3.4
Quality3.9
Difficulty68%
Would Retake114
Reviews68%
Would Retake
114
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
37
4
31
3
20
2
8
1
18
What Students Say
“Your grade will not reflect the work you put in”
PHL202 - 1.0 rating“) specific pop quizzes are making it difficult to get a B+”
CIV101 - 1.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
92%
Textbook Required
43%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B+
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Improving
+0.31 avg changeRatings by Course
PHLSECT
5.0
(1)PHILOSOPHY
4.8
(4)ETHICS
4.7
(3)PHL330
4.5
(2)PHL320
4.3
(3)Difficulty by Course
MANY
5.0
PHIL
5.0
Y5YEY
5.0
PHL212
5.0
HONCIV
5.0
Reviews (114)
made me seriously depressed
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This man is a genius and I am in love with him.
An excellent teacher!
Funny guy, but difficult teacher.
Extremely witty, so I didn't mind being up at 8:30 a.m. The class was difficult - he graded like we were philosophy grad students. In the end, though, he was very understanding and it all worked out.
Not very sensitive to personal problems that need to be attended to, and grades as if you should be as "perfect" as he is. He is a pretty funny guy though
Avoid this professor at all costs. He will make your life hell. He expects everything to be prefect! I absolutely hate him. His only redeeming quality is that he's cute.
If you don't like Cuddeback than you don't like me...I will fight for you Matthew.
He has this super sexy atmosphere about him. You can't help but love him
passionate, interesting, good hand motions; toothsome
does a pretty good job at explaining philosophy. sometimes the subjects get a little dry, but, come on, its philosophy. likes to get into discussions and tries to lighten things up by making jokes
hes out to make you do bad
A great guy because of his sense of humor and regualrness. A tough grader but fair he genuinely wants to see you learn and improve.
This man is divine. He genuinely cares about his students, and will do anything to help you grasp the Arche and hold on for dear life. And can he pull of a sweater vest? I THINK SO!!
i love cuddeback.. he's one of the hardest graders ever but he's just so damn cute and funny
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only had him for lecture and thank god...heard he's a hard grader and is a sniper during quizzes, insanely confusing/boring because it's philosoph, dry humor and little jokes didn't help...should act more like esolen to be more interesting
Has a dry sense of humor that is just immensely amusing. Really knows what he's talking about. Subjects get a little dry, but it's philosophy. He can make it more interesting than most. And he is one of the only people who can pull of a bow-tie AND sweatervest. Such a cutie. Tough grader but great.
Really knows his material and throws in a good sense of humor when he's teaching. A tough and particular grader, however.
Sometimes gets carried away. A nice man, interesting lecture-style.
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really likes his bowties. lectures on philosophy, can sometimes be unclear about what he's saying but is redundant about other things. take really good notes, ask questions. tries to be funny, has a dry sense of humor. can be boring but it's philosophy what do you expect? girls want him...why?
Had him for seminar, extremely intelligent, highly amusing & dry sense of humor, very easygoing & friendly, tough grader though, often asks you to "read his mind" for answers (direct quote) Really cares about his students. His sense of humor will make philosophy bearable, really great guy all around
i want to marry this man and have his babies. he is incredible.
cuddeback is the hottest professor at PC. He is completely dreamy and he makes jokes that barely anyone gets or finds funny but all the girls laugh, because he is amazing. take any class you can with him, and bring a friend with you to mop up the drool. Yum.
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I loved Cuddles. I wish I took another class with him.
Fun guy, scares the life out of me but has a good sense of humor. Good in seminar, kind of useless in lecture. definitly good looking though!
this guy is a douchbag. he takes great pleasure in yelling at random kids in the class for doing absolutely nothing wrong. he takes a subject that i would normally enjoy and makes it completely boring.and im not sure what these girls are saying about him being hot, but hes a short skinny nerd with harry potter glasses and a serious combover proble
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id marry the man if he wasnt celibate. hes hysterical in class. but, he doesnt give A's EVER. doesnt matter though. youre missing out if you dont have him before you graduate.
the worst...thinks he's funny, but sounds more like bob saget hosting americas funniest home videos...thinks hes the smartest guy on earth, but doesnt realize no one understands his lectures. Ever seen Goodwill Hunting? He is the "how you like those apples" guy
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When no one would answer a question he would say "Okay, take out a paper, Pop Quiz." If someone knew what he was talking about or understood him at all we'd be able to answer. Giving a Pop Quiz didn't help us learn at all.
Had as a civ seminar professor. He is pretty interesting and a nice guy with funny lectures, but don't expect anything higher than a low B. Seems like no matter how hard I tried, I got a C+ or so. Overall, I would say avoid him if your looking to do well in civ.
Draconian Grader. He doesn't just teach the class, he tries to impart his idea of how to live your life on his students. If you hate being told that you are immoral and evil for believing in something other than his strict interpretation of Christianity.
He is funny and enjoyable. But he is an unreasonable grader. He asks you to write two sentences about an assigned reading for a quiz, but then gives you a 70 because he wants there to be more info written, while he never specifies what info he wants. On term papers, he takes off points for grammatical structures which were never incorrect
Wanted to marry him before he got engaged. Dry sense of humor. Very funny. Interesting class, but he's way too difficult when grading. Does not give A's ever. If grades aren't your entire life, then definitely take him. His class is worth it. If you are worried about the numbers on your paper, dont bother.
Dr. Cuddeback is my favorite out of the 4 professors on my team. He really makes the effort to get to know as many students as he can (which is hard in a class of 100!) and is very approachable. He also has a great sense of humor, like when he did an impression of Brad Pitt as Achilles, or when he randomly breaks into song!
Definetly a tough grader. He also likes to shoot down people's ideas in class. Also a bit odd. His lectures are not boring though, because he makes random attempts at humor. Gives good notes.
Thinks he is God's gift -- to academia, to philosophy, to humanity. He's not. Highly overrated and clearly got an inferiority complex going on. Life must be really hard when the world revolves around you though, so I have a lot of sympathy for him. Kind of like that Rolling Stones song. Not recommended.
I had Dr. Cuddeback for Medieval PHL. Not a bad guy, and he knows his stuff. However, his grading style would suit a Master's or Doctoral seminar better than a 200-level philosophy class. If you have some concern for your GPA and self-esteem, stay away. Otherwise, start believing in the redemptive qualities of suffering and go for it...
An incredible, incredible professor. Genuinely cares for his students. Genuinely cares for the material being taught. Excellent professor--highly recommended.
At first I thought he was really weird, but I grew to really like him. He seems quiet and serious but he's actually hilarious once you get used to him. He's a difficult grader though.
Dr. Cuddeback is one of the more interesting professors I have ever had. He is an extremely genuine and nice man with a great sense of humor. I love bumping into him on campus and talking to him. However on the other side he is the toughest paper grader I have ever had and his quizzes are all over the place. Great guy but incredibly difficult
Dr. Cuddeback is absolutely worth taking. While he is definitely the hardest paper grader I have had at PC, he is extremely helpful and approachable, especially during the writing process. He has a dry sense of humor which made 75 minute classes fly by and made 8:30 Monday morning class actually entertaining.
Cuddeback was an awful teacher, pop quizzes when you least expected and missing the class was not an option. Useless rambling about his wife and kids "crawling all over him." Get out if you still value your GPA. Wasn't helpful or cared.
Cuddeback is awful. shows up late everyday despite his own strict late policy, grades aren't clearly explained, tests are incomprehensible, he thinks highly of himself, but uses outmoded terms that are sometimes offensive. He actually expects people to write their names on the course evaluation with is supposed to be anonymous. DO NOT TAKE HIM.
Awful Professor! AVOID AT ALL COSTS! he is a very hard grader, unorganized, his lectures don't make sense, you will not learn anything and he is degrading to students as well as extremely self-righteous
I have no doubt that he is intelligent. I have no doubt that some of his non-civ classes are interesting. However, do not take him for Civ. He admittedly doesn't like teaching it and he does a terrible job. I learned far more in terms of philosophy from the other two professors than I did from him. Impossible grader, condescending,and vague. AVOID
Dr. Cuddeback is really a great professor if you have the interest in the subject that he is teaching. If you show any effort at all it really effects your grades. He is vague about grading essays and exams, but if you go to his office hours regularly you'll be fine. (Don't mention you're concerned about your grade, he doesn't care, SHOW INTEREST!)
Took him for general ethics b/c only option available. He was arrogant and condescending. Failed most assignments and pulled off a B somehow. Never received lower than a B+ in my 5 semesters at PC. My classmates were not that lucky. Avoid at all costs if you care about your GPA at all.
If you show an interest in his class and make an effort to care about the material, you will be fine. He is a really nice guy, though he can come off as a bit arrogant at times. He has very distinct values, and he lives by them. You need to try to understand him with different perspectives.Take a class with him. You WILL learn a lot.
Cuddeback talks in circles for entire lecture and tries to sum it up in one sentence at the end of every class. He loves referring to quotes from the books we are reading which are sometimes helpful, but they are easier to understand than him just speaking. Interesting guy, really nice and if you like philosophy he is professor to take.
Most unreasonable teacher ever. Was completely offensive and forced his own politically opinions on all without listening to others. Avoid at all costs- you will leave frustrated and will receive a failing grade with no reasoning.
Not bad if you know what you are getting into. He is extremely strict and a BRUTAL grader. However, if you do the readings and show interest, you can learn a lot from him. He also is pretty funny in a dry way which makes class go by quickly. If you aren't a good writer, AVOID.
Extremely intimidated by him in the beginning of the semester. He is very strict and a hard grader. Pay close attention to the readings and the exact words used in the text. If you put extra effort in this class you will be fine. Also try to meet with him before papers and tests are due. He helps you out grade wise in the end.
I was extremely intimidated by him in the beginning of the semester. He gets better though, I promise. Although he is strict and a ridiculously hard grader, its worth it in the end. I learned so much from him and actually appreciate his high standards looking back. Pay close attention the readings exact text, do not summarize and you're golden.
Now, I respect Matthew Cuddeback. He is absolutely the sweetest man and he generally cares for his students. HOWEVER, if you value your life, self-esteem and most importantly your GPA, do not take a course with Cuddeback. If you enjoy a walk on the wild side however, you wont be completely let down, because he is a life changing professor. Really.
Cuddeback definitely cares for his students and he really tries to connect with them. Although he is a really tough grader he became one of my favorite professors at PC.
General Ethics? More like "the ethics of sex". Seriously, you spend 80% of classes talking about sex and the implications of sex and the consequences of sex etc. Be prepared for a lot of his opinion on the subject. That aside, he is willing to hear counter arguments, and challenges his students to question him. Take those opportunities.
He runs an extremely rigorous course, a hard workload and a lot of reading. Attendance is mandatory, and he is very old fashioned and strict. With that being said, he has a good sense of humor, and getting a B is doable, you just have to put in a lot of work.
I really enjoyed my experience with Dr. Cuddeback. Yes, his teachings are old fashioned, but that's his job... his courses tend to be about Christian beliefs and traditions... that's the course you signed up for. And yes, you have to put work in - but this is college guys. If you ask for help, he is more than willing to explain again. wonderful man
Dr. Cuddeback has a beautiful soul. All you have to do is go in with an open/willing mind and dedication and you will succeed. He is a great person and is actually quite funny. He will respect you if you respect him. Probably my favorite professor at PC.
Quizzes are unreasonably specific, limited to one-sentence answers based on an entire chapter of reading. Does not grade papers based on content, only writing conventions. Does not give work back until the very end of the semester, so it is near-impossible to know how you need to improve. Your grade will not reflect the work you put in.
Dr. Cuddeback is definitely one of my favorite professors at PC. He makes his class a lot harder than it needs to be, and really makes you work for it but he's an amazing guy. He's absolutely hilarious and genuinely cares about his students. He's crazy but he really has a great heart. Definitely would recommend, his class is a great experience
Funny guy. He talks most of seminar, but is not at all boring to listen to. Read everything because quizzes are pretty tough. The readings aren't that bad though and aren't too hefty. Definitely a manageable class. Participate, participate, participate. He loves when you are engaged. Very manageable class and a great professor!
The best class I have taken. Deep thinker and gifted speaker. Prepare to work but if you study the reading guides, you will do well.
Avoid avoid avoid. I have been a straight A student all my life and his unreasonably (and I mean unreasonable!) specific pop quizzes are making it difficult to get a B+. And i worked hard! Avoid! PC get better professors for Civ!!
I did not enjoy his class at all. I dreaded going everyday because of him. He should really reconsider teaching as a profession.
At times he is extremely conservative and offensive. Do not take him if you are weirded about by talking about sex because he talks a lot about it.
"General Ethics", but no ethical situations were discussed. Every class is just a lecture on sex ed according to the church. I thought this was a philosophy class, so not sure why every class is an obscure biology lesson about the female body from a man. The quizzes are incredibly specific, usually about insignificant reading. Very harsh grader.
Dr. Cuddeback is a great professor to take, especially if you are a Catholic. Although he is a tough grader, especially on quizzes, he is a wonderful and inspirational man.
Dr. Cuddeback was a very good lecturer, and I enjoyed having seminar discussions with him, even though they were very different. He made it almost impossible to get an A because he regarded a B as extremely good. He was very enthusiastic about his philosophy, but you have to be a great writer and know exactly what he wants in order to do well.
Nice guy, but really tough grader...
He was on my Civ team and always gave good lectures that made me think beyond the reading material. He knew to relate lecture info to things that would be in college students' lives, and he was very thought provoking. Although he has been known to be a hard grader, I am considering taking his philosophy because I respect the way he thinks.
Prof. Cuddeback is one of the toughest graders at PC. Participation is required or he will dock you for it. He gives quizzes at the beginning of EVERY class which you have to be very specific in order to pass. His lectures are heavy but very enlightening. I would avoid taking him if you are seeking a good grade.
He's the man. Tough grader most people ended up getting at least a B overall. Kept the seminars interesting, although he did tend to lecture a bit too much in some seminars. Didn't give quizzes every time and they weren't that bad, even if you just read the summaries. Take this guy and you're in for a juicy treat.
Dr. Cuddeback doesn't make sense. His "Ethics" course is really "Catholic Ethics" when reading for Dr. Cuddeback, ensure you read anything having to do with the Church numerous times. Gives quizzes every class that the class will always fail, since he expects you to recite one line out of the entire reading. Lectures are always inspiring, though.
Extremely old fashioned when it comes to his views on sex. I understand Providence College catholic identity but it still can be off putting . Gives extremely difficult pop quizzes each class. Also fails to give timely feedback. He took a month to return 1200 word paper. Also believe his standards for papers were unfair. Best avoid.
A wonderful person and professor. He will challenge you.
Good guy, funny guy
The real and honest truth: Dr. Cuddeback is a great guy. His class is honestly a game. If you show up, keep an open mind, and don't get offended as easy as a 3rd grader, you will do fine. The man has his views and at time can make an outlandish analogy, but he is smart, caring, and down right hilarious. Everyone needs to experience the legend once.
He was honestly my favortie civ teacher so far! He is so funny and makes learning civ fun! Also he takes you outside for classes when it's nice out sometimes. He is a bit of a hard grader on weekly relfections but he isn't too harsh. Only had quizzies in semiar through TopHat that were really basic questions. (Also talk about his family in class.)
Dr. Matthew Cuddeback is a well respected professor here at Providence College. While he is a relatively tough professor the quality of education you receive from him is terrific. You will be expected to do a lot of reading and take one sentence quizzes on the reading. You have to make sure that you do all the reading to understand the quiz.
Dr. Cuddeback is one of the smartest professors at PC. He cares so much about his students and wants the best for them. He is driven to teach students to become the best versions of themselves!! Such a funny and kind man!
Dr. Cuddeback is one of the most interesting professors I have had. He is genuine and caring in life in general and towards his students. He pushes you to do the best that you can, though hard at times, it ultimately helps you in the end. Worth the hard work! Very kind and funny man.
Not sure why everyone here lied saying hes a great teacher.... but the man is ridiculously over the top with his traditional rules ... and the reading was also too much. I wouldnt take him again. Dont do it to yourselves people
Cuddeback is one favorite professors at PC. While he is a very hard grader, he cares about his students and how well they do. Lots of reading and every class quizzes (which are kinda tough). There is also weekly short essays due. His seminars do fly by because of how quirky and fun he is. Get ready to be lectured on premarital sex though:)
Dr. Cuddeback is a tough grader but a great teacher. He gives difficult quizzes every lecture on the reading. We also had an essay due every seminar (which was a lot of work). He is a very tough grader but his seminars are very entertaining. He really cares about his students and you should defiantly see him outside of class for a better grade!
Taking his class was by far the worst decision of my college career. I am typically an A/A- student; He gave me a B. He grades slowly and harshly. Not only is he a tough grader, but he is very close minded as well. I understand that his teachings are rooted in the Catholic faith, but the way he goes about teaching is often disturbing or offensive.
A really good guy and a good teacher. He really loves and cares for his students, seminars with him are really fun and he talks for a good portion of it so it goes by fast. As long as you write your essays following his guidelines and expectations you should easily get a good grade.
Looking back, Cuddeback is my favorite professor I've had at PC and I wish I could take him again. His seminars are so entertaining and he makes class very fun. There is a lot of work but I strongly believe that it made me a much better writer and overall person. He is awesome!! see him outside class for a better grade and help!
Dr. Cuddeback is one of the smartest professors I've had at PC. He is a difficult grader, but genuinely wants his students to succeed and is willing to work with them to help them get there. This class had a heavy emphasis on reading with about a paper per week. Highly recommend taking any course with Dr. Cuddeback!
Dr. Cuddeback is an outstanding professor! He is unapologetically Catholic so if you are a devout Catholic you will LOVE his class! He truly is passionate and knowledgeable. His lectures are amazing. His class is very ideal for those who love participation. He truly is the best professor I have ever had (and I have had many by now).
PHL320 Catholic Social Thought is not for the fragile mind, it requires a fair amount of tolerance especially considering the Catholic Church is viewed as countercultural. He may come off as harsh and ruthless, however, he is going to make you a better critical thinker, writer, speaker, and comprehensive human. This class will challenge you!Beready
I had Dr. Cuddeback as one of the professors in my Civ group. He is very passionate and cares about his students. Pay attention in his lectures because he will often point out quotes that will help with papers. There is a quiz every class over the reading (usually four questions) and reflection paper each seminar (that is usually just one page.)
Dr. Cuddeback was actually one of my favorite professors at PC. Although he very clearly has his views on the world, he is a very understanding and kind man. My writing got so much better after taking his class and all of his assignments were very reasonable. As long as you walk into his class with an open mind, you will love it.
Absolutely loved having Cuddeback as a teacher. There are quizzes every lecture which can sometimes be tricky, but if you do the reading you will most likely 4/4. You have to learn the way he wants you to write in order to receive a good seminar prep grade. His seminars are absolutely hilarious and for a good amount of the time it gets off topic.
Professor Cuddeback cares for each and every student. He is kind and loving and a thoughtful teacher, and anyone who tells you otherwise has is not doing him justice at all. He is disorganized but will truly teach you to write better and think better!
Dr. Cuddeback is smart but needs to get with the times. His teachings show he is very religious, although this is inappropriate. He does not miss an opportunity to lecture his students on sexual integrity or his political views. This includes abortion and homosexuality... again, it is extremely inappropriate. Participation/attendance is emphasized.
If you don't agree with heavy catholic teaching you might want to stay away. He is unapologetically catholic, but will not judge you for not being that way, wants you to agree with him but overall a nice guy. I can respect him because he is so unapologetic for his views and doesn't really judge. Not an easy class but made me a better writer
Nice guy. Any effort shown in class reflects on your grade so participate. Not an impossible A. Very strict essay criteria that takes forever to get back. Quizzes for every lecture are not simple. Seminar is very uncomfortable. Shares views that are extremely inappropriate. Overall, it is still not a terrible class.
cuddeback honestly made me a much better writer even though he was pretty harsh grading wise the first couple of papers. if you reach out to him and ask for help your grade for the next essay should be much higher! lots and lots of reading, but his seminars are really weird and funny at the same time!
Professor Cuddeback is a challenging but rewarding instructor. His classes are heavy on reading and writing, but engaging seminars make it worthwhile. Using Unstuck ai and staying on top of the workload really helps.
Lectures are incredibly boring and rarely relate to philosophy. He hones in on one random point that relates no clear message from the reading. Puts assignments on Canvas at the last possible minute and has no consideration of the actual amount of time it takes to do them. Seriously avoid taking his class, what an awful semester.
Dr. Cuddeback isn't an easy grader however he cares deeply about his students. Each of his classes are very entertaining and involves lots of participation. Dr. Cuddeback may have a certain view on ethics, however he does mean well. Overall the most enjoyable and thorough class I've ever taken.
Best professor he's so entertaining during lectures. Has very strong views but just take them with a grain of salt
Dr. Cuddeback is super funny and has very strong views. DWC101 was super easy and actually interesting with him. Seminars were fun and not boring. His assignments were not hard. Attendance is mandatory and quizzes in every lecture (4 mcq's). I recommend taking him. He's a catholic at heart that's for sure.
Dr. Cuddeback is a great professor! He really does care a lot about his students and makes his lectures and seminars really funny. I enjoyed his class.
Civ with him had much less tests and essays than my other friend's civ teachers. The only thing is he doesn't post grades in canvas so you don't really know your grade until midterms and then the final. Overall a good teach and made seminar and lecture interesting.
Class Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
92%
Textbook Required
43%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B+
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Improving
+0.31 avg changeRatings by Course
PHLSECT
5.0
(1)PHILOSOPHY
4.8
(4)ETHICS
4.7
(3)PHL330
4.5
(2)PHL320
4.3
(3)Difficulty by Course
MANY
5.0
PHIL
5.0
Y5YEY
5.0
PHL212
5.0
HONCIV
5.0