3.2
Quality3.6
Difficulty42%
Would Retake444
Reviews42%
Would Retake
444
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
444 total ratings5
155
4
79
3
58
2
52
1
100
What Students Say
“He rambles in class and barely teaches anything”
SOA106 - 2.0 rating“Many people rank him highly on here, but frankly I did not care for the man”
SOC106 - 1.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
45%
Textbook Required
73%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B-
Grade Distribution
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Declining
-0.39 avg changeRatings by Course
100
5.0
(1)SOC 106
5.0
(1)SOC333
5.0
(1)SOA366
5.0
(1)SOA206
4.0
(2)Difficulty by Course
SOA206
5.0
SOC160
5.0
SOCIOLOGY333
5.0
SOA333
5.0
100
4.0
Reviews (300)
awesome
Start on the last page of comments and read from oldest to most recent.
he is a funny guy and his class is easy
If you like the comedian/actor Jeff Goldblum, then take this class. Sullivan looks like him, acts like him, and even his manarisms is just like his. Great, hilarous teacher. (dont take this class if you dont have a sense of humor)
this guy has a brilliant mind whether you like him or not. listen to what he says and dont try to be so opinionated or emotionally driven by your thoughts because you won't learn anything. if your ignorant dont waste your time. if you on average DGAF dont take this either. if you have any brains and want to expand your horizons, take this class
Really makes you think about the material and keeps it fun.
HE IS A VERY GOOD TEACHER! EVERYTHING IS EXPLAIN VERY WELL
Very informative class! Prof Sullivan is awesome!
Class is informative. Keep up with the reading and you will do great.
There are pop quizes so make sure you go to class. He is a nice guy, but BAD teacher.
Very sarcastic, but also very funny....
Very interesting class.
very smart
AMAZING!
i love this teacher. if you do the study guides you will definitely ace the tests
GREAT INTERACTIVE LECTURES
really good teacher
sulli is so hot so he makes the class enjoyable. he also is funny. oh ya and he is smart. take this class. i love this man
this class is way too hard for an intro class!
This class is awesome in the eyes of a senior. The way this man teaches the class is a joke. He uses his ego and profanity to get freshmen to like his lectures. He also enjoys making fun of students who ask questions or give a different opinon than him. He should be removed as a professor from ISU. Huge ego as well.
Class average before the final was a 67%. That is a reflection on how the class is run. No one understands what he teaches. He is extremely biased in political areas. Uses profanity. Makes fun of students in a way that the whole class laughs at them. Singles them out. If you want a C on your GPA, take this class with this professor.
Dr. Sullivan makes fun of students and bribed them to write good comments on his wall. Nice, Sullivan. Real nice.
The class is pretty tough considering it's a sociology intro class. I studied so hard for the exams and quizzes and mostly got B's. He's so into himself and doesn't take his students seriously. Bad guy and bad teacher, take it with another professor if you can.
I agree with what some people have said here, but the class was NOT that hard. He definitely pushes his opinion and seems to look down on most of his students, but I still enjoyed going to lecture. He is arrogant, but he's smart and has a lot to say. Just go to class and you'll be fine.
my primary language is not of english. when i try to speak to professor he always look at me like i am stupid
Class isn't as hard as people are saying. However the teacher really is a jerk and his super sarcastic humor gets annoying real fast during lecture.
Not sure why ISU hasn't fired him yet. He is demeaning, rude, and arrogant. Surely they can find another sociology professor to teach his classes who isn't so stuck up and rude to students.
TAKE ANOTHER PROFESSOR. YOU WILL REGRET TAKING HIM AND WILL GET ANNOYED OF HIS VOICE HALFWAY INTO THE FIRST LECTURE; I KNOW I DID.
Its true Sullivan is arrogant but his intellect is undeniable. The class does require some effort but is NOT that hard. If you actually want to learn something from a gen ed I highly recommend this class.
ISU needs to find teachers who are smart and humble...this teacher is smart but is completely rude to students and doesn't give them proper respect.
So I guess that most of the people that took this class just wanted an easy A, well its not evryone gets a trophy football any more. Some times you have to work for your grade. In this class an A takes A effort. If your a close minded person he may come off as rude, but if you take the time to talk to him you find he is a very kind and fair man.
Dr. Sullivan doesn't know how to teach.
Dr. Sullivan is rude to people who have opinions that are different from him. He is the one that is close minded, not the students! I learned a lot in this class but would have preferred to learn it from a kind teacher that doesn't make so many biased assumptions about students. He makes fun of his own students as well.
A kind and fair man? He is not kind or fair, he picks favorites and is a jerk to students.
Awesome teacher. You'll hate him at first then you'll grow to love him and the class. He swears and makes jokes all class periods.
He makes jokes the whole class period and doesn't teach you what is on the tests. He tries so hard to act young but he doesn't understand us.
Sullivan is a great teacher but does not put up with any crap. He teaches a level 100 but it feels like a 200 and if you take notes, do the reading, and show up to lecture you are solid. I have to say, a lot of people cannot stand how he says things but I found it honest and realistic...just brutal.
Took him last year and got an A because guess what, I did the work. People that don't like him cannot take criticism and don't like having to do work in college, and clearly don't pay attention to important details. Example: The person who rated him poorly that said the class was Soc 101 (it's 106). Great professor, I miss his class. Honestly.
As lecture professors go, Sullivan is one of the best I've had. He's changed how I've looked at the world, and that should mean something to you. Expect your state of mind to be challenged when you go to his class. Study and getting an A is easy, plus you'll actually learn something useful. Maybe the best professor I've had during my 4 years.
If you arent good at tests I wouldnt recommend him. His tests were 90 mult. choice and 2 essay questions in 1hr n 15min to long of a test in my opinion. Also, he has readings that you have to do that are boring so if you dont like to do readings dont take this class! Hes pretty funny in class sometimes but also boring!!
The guy is really bright, and does a great job opening up the world of sociology. However, he acts like a cop and tries to police his class, one time spending around 5 minutes finding out who left the class. He needs to loosen up on his class, as it is an intro class, yet he sets the standards extremely high. Avoid.
He's hilarious, I understood lectures quite well. Loved attending class and was engaged but tests are difficult. Did the reading, took notes, studied, did the study guides. Still struggled. Tests and quizzes only- no other opportunity for grade improvement. If you don't test well- do not take with him.
I enjoyed this class. If you put in some work and read you can earn an A even though he likes to think of himself as difficult. He's a good professor and has some good jokes!
He bribed us with extra credit points in order to get his average up to a 4. Once we got it up thee, he gave us two extra credit points. Jerk.
His class is basically his opinion. He doesn't teach anything but his opinion in lectures but it is mandatory to go because of his pop quizzes. It's really hard to get an A in the class but it is obtainable if you study a lot and do all of his readings and attend all his lectures. He makes class interesting with his cocky humor.
This class was the worst class I have ever taken. If you have an opinion that disagrees with his he will embarrass you in front of the entire class. He has a very negative attitude, and he often talks poorly of the United States. His reading requirements were ridiculous and boring. His tests were very hard. I studied for every test and struggled.
He doesn't let students think for themselves..he always wants them to agree with his opinion.
Mr. Sullivan thinks he knows everything about college students, but he doesn't. He does not respect us as individuals and thinks we all drink. He's very arrogant and it's a pain to listen to him lecture.
He lets us out late EVERY single class period. For students who take buses that run on schedule, it poses a real problem. I had to walk back to my apartment many days because of his failure to learn how to tell time correctly.
Made us buy a textbook, spent $150+ and he never used it. Would always stare at people's feet in the front few rows. Awkward.
He is extremely unhelpful, and looks at you like you are dumb when you try to ask him a question outside of class. I really didn't appreciate his constant sarcasm every time he lectured the class. Bad teacher, hope ISU cans him.
really annoying!!!
i took this class to learn about sociology but was upset to find that this class is basically just dr. sullivan lecturing about his own opinions of the world. i didn't learn anything and am glad to be out of that class. good luck if you take him, because you'll need it.
BLANKLY STARES AT YOU IF YOU TALK TO HIM OUTSIDE OF CLASS. WEIRD!!!!
Look, if you have problems about missing a bus, then tell him & leave class early. If you have religious issues, leave them at the door. This professor and this course determined my Sociology minor (which I am finished with) and changed my life. I earned a C and don't even care. Completely worth it.
I took this class freshman year, this guy was funny but a dam donkey. Don't ask questions in class or you'll be made to look like an idiot. Don't leave early either he'll find you.
This guy treats it like a 200 or 300 level course. He lectures on 3 slides for the entire hour and gives you ABSOLUTELY no direction for studying the tests. I would HIGHLY recommend not taking this class with him, unless you like listening to him lecture about nonsense and watch him run after students when they leave then this is the class for you
He has absolutely no respect for students comments and opinions. If you say something he disagrees with or isn't a "fact", he will make you look like an idiot in front of the entire class. He is late to every class period and then keeps you overtime. It doesn't matter how hard you study, his tests are impossible. He doesn't help you prepare at all
Tough teacher. Many people have an issue with him, but I actually enjoyed his class. His expectations are clearly lined out in his syllabus. A lot of reading in the book and internet readings. I heard a lot of complaining from other students but that is because they do not read the material. If you read material you will be fine. Good class.
best teacher of my life. ever.
You really have to study hard if you want a good grade in this class. For an introductory class, it is very difficult. Although the teacher is funny, he isn't afraid to make you look stupid in front of the entire class for any reason at all.
He is very unfair. Don't take him!!!
Very demanding course! Be sure to READ THE BOOK. Exams are multiple choice and require a great deal of study time before hand. As for Dr. Sullivan, he's a great teacher and I learned a lot from him. He expects only the best and constantly seeks to challenge us. For all intents and purposes, isn't that the kind of teacher we want and deserve?
I learned more in this class than any I have taken at ISU. Students complaining are slackers who only have themselves to blame for their poor grade. From day one he makes it CLEAR what he expects of his students. He is VERY fair in grading. A fantastic teacher that looks to challenge his students. I really hope I have the chance to take him again.
Such a great teacher! If you are interested in Sociology, definitely take his class. He has high expectations but is very fair and explains things very well. I barely studied for tests and got an A in the class. You will learn to see the world in a different light.
he engages the class in conversation so you actually feel like you are a part of lecture versus being talked at. his pop quizzes help for attendance points and are based mostly on the extra readings. i wasn't interested in the class beforehand, but totally opened up my mind to soc and was humorous while teaching. i would take another class with him
Sullivan was a very good teacher. I don't think that it is a very difficult class unless you don't go to class. He explains things very well and is obviously very interested in the subject, making it even more interesting for students.
Changed my major to sociology after taking his class, very interesting and opened my mind. It's not the easiest class, but if you show up and pay attention you'll do fine and learn a lot.
Don't let other comments fool you: I worked my ass off in this class and still got a lower grade than I deserved. I was a straight A student. A basic gen ed class should not have resulted in a B for me. He is very close-minded, and it is very much his way or the highway. If you call him out on something in class, he'll refuse to call on you again.
Study by using the website for the text book, it's very helpful. He's funny but can be an a hole. Go to class so you can get as many points from the pop quizzes as possible. Also do any extra credit he gives out, it's pretty easy.
Dr. Sullivan told his class to write positive comments here and then he would give them extra credit for writing positive things. That says a lot about his character...
This class was wonderful! Dr. Sullivan is really hard on his students, but he just wants us to learn as much as we can in one semester. Anyone who thinks he is close minded does not understand sociology. I worked extremely hard for this class and managed to get an A. Lots of reading and studying! Be prepared to give it 200% of your effort
Best course I've taken at ISU. I learned so much and Sullivan made it interesting. I also don't really know why people are saying it's a hard class? I got an A and feel like I did very little work/studying.
My goodness! This Man IS AWESOME. If you are ready to get an education for the first time at ISU, this is the guy you take. He will forever be one of my favorite teachers at ISU. I'm not even finish with the course yet, he definitely kicks your butt, but you learn so much! Get ready to learn, but take him! He will open your eyes about the world!!!
He's a frustrating person. I worked my ass off and ended up with a B. Interesting class, but he can be a jerk. Would not recommend him.
I did not like him. He was very rude to some of the students and would spend the whole class on one slide, rambling on about the same issue the entire time. Did not teach the material thoroughly and his tests were extremely difficult.
Sullivan is engaging and intelligent. This class really changes the way you see the world and how you think. Makes personal connections to students and the material and keeps class interesting! Great teacher. Tests are a little difficult - TAKE NOTES AND GO TO CLASS - you'll do fine!
Decent class; Just be sure to read all material and you will do fine.
He is not bad, knows how to use examples to reflect terms, and sometimes funny, over all hes a pretty good teacher. BUT THIS COURSE IS WAY TO HARD TO EVEN GET A C TO PASS. DONT EVEN MINOR SOCIOLOGY IF YOU DONT HAVE TO.
Sullivan was my least favorite professor by far. The lectures are fairly interesting, but don't really help you understand the information at all. He rambles and goes off topic quite a bit. Online quizzes every week. Tests were moderately hard. It's a struggle to get a B in this class. Definitely not recommended.
Dr. Sullivan is my favorite teacher so far. His lectures are very interesting and fun and the tests are not that hard if you pay attention and study. He is a truly inspiring man that genuinely cares about his students.
Sullivan's classes are always super interesting and fun to listen to. The lectures are not mandatory, the tests are difficult, and you really do have to read the text book to get a decent grade in the class. I would recommend this course, but its not an easy A.
Richard Sullivan is a genius. Most people who have taken his classes and have had a hard time probably did not do the readings or study very hard for tests. There are online quizzes for each class and 2 mandatory writing assignments and 3 tests. 2 tests and a final. Study, read and take notes (even thought I didn't and got an A.)Take his class
You must read and study well for exams. Exams are difficult. Quizzes are simple. Grading of written submission is stringent. Lecture is intersting and engaging. Has high expectations for your ability to apply what you have learned. Not just regurgitating textbook definitions.
He did a great job captivating a large lecture hall. I really enjoyed his class.
He's really rude to students and keeps his students in class later than the scheduled class time.
Very rude to students, keeps the class later than the scheduled class time, and is very degrading.
Dr. Sullivan is the best professor at ISU. He may be hard to take at times but listen to him and absorb the content. He's smart and you will learn a lot if you pay attention. You will more than likely experience some cognitive dissonance with some of the material but it will all make sense eventually.
Doctor Sullivan is really attractive and very straightforward. He is hilarious in class and does a great job of keeping an oversized class interesting. There is a lot of reading but it pays off if you contribute to the discussion. He cares that you paid to be there. He is really sarcastic and some people take that the wrong way.
he is an amazing teacher. he expects a lot out of his students and was very intense. but I learned a ridiculous amount in this class and it was one of the only times at ISU I actually had to use my brain. work hard. participate. you'll make it through.
He is such an intelligent man. He is the best professor I have had in a very long time. And not to mention, he is really hot for an older man. He is cocky and its really attractive.
He is hilarious but his jokes are often made on calling out students during class. He goes on rants during class and hardly ever teaches what's in the lesson. You have to teach yourself most things, and he gives online quizzes every week on the readings.
By far the best professor Ive ever had. He's hilarious and always makes lecture a good time. Class is super interesting and really makes you think. Exams aren't easy, but youll do well if you go to lecture and study.
Awesome teacher, best I've had at ISU. Listen and pay attention, come to class with an open mind. He is not degrading, just follow the rules.
Mr. Sullivan constantly criticizes his students during lectures, keeps the class way later than the scheduled class time, and is very insincere. When you approach him after class for questions he makes you feel like a fool. I will not be taking any more classes with him.
Dr Sullivan is awful as a 100 level professor. Not clear about content at all. I never knew what to study for tests and the tests are HARD. He is rude to students and keeps class late. Tried really hard and still got a C - I'm usually an A student. Don't take this class with him if you can help it.
I took this class last semester and dreaded it every day. But, looking back on the class, you actually learn way more about life and society than you would in any other class. Tests were challenging, but possible to get a good grade on. If you want to actually learn about how the world works, take Dr. Sullivan.
Class was way to hard for a 100 level class don't blow off the readings it will hurt your final grade in the end. Try to avoid taking his class.
Great teacher, passionate about what he teaches.Dont take the rating above to heart,most are for students who wants easy points and care less about learning.He gives a lot of work,but the info that your get is powerful.I whole heartedly recommend this course too anyone,you will become a better person,citizen,and student if you take this course
Got a 68.99% in his class, i talked to him several times and he didn't care, he would not help me raise my grade at all. He was not helpful and the class was way to hard for an introductory class.
He is not going to spoon feed you material and is not afraid to argue your opinion. Don't be so sensitive. He is really enjoyable to take a class with. Do the readings! and do not forget about the online quizzes. Not too bad to look at either;).
Dr. Sullivan is hands down the best teacher I have had here at ISU. He challenges students - to think and to analyze the world around them. Lecture was full every class because he makes the material interesting AND he is funny as hell. Yes, he challenges students and has high expectations. But in the end, he just wants you to learn.
Dr. Sullivan is one of the best teachers I've ever had. This class is so inspiring and such an eye-opener, and his passion for it makes it all the better. If there's something to appreciate about college, it's good teaching. Go to lecture, take notes, learn; it's not about BSing with easy points. He'll give you the most out of your time with him.
This class is by far the most interesting class I've taken at ISU. He's a funny guy and makes the material enjoyable. Tests are pretty tough though. Make sure you read all the readings or you won't pass the tests. If you don't want to be challenged intellectually or academically then don't take this class. Also, pretty nice to look at.
Best Professor at ISU! He is extremely passionate about what he is teaching. His lectures are very interactive, and he encourages class participation (even in a large lecture class). If you want an A you have to work for it, but if you fail it you are most likely lazy, because the material is not that hard. Take this class.
Really good professor! Some people say that he's awful but he's really not. He's passionate about sociology, nice, and has a good sense of humor. Attend lecture, read the readings, ask questions, form a study group, and go to review sessions.
This class was very interesting and gave you a new perspective on a lot of things. It is a lot of reading and you do need the text books. Study guides for every test, do them and you are guaretnteed a good grade.
HOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He's very conceited, yells at students for leaving class when the class should be over, and is not approachable after class is over. Not a good professor to say the least.
He's very condescending to students. He calls out students for leaving class when the class is scheduled to be done at that time (some of us have buses to catch!). He is also very hard to approach as he always acts annoyed when you ask him questions after class is out- it's like you're bothering him. DO NOT TAKE HIM.
Awesome professor, perhaps best professor at ISU! His lectures are captivating, topics interesting, and he is hilarious. There is a bit of reading (duh, its Sociology) but they are easily manageable. He is entertaining but sometimes he can be a little intimidating. Get involved with the class. GOD FORBID don't leave early or let him see you text!
Very good class, he is hard on you because he wants you to do well, and he wants to challenge you. You will learn a lot, he demands respect so if you get up to leave when he is talking he will call you out, it's common sense, great class, great instructor, also hot lol.
Dr. Sullivan really gets students involved and constantly asks why. He wants students to think outside the box and look at the world in a sociological perspective. I found myself looking forward to lecture and really enjoying it. Go to class, do the readings, and study for the tests and you'll do well. A little challenging as a 100 level class.
Dr. Sullivan was the best teacher that I had at ISU. He got everyone involved and made sure we understood what was going on and what sociology was really about. I would definitely take his classes and would recommend him for anybody.
This class is great and Sullivan is hilarious. You take 10 point quizzes each week, which if you read, it is very simple. Some of the questions are from lecture, so I recommend going. The tests are very simple if you study, many of the quiz questions are on the tests. Do be prepared to read though, there is a lot of it, but it's college.
In order to do well in this class, you must pay attention and study. He is a great teacher. If he calls a student out in class , they were either on their cell phone or surfing the Internet. He expects respect, nothing wrong with that.
Worst I've ever had. Does well with explaining concepts and giving examples. Tells you everything you need for quizzes and tests. Very left politically, and he makes sure you know it. If you argue against his point, he'll bring up an irrelevant fact and change the subject. If that happens, be prepared to never be called on again during discussion.
Good at explaining what you need to know. Just go every lecture, most of his questions are on the 10 pt. quizzes. His lectures are very long and can be all over place. You will be do fine in the class if you show up and did all the readings.
This class was extremely difficult. Being a GenEd, Sullivan showed little to no support or care about how well the students did. I enjoyed the class as a whole, and Sullivan is a cool guy but the way this class is set up and done it was super difficult. I worked my butt off to the max for this class. That included reading EVERYTHING and studying.
I really loved him. It was a lot of reading to do every week, but most of the readings I found very interesting. The weekly online quizzes were fairly easy. People who didn't like this class probably just weren't interested in sociology, but I loved it and every time I left class I felt inspired by him.
He wants students to be successful in the class. If you can, take the 3 week class offered at the beginning of the summer. Although you'll have 2-3 hours of reading every night and mandatory quizzes every night before discussion, it will pay off with great small class discussion and retention of the material.
He takes things far too seriously for an introduction class. It seems like he is trying to scare all the freshman by showing how difficult college is and how much harder you need to work. It seems like a bit much for a 100 level class, to be honest.
He's a funny teacher but the lecture class is huge. He is also really passionate about his work and teaching
He is one of my favorite professors. His lectures are long but you can tell he is very passionate about what he is teaching. I would take a class of his again. He is hilarious and loves to make people laugh while also keeping focused and learning. If you don't attend his lecture you will not pass.
Dr. Sullivan is a good professor. Being in such a large class is difficult though. He is a great gut and tells you what he thinks. As a freshman, I've enjoyed his class. Just be sure to read and take notes not just on the power points but his lectures as well and you'll be fine.
Many people rank him highly on here, but frankly I did not care for the man. He is extremely opinionated and liberal to an uncomfortable degree. Halfway through the semester my grandfather passed away and I asked to make up a quiz I had to miss and he would not accommodate. Ended up having to withdraw from the class because my grade tanked.
He is really rude and doesn't care about a lot of students' opinions.
Sullivan is an amazing professor. He has found a way to make his class informative while also incredibly entertaining. Do what he asks and take the class seriously and you will get a lot out of it!
You have to go to his lectures if you want to know some of the answers on his quizzes and tests. He's extremely passionate and he's trying to open the minds of students. Just pay attention and really try to apply what he's teaching you to the world around you and he's pretty much spot on. He's also extremely funny, which lightens things up.
Love him! He's funny, makes lectures interesting, and makes sure you understand the info. Make sure you write EVERYTHING down, you might think something is irrelevant like a tangent about traffic jams, but trust me.. everything has a point. Go to class, take notes, and STUDY for exams. You'll be fine
Dr. Sullivan is very vocal with his beliefs that sometimes it is hard to not get angry with him and not pay attention, lectures are long and boring. Weekly quizzes online, difficult tests and no extra credit. You really have to try hard to succeed in this class.
He's a very funny guy but he never gives homework (which is awesome but also kills your grade if you bomb tests/quizzes). He always gives a quiz at the end of the week & usually assigns many online readings that are basically the quizzes. He means well and knows his lectures but he doesn't help prepare us for tests and the tests are extremely hard.
I absolutely adore, Dr. Sullivan! He's really passionate and knowledgeable. He can seem intimidating but go to his office hours and he's a super nice guy. He does make you work for it though, he frequently says 90% of the world never gets to attend a college class so don't take it for granted. Crucial to passing? Attendance, RN readings, & notes!
He rambles in class and barely teaches anything. He'll talk during class and it has nothing to do with the lecture and then expect you know what he should've talked about but didn't. I feel like I learned nothing. You have like 3-4 readings per week online and then a quiz about them plus lectures, when half the stuff he didn't teach you in lecture.
Sullivan is by far my favorite professor at ISU. He is a very busy man, so he may not always email you back, but he's more than willing to help you and is easy to talk to if you visit him during his office hours. He is very passionate and will wake you up to reality. His sarcasm is excellent. You can tell he cares. And he curses a lot. NEVER dull.
Sullivan definitely makes you work for it. His lectures are interesting and he knows what he is talking about and he is very passionate too. If you don't go to class you probably will not do too great. Reggienet readings are a must and you can usually get by without the textbook but its good to have it. Online quizzes each week.
His lectures and movies chosen are pretty entertaining and informative. It is a lot of notes though that aren't posted anywhere so you will be writing the whole class period. The tests are pretty hard, I usually can study only the night before and get a B on a test but not with this class. Your grade is based on 3 tests so study a lot.
To be honest I was terrified of Sullivan the first day of lecture. But staying in his class was the best decision I made. He inspired me in so many ways and I actually took a lot away from his class other than a letter grade. Read the reggie net readings, sit towards the front of lectures and have a good attitude. You won't regret your hard work.
Terrible; worst teacher ever.
Do. Take. This. Class. It seriously changed my entire frame of thinking of life. It was also made me terribly depressed, but Sullivan is an incredible teacher. Fiery and passionate, he's a joy to listen to and watch. He reaffirmed my decision to be a soc major. Not for those who want to skate by, take their A, and leave.
He cusses a lot in class. Sometimes, makes very disrespectful comments that seem unprofessional. His tests are hard, so make sure you study hard.
Not a good teacher. Very opinionated and liberal. He will not listen to your opinion no matter how many scientific documents you have to back your point up. He called me and other CJS derogatory things. Not a nice guy.
Very funny guy. Makes class easier to get through with his humor. Makes you really think about concepts and applying them to your life. Make sure you follow his no electronics rule. Will call you out. Online quiz every week. Go to lecture and read the chapters assigned. 3 exams. If you do the readings and take notes in lecture you should be fine.
Way too opinonated. Disrespectful and a bad teacher in general. Constantly went on rants that had little to do with the material. Would not reccomend.
In the beginning of the year, he was a good professor who was funny and went into detail about the lecture. Ever since the election he has been unprofessional, lazy and disrespectful. He began to call a girl stupid for having her own opinion. If you want to have 4 readings per week, along with weekly quizzes, i do NOT recommend taking this course
Great teacher even though I did not get a good grade. Manages to keep a class of 400 entertained. He might seem rude but he is a really cool guy if you go to his office hours.
He was a great teacher and his lectures were entertaining. However, the tests and weekly quizzes were really hard even though I studied over 6 hours for each exam. Also, there was a lot of readings for this class. This class was definetly challenging but was still one of my favorite lectures to go to because he was funny.
Even though he is not an easy teacher, he is very intelligent. He made me want to get involved with the subject of sociology on more than just a classroom level. I hope to stay in touch with this man in my future.
Is a good teacher and cares about his work, but be mindful that the quizzes come from the all types of readings and you only have ten minutes to answer them.
Don't take this class if you are offended easily or don't like when others curse. He has no filter and is very blunt. He's funny, unless you take his words to heart. The class is a "no electronic zone" (even laptops) and he's very strict of it. You'll be called out in front of the whole class. Same goes for talking. You take notes every single day
FACT: be aware that in the schedule he writes (RN) and this means reggienet readings. I am half way through the semester and I have just realized this. No wonder I'm failing..
Very few of his lectures are posted on his blog, so you will probably fail if you don't come to class unless you know the material already. Online quizzes at the end of every week. 10 questions, 1 minute per questions. No feedback on if you're right or wrong. Read the RN readings and take notes and you'll probably pass. I specify on the RN readings
Horrible teacher, would enjoy the class a lot more with another teacher and would definitely do better. Very unfair with quizzes and tests. Doesn't teach you all of the material on them. Wont care about you or your grades. Tests are 100 questions, multiple choice. Drops a few grades so that's cool. Some chances for extra credit.
Just spectacular.
Personally really enjoyed his class. Found the material to be very interesting and he taught it very well IMO. If you have conservative political views, I recommend taking him just because I think its a good idea to hear views that challenge your own, and he is extremely liberal and is not afraid to let anyone know. Lot of open discussion in class.
Sullivan is a hilarious. He swears a lot, and speaks his mind. He does assign a lot of readings, so be prepared for that, but they are interesting. He expects a lot from his students, but if you do the work, you will succeed. I've been to his office hours multiple times, and he is really friendly and cool guy.
Even though he doesnt take attendance in his lectures, attendance is required in order for you to get a decent grade. He is really funny, but strict on things like talking and phones. Each week he gives a 10 minute online quiz covering lecture and the readings. 2 tests per year, which are fairly easy if you do well on the quizzes.
he was very disrespectful and rude to the class. quiz each week comes from lectures. the test didn't come from either the notes or book. don't waste money on the book it was never used and not useful for the class. he didn't cover all the material because he went into rants all the time but you would still be tested on it.
Dr. Sullivan was one of my favorite professors at ISU even though he called me out in a 300 person lecture. He is funny and keeps you interested. He is why I have a soc minor! Study and do the work and you can get a decent grade.
Although Sullivan went on rants or got off topic a lot, he knew what he was doing and tied everything together. Attendance isn't mandatory, but he doesn't put the slides online. Read the articles and textbook!!!!!!!!! Make some flashcards and you'll do fine on the tests. The weekly quizzes are based on lectures, readings, and articles.
I answered his multiple-choice exams using his answers whether it was true or not. He would start with Sociology facts and end in a rant with "at least" one thing I knew was not correct. Often there were multiple propaganda points. This bothered me because I knew he was programing freshmen with lies. I wish I had room here to share some of them.
He's very full of himself and talks down to his students everyday. I had him for an honors section and he often made sure to remind us that we were stupid in his eyes. If you disagree with him, he shames you in front of the class. All the answers to the quizzes and exams are on studyblue, I learned nothing. Extreme SJW, boring gen ed, waste of time
He was really funny at times and he swore a lot. He also made his lectures very political which is really annoying especially if you're a right wing. He's kind of full of himself at times but he knows the topic and is pretty good at teaching it. He likes to go off on rants so it makes the class go by a little faster but is still kinda boring.
This class is very difficult and even if you are on the verge to passing and maybe need like three points it not going to open. The extra credit sometimes does not work because you only get EC if 75% of the class do the extra credit and in most cases they don't. Also, when doing extra credit he requires a lot, but you only get a little points.
Take this class. Yes, he is a raging liberal, swears a lot, and goes on rants but they are incredibly hilarious and does pertain to class material. Left class each time learning something new and feeling inspired. Read all of the readings, go to class, and study A LOT for exams and you have nothing to worry about. Put in effort & youll pull an a/b.
Sullivan teaches a very interesting class but gives out weekly reading assignments which you need to know because they are on the tests. Also gives out weekly quizzes over the readings which you can find many of them on quizlet. You need to go to lecture because he gives extra credit at random, he also goes on tangents during his lectures.
4 tests, and weekly quizzes. Copy and paste the quiz questions into google and you will find the answers on quizlet. Some EC opportunites. I went to every class but i probably could have gotten by without going to a few. Very funny dude. will cuss in lectures. Dont take anything personal. Lectures are very interesting.
The man is hilarious, but he has no filter so if you're thin-skinned I probably wouldn't suggest this professor. One of the few classes I genuinely enjoyed going to. Very smart dude that is very good at putting ideas into an understandable context. I often left class feeling utterly inspired. Lectures are incredibly eye-opening. Highly recommend!
good professor don't get scared away
honestly regret ever signing up for this class. worst mistake of my life. Never ever take a class with Richard Sullivan.
Sparked my interest in sociology so much that I picked up a minor. Total smart ass, so if you can't stand the heat, don't take this class. Political. Weekly quizzes, test questions based on readings. Absolutely no phones in lecture. Basically do the work and show up - you'll want to, he's not bad to look at.
Lots of reading
Richard Sulivan was one helluva prof. Probably one of the most intelligent guys you will ever meet. His class was hellishly hard because he loves to rant about useless bs , but tbh it was worth the C. Don't take sociology, but if you must, take Richard Sullivan. He's also a snack.
Hes a great professor. When coming to class be sure to be open minded. Dont take everything he says so literally. People dont care for him because they think theyre going to get a easy grade by just showing up to test. He emphasizes his points in his lectures. Watch his tone and youll get the key points of his lectures. Great man!
A very great professor who truly cares about the material and makes it super interesting to learn. you do not necessarily have to go to every lecture but I would recommend it because they are so interesting. this class is not an easy grade though. He grades mainly off his tests which he makes pretty difficult. He has weekly quizzes and readings
Amazing and inspiring class and professor. grades mainly off tests so it is a difficult class. if you have strong conservative views I recommend finding a different professor
Dr. Sullivan is one of my favorite professors at ISU. He's very knowledgeable in sociology and is very funny; he made the long lecture easy to sit through. Many people in the lecture thought that he was rude because he states his opinions without care, but I thought it was funny. There are weekly quizzes and four exams. Read everything.
Richard is a great and hilarious guy. His lectures are long and HEAVY but he makes them interesting. You take 2 online quizzes a week, each 10 questions timed for 10 minutes. These are over 40 page chapters and online readings. So be ready to read... A LOT. Test are super hard and 100 questions but if you study at LEAST a week you could do well.
Richards lectures are actually very fun. He tries to makes the class interesting as long as you don't mind swearing you should be good. He gives a weekly quiz but you can usually find the answers online and 2 tests and a final. The tests were hard and long. Get ready to memorize over a 100 terms
Dr. Sullivan is my favorite professor I've had. He is hilarious, unapologetic and he tells it like it is. Attendance isn't mandatory but I would recommend it, because online quizzes are going to reference them. Plus, the lectures are interesting!
Tons of complex reading and his tests are not reflective off the study guide. This was quite a challenging class for an intro class and I do not recommend him. He will go off on rants and hardly get through his slides. Some of his jokes are just too much and he tries too hard. Try to take it with someone else. Only a handful of kids got an A.
One of the best professors I have ever had at ISU. Passionate about what he teaches, lectures are very interesting & thought provoking. Quizzes due before every class (drops lowest 5), 3 tests including the final. Read EVERYTHING and take good notes. Highly recommend for anyone actually trying to learn, not just pass with an easy A.
He is a very devoted professor and really cares about the class and the material he teaches. However, the class is very hard. He does not convey the material that well. His teaching style revolves around lecture which are usually pretty straightforward if you read the powerpoints.
I really liked this sociology class with Dr. Sullivan. He isn't one to care much about offending others, but most of the time his comments are really funny. You have to read if you want to pass this class. The daily quizzes aren't bad if you do the reading and attend lectures.
Overall, Dr. Sullivan is a very passionate teacher. With that being said, his class is no easy A. The class is very lecture heavy and it is important to attend the lectures. There are also daily quizzes that require you to read 40+ pages. The class is made up of only the daily quizzes and three tests. An A is possible but it takes a lot of work.
Always made class fun and interesting. I enjoyed going to his lectures and I definitely learned more from Dr. Sullivan than I did any of my other professors this semester. Although you learn a lot, you have a lot of work to do. Multiple online quizzes each week and the readings for them are usually 30+ pages. Overall a very good teacher.
I loved Sullivan! I took him my freshman year for 106. He woke me and made me change my major to sociology. Kind of hard to focus in lecture because he is a very good looking man.
A strict, funny man whose lectures were always entertaining -- he knows what he's talking about! He's not scared to offend people and keeps it real always. The tests were not super challenging and I didn't do most of the readings.
Buckle up... it's gonna be a wild one. Richard is a super smart dude, that's obvious. His class is super hard, it's true. But his class should be required by ISU. It's a GenEd that is taught like a 200 or 300 level course. It prepares you for the future. Sure the twice weekly online quizzes suck, but they are doable. He doesn't allow computers also
While you can tell Richard Sullivan is passionate about Sociology, he's not a good professor. It is extremely difficult to learn in this class, mainly because you cant overlook his aggressive ego. Also because he gives you quizzes but youre not able to see what answers you got write or wrong, nor the answers to them.
Sullivan Is a really passionate guy and you can tell that he loves what he does, however much of what he teaches is overly political in an unnecessary way. Be ready for a lot of political correctness. Most of your grade is based off of easy points from daily online quizzes, just keep up with the book readings and they're easy grade boosters.
GO TO THIS CLASS! It's so hard to do well if you don't. Do the hundreds of readings. An A is possible you just have to do the work(study for the tests). He's the funniest person but will get on some tangents if you let him. DO NOT GO ON YOUR PHONE(you'll lose time of the 2 weekly quizzes if anyone is caught on their electronics)!
He's a legend. Plain and simple. Richard is an amazing person and he is available outside of class if you ask him/go to office hours (which you should). I think he was an amazing professor, sure he gets on tangents and there is a ton of work, but it's worth it. You actually learn in this class, instead of other Gen Eds. Please take his class.
Professor is a rude person and swears so much in class that it is distracting from the material being taught. Multiple quizzes each week that you have to read 50 or more pages for each one. The quizzes are ten questions each and you have 10 minutes to do them. If he finds someone on their phone in lecture, he will take minutes off the next quiz.
NO STUDY GUIDES OR ONLINE NOTES. YOU HAVE TO SHOW UP TO EVERY CLASS TO EVEN HAVE A CHANCE AT PASSING. TESTS AND QUIZZES MOSTLY OVER REGGIENET READINGS (UP TO 20 PAGES AT TIME) 2 QUIZZES A WEEK FIRST 5 QUESTIONS ON LECTURE 5 ON READINGS USUALLY. TESTS-75% ABOUT READINGS, ODDLY SPECIFIC, THINGS YOU CANT RECALL. U READ THEN TAKE QUIZ THEN HE LECTURES.
The absolute worst teacher at Illinois State University. He should not be able to teach nor get paid. He is the absolute worst.
Sullivan is by far the best professor I've had at ISU. You can tell he cares about his students and sociology. He wants his students to well if they put in the effort. Show him you care; go to class, participate, and take advantage of his office hours. (you get used to his random rants and tangents)
"Out of the 300 of you who signed up for this class, only 30 of you will really understand the material." - an actual quote from him during the last week of classes. Most people got C's and D's on the exams as he showed us in class. Lots of reading, quizzes partially over material he doesn't cover until afterwards, no online notes or study guides.
Difficult daily quizzes, no study guides, and little respect for students make this class way harder than it needs to be. Prepare for this class to take over your life if you want a good grade. Before the end of the semester, 2/3 of the class dropped and he was proud of that fact. He tries to sound really deep and profound but isn't.
Be prepared for A LOT of reading from the textbook, and small sections of literature pieces. Questions from these readings will show up on online quizzes you'll have to take before class. He makes lectures interesting, which I enjoyed. I personally feel this class was a little hard for a general education class, and his cussing was unprofessional.
READ, and go to office hours. He is really funny.
Be prepared to be embarrassed about your opinion, because in this class the teacher is always right, and youre always wrong. Biased toward his own version of sociology
Worst teacher. He is rude and mean and overall kind of just a blatant a hole. He tries to act too young and swears like nobodies business throughout his lecture, adding the F wrod in between every word he says. It is really hard to pay attention when it feels like your listening to a 13 year old boy who just learned swear teach a class.
In high school, I took the hardest classes I possibly could and still maintained a great GPA. This class is way harder than it needs to be seeing that it is an INTRO class. His lectures do not pertain to the material and he doesn't lecture until after you have taken the quiz. If this class isn't required for your major, DO NOT take it.
Dr. Sullivan is one of my favorite profs at ISU. I am a psych major, and this class made me really consider being a soc minor. The syllabus will have all of your readings; if you take this course I heavily suggest showing up to lecture and reading. He is really engaging, and he is very candid. *You should really want to learn about sociology.*
If i could describe Sullivan in one word, it would be narcissist. He is so full of himself & will not answer any email unless you address him as "Doctor Sullivan". His class is extremely hard for an intro class. I've taken his class TWICE & both times ended with a 69 that he just will not round. I always went to class & did the quizzes. Overall bad
Well good luck. Richard is the worst professor at ISU. He jokes about his rate my professor rating, but its all true. He is the biggest narcissist ever. Class is also extremely hard and makes you feel like an idiot if you don't know his questions. If anyone was on their phone he would take time away from the weekly quiz (Class was 300 kids).
If you go to his lectures you will easily pass his class, a lot of his test questions are based off of lecture and he's very easy to listen to. His lectures were amazing.
As long as you show up to lecture and READ EVERYTHING outside of class you should be able to pass. First two tests were vocab heavy but always have questions on lecture and specific questions from RN readings. Final was vocab heavy for review portion, RN readings heavy for Unit 3 portion. Otherwise lecture is entertaining and he's a nice guy.
Don't listen to the negative comments. Those are all people who didn't put in effort. Dr. Sullivan's class is one of the only classes where I learned important things and open my perspective on things. It's a good amount of reading and few tests, but nothing impossible to handle. His lectures are so interesting and he makes you think!! 10/10
If you have the option not to take Sullivans class or another professor for SOC 106, please take the other professor! He tries his hardest to make the lecture enjoyable but its extremely horrible! Most of your grade comes from exams, and he rarely ever gives out extra credit. Just dont take the classsss !!!
This man is incredible. Even throughout the drastic change to online schooling, he continued to bring amazing lectures and teach you more than just the content in the book. His lectures are hilarious and definitely not for the weak. He challenges the standard views we have as college students. He doesn't allow electronics but it's for our own good.
Sullivan gives great lectures that are interesting but get boring bc the length of the class and are extremely crammed and hot bc the amount of people. If you dont go to class you wont do well. Definitely would not recommend if you have bad school habits. First test was hard(100qs) Cant speak on other exams bc we got SAVED by corona
If I could go back in time I would have never chosen this professor. He spews political agenda and does nothing but put down republicans. He literally refers to them as satan in an exam. I thought this was supposed to be a sociology class not politics. Only take this class if you want to purposefully be brainwashed to the left for an easy A.
hes a great teacher but that it. the class has verey little ways to help your grades. its one quz a week and 3 tests. so if you fail the first two test, might as well drop out because it a waste of time. i put a lot effort in this class and im barely passing. used to be 80 people, now only like 25 people show up to class. class lectures are fun.
Sullivan is probably one of the worst teachers Ive had. Hes very rude, derogatory, and sexist. He doesnt seem to care for his students and actively targets them and degraded them in lectures. He got in multiple arguments with students and referred to his class being ignorant and uneducated many times.
Sociology is meant to broaden your understanding of differing perspectives and explain why we see certain phenomenons occur in society and what, as individuals, we can do to impact it. Sullivan does not teach sociology. He instead tells you why his political opinions are correct and offers no counter argument or differing viewpoints from his own.
Dr. Sullivan tolerates no disrespect in his class. He has basic expectations of you being at the class you signed up for and plans to make you learn. Phenomenal teacher and he says it how it is. Not for the faint of heart, he's not afraid to call you out. You will really learn something in this class. Great teacher.
very difficult class for only a gen ed, kinda rude too... I do not enjoy this class and have learned nothing so far. Don't waste your time on this class.
This was one of my favorite classes. I think Dr. Sullivan was an amazing professor. He clearly loves teaching sociology and engaging the minds of students. There were weekly quizzes, with the lowest ones dropped. There were tests. Yes, they are longer. Welcome to college, where you're expected to achieve a higher level of learning.
treats everyone like children, he acts all high and mighty if someone uses their phone and his tests were terrible. DONT TAKE THIS CLASS WITH HIM FOR THE LOVE OF GOD
2 weeks into class a good amount of students dropped the course because of how rude he is. If this course offers other professor options, I advise you to pick any other professor besides him. You're graded on 3 exams & 10 quizzes, rarely ever gives extra credit. If you miss a lecture you'll be lost & he doesn't care to post slides. Lots of reading.
Dr. Sullivan is funny, honest, and blunt. If you put in the work for this class, you can do well. You have to do your work, take the quizzes, and attend class, but it's really not that bad. If you don't think you have the time to put in the work for this class then avoid SOC 106.
Dr Sullivan is a great person in the world of Sociology he's interesting and offers very good insight in class and is quite personable. The downside is how he runs his class. 3 exams, 75 questions in 75 minutes and weekly quizzes. He has a great personality, but it's the hardest soc class I've taken yet and it's literally an introductory course.
Dr. Sullivan acts as if this is a 300 level class when this class is GenEd for most students. Obviously hes a flaming democratic, which I have no problem with. But if your gonna teach a lecture to 300 people use both sides left and right. Constantly hates on the right and for what they believe in. Fails to teach, rather put his political beliefs.
Dr. Sullivan is the most disrespectful professor I have ever had. He told people who asked how they could do better in his that they did not deserve a better grade. The number of readings he assigned were outrageous and his test were 75 questions but in order to complete the test in the time given, only a minute could be spent on each question
Didnt even last 2 weeks with this guy. Got into arguments with students, called them out, made me so uncomfortable and was so political, youd think its a presidential debate. Avoid this guy at all costs!! Ive never been so uncomfortable in my life. And the immature swearing, dont get me started. Dropping this class was the best decision ever!!
Dr. Sullivan is a solid professor- you learn a lot from him and he is very passionate about sociology. However, it is quite tough to be more right-leaning in his class. I understand sharing your opinion, but he constantly belittles the conservative opinion. It is not very becoming of a professor to constantly talk bad about some students' opinions.
This guy is one of the most annoying professors I have had and I am in my senior year at ISU. He thinks his constant immature cussing is funny, while he also gets awkwardly deep about sociology. Kinda lectures like he is a meaningful professor is a coming of age movie. His no electronics policy is literally ridiculous, I'm almost 22 years old.
Currently in his class, week 5. Insane amount of readings like we dont have other classes, except to be shown respect when respect is not given to the students, and we sit on 2-5 slides per lecture. I dont like showing up to class because its either and argument with him, ranting, and its a waste of time when I could be working on other things.
We had a 300 point exam that I did study for but still didn't get the best grade on. We take quizzes every Friday but what is the point when you could bomb that and have the other quizzes not matter. The review session wasn't really helpful at all it was just people asking questions, you think it would go over everything we have learned.
Im in his sociology class now, and for my last Gen Ed it is the hardest one I have taken. He has a ridiculous no electronics policy. If he sees a cell phone the whole class gets time docked off of the amount of time available for the next exam. He is disrespectful and spend 4/5 of the lecture insulting students. 3 exams all worth 30% of your grade
Richard is very passionate about his subject but you can tell he is a political sociologist. I learned more about politics in his class than actual sociology. He absolutely slams anyone that doesn't have the same opinions as him, so be prepared to have some thick skin. Take anyone else for SOC 106
The worst, most stubborn processor I have ever had. Do not, I repeat DO NOT have him as your processor. He is VERY VERY political. As you should know his grading is 10- 100 point quizzes and 3- 300 point test for your total grade. If you fail the first test you are screwed. I'm a good student with good grades and this class was terrible. Please NO!
You partaking in this class should be based on your intentions for college. If youre coming here to only get a degree, DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS WITH RICHARD SULLIVAN! If your intentions are to learn and know more about this subject. This is your class. Its not easy. You have to read everything assigned and attend every lecture to succeed. Great guy
If you care about your GPA do not take this class with Sullivan. He provides no study guides or info about tests. He also answers no questions. I promise you taking his class is a waste of your time and money. If you're going to pay for a class here you should find a professor that knows how to teach. I have never needed to drop a class until soc.
He was very knowledgeable on the subject, but spent a lot of time answering questions and got behind on his lectures. He will ask questions in his quizzes about things that were said in class, and doesn't release his presentations online, so as long as you go to class and at least skim the reading, you'll pass. TAKE GOOD NOTES though, it saved me
He knows what he is talking about but the man is just rude. Would come late every day. He would then get so far behind with student conversations and not get through all material. He is super political and precaches his theories and calls out people who don't think like him. His test are all lecture and text based so make sure to do the readings.
He isn't such a bad professor as everyone makes him out to be but the class is very difficult to say the least. There is a ton of reading to do. There are 3 exams that are worth 300 points in a class of 1,000 overall so if you don't do well on them you won't get a good grade. If you're willing to put hours of work in weekly take it if not don't.
I feel like Dr Sullivan is great at what he does and that is being a sociologist. Its just the class was so hard. He also didnt allow study guides. I studied a lot, and even got tutored because I was struggling with the class. The readings that he assign are really important also. Exams are extremely important too!!
Loved him. Professor wise, he was blunt but it helped you to understand where he came from. Really good at going into detail. You can tell he knows what he's talking about. Class wise, definitely read the assigned homework. All of it. Study everything, and sit up front. It'll help you in the long run. Ask questions since he really encourages it
Hey Richard, I know you read these. Please take these reviews to heart because the end of semester reviews are only from the people who made it through the class. The feedback you need to hear is from people who don't make it because I believe it's those people who need to hear the stuff you teach the most. Also relax more, chill with the swearing.
Go into this class with an open mind. Dr Sullivan can be blunt which only offends oversensitive and entitled students. His lectures are amazing He is extremely helpful during his office hours. The exams can be difficult but he actually wants you to learn something. Go to class & read. If you value your education over getting an easy A, take this!
Sullivan is the best professor at ISU. He is energetic, hilarious, and does not back down. He is exactly what a sociology professor should be. If you come with an open mind you will leave the class thinking of everything in a new way. It is really mind opening and a great class. Plus Sullivan loves to be himself, unapologetically and it is awesome
Assigns around 5 readings a week that are around 25 pages and quized on. Quizes are 10 questions and 10 minutes to complete.
Students mention swearing--not an issue for me. Very opinionated, lecture-heavy on material unrelated to coursework. Came off as pseudo-intellectual that was more "woke" than everyone. Grading "doesn't matter" to him, grading rubric is "stupid", yet grades hard. Articulate and brash (like Trump) yet spent the whole semester talking about him. 0/10
He’s very disrespectful and promised us extra credit for rating him well on here because his rating is low. He is full of himself and doesn’t explain the material well either. Don’t take him for any classes if you can help it.
he's pretty well educated and knows what he's talking about but he's very brash and unapologetically himself. I know he's a divisive man but give him a chance. you might like him, you might not. very intense personality. his class wasn't too hard, most of the questions are common sense as long as you showed up for lectures.
To all the people upset are the people who tried to pass the class without trying/getting help. Sullivan is one of the funniest professors I've had. I struggled a lot in this class but he was always willing to help if you put in the effort to go see him. Sitting in the front for lectures HELPS. who knows you might meet you 3 bffs in the front row..
Sullivan is very opinionated and very lecture heavy. His quizzes and tests are strongly based on what he has said and the lengthy material he requires. He also had raging opinions and only cares about his. He has a large ego as well.
really awesome teacher, you better be ready to do a lot of reading but overall course is not difficult as long as you keep up! There are no study guides for tests but tutoring is a good option and study groups!
Professor Sullivan was one of the best professors I have ever had, although a bit strict he is the funniest, and nicest professor. He was very accessible through office hours, email, and all other sources! His class is a must take in my opinion. I enjoyed class and looked forward to it each week.
Richard Sullivan is an egotistical socialist professor who uses his "Sociology class" to push his ideologies onto his students. Overall, he is a good and passionate lecturer. His class is unorganized, is graded primarily off of tests based on long readings that are assigned during the week. Lectures never really touched upon in exams.
I took Soc 106 with Professor Sullivan spring semester 2022, I think he has a great personality and you can tell he is very passionate with what he teaches, however, he does is a very harsh grader and I feel his assistant put in more work than he did. He was rude to students on occasion and didn't teach online- we were very behind all semester.
It wasn't that hard of a class as long as you showed up and did your reading. BUT He is very aggressive when he speaks and uses a LOT of vulgar language. Personally, I think it is incredibly unprofessional to speak the way he was speaking almost every class period. And if you have issues with something in class, he will basically tell you oh well
I don't think this man knew how to be professional. He was always rude to students in the middle of class, very dismissive of other people's views, and swore basically every other word. His lectures had nothing to do with the exams, and his readings were extremely long. He told us not a single person in our 300-person class passed with an A...
Do not recommend. Interesting lectures but does not relate to any test material, which is the majority of your grade. Sullivan has a god complex like no other and is not helpful, you're on your own.
Dr. Sullivan was easily the most difficult teacher I have ever had. We had significant amounts of homework and tests were very difficult and heavily weighted. Although that all sounds like it sucks, I did all of the work for this class and learned SO MUCH. Just be a good student (do all of the homework, take notes, attend all lectures).
He has a very dry sense of humor which I thought was funny at times but can kind of get obnoxious. I skipped a lot of lectures and still did decent on the tests and quizzes because a lot of it was on quizlets or just common sense. It's not a hard class but a lot of reading for just a 100-level class. Not worth it to go on your phone during class.
He is very entertaining and I truly enjoyed his class. He challenges people to think about why the world is the way it is. Conservatives would not like his class because he would show stats to disprove their points. Lots of politics, but that's sociology. Many similar terms made exams hard, and he would use readings on exams.
If you do the readings before classes you should be set for this class. He is definitely one of the most insane professors I have ever seen, but that at least makes class interesting. He did apply no technology rules so be aware of that if your signed up for his courses.
Be ready to read and actually go to class. There are lecture quizzes and a lot of the quizzes are centered around the notes taken in lecture and the readings for the week. The exams are not difficult as long as you have substantial notes and you look at the vocabulary from the book.
He was a good professor but I would never want the stress of his class again. I learned so much but this was very hard and if you are not willing to give 100% this is not for you.
Dr. Sullivan was honestly a really moving teacher. He is passionate about what he teaches, which makes the class interesting. I loved this class so much that I decided to minor in Sociology. Attend class, most of the quizzes and exams are based off of the readings, but there are also questions that you would one know if you attended class.
Good luck getting an A! Spoiler alert: you won't get an A. Grades are only based on 3 Tests and 2 Video Essays. His lectures are boring and don't really help prepare for tests. Your best bet is just reading the textbook. Avoid his class if you can.
He is not near as bad that most of these reviews make him seem. He is definitely different in that he will actually challenge a students opinion on a topic with his own. I never went to class, nor did the readings and still received a B, not that hard of a class if you have common sense. 3 tests and 2 papers is what you're graded on, no electronics
Sullivan is definitely a character. Loved him though. He's very smart and he makes class fun. Was never a dull day with him and he always had amazing lectures. Would take a class with him again for sure
He has a unique way of making his online tests hard; he has too many questions for the allotted amount of time. Any teacher can make a test extremely difficult, they just choose not to. He also reads these ratings in class to get a kick out of it. Show the university this is not appreciated by not taking his class in the first place. Not worth it.
Professor Sullivan has a unique teaching style, but if you engage with it, the class is rewarding. Attend lectures, do the readings, and utilize resources like unstuckstudy ai for study prep. It's a challenging course, but manageable with dedication.
I am in this class currently and I HATE IT. Prof Sullivan is very lecture heavy and even told us the class average was a C. Lots of reading and not for the weak.
Taking this class right now. The whole class failed the first exam, and it shows that his teaching is crap. He makes huge presentations and exams and does not upload his slides online. 300-point exams btw. He absolutely hates electronics and punishes the whole class (around 300 students) if someone has their phone out. Just avoid at all costs dude.
I am taking this course right now. Incoming Freshman and all others RUN. Definitely do NOT take this course if you hate lecture and reading. This entire course is reading a book and listening to him yap. Oh and you are graded on 3 300 point tests. Unfortunately I don't enjoy this class as much as I wanted. This GEN-ED is my hardest class right now.
I would not recommend taking SOC106 with Sullivan. He is extremely unprofessional, always using an unnecessary amount of profanity within his lectures. Sure I understand using the occasional profane word in a lecture, but at this point he is throwing out the F word every other word.
During the first lecture, he ranted about rate my professor. By the end of that lecture, I knew why. This guy literally just yaps and goes on political tangents (we share the same views however by week 10 it's just annoying). Our entire class failed the first exam, and most of your grade will be the tests. If you want to learn or pass AVOID HIM!!!
This guy HATES Donald Trump
Let me know his stance on Trump winning. I can only imagine what he's gonna say
If you want to have an even somewhat enjoyable experience taking a class don't take his class. He just talks and talks about things of no importance instead of actually covering important course info, and when he does cover course info he runs through it barely giving anyone time to take in what he just said. Pick a different professor.
Bro was a D1 yapper that took me to snoozington city every class. Lowk fade if you're just a chill guy who likes to have fun and sleep.
Dr. Sullivan goes on LONG tangents (every single class) about trump, he *sprinted* out the door from the front of the class to chase down 2 girls that left his class, he told our class "If you're only here to get a good grade f** you, you aren't my students" while holding up both middle fingers. If it sounds crazy, it's because it is... DONT TAKE!!
Ong this fo does nothin but talk ab trump
Don't pay attention to what the reviews from 2023 say, old bloke is senile and he's definitely taking advantage of his tenure from how much he swears in class
Just save yourself the hassle and dont take this class, you will not get an A. Also if you do, don't buy the textbook you will not read it
Do not take his class; he talks too much, and when it comes to the exams, he either doesn't give a study guide or gives a study guide, and it doesn't help or give any information about the exam. He doesn't give any guidance for exams. I just suggested don't take the class and said we would all pass with at least a C... THATS A LIE!!!
Towards the beginning the class was alright, you either had to show up or do the readings every day for a good grade, but as long as you did one you could coast with a B. He talks a lot, but was mostly on topic to start. By the time Trump ran for office, he lost the plot. The last 4 weeks of class were 50 minutes of Trump with 20 of content. SAD!!
He talks so much and barely discusses course content. All of the tests have 75+ questions and said that you're doing well if you have a C in the class. I really do not recommend taking this class, I am a business major and took this as a gen-ed and it brought my GPA down so much. The past two exams only 10% of students got an A.
This was honestly my favorite class I took this semester. He has amazing lectures and is super funny. Attendance isn't mandatory, but to do good in the class you need to read, and actually going and paying attention to the lectures is super helpful. And try to ask questions because he is happy to answer them, that will help you a ton!
He's an amazing sociology teacher! If you genuinely want to learn about how the world works, he is the best professor for it. He's also super willing to talk after or outside of class, so 100% ask questions if you need clarification!
need a reason to drop out? this class will be it.
The average test score for my class of 300 was a D on all three of his tests, final included. They're worth 90% of the grade. He takes away quiz time if students are using any electronic devices, which was literally laughable. You can tell he wants to be liked and respected so bad its funny. He seems to curse just to get a reaction from students.
This class was great. Many of these reviews are from freshmen who wanted an easy-A gen ed (which is not what college is for...). Unfortunately, you do have to do work for college classes...that's like, the whole point. He's a great lecturer and while his tests are written to be difficult, if you do the readings and go to class, you'll do fine.
His lectures were hard to sit through sometimes. He was a funny professor, but sometimes made unnecessary comments during class. Oftentimes, he tended to trail off onto one topic for way too long. Most of the material he covers in lecture is from the textbook, but I didn't bother to buy it and still passed. NO TECHNOLOGY ALLOWED during class.
It wasn't an awful course if you went to the lectures. Weekly quizzes, but honestly fairly straight forward. He is very enthusiastic, which some see as a negative thing, but I found it to be a good attribute. He clearly cares about what he teaches.
If you do not participate (actively), he WILL call you out. If you don't know the material, then he'll think you're dumb. Do not recommend.
I think Dr. Sullivan is a very underrated professor. I think it takes the first few days to get used to him and how he teaches,s but if you are at least somewhat interested in Sociology or Politics, you'll have a great time in this class. He's a very energetic, passionate, and knowledgeable lecturer and professor. certainly recommend.
LET ME DEFEND MY GOAT: Richard Sullivan is an excellent professor with a sailor mouth. Everyone on here bellyaching about his Trump lectures didn't see the point - it's a contemporary sociology course, of COURSE it's going to feature an extensive analysis on an important social institution when the opportunity presents itself! Take this class.
One of my favorite professors at ISU so far - other reviews say that you have to show up for a good grade, and yeah... that's how school works. He knows what he is talking about, and he tends to speak his mind very bluntly. Would recommend if you want a professor who you can learn a lot from.
Just to let you know he will not round your grade and doesn't care at all about grades. Those should not he important to you if taking this class. He makes that very clear. He goes off on tangents so be prepared to study on your own. Attendance isn't required but he asks questions about specific things that happened in class on quizzes so show up.
If you are taking this class good luck. This class was hard and ngl you got to attend class everyday in this class and actually read the material. The weekly quizzes was good and all but the exams were so hard especially the first 2. I wouldn't recommend this class but if you are gonna take this class GOOD LUCK!!!!!
This was one of the most unbearable classes i have ever taken. Dude would rant for an hour and a half about how he hates trump and then expect us to figure out the course material. Stopped going to lectures they were so bad. Weekly quizzes could be passed with some informed guesses, didint end up reading the book at all and did ok tho.
he really is the worse professor because not only his long tantrums on world events that yes fit his class criteria, but NONE OF IT IS ON THE TEST. he doesn't allow phones, or computers in his class. His slideshows are also never posted on canvas, and he will take time of the entire classes quiz if he sees phones out. Learning is hard in this class
Class Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
45%
Textbook Required
73%
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