Barry Matsumoto - University of Iowa

Professor: Barry Matsumoto
Department: Law
College: University of Iowa
Rating # 1
Overview:
  • Course: PROP001
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 2.0
  • Course Difficulty: 2.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Matsumoto is a cool guy and tells some hilarious stories. The best part about Matsumoto is that you don't have to show up. I skipped literally every single class after October and managed a B in his property class. Expect to teach yourself with supplements.
Rating # 2
Overview:
  • Course: PROP0002
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 3.0
  • Course Difficulty: 2.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Prof. Matsumoto doesn't cold-call you, and doesn't use the socratic method (often). A lot of people believe they are above this more undergraduate style of teaching, so they come to class and take either no notes, or terrible notes... then wine because he is unclear. Matsumoto is very smart and very entertaining if you come in open minded..
Rating # 3
Overview:
  • Course: CONL33
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 3.0
  • Course Difficulty: 1.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Learn the algorithms and go to the class before spring break. It is really easy if you do those two things.
Rating # 4
Overview:
  • Course: PROP1
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 2.5
  • Course Difficulty: 2.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
A lot of people panic b/c he doesn't cover a ton of material in class. Just do the reading, study the hornbook like crazy, and try to apply his mathematical approach to the subject. Other than that, just sit back and enjoy (or don't bother showing up at all).
Rating # 5
Overview:
  • Course: PROP001
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 1.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
In this life we all should all be so lucky to be like Barry Matsumoto. Wear cargo shorts and ratty shirts to work every day, mumble incoherently in lecture, publish once every 20 years, relate amusing anecdotes while yelling, never answer student emails, regurgitate the text and call it teaching, all while making six figures. Must be a great life.
Rating # 6
Overview:
  • Course: CONLAW
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 1.5
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
If you attend Iowa Law, you have to take Moto - if nothing else for the experience. That being said, his class is a molotov cocktail of: (a) thinly veiled digs indicative of his low opinion of law students in general (c) incoherent mumblings/rants and (d) occasional moments of lucid insight. Remeber, he's much smarter than you give him credit for.
Rating # 7
Overview:
  • Course: LAW132
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 1.5
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
He is absolutely confusing. While he may use the Socratic method well, you can't tell if he is using it or not.
Rating # 8
Overview:
  • Course: CONLAW
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 3.5
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Professor Matsumoto is not for everyone. He's not the prof for you if you want to cover the course material quickly and study for the test. He's a great professor if you want to really think through the law and understand some of its inherent contradictions. Brilliant, sometimes hard to follow, but a true professor, not just a teacher.
Rating # 9
Overview:
  • Course: CONLA101
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 3.0
  • Course Difficulty: 1.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
This professor sort of wanders during his lectures, sometimes it seems as if he's just trying to kill time. Class can be occasionally entertaining but don't plan on learning much, we read maybe an eighth of the textbook, which can be a good or a bad thing.
Rating # 10
Overview:
  • Course: PRODDAF
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 4.5
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
He's not a traditional law professor but he's very intelligent, irreverent, and entertaining.
Rating # 11
Overview:
  • Course: CLI
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 1.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
His mumbled explanations are always either inaudible, irrelevant, or unenlightening. Class is a waste of time. Some people like him because they benefit from the randomness of the grading, but he is the worst professor I've ever had in college or law school.
Rating # 12
Overview:
  • Course: CONI
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 3.5
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Really funny and easy going. He does get off topic but thats ok because his exam is predictable. He was the most fun law prof i have had. His method of interpreting and charting cases is helpful.
Rating # 13
Overview:
  • Course: CON1
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 1.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
when he actually speaks on point, he is awesome. no rational basis for grading. expect to be challenged--in a weird way. very 'laxed. man w/character. has a sense of humor but fluctuates in his effectiveness. Exam is random, likes to cite random citations---a lot!
Rating # 14
Overview:
  • Course: STATE101
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 2.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Barry is the man and some students just can't handle that. If you're a psycho and are only concerned about your grade and need arbitrary evaluations of your relative intellectual status to validate your existence, Barry isn't for you. If you're looking to learn something and have a good time doing it, take his classes.
Rating # 15
Overview:
  • Course: CONLAWI
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 1.0
  • Course Difficulty: 2.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: N/A
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
He showed no interest in teaching. Perhaps he shouldn't be paid to do so. The fact that many students tolerate him because he demands nothing of them reflects poorly on them, and says nothing more.
Rating # 16
Overview:
  • Course: PROPERTYII
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 3.5
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: N/A
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Very laid back and tells great stories. Sometimes difficult to figure out what he is expecting but it's a nice change of pace.
Rating # 17
Overview:
  • Course: CONLAWI
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 1.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: N/A
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
A horrible professor, often incoherent, so far out of touch with reality one is left to wonder how this professor who is still not tenured can remain at Iowa. Structure of class, exam, and final grades appear to be random.
Rating # 18
Overview:
  • Course: CONLAWI
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 1.0
  • Course Difficulty: 1.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: N/A
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Worst class I took. Should not be teaching law, should be surfing on some beach. May be "cool" to hang out with but avoid his class at all cost. Boring beyond belief. Unclear. Rambles. Takes forever to get to any point. Useless. Have to teach yourself.
Rating # 19
Overview:
  • Course: CONLAWI
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 1.5
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: N/A
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
In Con Law II, Bonfield taught everything you were suppose to learn in Con Law I with Matsu, and he did it in a week. Matsu doesn't care if you understand and is a horrid teacher.
Rating # 20
Overview:
  • Course: CONLAWI
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 1.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: N/A
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Barry is probably the coolest professor you will ever have, but at the same time the WORST professor you will ever have. Grading is completely random as are his “lectures”. A good professor to take an early morning class with, but honestly… this guy has NO business teaching law.
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