3.5
Quality3.4
Difficulty33%
Would Retake96
Reviews33%
Would Retake
96
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
39
4
15
3
20
2
12
1
10
What Students Say
“I learned absolutely nothing taking this course”
105 - 2.0 rating“He also cancels class quite often”
SOCG105 - 2.0 ratingClass Info
Attendance Mandatory
80%
Textbook Required
60%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.93 avg changeRatings by Course
200300
5.0
(1)200301
5.0
(1)SOCG472
5.0
(1)SOC301472
5.0
(1)SOC200301
5.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
105
5.0
SOCG0200
5.0
200ANDTHEORY
5.0
INTRO
5.0
SOC100
4.0
Reviews (96)
He is the cutest guy! The lectures are boring though and basically your test grades are irrevelant because a certain number of people get A's, B's, etc...so dont worry if you get all 70's, you can still get a B...nice guy though, for real.
No Comments
I completely disagree with his grading ideas. If I work my butt off for a B+ I only get credit for a B. I need that B+ to study abroad buddy. But other than that, he's a great professor, really interesting and extremely intelligent. Easy to talk to
Don't take him for 200. Unless you like to listen to a man ramble for the whole class. Tests can be vague. Makes you read his book, which is written in ultra-sociology terms. He bashes the other book, although it makes more sense.
If you are a socg major and have a hard time handling biology this class is tough - very helpful though - spent 45 minutes with me going over our midterm and upcoming research paper.
This class is awesome. I look forward to Tues/Thurs because I get to go to it. He adds really fascinating anecdotes and side stories. One of my favorite classes here.
Class can be boring sometimes if you're not totally into the material. Interesting Prof, though-- Knows his stuff, tells good stories. Tests can be tough, but he'll curve them sometimes
I love Professor Crippen! Contemp. Soc. Theory can be boring, but he's a cool guy anyway. The only bad thing about the course is you don't really know where you stand grade-wise. The grade is based entirely on participation and the final.
He wrote one of the two books, it's an awful book, he trys to use big words to sound smart. Whole class is about evolutionary sociology, which isnt in the description. I was so bored. Though, I never went to class and never read and still got a B.
great class...great prof...a very nice guy!
Prof. Crippen is a very fair and understading teacher, however he demands quite alot from first year freshman. He tests are difficult and require lots of study! The basis for the course is evolution which is not in the course description.
No Comments
No Comments
Who rated him hot? haha - but either way he is a really nice guy who has really prepared his lectures. sometimes he is a little over the top but he is always willing to explain. his tests are sometimes confusing but overall it isn't that demanding.
Probably the worst class I've taken. The man is so wrapped up in himself there is no room left for the class. It's his view of everything no science or professional studies. Horrible class, avoid.
An awesome class! This guy really knows his stuff. Lectures are very well organized and tests are very fair. He's sweet, too!!!!
Really cool old guy. Fun to talk too, he moshes to Limp Bizkit, and he is really fair and fun to listen to.
Hard to stay awake, he likes to explain simple things in complex ways, and is fond of saying "another way we can state this is..." not a bad class though, interesting stuff
Moreover....this class sucks!!!
I've had Crippen for 301 and 472 and I wish he taught more classes.He's my favorite Soc professor (well, him and Hanson).His tests are fair and he's very smart.Very into biological sociology and makes it interesting!Love him!!
Professor Crippen, I have heard, is an excellent teacher, FOR UPPER LEVEL CLASSES ONLY. This intro class that I took with him was horribly boring and his tests were so backwards it took me forever to figure out what the questions were even asking!
Crippen is a relaly nice guy. Very straightforward, very clear...tests are challenging and there are lots of notes to take, but he's fair. he tends to repeat a lot of stuff, but at least youre more likely to remember it then.
Moreover, he could make a french fry seem complex. Not unusual to have three identical classes in a row. Didn't like sociology coming in, certainly hate it now.
I'm not a soc major, but I keep taking him because I think he's great! He loves what he does, loves chatting with students; it's a lot of notes, but most of it is simple when you study it. I never read, but I always do really well! Great guy!
A good intro class. Not much effort is needed...I found the lectures interesting. The only pain is the readings...very repetetive and boring. There are only like 3 tests and that is it.
ok, whoever rated him hot has problems, but he's a GREAT prof, lectures are interesting, he's helpful if you go see him, tests are really fair, i hardly even do the reading and get B's, it's a great class all around and he's a riot in his own way :)
Tests are hard MC -- for the class essay would be better ... boring
Is a really nice guy. Class can be pretty boring, but isn't too difficult if you take good noted & do all the readings. His tests are pretty straightforward.
1st of all, when u go to him for help he'd rather talk to his department buddies and leave u sitting outside his office for TWENTY MINUTES when he knows you're there. if you ask him questions (given that u finally have his attention) he's helpful.
He is very hot for his age, looks alot like Kevin Spacey. Very interesting professor, lectures can be boring but the few really interesting ones made up for it. Tests arent that bad if you do the reading, which I never did.
Attendance not taken,but you're missing out if you miss his lectures.Fascinating discussions with cute anecdotes.Only had 2 books and while the reading was dry,there were some high points.Tests aren't bad,just read whats assigned and take good notes on the lecture.Tries to help you out,adds bonus Qs
his exams are hard. class is so boring.
Crippen is the man.. I can't wait to take his 301 class. Really solid at lectures
Just stroke is ego and tell him what he wants to hear and you'll do ok. He's not helpful, in fact hes quite whats the word I'm looking for? Agh yes, unhelpful. He does look like Kevin Spacey though. His smoking irritates me.
Took this class in my senior year and wish I'd taken it earlier. One of the best courses I ever took. Good lecturer and a very nice guy!
Incredibly arrogant and full of himself. Said to our class one day, "So-and-so country's GNP is 400 dollars a year. I spend 400 dollars on a good bottle of wine. Mahahaha." Also hasn't grasped the concept of "you're on the right track, but..
I really enjoyed this class and he's the best prof I've had at this school. And I'm an econ major!
I love him. He is so personable and treats his class like human beings. He understands that we are here to learn and that the world doesnt revolve around his class. I recommend taking him because you'll learn something and he makes funny jokes.
Professor Crippen is with out a doubt the best sociology professor i have had. Being a psyc major he really helped relate the subject to psychology, making it easier to understand
I could see how some would find him boring, but i was facinated with his lectures and how he applied independent thought to the facts
I loved Dr. Crippen's class. The class lectures were interesting, even though it had a 3hr. time period, the required reading was actually interesting and this class was literally one of the only classes i cared enough about to never skip, for the whole semester. I wholeheartedly reccomend soc. 301 with dr. crippen, regardless of your major.
The man is brilliant. He's funny and his classes are always engaging. Take him if you can.
no chili pepper. avoid. the worst sociology professor at this school. and i know because i have had a class with every soc professor at umw. he's pretentious and has a voice that will put you to sleep before you can even open your notebook.
Ignore the previous comments. Crippen is BY FAR the BEST Sociology Professor at Mary Washington. Great at lectures, very very interesting class topics and will always take time out to assist you with anything. He is also refreshing because he is the only one to take on Sociology with a different perspective in the department. Great professor.
Professor Crippen is a really nice guy. He's a slow talker (good for note-taking), but the subject matter is very interesting. If you have any questions, he's very helpful, and he will tell you what to expect on the test before you take it. It's a great class and it's interesting, especially if you like Sociology. I'd definitely recommend him!
This class is so boring. You should go because most of the test is from class, and read. But man he is boring and pretentious. He does look at soc from a different angle, but his classes are very monotonous, always the same format. tests have a lot of none of the above, all of the above questions, which makes it harder than it needs to be.
Class is extremely hard and tests are even harder. You must listen and write down EVERYTHING he says because you only hear it once. 75% of test questions come from his SPOKEN lectures...there are no powerpoints. The other 10 questions come from the EXTREMELY boring readings and you never know which questions he will ask so READ CAREFULLY.
One of my favorite Professors at Mary Washington. This class is as hard as you make it. If you go to class everyday, take notes, and do the readings then you will do fine. He is very helpful and he gives students a generous curve. There are 3 exams and that is your entire grade. They are not hard if you pay attention!
Prof. Crippen is excellent, he's probably one of my favorites here. I don't know why people say he is hard. He talks slowly, emphasizes what things are important while he is talking, and his tests are not that difficult at all. He actually makes the subject matter interesting as well.
Crippen's the best. I think I've taken all of his classes--Intro, Evolution, and both theory classes. He's by far the best prof in the department. Really knows his stuff and is helpful to students if you ask.
Some students did not like his class and said he was unfair in his grading. Whatever, he is the best professor ever. You have to work hard, but if you do you'll be fine. This is my favorite class so far in college. I had him force add me for his theories class since I liked this one sooo much. This was my hardest class and I got an A
Very interesting, but very difficult. Write down everything because tests are based on lectures and some reading. He gives a generous curve, but the tests are very very difficult. STUDY HARD!
he is the best teacher ever! he has to be my favorite teacher here at the university.. if you go to class.. take the notes and study.. you'll do fine in the class!
I love Dr. Crippen! His class was extremely interesting, he lets you know exactly what the exam will be and he is always there if you need help with anything at all. I had it for 3 hours at a time and never missed. I would recommend this class to anyone, but it does help to actually go.
He's a great teacher and very interesting. However, make sure you attend all the classes. His lectures make up almost all of the questions on the test. Also, the great thing is that he's a pushover. He allowed us to get our way a lot!
We named our fish after beloved T crip...I wish he taught every class at Mary Washington...hes tiiiight
I've never had a three hour class go by so quickly. He's a very smart guy and a good lecturer. He's also happy to clarify any questions about material, tests or papers. Tests were essay tests, but all the questions were given beforehand. It takes more preparation, but if you took good notes you'll be fine.
So sweet and cute!! I had no problem making myself go to this class because he is so nice. The language he uses in his lectures can be at times confusing but you get used to it. Exams can be challenging but he curves A LOT! He hates to be disrespected. Don't play on your computer or talk while he is lecturing. And don't get up to go to the bathroom
I love this man! By far one of the best teachers I've encountered. Knew what would be on the tests and how many of the questions from where- majority from lecture. Usually studied night or 2 before and he curves the tests (only grade) Got an A and can't wait to take him again regarldless of not being a soc major.
Fantastic public speaker. His lectures flow seamlessly from topic to topic. Just when you think things couldn't be more interesting, he loops back and connects his previously introduced points with a slight grin. This man is intelligent, and he knows it. Homework is minimal, just go to class and take notes. This is what higher education is about!
His enthusiasm for the course makes a subject that can be tedious at times interesting. The course is low maintenance, you really just need to come to class to get the notes then study hard for the tests (which are straightforward). He's extremely nice and I'd really recommend this course!
He spoke too often. if you're not an auditory learner i wouldn't recommend this class for you. his test can be really confusing at times. it's like he tries to trick you when he says he isn't...he does curve a lot so that's a plus side
I took as many classes as I could with Prof Crippen when I was at MWC. Almost all the night classes I took were with him because his class was the only one I knew I could stay awake for!
Great class!! He is straight lecturer with no powerpoints, and you must take notes on everything- exams come straight from his lectures and the readings. He is so interesting and loves what he does! Loved this class and he curves a lot on the exams!
had him for the social world, everyone else i talked to who took this class had way different course material than what he taught. egraian+ hunter gatherer societies wasn't very interesting. curves alot on the tests which is nice, but when you only need an 82 to get an A something is wrong..
Crippen is an excellent professor. His classes are 100% lectures, but they're so interesting and easy to follow that it doesn't even matter. If you're interested in sociology, I can't recommend his class enough! The material is substantial and his tests can be tough, so don't take it if you plan on slacking.
Crippen is an excellent professor. His classes are 100% lectures, but they're so interesting and easy to follow that it doesn't even matter. If you're interested in sociology, I can't recommend his class enough! The material is substantial and his tests can be tough, so don't take it if you plan on slacking.
Be warned, this professor does take his class seriously and that can be intimidating. If you slack off during lectures you will be called out for it. This is because he knows his material and expects you to put in college level work. That said, if you put in the required work the class is very informative and not especially difficult.
Very nice man who just wants to see people invested in the subject and being successful. Three tests make up your grade, so you need to study a lot. There's also quite a bit of reading assigned.
I found his class extremely hard although he tends to curve most of the his exams as well as papers. He isn't very clear and expects a lot in his exam format. I've never heard a student answer a question correctly in his class discussion. He should be teaching grad school.
Lectures were interesting and easy to follow. His test questions, however, are far from clear. They are often worded in a way meant to trick you and grammatically incorrect. He told me the test would have no specific numbers/facts from the reading, focusing only on the overall theme. This was far from the truth. Would not recommend.
Do not take Crippen. Lectures were easy enough to follow, but tests were impossible. He expects you to remember everything he said, and doesn't go over the outside reading even though it is covered on the test.
save your GPA
Very smart man, will ask questions to the students knowing nobody knows the answer and then will tell everyone why they are wrong before actually telling the answer to the question. Lectures feel like they go on forever, but he discusses some interesting stuff. Would recommend, but you have to keep up with readings. Also, no texting in class.
I was very interested in majoring in Sociology prior to this class. I felt that he was very mean to students. He was also very vague in terms of what we would be tested on. He told us he purposely made questions tricky and since post people do not do well in his class he makes a huge departmental curve. I would not take this class again.
Crippen is very knowledgable and helpful. His lectures are easy to follow. Make sure you attend class and truly read the book and notes. It helps to read them every day so that you have a good knowledge . People who say that his tests are hard are usually ones that aren't prepared. If you know material you will be fine.
Lectures are extremely dull and long. He does not care if class performs poorly on his 3 exams. Grade depends on those 3 exams so study. He is not clear on what will be on exams.
Exams are absurd. He expects the class to remember every miniscule detail of every dull lecture. You have to recall random numbers for exams. He does not care if class fails an exam, he just sends out mass email. He was absent on many days during the semester. Just 3 exams make up your grade. Save your GPA.
His lectures are really long and boring. He used to be THE hardest grader on campus, but now he curves all his tests so they're not bad. You really need to show up and take notes if you want to pass. Each test has about five questions from the readings, so you really don't have to read if you don't want to.
Ok, I really like this guy. I'm not sure why because he's kind of pompous. He's just very smart and he knows it. I am a soc major so this introductory class was interesting to me. Do not take the class unless you like soc or you are majoring in it. The class is super boring to non soc majors. His tests are not hard if you read his assignments.
I learned absolutely nothing taking this course. His lectures are straight up tiring . You will want to go to sleep and he will call you out if you do. Also his test are very hard so don't expect a easy A. Like straight up, Crippen be Trippen.
He's an all right guy but he will call you out if you do something other than pay attention to him. His lectures are very dry and he doesn't use much visuals to guide him through lectures besides a whiteboard from time to time. The class is based on only 3 test grades and he doesn't give the tests back. He also cancels class quite often.
This class was one of the hardest classes I've ever taken. If you're not a auditory learner DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS. He does nothing but lecture for the whole block of time.
I prefer classes with just tests and a paper or two so this class was perfect for me. Your grade is based on 3 multiple choice tests with questions about lectures and readings. If you show up, takes notes and do readings, there's no reason you shouldn't get an A. Plus he "curves" your grade at the end of the semester. One of my favorite professors.
Now I understand why people say to avoid this class. Very dry & boring presence in the class; but content is very interesting. No visual aids - powerpoint. Tests are multiple choice yes,but that doesn't help you. Whistles when talking and says "um" ALOT. readings and lectures are critical for studying/tests. don't get the wrong version of the text
Lectures all class every class. Very boring, will call you out if you're on your phone or if you're sleeping (which is very easy to accidentally do in his class), Test are impossible!!!! I did all the readings and went to every class and i finished with a 69%. curves your final grade so you don't know how you're doing until post final.
Avoid taking Crippen if you can. He uses no visual aids but just talks the entire hour and a half of class. I'm interested in sociology as a subject but he made it so boring and dry that I had trouble focusing. His tests are hard and just about everyone gets bad grades on them but employs a huge curve at the end. Do not take.
Grade decided by midterm, final and 1 research paper. Midterm and final are both take home, you have to write 5-7 approx 3 page essays. If you attend every class and take good notes he lectures all the info you need to get an A. Research paper a pain but pretty standard.
The most old-school college class you can think of. Lecture, reading, and your grade was entirely based off of 3 exams. His lectures are hard to stay awake in but you HAVE to go or you won't know anything for the exam. Overall, he's a nice guy. He wants everyone to pass and he curves all of the grades.
Easily the most boring lecture I've ever had to sit through. Also extremely rude and a super hard grader.
Doesn't speak loud enough. I have to sit in the back (long story) and I can barely hear him on good days.
Very very boring. Lectures are and hour plus of him straight talking with out a break. Your grade is based on three test and the majority of the tests are on his lectures. The problem is that he is constantly talking and it's hard to write down everything. Test questions are really hard and sometime obscure
SO BORING. He stands there and talks the whole time and will occasionally write something down making it impossible to take notes. He makes it even harder by not speaking anywhere close to as loud as he needs to. His grades are based on 3 tests so if you don't pay attention or do the readings you wont pass. Possibly the worst class I've ever taken
Class is based off of 3 tests and you have to show up to class because the tests are mainly on his lecturing. He does not speak very loudly. However, if you show up, take good notes, and study, you'll get an A. I like him as a person, but I would not take his class again.
I loved having him as my sociology professor. Even though he spoke kind of monotone, the way he presented the material was enjoyable, I like the way he administered the tests - take home open book and open note - very easy to get along with and funny at times
Dr. Crippen is a very good professor. Really passionate about what he is teaching. One of the first sociology courses I took was with him, and he sparked my love for the major. Take him if you can!
Class Info
Attendance Mandatory
80%
Textbook Required
60%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.93 avg changeRatings by Course
200300
5.0
(1)200301
5.0
(1)SOCG472
5.0
(1)SOC301472
5.0
(1)SOC200301
5.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
105
5.0
SOCG0200
5.0
200ANDTHEORY
5.0
INTRO
5.0
SOC100
4.0