4.0
Quality3.4
Difficulty63%
Would Retake118
Reviews63%
Would Retake
118
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
52
4
39
3
17
2
7
1
3
What Students Say
“super hard, but super good class”
APHI111 - 4.0 rating“Ron is by far one of the best professors I have had here at UA”
APHI111 - 5.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
91%
Textbook Required
44%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B+
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.42 avg changeRatings by Course
111
5.0
(1)415515
5.0
(1)PHI
5.0
(1)PHYL
5.0
(1)PHY211
5.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
C-
5.0
APHI315
5.0
415515
4.0
APHI111L
4.0
NUMEROUS
4.0
Reviews (118)
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Really interesting, thought-provoking course
he was a pretty good teacher and he told funny stories.
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fairly interesting guy and I'll forgive him for rambling since it was a phi class. Don't skip class though his quizes will hurt your grade, you'll still probably pass though because its an easy course.
Good guy, keeps yoru attention, don't take if you miss class alot
great class, funny stories
made me decide to minor in philosophy.....great course
I didn't do so well in this class but I definitely enjoyed it as Ron keeps your interest throughout and definitely dont miss class because there are pop quizzes all the time
Good teaacher, very fare.
Very fair grader, you always know what to expect. Engaging lecturer, never boring. He's so loud that if anyone falls asleep in class, he wakes them up. However, many of his examples only make the material more confusing than it already is.
Ron is a good teacher, except his wording is so technical and indirect...but I guess that's expected in a philosophy class. I'm not particularly interested in the subject, however, office hours are extremely helpful...you'll find he gives you answers to some questions on the upcoming tests.
Ron is the funniest and one of the coolest professors that I've had. He is really nice, and tries hard to get us to internalize and understand the material. However, the class is very difficult--you've got to be on top of the material at ALL TIMES, or you will struggle a lot--it's tough.
Probably the koolest professor I've had. He kicks ass. He's funny and entertaining. Attendance is a must for the Pop quizzes that have scary clowns. Notes available online. once,he couldn't make class, so he tape recorded a lecture and had his TA play it to the class. It was kool and kinda creepy!!!
Hard class for a 100 level. Seems to get off on his extremely hard tests. Is a little conceded.
his vocabulary makes the concepts kinda hard to understand, but it's do-able..the review sheets tell u xactly what to study and he puts all the notes online..study and def go to office hours n its fine
awesome guy, real chill. i thought the class was interesting and he is so loud its hard to drift off. dont buy the course packet, his tests are all based on lecture. i didnt get the packet based on a friends advice and am getting an A in the class
I simply took this class cuz i had nothing else to take, but i grew to luv it. It was an amazing class! don't buy the packet wast of $, go to his office hours he's a big help, and so is dave the TA! I found it not easy but an A is not that hard to get if u do ur work!!
Very nice guy
He's funny and loud, and gives some really good and interesting lectures that I still can remember very clearly- but, he doesn't have class discussions. Not having discussions in a philosophy class is like not having labs in a science class.
I hate philosophy but this man made it more than tolerable.Lectures are all outlined on powerpoint, making studying for tests a breeze, just put in the time and effort. Going to class helps in the longrun, but isn't necessary all the time. dont buy the packet of photocopies...i didn't open it once.
great professor. knows his stuff. doesn't dumb down the class. is available when you need him to be. interesting material.
Dont sleep through this class, you will be lost. I was lost, but it was a fun experiance anyway, if you have to take a philosophy class take it with McClamrock, he is an interesting character, an if you pay attention in class an go, you will do well. Careful of pop-quizes they really do pop up often, and kill your grade if you miss them.
After reading other reviews of this guy, I'm thinking that maybe he chilled out over the years. When I had him in 1997, he was a complete tool. And his class sucked.
He was real good.. didn't get bored during the class.... its easy to fall behind.. but if you keep up the calss should be no problem
Prof McClamrock is, without question, one of the best professors I have ever had. He is deeply knowledgeable about the subject(s) he teaches and adept at distilling complex and abstract concepts in such a way so that they become accessible.
This man made me minor in philosophy. AWESOME
I loved this class. His lectures are organized, fun, and easy to follow. The course readings are interesting to learn more but are not necessary to do well. His grading policy (where he drops some grades) leaves plenty of room to improve even if you have a few hard days/topics. It was a great gen. ed. course. I would take this course again.
Class is a big lecture, uses powerpoint (so easy to take notes) and posts them online. The only problem I have is that there is no class discussion, which is a huge help in Philosophy courses. He loves what he does - gives frequent pop quizzes to take attendance.
Go to the reviews they give you all the answers to the actual test
Tough class for a freshman. Intimidating at first, but this guy loves his job. Go to review sessions. Attendance is mandatory (pop quizzes) Studied 3 hours before each test and got a B+ for the semester.
Challenging but good class. Attendance is mandatory because the pop quizzes can definitely affect your grade. Tests are hard IF you don't attend review sessions (a ton of answers are given at them).
Good class for philosophy majors...easy to take notes, there all on powerpoint. Tests are super easy if you use the review sheet and go to revision sessions. Great guy as well as a great teacher.
get the tests from someone who took it last semester. the tests are basically the same. go to the review sessions. go to class because he takes attendance with pop quizzes that count towards your grade. if you do all this you can just go to class and enjoy the material without worrying about the tests
McClamrock is the best. Loud, passionate about philosophy, and wants you to succeed and learn. The class is easy but not very easy. Take the overhead notes off the class website, go to the review sessions before the test and read over the notes. That's all it takes for an A. Attendance is semi-mandatory because he gives pop-quizes. Have fun!
One of the stupidest most worthless classes I ever took. Ron talks about complete nonsense ever lecture and is convinced that we are all living in the Matrix and our brains are all in jars on a shelf somewhere. Tests are close to impossible and his TA incorrectly graded almost every Test and quiz I took. Steer clear of this nightmare!
This class is a challenge. Go to class because pop quiz's and polls count for 20% of your grade. Tests are really specific and don't expect to just float by, you need to know your stuff. Help is always available.
I loved how he used South Park and Buffy the Vampire Slayer references in his logic equations. He made the subject much more user friendly. Although attendance is not mandatory, he told us right up front that attendance is majorly important, especially the class after a test was given.
Good teacher really knows his stuff, course seems confusing at first but give it a chance and a more interesting topic will come up.
Interesting class even if you don't have interest in the subject. Very straightforward and there is a good review sheet. Make sure you participate-it's a good chunk of your grade. Exams are easy if you study. Recommended.
Great teacher, very engaging and really knows his stuff. He's passionate about what he teaches and has quite a personality. Take this class if you're into philosophy, it's quite something. You really need to understand the material to do well on the exams: just go to class every day and go to the review sessions, you'll do fine.
Ron speaks very loudly and will probably confuse you at times. the tests are easy if you come to class and take notes. ALSO GO TO THE REVIEW SESSIONS!! he gives out some questions and answers that will be on the test. there are no textbooks and you dont have to read the stories he posts online.
He was very engaging in the subject, however I didn't find the subject area was taught very clearly.
This was one of the better gen ed classes I've taken. The material is pretty interesting and Ron does a good job of presenting it. There is virtually no work outside of class, except for reviewing your notes. Nothing on the exams is ever a surprise and I would definitely recommend the review sessions as they are worthwhile. Overall, a good class.
Excellent professor. He focuses on in-class learning; outside reading is supplementary. He is interested and extremely well-versed in his subject. Your thinking about science will be clearer and more powerful after taking his "Understanding Science" course.
Very good teacher willing to do his best to help any student understand the material
nice prof! he will post audio on the webpage~~easy to get an A
Great guy, very intense and he knows what he's doing. Its an iClicker class but attendance is extremely helpful. Its philosophy so its gonna be tough but Ron and his TA do a great job. Make sure to go to the review sessions his TA Ed does, just going and listening makes all the material make sense
He is a very nice man and I do believe he wants his students to do well. I didnt know what this class was when I signed up for it but I feel it is one of my harder classes. The tests are all based on the overheads pretty much, but ALOT of memorization for the tests
Hes very loud and his tests require studying but hes a great guy. Memorize things for the tests. Take good notes.
He composes very interesting lectures, some that may be a bit confusing though. His tests require studying... not necessarily an easy A. Also, he gives clicker quizzes so make sure you attend class and pay attention.
clicker quizzes daily. Memorize slides entirely. He doesnt ask straight forward questions. Requires memorization. Not extremely hard but some studying necessary. At least 3 hours for each of his 4 tests. (drops lowest grade-get good grades and get out of final)
Very interesting topics, great lectures. Pretty straightforward overall, but the material requires review and at least a little studying. He's very tech-happy so you get audio of lectures if you're taking an LC class and the slides are posted on his website. All readings are in pdf. Makes everything really accessible and interesting. Great prof.
Awesome, awesome professor. Knows the material upside-down and backwards, material is difficult but he teaches and explains it well. Loved this class.
the guy definitely cares about his material and explains it as best anyone could. it is a philosophy class so i personally am not very interested in all the fantasy made up stuff that is philosophy.everything is extremely detailed but very manageable with the study guide he gives. with a decent amount of studying and going to class its not terrible
Extremely good teacher. His class is well organized and he is a great communicator. The material is fairly difficult, but he makes every effort to help you understand it. Take advantage of the audio from the classes that he posts. It's extremely helpful. iClicker class with optional attendance, but it helps your grade a ton.
Wow, this is a HARD class - and I'm doing well!! You NEED to go over and study the notes before each exam, or you'll fail (like half the class always does on the first exam); awesome professor though. Uses the iclicker every day. Material and readings can get very confusing. Don't take for an elective if you think it's an easy 'A' - it's NOT!!!
Very interesting class if you like philosophy. Attendance was not mandatory but he did give a few iclicker quizzes and polls. You could use your notes on quizzes. 5 tests, he takes off the lowest grade. Also he usually curves the test grades slightly. Offers review sessions before class and has a good TA.Tests are very fair, easy if you study.
Great professor but difficult class, at least the way he teaches it. He is very clear and his quizzes and test are difficult but you should be fine with adequate preparation. There was a TA to help with out of class hours.
Passionate, well versed and very helpful professor. If you attend class and take notes that's all you need to do well. He has a great sense of humor and is an all around great guy. If you want to take a class that makes you think critically and is straight forward then this one is a great choice.
iclicker needed for class so gta pay attention in order to get the quizzes rite. 5 tests a semester, and material not so interesting
Ron is an amazing lecturer, and knows SO much about philosophy! The class itself though is HARD. Sometimes the lectures drag on but for the most part it's at least a little bit interesting. The tests are very hard, and you must study and go to office hours if you don't understand something. Trust me, working hard in this class will pay off.
One of the best classes I've had. If you come to class every day, and pay attention you won't get lost. TA's are also really helpful
Very hard class if you want an easy A do not take this as a gen ed. Not to mention the TA was very bad.
Very hard class. Although a passing grade is a 40/100, the tests are hard and tricky. TA's are no help. Attend every class and make sure you have your iclicker!
The material is hard to grasp. His notes are very general so you need to come to class and pay attention. If you doze off or don't come, you won't understand anything. He uses the clicker everyday but the answers are from previous notes. The tests are always curved and the readings aren't mandatory.
There will be pop quizzes with the iClickers every single day. They are usually quite easy and based on notes and theyre open book. For tests though be VERY specific. I found I got the best grades when I simply memorized the notes and regurgitated them on the test. His topics are fairly interesting and he is quite energetic about what he's teaching
Not a class to mess around with. Make sure you pay attention this is NOT an easy A.
This class is really easy and the professor is really good at explaining the lectures. He only gives 5 exams and drops the lowest. Iclicker points are worth 20% of your grade so skipping class isn't a good idea. The exams are short answer questions and multiple choice questions. They aren't that hard, just make sure you read and memorize.
he rambles on during class and most of the time almost put me to sleep. even if you study and know the material front and back, its still near impossible to get an A on the exams. I had the exams for the class and i still didnt get better than a B+
super hard, but super good class. ta is cute
Ron is awesome! He's very engaging and intelligent. There are multiple iClicker quizzes every day, he drops the lowest 5. 5 tests and he drops the lowest one. Tests are all short answer and are pretty challenging if you don't really study. No textbook, and the readings he gives are usually not tested. Overall, he's a great teacher.
Good teacher but not very engaging. The content is difficult, but he's very good about answering questions and helping you understand. Very tough grader and will often drop points for very minor things, which can be very frustrating. Wouldn't recommend this class, but would recommend the professor if you're interested in Philosophy.
Honestly my favorite professor. Super engaged and enthusiastic about what he's teaching. The readings aren't even important so you have to go to class to know what he's teaching. Clicker quizzes everyday. There are also review sessions before each test. If you go to class, it's an easy A.
I'm one of those students who's always asking questions. Even if you aren't into philosophy, he seems to make any class interesting. I'm not a philosophy major, but I was still extremely intrigued. The professor is great, always seems interested in the students questions and explains everything slowly and well. Slides are great and straight forward
Really great guy! I often went to his office hours and he was more than willing to explain things to you one on one. He definitely breaks down his examples for you step by step. You kind of have to open your mind to understand this class, but it's very interesting and enjoyable. His clicker quizzers are open note, but you have to act fast!
The class is what you get out of it. Pay attention and take notes, it'll be very boring unless your really interested in it. He wants you to understand the material and if you take advantage of office hours you will pass the class. You can't use technology but it is for the best.
Ron is by far one of the best professors I have had here at UA. The class is 5 exams with the lowest being dropped. He understands that the material is not the easiest for the students to grasp, so he is very willing to work with them. Interesting Humanities GenEd. Also, his TA gives review sessions the night before the exams. Go to them :)
While lecture was interesting and somewhat balanced in terms of atheists and religion, it was certainly steering students to think to more atheists arguments. Counterarguments against religion did not really make sense sometimes. Tests are impossible. No Laptop or Phone use at all.
Wow, what a ridiculously hard/boring class. I found myself writing pages and pages of notes on stuff that was nearly impossible to understand. Super super strict on no screens/cheating. Clicker questions every class. Ron was always happy to help during office hours and was really nice and smart, but this class was so hard for a 100 level.
Loud (good). Always there to answer questions. The class Im taking is lots of memorizing. Im probably on the verge of failing but he is a pretty good teacher.
You need to be very invested in order to pass his class .
Wouldnt recommend this class. 100 level class but work and exams are more like 300-400 level.
Amazing professor in terms of character you can tell he is passionate about his subject. You must be interested and engaged with the topics in order to do well, however.
There's five tests. Not hard if you take notes and study. He drops the lowest grade so you end up with 4 tests, each counting 20% of your grade. Very reliant on clickers and that's the other 20%. Everything on the tests are on what he teaches in class so readings aren't mandatory. No homework, just lectures and tests. Very enjoyable class.
Nice professor and TA, taking and a good note and reviewing is important. You should bring your iclicker, it will take a part in your final score. This class has five exams totally. The TA and professor are happy to answer your any question.
Ron is the best philosophy professor, and maybe just the best professor in general at UAlbany. He organizes his class structures well, keeps class engaging, and cares about answering questions. For APHI 111 you don't need to do the readings, just go to every class and pay attention and take notes on WHAT HE SAYS, NOT JUST WHATS ON THE BOARD.
good prof, knows what hes talking about and sometimes makes subtle jokes. 5 tests but drops the lowest one, not cumulative. uses clickers for quizzes every class, super easy bc its open notes. however, its a LOT of work. a bunch of notes and you need to study for hours if you want to pass the tests. good thing is he curves all of them.
Gen ed class but he teaches like he's teaching philosophy majors. Multiple clicker quizzes per class. Dropped this class like a sack of potatoes.
This guy is awesome oh my god. He's my favorite teacher I've had so far. I'm going to be taking another class just so he can be my teacher again. Lots of in class clicker quizzes that he makes based on the notes you just took. The tests are a breeze if you read your notes over the night before the test and GO TO HIS STUDY THING THE NIGHT BEFORE!
One of the best classes I've ever taken. He is very passionate about what he's teaching, and it made me actually want to go out of my way and learn about more about philosophy. Clicker quizzes every class, but open note. Study for tests as you learn and follow the study guide and you'll be okay, as long as you stay on top of the studying.
Loud man, letters the whole class. Attendance is taken by clicker points, he gives mini quizzes and polls in class with the clickers but an easy way to maintain your grade with the points. Theres 5 tests all non cumulative. The material is hard to grasp and little challenging. He says there is readings but you dont have to do them
Hes pretty nice and understanding. Just dont use your phone in class.
always found a way to keep the lectures entertaining and keep the class engage. Great professor would take his class again
Difficult concepts but was very repetitive which helped A LOT. However, pop quizzes were extremely hard compared to exams. Grading system is confusing but you end up getting the hang of it. Professor is very obviously an atheist himself which made the second half of the course notably biased but still interesting. Decently easy exams.
NO TEXTBOOK AND VERY LITTLE TO READ SO GO TO CLASS!! He even says that if you miss lecture, it will be hard to understand the exams. Plus side is, the readings he posts are not that long or boring to read, but missing a week or two of classes will destroy your exam grade. Very fair grader, made 20% iClicker, then 80% tests (5 tests, drops lowest)
Hardest class ever, if you're not interested in philosophy at all whatsoever do not take it !!!
Loud guy! Sure jolts you awake for lecture time, haha. Definitely more of the science-y side of philosophy, not political or social (whether God exists, whether the mind the brain, etc.). iClicker quizzes every class. GO TO EXAM REVIEW for freebies. You don't really have to fully understand the topics to ace the exams just memorize key phrases.
This is only a good class if youre into Philosophy or a Philosophy major, otherwise pick a different class to complete your gen ed requirement. My friends and I were literally fighting for our lives to pass. And yes, go to class, because every class he uses clickers for quiz credit and attendance. Need to pass 2/5 exams to pass & its hard.
This course is very lecture-heavy so you have to pay attention. There are probably easier courses for a gen-ed credit, but there's no homework except for optional readings so your grade is based on iClicker points and tests. He drops the lowest test grade and 7 lowest iClicker grades. Go to review sessions before tests!!
He assigns readings that even he says are extremely difficult to read and I found I didn't get anything out of them past Russell. However, his slides in class don't offer any help and are extremely confusing with many spelling mistakes. He also brings up religion and politics where they aren't appropriate and provide no benefit to learning.
Professor McClamrock is awesome, you can tell he really loves what he does. The class is a little boring sometimes unless you are really into philosophy but he makes it fun. The material is really interesting and makes it think. He does clicker quizzes as attendance but is super fair with test and quiz grades.
In terms of understanding information, the lecture notes he has are kinda hard to grasp. Lecture heavy so dont miss class otherwise youll be lost. Fair grading, 5 test (non-cumulative) and drops the lowest. No hw but IClicker quizzes on class lessons. Honestly just make sure to take down notes and memorize them for class. No surprises on exams.
Professor Ron is an awesome professor! He gives 5 tests and drops the lowest one and gives clicker quizzes in class and drops the lowest 7 clicker grades. The material can be difficult so make sure you pay attention, write notes, and don't skip class. Also go to the review sessions before the tests and go to his office hours!
Took this class my freshman year since I needed the credit for a gen-ed. I would never take this class again. His test are every 2 weeks which isn't bad but they are IMPOSSIBLE to pass. Attendance isn't mandatory but he uses the clickers daily as quiz questions and they count so you need to be there and get them right. Good luck
be prepared for pop quizzes. as long as you study and pay attention, its an easy pass. Paying attention in lecture is crucial bc the stuff he says are typically on the test
I cant say much about the professor himself as he was out most of the semester due to health issues. As for the class, most difficult class ever. Only graded on a couple tests. Tests consist of long and short response, as well as 20 ish multiple choice. Hard material to learn. Must go to class, iclickers used.
This class was very stressful. The professor himself doesn't make it that way, it is just very information heavy. Tests require not knowing definitions but examples primarily. However, he is willing to help if you are struggling if you see him during office hours. Philosophy is very confusing, so if you take this class try not to make it an 8am.
Ron was my favorite professor by far. He speaks very loudly in class and is very clear with the concepts. You will need an Iclicker for 20% of your grade. there are 5 tests along the semester and he drops the lowest one. he also drops the lowest 7 Clicker grades. GO TO THE REVIEW. the TA will hand out answers and it makes a huge difference.
Prof. McClamrock's lectures are probably the best lectures I've had the pleasure to sit through. His lectures genuinely made me self reflect on my own values and beliefs. He is a harsh grader, but he cares about his students and is genuinely very nice. He takes students' feedback very seriously. Available outside of class often, would recommend.
Would totally recommend! The way he describes topics makes it so if you pay attention to lecture, the concepts click in your head! The course material is also great, it helped me rethink my own beliefs. Prof cares deeply about his students and their feedback, and is super funny and kind. Definitely tough grader, attendance matters a lot.
No homework, he is extremely lecture heavy so missing class will set you back. He has 5 big exams and curves every one, drops the lowest exam. Must have a remote Iclicker and he has 3 quizzes & 2-3 polls every day that affects your Clicker grade and ultimately affects your grade, so you must show up to class and take notes (No tech allowed)
Probably the best professor ive had at UA yet. While the content of this course is relatively difficult, he is very good at explaining the content in a way that keeps you engaged and hopefully makes you understand it. In addition, McClamrock and his TA are always available to answer any and all questions you may have. No electronics in this class!
Prof McClamrock is an amazing professor. His class is tech-free, and he uses clickers for attendance/participation, but if you're okay with that, then you'll love his class. His class is lecture-heavy, but he's an awesome speaker and makes the topics very clear. Drops the lowest exam & 7 lowest clicker grades, so you're given some wiggle room.
I would not recommend taking this philosophy course with this professor if you have other options. He is an extremely poor teacher and does not prepare students for the heavy exams or the complex vocabulary and material we are expected to memorize. Lectures feel unorganized and do little to actually help us understand the readings or key concepts.
You have to pay very close attention to the lectures and it's very boring. Attendance is mandatory with an iClicker that you have to buy, and there's pop quizzes. It's fake hard to study for the exams, I had to use ChatGPT to help me study lmao. Don't take this class if you don't like philosophy or have no prior knowledge abt it. Hope this helps.
Great lectures, obviously loves what he is doing/teaching, funny, and makes the class easy. Don't go on your phone and focus a little bit and its an easy A. Great guy overall and highly recommend him for a gen ed or if you're interested in philosophy.
Miss a lecture, and you'll pay the cost, but info is easy to learn and retain, professor is passionate as well.
Class Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
91%
Textbook Required
44%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B+
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.42 avg changeRatings by Course
111
5.0
(1)415515
5.0
(1)PHI
5.0
(1)PHYL
5.0
(1)PHY211
5.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
C-
5.0
APHI315
5.0
415515
4.0
APHI111L
4.0
NUMEROUS
4.0