3.4
Quality3.3
DifficultyN/A
Would Retake99
ReviewsN/A
Would Retake
99
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
99 total ratings5
32
4
33
3
9
2
17
1
8
What Students Say
“He let's you out early just about 99% of the time”
0011 - 3.0 rating“he was honestly a nice professor but his material was hard to understand”
PHILO30 - 2.0 ratingClass Info
Attendance Mandatory
80%
Textbook Required
86%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Stable
+0.12 avg changeRatings by Course
PHILOS
5.0
(1)PHILOSO
5.0
(1)LOGIC30
5.0
(4)PHILOSOPHY37
4.3
(4)PHIL30
4.2
(13)Difficulty by Course
PHILO25
5.0
RELIGST2
5.0
RELIGSTUD
5.0
RLGS2
5.0
POLITSECT
5.0
Reviews (98)
Really knows his subject! Very difficult subject to grasp for many of the students.
This teacher is terrible at teaching. He stands up there and blabs on, not even attempting to make his subject interesting. His tests are short and very specific, so they are very hard to do well on. Do yourself a favor and get a different teacher.
Lectures are simplified- makes for easy understanding, and, combined with the book/CDROM, you can't go wrong. Mostly m/c exams, skips/condenses some material, easy going prof.
Very Hard. His tests are really specific and easy to fail. His lectures go on and on with no point.
No Comments
dont take his class if you want to be bored to death. You will not be able to learn any thing from this guy because he will just talk about nonsense and his tests will be based on his lecture, which no one has a clue what he talked about
Dry. Really knows his stuff; pay attention and sit up front -- fair.
Mr. Ricards is an extremely difficult teacher. I don't know how he teaches any other subjects but regarding religion he was very unclear. He knew the material but he made it difficult to understand him.
Very well mannered, good lectures (may be long and boring at times), helpful, knows subject well, he may lose you with big word terms, but overall nice professor. I recommend his class.
Dr. Ricards is a nice person - don't get me wrong here. He's just a bit dry. Occasionally, he tells corny jokes, but he's just pretty monotone. I don't know who else is out there for Philosophy 30, but I STRONGLY suggest someone else for philo 1, etc.
Is never clear on what tests will cover. Never specifies what or how the material should be reviewed. Test questions are extremely vague. Lectures about information completely irrelevant to the material currently in progress. Tests are arranged terribly.
Tests are impossible to understand not because the material is hard but because the questions are very vague and general. I definately do not recomend this class to anyone who has aspirations of getting a good grade. Your effort is irrelevant.
Very knowledgable, but doesn't know how to teach to students new to the subject. Lectures are long and incoherent, and the tests don't reflect what you thought you learned! Every student in the class is either frustrated or asleep!
Just do homework(a bit much) regularly and u r easy to get B. u can drop one of the tests and first test is hard but it goes easier and easier.after the course, you will know what is logic and how that is interestring!
Easiest class I ever took. You can only fail this if you are a dumbass, or don't do the work.
He is a nice teacher.But the test are really hard. you can get an B if you can't think like he think in his tests.
Only class I've ever dropped. As a novice to religious studies, I was lost. Lectures were like learning a foreign language (Hindu)therefore note-taking was virtually impossible. Definitely not taught with the mindset of an introductory course.
I have no doubt that Dr. Ricards is a very knowlegable man. However I do feel that he has trouble verbalizing it so that students can understand him more clearly. His lectures can be dry and his use of too many non-english words can be lost on a person.
His class is straightforward. The lecture portion could be boring at times, but taking notes and doing your homework should yield decent grades for the tests. If you skipped an assignment or two, you WILL feel completely lost.
cool guy, taking logic over the summer, not my best decision, but faired well enough. DO ALL THE HOME WORK!! He is interesting and will make sure you get it.
Cool, laid back, soft-spoken but good
Professor Ricards is very straight-forward. His lectures tend to be dry. He also can diverge his lectures somewhat, but not usually. Do the homework. Not only do they affect your grade if you don't do it; doing it is the best way to prepare for tests.
I'm a very logical thinker so the logic class was easy for me. I really enjoyed the religion class, very interesting. I didn't have any trouble understanding his lectures.
He's ok.
this class is a hard one to begin with, but if youre set on taking it this professor is a good choice. he explains things well and does his best to make you understand. there is A LOT of homework and tets arent fun, but he grades on a huge curve.
i must say not a v gd prof. a lazy one. dry lessons. dont take this class unless u're 100% sure tt u're getting an A. it wil b a waste of ur time. he's quite helpful though. a fair and easy going person =))
this class is so boring. however, the teacher is so easy if you have paper from last semester. it's definetly same.
A little hard at first, but it ended up being a very interesting class.
Very intelligent and dedicated professor. His passion for the subject is very inspirational. Very thorough in his method of teaching. Genuinely cares about the education of students. Very humble in interacting with students. His class is HIGHLY recommended. Finally, great individual at heart.
VERY STRAIGHT FORWARD, NOT AN INTRESTING SUBJET BUT HE IS GREAT.
BEWARE of the final! While he usually drops 1/4 major tests, he will not drop the final, which is BY FAR the more difficult than all his other tests!
he's a funny guy. interesting lectures- for the most part. even though he gives you the essay topics before the test, you don't quite know what he wants. i wrote 5 almost 6 pages on one of them and only eked out a B+. but eventually you get the hang of it.
Just do the homework assigned and study a bit. The subject material plus his lectures and reviews make this class interesting and helpful to pass the class. He is very helpful and understanding. Learned a lot, it helped me win arguments against my girlfriend.
Total waste of time. Only take this prof if you're looking for an easy grade. He often cancels and when he actually shows - goes home early. Didn't learn a thing. Only class I've ever had where several students turned in a completely blank essay test! Mine was half done and got a B.
If you are up for a challenge, take this class. You will have to bust your butt for an A, but it's totally worth it. I learned so much from him. He is very passionate about what he teaches, he has spent time in many of the regions in which he speaks about so he speaks from experience.
Nice helpful teacher class is very passable.
Boring class. The best thing about this class is he cancels the class a lot! the only way to study for this class is do the readings and try to listen to his lectures without falling asleep.
He is a good guy... although in his lectures he often repeats himself and travels off of topic quite a bit... the philosophy of religion class I took was confusing as hell but I never got below a B on any essay he assigned... just show up and do the work and you will pass... but be ready to be confused
If you are interested in the philosophy of religion, then Ricards is a really good teacher to take. If you are not interested, then the class will be very boring. It's confusing a lot of the time, I would suggest taking another religion class prior to this one.He is a pretty easy grader though, pay attention and you'll pass.
This is a really easy class. Since he lectures a lot, and most of his lectures repeat, the tests, which are usually essays, are easy. Plus he is a really easy grader.
THIS CLASS IS HARD TO GRASP AT FIRST, BUT IF YOU DO THE HOMEWORK IN ADDITION TO THE READING YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE CLASS..OH AND TRY THE CDROM IT HELPS IF YOUR A VISUAL LEARNER. I WOULDN'T RECOMMEND ANYONE TAKE THIS CLASS IF THEY WERE'NT A LOGICAL THINKER. HES KOOL THOUGH. HIS REL. STUD. IS HARD AS HELL THOUGH.
OMG HE TALKS LIKE A ZOMBIE. MOST BORING CLASS EVER! HE CONSTANTLY CANCELS CLASS.
ricards tends to repeat himself a lot and the lectures are boring. i wouldn't recommend this class if you don't enjoy philosopy. i thought there would be more discussion, but he doesn't give students much of a chance to participate or share their opinions. he also cancelled class about 6 times and never gave notice or an explanation.
Great class. Very interesting topics and concepts. He's only redundant because the topics are closely related. Tests are pretty much this: write everything you know. Study every name and concept he mentions during his lecture (i can guarantee an A if you do). He cancels class alot too... always a plus.
He drops your lowest test score (excluding final), he wants you to do well, prints out helpful study guides. He's kind of funny. You have to study to be able to do well in this class. Logic is complicated but you will do fine if you just know what's going on.
class is canceled a lot. i didnt show up too much either. class is very boring. an essay from a movie. a multiple choice test. a couple essay tests that you just re-word what he said from class. book is unnecessary. if you take notes, which also isnt necessary (i didnt read or write notes or pay attention and got a B) you should get an A
it was a really easy class...wut u have to do is do the hw daily, pay a little attention, review the chapters and thats it u will get an easy A...I passed it easily without doing the final....so take him
Ricards is a kind of old laidback surfer. He is very dry but you do learn a lot. Book is boring, but I actualy grew to like the lectures.
took the class over the summer and was super easy for me, probably because i'm more of a test than hw person. the material is not too difficult, just do the hw and you SHOULD understand it (hence the title "Logic in Practice"). as for ricards, i thought he was funny and made the class interesting and easier to understand. take this class!
This man is more than qualified to teach Philosophy of Religion. Very knowledgeable of all religions. The book is like a million dollars, and you don't really use it. No homework, 100% of your grade are the super easy essay tests.
If you're debating whether to take him or Zeuschner, I'd take Ricards. He handles the subject matter well, w/ clarity, and makes it interesting. Tests are based primarily on lecture, but use book to supplement. Don't miss class (will drop you after 4 absences) plus you won't know what's going on the next time you show. Study&show effort to pass :)
This class is easy if you can follow instructions. Just apply the rules of logic that you learn in class and in the text book (no difficult), and you should be able to get an A without much trouble. Ricards is a fun teacher.
Great! A very funny and pleasant person, interesting subject! It should be mandatory, it's really useful. 4 MC tests ( first = hard!) and he'll drop the lowest grade. Textbook = very clear. It was fun :)))
This guy was so easy as long as you follow his instructions to the "T". The work looks hard at first glance but always turns out real easy. I hardly did any work and got a "B". So if you actually read your text you'll probably get an "A". Super laid back old-school surfer dude. Take this professor if you want a fun easy class.
This prof. so ridiculous, don't take him, the class is a waste of your time, I loved logic before I took his class and he ruined it. He's also a total ****. He doesn't teach and is so boring, he wants you to fail his class. You have been warned.
Very good, fun class, clear lectures, good text book but not easy if you don't study. Logic is interesting and this guy is very approachable. Highly recommended! If you don't like this guy and this subject... then I don't know :(((
Ricards isnt the greatest teacher ever, but he does give you study guides that make the tests pretty passable if you study. I think I opened my book maybe 4 times and have still received decent grades on all my tests. There is no homework, so thats a bonus. As for others saying he cancels class a lot, he didn't cancel one class my whole semester.
if u actually study u can pass with a b, no problem. (hard to get a A) 1st test kinda hard, 2nd test is okay, 3rd test is easy, and last test, he grades you easier than the rest.
Funny,kind of hot and very clever.Not to mention that he´s not a democrat as the 99% of the PCC´s professors who have such a big urge to "explain" us all their "brilliant" points of view on politics,economy,global warming,how to save the condors and the rest. This one is modest,does not have a big ego,is a great guy and a good professor.A+!!!
ricards seemes like a miserable individual that likes to take out his sadness on others. if you rub him the wrong way, he will not be shy about making your educational experience in his class difficult and almost unbearable. he is rude and up tight.
Logic is the most important interdisciplinary subject. And Professor Ricards is the best who can make Logic fun and easy to learn. He cares about every student's learning. With individualized instruction he is very fair in grading. Every student enjoys his class. Every lecture is very interesting, comprehensible, and well organized. (Robert Cheung)
Professor Ricards is a great teacher. Logic is a very difficult subject and alot of studying is involved, Take only if need to. Ricards makes this challenging class enjoyable. He really cares and is willing to help you, just put in your effort. Easy going and funny man.
Ricards is an amazing professor and I actually learned a lot, considering it's PCC. He is very clear when he teaches and is extremely entertaining. Overall I enjoyed his class and highly recommend Philo 30. Just be sure to do the homework and memorize his notes, and you'll do fine. He kinda looks like Dr. House from that TV show too! Kinda.
It's a shame he's a Republican--he's actually quite intelligent . He will tell you what he knows to the best of his ability . If you want to pass, you MUST read the book . Take this class if you are interested in learning .
People do not take this class unless you TRULY have to. It's a very tough subject. I'm taking it right now and hoping to pass. He's good but the material is hard!! Logic sounds like an easy class but nope it's not. You deal with venn diagrams, sylogisms, like 30 types of arguments, & much more. You guys have been warned! I wish I would have been.
he is a republican? no wonder he talks so much smack about obama....this class is hard. he not a hard teacher, you just have to listen close, do your homework, ask questions, and read the book.
Ricards is hilarious! Great teacher that tells you exactly what to expect on the tests. Clear and super down to earth. He let me bypass the final since I had a high enough grade. Really laid back, hard class but highly recommended.
HARD CLASS!!! EXTREMLY. Only take this class if you HAVE to. He is a very smart man and has a great sense of humor. Good man he helped me pass the grade by curving my grade!! Just talk to him and he'll help you. I got a D and two Fs on the exams and still passed with a D. Oh! do all the hwk and go EVERYDAY it's a MUST!!! That's what helped me pass=
Whoops!!! I meant still passed with a C. I commented below this one=]
This is not what I expected philosophy to be like, but I'm glad I took this class! Ricards is a funny & enjoyable teacher who welcomes questions & makes the subject interesting. I highly recommend the CD-ROM that comes w/ the book! It's what helped me grasp a better understanding of the material... I got an A! Rewarding class if you study!
this guy is the man! as long as u show you are interested and working hard you will get a B otherwise somethings wrong. He makes u go to class or your grade drops but that ok. Make sure u get the CD with the book. THAT REALLY HELPED THE A that i got. The dudes funi n understands that skool isnt everithing. This class isnt hard its easy if u study
This class is HARD! If you have no interest in religion dont take this class! Prof. Ricards is very nice and super helpful but the content is really hard to understand. He takes points off everytime your absent so go to class Definatly need to buy the book!
It is awesome that he is REPUBLICAN!!! It's hard to find them.
Waste of my time and money. I could teach myself the subject better than learn it from the class. I withdrew because I failed the first 2 tests after much studying.He is knowledgeable & knows what he's talking about but teaching it is a whole other thing.I felt tricked instead of trying to teach it to me.Try and choose another teacher is my advice.
This class was well structured and the material was relatively easy. Read the book and you should do fine, professor Ricards is a funny man who teaches well. If you cant get at least a B then you should seriously consider dropping out of school lol.
Prof Ricards is one of the best professor on campus. Philosophy is not an easy major, u gotta think a lot. it also requires good English. English is my third language. however, i still did well in the class. I highly recommend him...
One of the better professors I've had at PCC. His lectures can get a little dry and boring but he means well. He tries to keep things interesting, which I appreciated. His tests are pretty difficult but as long as you know your stuff, you should be fine. He's an understanding, nice guy.
Nice, funny, and knowledgeable guy. His exams are pretty difficult so I suggest a little research outside the class books (ex. online) if you're not so sure. He drops the lowest grade exam. Your grade is base entirely on exams and it's not an easy class. Try to come to every class meet cause a perfect attendance can help if you're borderline.
Ricards is a good teacher. The subject itself is pretty difficult if you don't stay on top of but he really tries to get you to understand. Even though i failed his class, i can honestly say he was a good professor. Study ALOT for the tests and you should be fine.
Another easy pass class. Not sure what he grades on essays, but he gives mostly B's which is not bad. Multiple choice questions are mainly from the lecture not the book! Remember to attend classes! His lecture is very random though. Most time he just sits there and talks. Lecture needs more clarification!!!
Primarily lecture, textbook use not required, he posts all info for exams on his page. His true/false exams are quite difficult. His essay exams are easier in my opinion, he gives you all the terms you need to know, so just make sure to memorize what they are and you'll get at least a B, an A if you have lots of supporting evidence.
he was quite a helpful teacher and friendly. doing the homework is important, and reading the book helps a LOT.
Awesome guy, grades very generously. The people who say he doest' b.s.ed their papers with no understanding of the subject and no attempts to try. Honestly notes aren't even that important, you just learn really cool stuff Make sure you use his study guides and you'll be great.
Honestly, you'll never use this material in your life. I have more complaints about course content than the professor. But he is boring, teaches the material dryly. If you want any chance of passing you need to do read the book thoroughly. Just attending class stressed me out.
Attendance is important. Best to read the book, memorization pretty much. Exam are fairly easy. His lectures are ehh. The first week I was excited to learn but late I've seen his a bit disorganized. He can stay on topic then go off topic.There isn't homework much. Or in class work. Your Grade is based of exams!
He was hard!he was honestly a nice professor but his material was hard to understand.Class attendance,homework and studying is mandatory in order to pass the class.I failed!
The students that said that he is a terrible professor must be terrible students. Unlike other teachers, Professor Ricards teaches like a college professor. He makes students responsible for their work, yes there is homework, but if you actually do it you should have no problem understanding the work. He helps clarifies any questions
DO NOT TAKE HIM. VERY BORING & VERY RUDE. FALL ASLEEP. TAKE OTHER PROFESSOR!
A lot of people had trouble with this class...not an easy A. I love Ricard's teaching style though. Make sure you keep up with the homework or you'll get smashed. 4 tests, lowest grade of the first 3 are dropped. He spends the classtime going over the hw, answering questions, and introducing new concepts if any. Almost always let class out early
Boring and hard. Doesn't stay on the the material long enough to really get it. More important to push through than have the students get it. The materila itself was easy at times, he made it confusing, and his tests with the scan cards hard. I found going to class more stressful than the class...
Spring14: Awesome professor. The subject itself was pretty easy. Of course some chapters will take a little more time to understand so just make sure you read the book and do the homework. The HW really helps! Don't be shy to ask questions! I got a C on my midterm, did all my hw, only missed one class, got an A on the final, my final grade is an A
He is really helpful and nice! His lectures do tend to go off topic and are a bit long, but you need to take great notes and study on your own time as well! His multiple choice tests are kind of hard and are mostly from his lectures. Short answer tests were much easier, just write everything you know about the topic! Final is based on the last ch.
He let's you out early just about 99% of the time. Class consists of lecturing the section you will do homework on and the next class reviewing it. Simple class, but you must learn the material and perform well on the tests if you're not going to read the book and really take time to learn the material, don't take this class.
Prof. Ricards spits the material at you and hopes that it sticks. He is not very helpful and provides no regular feedback. You will never know what kind of a grade you are getting in his class until its to late.
His lectures are very dry and probably a snoozer if you're not interested. But if you are motivated to learn, he is a wellspring of fascinating knowledge. Tests are based much more on the lectures than the book. Take very thorough notes and be as detailed as possible on the exams. He is not an easy grader.
Took him for summer 2015. He was a great professor who took the time to make sure his students understood what was going on and how to solve the problems. He even came up with easier methods to do things.
I asked Professor Ricards how he grades his tests and he told the class that he "doesnt mess with numbers" ( LOL, too bad our GPA does). I would not take any of his classes again. I learned more from the (sloppy) study guide than lectures. His lecture style is very unorganised and snoozy. This is the only class I got a B in. Dont buy the book.
He simply regurgitates whats in the text book, does not actually grade homework but simply marks that its there (meaning one can put whatever they want and still get credit). He often answers the phone in class and has admitted that hes doing the class just for money. Tests are multiple choice and he just assumes everyone gets everything. Awful.
Class Info
Attendance Mandatory
80%
Textbook Required
86%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Stable
+0.12 avg changeRatings by Course
PHILOS
5.0
(1)PHILOSO
5.0
(1)LOGIC30
5.0
(4)PHILOSOPHY37
4.3
(4)PHIL30
4.2
(13)Difficulty by Course
PHILO25
5.0
RELIGST2
5.0
RELIGSTUD
5.0
RLGS2
5.0
POLITSECT
5.0