4.7
Quality2.1
Difficulty75%
Would Retake92
Reviews75%
Would Retake
92
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
80
4
7
3
2
2
1
1
2
What Students Say
“The best teacher ever”
RELS319 - 5.0 rating“Spiro is an expert on Jewish History”
HIS344 - 3.0 ratingClass Info
Attendance Mandatory
67%
Textbook Required
86%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
A+
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.26 avg changeRatings by Course
RST
5.0
(1)REG319
5.0
(1)RELS312
5.0
(1)RELIGION
5.0
(2)RELS
5.0
(3)Difficulty by Course
HIST318
4.0
ALOTOFTHEM
3.0
HIST325
3.0
RELS319
3.0
JEWISHHIS
3.0
Reviews (92)
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No Comments
Wonderful man!
I took several classes with Professor Spiro and enjoyed every one of them. I stayed an extra semester just to take one of his classes.
He is such a great teacher. His classes aren't that hard, and he is very interesting
Very intelligent man; class very difficult. Try to avoid a 7-9:40 with him. He's a Rabbi!!! How cool is that?
great lecturer, his death class is kinda cool.
Love the man.
Dr. Spiro is the smartest person alive. I had no reason to take this class except that I heard he was so awesome that I HAD to take it. So glad I did. One of the best college experiences I've had. TAKE THIS CLASS!
Very easy class, very good teacher, very knowledgeable, very interesting class and a must-take!!
Awesome guy! Really easy and I only had to skim the books. Just pay attention in his class and you'll do great on the tests!
I LOVE THIS PROFESSOR! He offered a great extra credit opportunity and really made his lectures interesting! I would recommend taking him!!!!!
Spiro is an excellent professor with a great sense of humor. All of his exams correspond with his outlines and notes from class. He presents the information with enthusiasm, and is available to talk to you about any concerns you may have. Take one of his classes if you can!
Great teacher. Really tries hard to make his class interesting. Follows his outlines and the tests are pretty straightforward, just try to go to every class, read the books and stay for the movie. And he provides great extra credit, if you dont mind doing the extra work.
Amazing teacher, funny guy, very opinionated.
interesting and cool teacher, helpful and pretty chill
Death: Myth & Reality is a really interesting class. Dr. Spiro is highly engaging with his lectures. His tests are very straight-forward. Make sure you do the reading a STAY FOR THE VIDEOS.
I've taken his 334, his death class and his jewish history class. This man is fantastic. I'm in a 7-940 Death class and it's simply fabulous.
I love this man! He is interesting, funny, and quite helpful! I would take the class over again just to have him another time!
Great Professor, one of the best I've had at VCU. I recommend staying for the video, I skipped out on a few and made the tests more than a little harder. Sometimes his lectures can be a little boring but overall he keeps it interesting. I defenitly recommend taking him.
So about how awesome Dr. Spiro is. He has a great personality and a great sense of humor. It is slightly frustrating that he often gets off-topic and goes on random tangents but if you follow his outlines you'll do fine!
Facinating class, great professor.
Three words: BEST CLASS EVER!!!
what a guy...just outta this world, to good for vcu, no doubt we are lucky to have him!!!!
He ****ing rocks! Take the religion in contempotary america class!...If it wasnt for that class,i wouldnt get up in the mornings.....
Dr. Spiro is the best professor at VCU hands down.
This guy is great. He always has the most interesting things to say. He is very wise and has interesting points of view.
I took his 9-950am religion class and if you show up and take notes, you will ace the tests. There were only 4 grades and an Extra-Credit assignment. His syllabus is long but pretty much covers everything that'll be on the test, he teaches from the syllabus! Great teacher.
He is a very intersting and insightful person. Always trying to make jokes during class, and keeps the lecture interesting. Just make sure for his 250 class that you STAY FOR THE VIDEOS, it is very important, and some of them are suprisingly interesting.
Awesome teacher and very inspiring! I'd love to take another one of his classes.
Awesome teacher. Easy, easy, easy class. Three exams, no final. Entirely interesting.
If you like to study from text books, don't take this course. I have heard only good things about him, but personally found his lectures a bit boring. However, he is very well educated and enthusiastic. His exams are not incredibly difficult. Note outlines are not extremely detailed though. Attending class is a must for a good grade. Curves tests.
Dr. Spiro was one of my most favorite teachers here. He was the only teacher that I could actually listen to for 2 hour and 40 minutes. All you need to do is take mild notes and watch the videos and your gauranteed an A, and his raw humor about death is very entertaining. And don't forget to read the books, they're all very interesting!
AMAZING teacher. Honestly, if there is one person who dielikes him or thinks he's unreasonable, they're out of their mind. He's such a good teacher and has a lot to talk about. He's very smart and has a lot of personal experience to offer. His class is not overwhelming at all and even though you take a lot of notes, he presents the info well.
great teacher. funny and smart. tests are straight forward. just pay attention in class and you wont have to cram for the tests. easy to do well.
One of the most professional professors I have had at VCU. He is interesting, helpful, and extremely intelligent and active in his field. There is no actual textbook, just 4 novels to read as part of the test. His tests are directly from the lectures; I was always able to reread my notes and get an A or B.
Interesting subject matter. As long as you come to the lectures and stay for the movie the second half of class, you'll do fine.
THIS IS SUCH A GREAT, INFORMATIONAL CLASS! The professor is extremely helpful and everything learned is so interesting. Everyone should take it. The professor is nice, funny, and laid back. No BS work and extra credit is an option. 3 tests, 4 novels to read. I'd highly recommend it. Also, stay for the second half = movies you must watch!
Take him!!! One of the best professors ever, he's also very funny,open-minded and very smart. You don't have a textbook but have to read certain books for tests. His tests are very clear and come straight from the lectures. An easy A class. You won't regret taking him !
Phenomenal Lecturer. Death was one of the highlights of my college career, despite the fact I cried practically every class. Interesting, moving, and thought provoking. Spiro is certainly one of VCU's best.
He's an awesome religion teacher
absolutely incredible. take his classes.
The most interesting course I've ever taken, and that's mostly due to the professor. He's funny (in a goofy way), intelligent, light-hearted, and diverse. His tests are simple, as long as you attend the classes and keep up with the reading. Liked him and this course so much, that I am taking another course he teaches next semester.
awesomely corny sense of humor. reading for the tests is self-paced and the main book is booooring. so are the movies, they put me to sleep every time, but you only have to watch one per test. lectures are interesting though. the tests seem hard but he grades on a curve and my scores were always about 20 points higher than i expected!
Wonderful teacher and very interesting class.
Dr. Spiro is truly an asset to VCU. His death class takes a sensitive issue that we all want to avoid and actually makes it interesting, fun, and not nearly as frightening. He is knowledgeable, extremely helpful, and not too hard of a teacher, just use his study guide for tests and do the extra credit. I would recommend RELS 250 to anyone at VCU.
Love the teacher, he is funny and pretty interesting. 3 tests and some additional readings. Some of the movies are great and others are quite boring. Good class for an elective.
GREAT TEACHER very interested in and passionate about what he teaches. He made learning about death FUN and thats hard to do! Im taking alot away from this class and will be better able to cope with the unknown. Also, if you have the time take his History of the Jewish People courses they are just as interesting and you will learn alot.
I loved this class. Everything we learned was really interesting and you watch a new movie each class. Material is easy to learn. Read all the required material, it will defiantly be on the test. Test are pretty easy as long as you study. Always go to class, the notes he gives are extremely useful and will be on the exam. Great professor.
Honestly one of my favorite teachers at VCU. I'm a science major and took one of his classes for an elective & just had to take another. He knows so much about religion & is a really nice man. I cried in some classes but he gave many interesting ways to look at death and the after-life so it was worth it. Definitely recommend him and his classes.
This is my second class w/ Spiro and he is an amazing teacher. He has such a great sense of humor and it makes the class fun and interesting. He is so knowledgeable about religion and law and it's comforting to have a teacher that REALLY knows their stuff.I would take any class that Spiro offers.Don't leave VCU without taking one of his classes!
The best teacher ever. Makes Jewish history come alive.
I took his course on religion in America. Never realized how critical the 1st amendment is for the vitality of religion in our country. He made this course exciting. A truly gifted teacher, keeps the class always moving with new ideas--great sense of humor!
The semester is over and there's only one reason I'm sad--the course with Dr. Spiro has ended. He is entertaining, generous, a brilliant teacher and I've learned more about death than I ever thought was possible. Great model!
Greatest professor I've ever had! Just finished his course on death and you wouldn't believe how lively it is. He's a genius at making such a morbid subject unthreatening and a pleasure. I plan to take ALL his courses!
I know later in life I will think about some of the things he said during his lectures. I would recommend everyone take his course on death. To be able to make a topic such as death interesting, takes talent. I recommend not missing a single class; this course is 100% lecture, no book. Even though I only got a "B" I give him an "A."
His love and passion for the subject is contagious! I appreciate the respect and care he has for all his students. He is one of a kind.
Taking his summer course. He lectures but also listens carefully. Fabulous teacher and very nice person
Spiro is sooo nice and you can really tell he loves what he teaches. Just listen to what he says, jot down a few notes, read most of the book and you should do just fine.
His lectures are fascinating--great command of the subject and presented in a very clear and exciting way. It's a summer course, but I want to take ALL his courses!
His lectures are clear and fascinating. Wonderful speaker and holds my attention even when I'm tired. I want to take ALL his courses!
He was a lot of fun.
Finishing 2nd semester of Jewish history. Fantastic teacher, greater lecturer, makes history fun to learn. Lots of empathy for his students, extremely well organized.
He was a great professor. I learned so much about different religions and it was obvious how knowledgeable he was. I loved his teaching style! He was like an adorable grandpa teaching you about religion. :) Wish I could take more classes by him.
LOVE him. i want to take more of his classes.. he makes class interesting. probably one of the best classes i've ever taken. definitely recommended.
I took this class because I was interested and people lovee him on here. I was REALLY disappointed. His lectures are all over the place, he goes off on irrelevant tangents or talks about the same thing for 45 minutes straight. If you want to do okay, you MUST read both books (they're boring) because lectures can be spotty. He curves. Don't take it.
Great teacher! Very interesting class and very interesting person. He's funny and very smart. One of the best classes and professors I've ever taken.
I can not believe that a student had the audacity to rate Dr. Spiro as poor. This man is a true scholar, a pillar in the community, and had traveled all over the world. If you want someone to spoon feed you and if you lack the ability to think, don't take him, but if you're truly interested in gaining knowledge, Dr. Spiro is the BEST.
Great teacher! Very funny and more importantly, very intelligent. One of the most interesting teachers and classes I have ever had! I would love to take another class with him. I recommend Death class to anyone who goes to VCU!
Classes are easy- just pay attention, take notes, & attend class. Tests are easy as long as you study. If you don't you won't pass: questions are phrased just different enough to actually make you think about it. Very cool guy. Only people who'll fail are the ones expecting everything to be "spoon fed" as another rater said. This isn't high school.
One of my favorite religious studies professors. He is knows his stuff. I love his course packets. If you follow along in the lecture outlines with your notes and do the readings, his tests are no problem. Just study. Even when he talks about things that aren't on the test its really interesting. TAKE HIS CLASSES.
I have taken a couple of classes with Spiro. He is without a doubt one of the most enlightened men I've had the pleasure of learning from. If you get an opportunity to take a class of his, take it! For real.
Rarely ever attended class but was never penalized. Love Spiro. His lectures always make me giggle... makes great contemporary comparisons. Always somehow manages to throw the word "sexy" into lecture... mildly obsessed! Take a class!
A brilliant professor and a great man. His class on death was one of the most interesting classes I have ever taken in my life. I have never had a professor who was so genuinely nice. He is a man who loves what he is teaching and his students. He has a lot of real life experience with the subject-one of his P.H.D's is in grief counseling.
Dr. Spiro is an amazing professor and person. Really entertaining classes, loves the material he teaches about. None of his classes are extremely difficult if you pay attention, but you will probably learn a lot (I did!).
Very interesting class. Lecture first half of class every time, second half is always a movie. No need to study hard if you pay attention in class. Readings are mandatory, but interesting and short. Attendance is taken. All notes and summaries are in the course packet you buy prior to the start of class.
Great professor! Has the best stories, I would listen to him all day. Can explain everything in depth. He follows the outline & readings in the (inexpensive) book and makes great jokes. Easy in the sense it's interesting so studying isn't a pain, but you have to know your stuff. I'd take this class again!
Hands down one of the finest professors at VCU. I've taken two classes with him. If you want to become a scholar in Judaism and Jewish History, register for his courses. He's an absolute gem of a guy.
He has wonderful reviews and is informative, nice, funny, lenient, and sincere--but his class was a disappointment. He's forgetful, goes off on tangents, constantly misreads material, fails to understand questions, and tells the same ten stories every class period. Doesn't write on board, just speaks from the podium the entire time. No slides.
Although I knew nothing about the Hebrew Prophets, Dr. Spiro made their identity and teachings very clear. He is a wonderful teacher and really knows his subject. One of the best courses I've taken.
The most engaging and informative professor I have ever had!
Dr. Spiro is an expert on Jewish History. And his lectures appear to be from memory, with minor notes. Take notes. Read the book. Read the source material. His study guide spells out what you need to study to pass. GET IT. Test are 50 question multiple choice. If you study, you pass. Simple tests. No tricks. No papers. Attendance taken.
His lectures are really important to pay attention to and when he repeats material he is trying to place importance on what he is saying (more likely to be asked about it in the test). He is really funny and will answer questions. He is very responsive by email. You will not pass if you don't read the assigned reading. 4 tests are the only grades.
Go to class and listen to his lectures. His coursepack is easy to follow with the lectures. He's very informational and I've learned a lot in his class. He takes attendance and only gives out 4 exams, no papers. He's a nice and funny guy too!
This class was an easy A and there wasn't much work to do. We did however read an entire textbook throughout the semester. He's quite funny and very nice to talk to.
Dr. Spiro is passionate about what he teaches. Easy class. Easy A. No tests. Every class you turn in a question that you have from the text book. If you turn in a question every class, then you get an A. His grading rubric is solely based off of the number of questions you turn in for the semester. Its that simple. The textbook is super cheap also!
He is so funny and really clear in his lecture. I suggest going to the lecture and pay attention. He is very clear about his expectations for the test. Definitely read the book. I took him for two semesters and he is really wonderful. His lectures are very interesting. He is nearly deaf so if you have a question speak loudly. He is very helpful.
Great class. He's an incredible professor to listen to/very knowledgeable. Class is 4 tests and that's basically it. He also takes attendance most classes. I took the second semester (more recent history), you don't have to take the first one to be in this class and viceversa. He has helpful course packs that guide your studying Highly recommend.
Spiro is the sweetest old man! He's sooo funny, smart and has so many stories about his life experiences that are really interesting, this man has done everything I swear. He's a great professor and tests are easy as long as you review the coursepack and the textbooks. Highly recommend.
Jack is the sweetest man!! I love him so much, he tells great stories and throws jokes into lecture when it gets dry. He's super understanding and clear about what you need to do, and his class is an easy A. He's like your grandpa but with actually good stories lol
Professor Spiro is a kind man but I would advise against taking his class. I enjoyed the class, but I had to withdraw because he's old. This wouldn't be a problem if it weren't for how he constantly forgot what he was saying and would often forget that he said he wouldn't test us on a certain thing. By withdrawal, he hadn't posted any grades.
Very well informed teacher
Class Info
Attendance Mandatory
67%
Textbook Required
86%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
A+
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.26 avg changeRatings by Course
RST
5.0
(1)REG319
5.0
(1)RELS312
5.0
(1)RELIGION
5.0
(2)RELS
5.0
(3)Difficulty by Course
HIST318
4.0
ALOTOFTHEM
3.0
HIST325
3.0
RELS319
3.0
JEWISHHIS
3.0