Amazing teacher. The best class I've ever taken at UW. Prof. Wellman provokes the best discussion, even in a lecture of 200. He's really a great prof, his tests are fair, and you have the ability to prepare yourself for them.

Wellman is an awesome professor. Very intelligent, but still easy to understand.

This is easily the best class I've taken at UW. Wellman's charismatic and interesting. He's very willing to help students out, he wants to make sure that everyone learns to the best of their ability. He gives a ton of information, but he makes everything interesting and applicable to the real world.

Wellman was the best Professor I've had at UW. Always willing to meet with students, made fair tests, had awesome discussion (even in a lecture format with 200 students). I wish all my profs were as good as him.

Great prof. Very thought provoking. Challenges you think and make solid statements/arguements in class. Knows a ton and is very willing to get to know students despite the large lecture format. Young prof and is pretty cool.

Kept class debates going while making sure that one side did not dominate. From rumor the RELIG 205 class should be amazing too! He makes class interesting and you learn a lot. There are papers and work to do but its awesome compared to most Prof's at the U

Very interesting/funny man. First half of the class was excellent, although I lost interest in the second half. However, he changes his topics from quarter to quarter I hear. Highly recommended -- goes a little hard on Christianity -- which i absolutely loved -- may not be to everyones liking however

I am a Comp. Relig. major so I have had my fair share of classes with Wellman. His dynamic & engaging teaching style is really to the benefit of his students. He keeps lectures interesting and engaging and has a ton of thought provoking questions. However his assignments are the same in all of his classes. Also his 205 class wasn't very well organi

He is very charismatic, and he goes off on funny tangents sometimes. He is very open for discussion! And open to being questioned, but be aware that he will demand that you defend your position.

Wellman is a good-humored professor with an obvious appreciation of the religions he teaches about (in my case, the Abrahamic). Attending lecture isn't a must--notes are posted online--but it's fun to go (bring your knitting though) and just listen to him get excited about religions. If you do the readings and write decently well, you'll do fine :D

In my ten years at the UW Dr. Wellman is the BEST professor I've worked with. He has an unmatched talent for engaging a room full of 200 people in meaningful conversation. His lectures are always a blast--honest, funny and provocative. He takes a serious interest in his students success outside of class. He's a great mentor & friend.

Professor Wellman was my first professor at UW and was absolutely phenomenal. His style of teaching was remarkable- turning a lecture of 150 students into an intimate conversation. Passionate both about his subject matter and his students, Professor Wellman even invited students to coffee after class on Wednesday to keep discussion going.

I think Wellman tries really hard to be cool, and found myself bored. When people wasted my time by raising their hands in a 200+ person lecture I was annoyed when he answered and had a discussion. Mostly the people annoyed me rather than the teacher.

I like Wellman, I think he is engaging, funny, and spirited. But if I didn't agree with him I think I probably would find that annoying. I suspect his latest mission in life is baiting baby fundies, which is beneath him. Still, it's a fun class which covers important issues and truths that EVERYONE should learn about.

Incredible, introspective professor... very keenly aware of his own biases and worked diligently to assist in the combat of those belonging to his students. Fantastic perspectives on extremely important issues... very funny and entertaining. One of the best instructors I've ever had.

Unlike his 201 class the reading here is mandatory because everything is based around it. Wellman is a professor that enjoys getting to know his students. He's the best I've had at UW.

knows his stuff, good lecturer. fairly humorous. class is pretty easy-3 vocab tests, 5 pass/fail 2 pg essays. bam. lecture seems a little long, but he is hot so it is fine. i feel like i have a good foundation in xtianity, judaism, and islam.

Amazing, all around

This is one of the best courses I?ve taken! Wellman is an awesome lecturer who knows how to engage a classroom and keep students interested in the lecture. I love how he incorporates class discussion with his lectures. He brings up thought provoking questions, so there is continually an interactive dialogue.

Great group discussions- sometimes it was frustrating to try to figure out what was expected for assignments though. Very challenging class, but worth it in the end. He seemed genuinely interested in getting to know his students and took the class out to lunch once a week.

I've taken two classes with Prof. Wellman and they have both been favorites. He is controversial and wild, but above all knowledgeable and willing to be questioned. Nearly every lecture is a class-wide debate about religion. He knows how to make people think and how to get excited about learning about different religions. I would suggest him!!

Very knowledgeable. Can be loud and wacky sometimes but it's all a part of his strange, yet entertaining sense of humor. Class is a decent amount of work, yet he is very patient and willing to answer all questions.

Prof. Wellman taught 2 of my most memorable classes at UW - SIS202 & SIS498. He is intentionally provocative and challenging in his teaching style, which may irk some students, but which others will find incredibly rewarding. Take a class from Prof. Wellman if you want to have your assumptions challenged and your worldview transformed.

I have taken 5 classes with Professor Wellman. Professor Wellman's classes are fantastically easy to get A's in. That being said, they are also very interesting and I learn a ton every time. He is a masterful actor, constantly playing the devil's advocate to challenge students to think before they speak. He is a kind, caring, good man.

Wellman invited his classes to his home twice for a night of food and discussion. I was almost always engaged and intrigued by the class topics and his insight.

Professor Wellman is authoritative, opinionated, and invested in his students. He challenges you to engage in class discussions (which is really the best way to learn on the liberal arts side of things). His critical perspective is what makes him such an effective instructor on American religions, and he'll push you to reexamine your own beliefs.

Wellman is a professor who challenges his students and getting high grades in his courses is not easy, however, the challenge is certainly worth it. Wellman often asks tough and thought provoking questions. I really grew as a student in his courses and feel much more prepared for a career in international law.

Well informed professor of Western religions, who never missed an opportunity to push his student's boundaries and question the fundamental tenets of these traditions. His academic intentions can sometimes be misread by less academically adventurous students. For those seeking to grow in their understanding of the world, Wellman is a perfect fit.

Of all my years at the university of Washington, prof Wellman was one of my favorite profs. He asked questions that went beyond the classroom and encouraged raw and honest answers from his students. The character limits for this site limits the awesome things I could say about him. If you put in the effort, you will be set up for success.

Professor Wellman was one of my favorite professors at the University of Washington. While we share very different world views, Professor Wellman always made me feel comfortable enough to share my opinions and analyses. His teaching style is unconventional in a good way. He encourages participation and keeps his students energized. Great Professor!

I enjoy taking classes from Prof. Wellman. He challenges you and your thinking. He introduces new concepts that make you think long after class is over and he is open to debate. They are not the easiest courses but if you do what is required and come to class prepared, you will do well. I highly recommend taking a class from this professor.

Professor Wellman is great! You could tell he was enthusiastic about his class and the subject he taught, but I never felt as though he was steering the class one way or the other in discussion. He is accessible and will do his best to challenge you with the material. He also makes an effort to really know you. I recommend taking a class from him.

Professor Wellman is one of the best at UW because of his interest in expanding and answering student's interests. I am not much of a talker in discussion, but he did a good job making sure everyone was comfortable while encouraging student engagement in discussion and to go beyond the classroom setting. If you want to learn, take classes from him!

Wellman is a cool guy to talk to during office hours, he is very helpful too if you visit him. He is understanding, but is not a pushover. The research that he does is really cool.

Fascinating Class. A great guy who cares about his students and really seems to value their insights. While my own beliefs were challenged he definitely created and open forum where ideas could be intelligently and respectfully discussed.

Great professor. Had such an interesting experience and fun time in Western Religions. Really goes out of his way to make sure his students are learning. In addition, his class discussions really expand your thinking on the topic.

Wellman is the best professor I have had at UW. He is brilliant and funny and the course content was interesting the whole way through. He will change the way you see the world! I would suggest owning the textbooks but reading ahead is not necessary to do well in this class. Fairly low workload for a writing credit as well.

Incredibly interesting class on Western Religion. Class time was mainly spent discussing issues instead of actual dry teaching of religion which was interesting. Wellman is opinionated but also welcomed others to express their opinions. As long as you did what the syllabus asked, it was pretty easy to get a 4.0.

He was hilarious in class, and even though the lectures were almost two hours long I really enjoyed them. He did a great job making the content much less boring than it could have been.

If what you have to say is interesting, you'll likely get a good grade. Lots of smaller assignments, so grade is more reflective of consistent work and not just one big final. In his lower level classes, his TAs do nearly all the grading.

I am taking his class now and it's amazing. He makes you think critically.

Awesome class. Very interesting subject matter taught by a very funny, knowledgeable professor. Discussion based class allows for student participation and debate. This class involved a ton of reading, and his expectations for writing/arguments are high. Speaking with him one-on-one was extremely helpful for writing. Definitely would take again!

Prof Wellman is a really interesting guy, you can tell he knows what he is talking about and he really appreciates when you can bring something new to the table. Also, he may seem intimidating but when you ask for help he is really nice and truly wants to help you!

An amazing class and a teacher who cares about his students and wants us to learn from him, but also wants to learn from us!

Prof. Wellman is very passionate about this subject, and it shows. In group talks, he was able to give opinions from a wide variety of backgrounds, and his comments were rarely biased. I loved the class, it was very friendly and a great environment to speak with the prof. and students.

Very passionate and wants to inspire critical thinking.

Awesome professor. Superbly knowledgeable about religion and highly passionate about what he teachers. You'll learn a ton about the subject matter from him and can gain excellent life and scholarly advice.

JUST THE BEST GUY EVERY. SUPER-NICE AND RELATABLE AND BRILLIANT RELIGION PROFESSOR. Cultural interactions lectures can be a bit rambling, but overall a great prof.

Professor Wellman's lectures are a pleasure, conveying complicated ideas and theories in accessible form, while provoking thoughtful reflection. He likes to challenge students to reevaluate their assumptions, but is also very receptive to their arguments. He gives very direct and useful advice. He is truly concerned in seeing his students succeed.

Wellman's lectures often begin with historical context and evolve into meaningful interaction with the class. The open-ended approach almost always generates new perspectives, especially when students are personal and open-minded with their dialogue. W creates an environment where the course material hits home and feels relevant to real life.

Amazing human being and very good teacher. Was helpful in class and always there to help out. Also a great guy just to talk about life with. A lot of (interesting) reading though.

For me, James Wellman is the ideal of what a modern professor should be. He is there to educate, support, challenge, encourage, and foster students to reach their own best potential. He is charismatic and engaging, and somehow manages to make a 100 person lecture class feel like an intimate, socratic experience. Greatest professor at UW, hands down

Really interesting scholar and fun person to talk to, but lectures in 202 were all over the place. Nonetheless, class is worth taking and he's definitely someone you want to talk to one-on-one or in small groups.

Professor Wellman is a knowledgeable and interesting professor. Class material were not too hard and the discussion board was also helpful. The professor is willing to listen to the students' thoughts and opinions and he always encouraged students to express their own ideas.

I've taken three courses from Dr. Wellman and he's among the very best professors I've ever had the chance to learn from. Dr. Wellman cares deeply about student success, challenges students to think critically, and is an engaging and talented speaker. Take his classes, chat with him during office hours, and he will invest tenfold in your education.

Excellent course, intriguing material and well taught by a dedicated professor.

Covers politics, religion, and culture from many different parts of the world. Professor Wellman is engaging, and is constantly encouraging student discussion during lectures, rather than just talking at us. He isn't afraid to stir up debate, and is excited to listen to students' differing points of view. Very intellectual, thought-provoking class!

Excellent professor! I took 501 with DR. Wellman and enjoyed a lot. Dr. Wellman manages the 3 hours weekly seminar in super fun and productive ways. He is very engaging in the discussions and cares a lot about his students' learning and their intellectual challenges, too. I found him very kind, knowledgeable and approachable. Highly recommend!!

If you show up to every lecture and quiz section, you'll pass. Vocab quizzes every week and he sends the terms in advance. If you attend every lecture and pay minimal attention, you'll have no problem with the quizzes. 3 short essays, 1 term paper, pop quizzes, online final for 10% of your grade and quiz section participation, plus extra credit

Wellman is a great, nice and very experienced Prof. He cares about his students. I took both JSIS 202 & JSIS 498 w/him Spring 16. His lectures are amazing, and we learned so much. I am so glad I took his classes. Also, he's the only Prof. who @ end of quarter, invites all his students to his house - big diner. What a GREAT Prof. I really recommend

Wellman is a cool professor and his RELIG380 class was much easier than I expected. His syllabus makes it seem like it'll be really hard to get a good grade in the class, but he is a nice grader so honestly, it's not too hard (plus he gives extra credit opportunities as well). His class will make you think sociologically about religion.

Prof Wellman is a cool professor. He asks good questions and had great course material. 1-2 page paper due every week or so, and the final was also a take home paper. He is really passionate about what he does and what he believes in, so just show the same amount of effort and hell notice.

Professor wellman was great! We read a lot of books but the work was not hard and made you think a lot about your life. The class was called A life worth living and it was a truly amazing class!

There is a good amount of reading and writing but I would 1000 percent take this class again. The reading was enjoyable and fun to read in my opinion, it was not something that I would dread. Truly a professor that I think everyone should get to know. I am not religious myself at all and the course is not focused around that!

Professor Wellman has been the only professor who seemed to actually care about his students. In his lectures he'd ask deep questions, and asked us to share with the people around us. If you are stuck in life, take this course. You will make it through this course by participating, and reading the materials. Would take this class again!

Very passionate about the subject, really did change my mind ab some things I thought about Jesus. class was relatively disorganized but it was the first time this class was done. Reasonable grading, interesting lectures, many but interesting readings