew that his students needed more time. There is a lot of writing because it is a SWS class but he gives you plenty of time for each assignment. Extra credit was offered. This was the most interesting class that I've ever taken.

This professor was great. I cannot stress enough how much he cares about each of his students and wants them to succeed. He changed deadlines and altered assignments to fit the work load and needs of his students this past semester, as being online was new to everyone. I felt as though I learned a lot, but it was not hard to want to succeed.

You read 5 books and write 15 posts on a discussion board for each of them (if you post more you get (ec). You have a research paper and homework assignments, but there are no exams or quizzes! Class isn't mandatory, but I would go and turn cameras on (he loves that). Cancels class for paper, you do a draft, then 3 peer reviews and final draft.

Great prof for capstone. Lots of books in this class and his PSY 311 so don't take them together. You read a book, write 600-word journal entry and 2 300 word responses. You have one panel discussion about the book you're assigned to and have homework assignments every other week. Also, every other week you watch a movie and post in the DB. Lovehim

Brian Bowdle was one of the best professors I have had at Grand Valley! He genuinely cares about the well-being of his students and he makes class very fun and interesting! The best choice for a professor.

Brian Bowdle is perfect for this course. He is great at guiding in-class conversations and getting you to think outside the box. You do have 6 discussion board posts as well as an assignment due every week, which take time. Also, you read lots of chapter books and have a 6 page paper due at the end, so be ready to work but it's easy to get an A.

One of the best professors I have had in my 3 years at GVSU. He deeply cares for his students and wants you to succeed. Although you read a lot of books they are very interesting and the discussions on them widen your perspective on the world and make you question things. Participation in class is a must. 10/10 recommend him, he's amazing.

You must attend the online lectures and be prepared to comment, but he makes them interesting. Every chapter has homework and a journal entry, but most of the homework was interesting and the grading criteria for the journals was clear. Mid term and final exams were short essays but he was very reasonable in his grading. Take him if you can!

Dr. Bowdle is an amazing professor!

Loved this class with Professor Bowdle! I 100% recommend

A good prof that I would surely take again! Quite a bit of work in this class with readings and a massive essay, but doable for sure. Class is much more enjoyable if you participate! Blackboard is organized + everything is well outlined. When discussing issues, he does not choose a side and does not judge. Brian is experienced and enjoys teaching!

Dr. Bowdle is a great capstone professor. I also had him for 311, and he was great then too! This class is difficult due to the heavy workload, but the content is super thought-provoking and cool so it's worth it! Dr. Bowdle is a great conversationalist and super funny. The lectures are discussion-based and interesting! Love him and his brain!

Brian is a great capstone prof. He is one of the smartest people I have ever met, plus he's very witty. You have to read 7 books in this class, but they are all pretty interesting and worth your time. The lectures/discussions are great and you don't have to take notes -- there are no quizzes or exams. This is a great way to finish up at GVSU!

This class was wild, but I loved Professor Bowdle. Work in class was minimal, we had a weekly homework assignment, a weekly discussion, a final paper, and class participation. Prof Bowdle really presented diverse ideas, and he forced us to think bigger. 10/10 class AND professor.

Lot of books with online discussion boards & in class discussions. No need to take notes in class, there are no quizzes or tests. There is a substantial paper due, but it is worked on throughout the semester. Show up to class as it is a large portion of your grade. In person discussions are lively and always interesting. Taking him for capstone too

Professor Bowdle is a wonderful professor. For those searching for a capstone course, I believe this is likely your easiest option. That being said, you will be reading a lot. There was 8 books total and this class will be hard to get an A in unless you genuinely read them. For the most part, though, these books are relatively interesting.

Brian knows what he doing and has great experiences. His classes are fun and you learn a lot. Just do the assignments and show up to class.

Absolutely amazing professor and class! Attendance is not required, but you are graded on it. Lots of discussion boards and one large paper but ultimately an easy class as long as you make an effort. He does offer extra credit throughout the semester! I definitely recommend taking his section of 311!

Overall I thought that professor Bowdle was a good prof. Psy 311 was heavy on reading so get ready to spend at least a couple hours a week on reading. Otherwise I really enjoyed the discussion boards and in-class discussions. Attendance is graded and participation counts. The prof builds a nice atmosphere for dicussions to happen productively.

I thought Professor Bowdle's class was very well organized, and he is good at leading discussions. He is also incredibly understanding of students' personal concerns and is willing to work with them when personal issues arise. However, the class is extremely reading-intensive, and I struggled to keep up with the pace of the reading requirements.

Professor Bowdle keeps the class engaging with diverse ideas and lively discussions. While there's a decent workload, it's manageable - just stay on top of readings, discussions, and the final paper. For study prep, unstuckstudy proved super helpful alongside the class materials.

Prof Bowdle is a very understanding and kind professor. He is very flexible and willing to work with students on personal matters. The class is very discussion heavy and relies a lot on readings. Would recommend him over other profs for PSY 311. There are no exams or quizzes, just one group project and an essay. Essay topics are interesting.

brian is truly a gem. i highly recommend taking psychology capstone course with him! although he assigns about 8 books and several films to watch, he is super understanding and truly a genius. Since his section is so heavy on reading, there is no exams, quizzes or huge research papers. all of the books were actually interesting too!