Rudi Matthee - University of Delaware

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Rudi Matthee - University of Delaware

Professor: Rudi Matthee

Department: History

College: University of Delaware

Rating # 1

Overview:

Course: HIST131
Grade Received: B
Overall Rating: 4.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: No
Would Take Again: Yes
Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Dr. Matthee is arguably one of the most knowledgable professors at UD which can be intimidating at times especially if you have no prior knowledge of the Middle East. However, he is extremely accessible for help and is open to questions during lectures. 4-5 total papers make up the course. Would definitely take again.

Rating # 2

Overview:

Course: HIST131
Grade Received: A
Overall Rating: 4.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: Yes
Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Professor Matthee is a sweet man, but his lectures are a little disorganized and not entirely chronological. Prior knowledge of middle eastern history is helpful, but not necessary. He is always willing to clarify and super passionate about the subject. Only grades are papers, which are leniently graded as long as he can see that you tried.

Rating # 3

Overview:

Course: HIST131
Grade Received: A-
Overall Rating: 3.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: No
Would Take Again: Yes
Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Dr. Matthee is incredibly passionate and knowledgeable about this course. He takes attendance each class, but it is very enjoyable. The papers are hard because the prompts he provides are vague and he wants very specific details on the papers (three small one, one research paper). You can definitely improve, so do not get discouraged. I recommend!

Rating # 4

Overview:

Course: HIST131
Grade Received: A
Overall Rating: 4.0
Course Difficulty: 1.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: Yes
Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

This a great class to take if you just need an easy breadth. I'm personally very interested in Islamic history but lectures become boring if you're not. There are very few grades 2 1,000 c. midterms, one 3,000 c. term paper, and a 1,000 c. final. Prof. Matthee is a lenient grader as long as you follow his writing criteria.

Rating # 5

Overview:

Course: HIST130
Grade Received: B
Overall Rating: 2.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: No
Would Take Again: No
Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

I wouldn't take this class if you don't have to. I found lectures to be boring and non stimulating. Material on Islam made class hard to follow, espec. with names and Arabic words. Graded on 2 midterms (1000 c. each), a 12 page term paper, and a 1000 c. final. Didn't take notes all year, got B's on all my papers. Not the worst class but unenjoyable

Rating # 6

Overview:

Course: HIST131
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 1.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: No
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Do not EVER take this class. I personally have never gotten below an A on a paper (both in high school and in college) and Rudi Matthee could not find a single thing he liked about my papers. You're graded on three papers and a final (also a paper). He is by far the most condescending, rude, disrespectful professor I have ever had. DO NOT TAKE.

Rating # 7

Overview:

Course: HIST131
Grade Received: B
Overall Rating: 2.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: No
Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

He is very disorganized and his lectures are hard to follow

Rating # 8

Overview:

Course: HIST201
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 2.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: No
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Unrealistic writing expectations for papers regardless of class level. Unclear in questions, uses unnecessary amount of words to post question and to sound smart. He is a smart guy who is very invested in his field of study but expect sizable knowledge on topic from students even in introductory courses. No online grading.

Rating # 9

Overview:

Course: HIST131
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 3.0
Course Difficulty: 5.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

He has a lot of knowledge about the Middle Eastern History, but I noticed him frequently confusing basic info about Islam. It's hard for a 100 level, but if you're really interested in the topic, this course is very helpful. No grading scale; no studying guide; you'd have to read and write like a graduate student; almost impossible to get an A.

Rating # 10

Overview:

Course: HIST131
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 1.5
Course Difficulty: 4.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

expects 400 level papers in a 100 level course, expectations aren't clear, unhelpful during office hours, no respect for students, lectures are useless, poorly organized, all the exams are papers. all the papers are open note. He is a smart guy, just an awful professor

Rating # 11

Overview:

Course: HIST131
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 2.5
Course Difficulty: 5.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

He's very knowledgeable in the Middle Eastern History, but definitely not in Islam. He's very helpful, but his method of examining is not. If you work for an A, with luck, you'll probably get a B.

Rating # 12

Overview:

Course: HIST131
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 2.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: No
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Way too hard for a 100 level class!!! His lectures are all over the place and his monotone voice doesn't help. It's a little better if you go to office hours, but he has an attitude. He is INCREDIBLY knowledgeable of the Middle East because he lived there for years. But avoid this class. The textbook is useless. The only exams are take home essays

Rating # 13

Overview:

Course: HIST131
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 1.0
Course Difficulty: 5.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Horrible at communicating, made doing assignments difficult. Wouldn't respond to e-mails, hardly ever available to meet with. One bad grade brought me from an A-/B+ to a C. Don't take.

Rating # 14

Overview:

Course: HIST131
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 2.0
Course Difficulty: 2.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: No
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

A very nice guy with a lot of knowledge but the class was too difficult for a 100 level. Take home midterm, which was nice, and the final exam was open note. However, a 15pg. research paper was over kill. The amount of reading assigned, while not nessecary, was too much. His lectures aren't structured and sometimes hard to follow.

Rating # 15

Overview:

Course: PERS251
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 4.0
Course Difficulty: 1.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

His 1st semester at UMD. Very interesting if you like the subject. Easy take home mid-term. Take really detailed notes, bc he lets you use for mid-term. Attendance not enforced, but worth while. Expectations for papers not always clear, but if you ask he'll clarify. If you put any effort to attend class and do readings, you should get guaranteed A.

Rating # 16

Overview:

Course: HIST380
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 2.5
Course Difficulty: 4.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

He's very sweet and helpful once you get to know him personally. Needs to work on his level of engagement with students, however. His lectures were often scattered, although intelligent. Wish he could have explained it in a more organized, coherent manner. I loved him, though! Insightful and open-minded person. I'd marry him if I could

Rating # 17

Overview:

Course: HIST131
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 3.5
Course Difficulty: 3.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: No
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Prof Matthee is extremely knowledgeable with regards to Middle Eastern History. His classes is fairly stress free because you don't really need to read the texts. Plus the tests were take home. Also one thing that'll make you succeed if you ever take his class: He grades based on content not on how well you write your paper or essays.

Rating # 18

Overview:

Course: HIST380
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 3.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

He has a thing or two to learn about keeping biased opinions OUT of historical lectures! Very insightful, very intelligent, profound, and intriguing, but also very wise in the ways of the world (meaning that he doesn't know much about religion, so he shouldn't talk about it as though he does). Seems arrogant, but if you're nice, then he will be too

Rating # 19

Overview:

Course: HIST130
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 3.5
Course Difficulty: 3.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: No
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Dr. Matthee is not that difficult, people make him sound horrible. Yes, his lectures are a bit dry, but if you take good notes you can basically copy them for your midterms and final (which are usually take-home). I never read the texts, just looked up relevant info for the midterm/final. The research paper is long but not too bad. I'd recommend

Rating # 20

Overview:

Course: HIST377
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 2.0
Course Difficulty: 5.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: No
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

This is by far the worst class I have ever taken at UD and the worst professor. He is impossible to take notes from and the assigned texts do not help. The take home exams were almost like research papers as I had very little notes from class applicable to the questions. The honors section is simply more work-not what an honors class should be.

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