Mike Scalzi - Diablo Valley College

Professor: Mike Scalzi
Department: Philosophy
College: Diablo Valley College
Rating # 1
Overview:
  • Course: PHIL120
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 1.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
This guy is so cool he used to be in a band. The overall class structure could be improved but he's passionate about his teachings and the content. Answer his questions in class and show up for lecture and do the readings because you kind of feel bad when the entire class doesn't do the homework.
Rating # 2
Overview:
  • Course: PHIL120
  • Grade Received: B
  • Overall Rating: 1.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Theres no way all of these positive 5 star ratings are real. Scalzi is by far the worst professor ive had in my 3 years at DVC. We all hated him. Hes rude, doesnt use Canvas, would get angry at people for being 2 minutes late but when he was 15 minutes late once its totally ok. Complete narcissist who has absolutely no business being an educator.
Rating # 3
Overview:
  • Course: PHILO120
  • Grade Received: B+
  • Overall Rating: 3.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: No
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Grade is made up of 5 1-page essay quizzes, a midterm essay (3-5 pages), and final essay (3-5 pages). Essay Quizzes are straightforward, but midterm and final are weird abstract questions. Lots of reading each week before the Zoom lecture which is just a discussion. Reading is from books and long articles. Can get on tangents easily during Zoom.
Rating # 4
Overview:
  • Course: PHILO120
  • Grade Received: C-
  • Overall Rating: 2.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
He assigns long articles to read on top of the books. He gives a week to finish the readings before each lecture. His lectures arent lectures. Its more of just talking about the material, so if you dont read, you wont understand. Your grade is purely based on essay quizzes and participation. He grades very specifically w/ vague feedback.
Rating # 5
Overview:
  • Course: PHILO120
  • Grade Received: B+
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 2.0
  • For Credit: No
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Each week you have reading due (mix of articles and various philosophy textbooks). You have 1 page essay quizzes, where you choose between a couple questions given and answer one of them, every few weeks. Questions based on the readings. Midterm and final are 3 page essays that are more abstract topics. Gets very into his lectures and is energetic.
Rating # 6
Overview:
  • Course: PHILO120
  • Grade Received: A
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
He is an amazing teacher. Made me understand views about philosophy and gives useful information. Take good notes and participate. He is really funny and has a good sense of humor. I've never taken a philosophy course before and his class was easy if you pay attention and read!
Rating # 7
Overview:
  • Course: PHILO120
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 3.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Class was never boring with this professor. He's very patient and really wants students to understand the material. Essay quizzes were very easy - he spent lots of time answering the exact questions we'd be tested on. He wants you to succeed. My only complaint is that I wish the final papers had easier prompts to follow.
Rating # 8
Overview:
  • Course: PHILO120
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 1.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
get ready for puzzling lectures and instructions followed by massive expectations that you will inevitably fail to meet
Rating # 9
Overview:
  • Course: PHIL120
  • Grade Received: A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
I love him he is super cool and funny. He is a little unorganized but he knows the material and his lectures are super interesting. would definitely take his class again!!
Rating # 10
Overview:
  • Course: PHILO120
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 1.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
He doesn't have canvas so you don't know what your grade is in the class. Attendance is part of your grade. He assigns a lot of reading and when he lectures he tends to ramble and we end up talking about a totally different topic. Tbh I wouldn't even recommend his class to anyone who's interested in the course... You can find a better professor.
Rating # 11
Overview:
  • Course: PHIL120
  • Grade Received: B+
  • Overall Rating: 1.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASSS!!!! As interesting as the content was, this stuff is designed for people wanting to go into law. If you are a stem or business major do not take this class cause you will get a B. I hated his class and dreaded every second of it. I tired really hard up in the end got a B.
Rating # 12
Overview:
  • Course: PHILO130
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 1.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Taking him this semester. Hes a tough grader and has a confusing way of organizing the class. Doesnt use numbers, only letters, to grade essays and exams. We'll see how the final goes. i am definitely regretting taking this class :(
Rating # 13
Overview:
  • Course: PHIL120
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 1.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
Scalzi is a very tough grader. He also makes the course quizzes and assignments very challenging without curving whatsoever. Do not take unless you are really ready to work
Rating # 14
Overview:
  • Course: PHIL120
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 1.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Very obvious that this guy posts his own RMP reviews. Just FYI for anyone having some hope about Scalzi. The overall consensus from my class of 30+ ppl was that the class was ridiculous and disorganized.
Rating # 15
Overview:
  • Course: PHIL120
  • Grade Received: A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Mike is a super cool guy, I learned so much from this class and it really changed the way I think about life. He is passionate about what he teaches and can explain it well. I'm an average student and was able to succeed by showing up and paying attention. This class is easy if you pay attention and show up.
Rating # 16
Overview:
  • Course: PHIL120
  • Grade Received: B
  • Overall Rating: 1.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
You have to go to every lecture (he takes attendance) and listen to nonsensical rambling for an hour. Quizzes aren't too bad, but the material is poorly covered so you're on your own with studying. My advice: take a different GE or choose another teacher
Rating # 17
Overview:
  • Course: PHIL120
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 1.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
Amazing guy and all round inspiration. The fulfillment I now feel is a credit to this great, great man.
Rating # 18
Overview:
  • Course: PHILO120
  • Grade Received: B
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
Cool guy, funny and engaging. Pay attention to the lectures, he does a good job of explaining the concepts (I skipped most of the reading, and just took a lot of notes). Class is graded on essay quizzes (multiple questions, maybe a few sentences to a paragraph each) and two papers (fun topics). Nothing too difficult. His band is pretty great too.
Rating # 19
Overview:
  • Course: PHIL120
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 1.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Worst. Professor. Ever. He assigned so much reading, went off topic in lectures. He gave quizzes that are so hard to pass and that basically made or broke your grade. The essay topics he assigned were so broad and hard to write, and he graded tough too. Horrible class, never taking him again.
Rating # 20
Overview:
  • Course: PHIL110
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 1.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Mike Scalzi is the lead vocalist for "The Lord Weird Slough Feg," one of my favorite heavy metal bands. He also formerly did vocals with the band "Hammers of Misfortune," another one of my favorite bands. The dude is extremely smart and what's cooler than a college professor who has his own metal bands?
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