Jim Stephens - Hillsdale College

Professor: Jim Stephens
Department: Philosophy
College: Hillsdale College
Rating # 1
Overview:
  • Course: PHL211
  • Grade Received: A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
This man will teach you to think, not only absorb information about the thoughts of others. If you want to be challenged to actually open your eyes to the terrifying beauty of ideas, take one of his classes. My favorites with him were a Kierkegaard and Nietzsche seminar and Intro.
Rating # 2
Overview:
  • Course: PHIL101
  • Grade Received: A-
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 2.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
Dr. Stephens is one of the kindest men you'll ever meet. However, his class is very disorganized. His exams are comprised of 3 or 4 questions pulled at random from a list of questions given the week before, which make them easy to study for. 3 exams, 1 paper, and 1 final were what was given.
Rating # 3
Overview:
  • Course: PHL211
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 1.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
Terrible professor. Lectures were incredibly disorganized.
Rating # 4
Overview:
  • Course: PHL105
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Dr. Stephens isn't just a professor of philosophy, he is a philosopher. In his class, you won't learn mere lists of facts, but how to truly wonder--the foundation of philosophy.
Rating # 5
Overview:
  • Course: PHL105
  • Grade Received: B
  • Overall Rating: 3.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Dr. Stephens is brilliant, but his teaching could use some work. He is HIGHLY disorganized, sometimes forgetting to send out assignments. There was one week he delivered the same lecture 3 times. But, he loves the subject and if you go to office hours he really is a big help.
Rating # 6
Overview:
  • Course: PHL105
  • Grade Received: A-
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
Stephens' lectures are very good and informative. What he says in class is what will be on the test so pay attention. The assigned readings are sometimes helpful but other times confusing and time consuming. If you have problems go to his office because he is amazing when you get him one on one. Hes always there to help dont hesitate to use him.
Rating # 7
Overview:
  • Course: PHL105
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Absolutely LOVE Dr. Stephens. He's an amazing teacher and makes you feel like your thoughts really matter. It's easy to do well in his classes, as long as you really think about things. After Intro to Philosophy, I took him for Eastern Religion because I love him so much, and am now considering a philosophy major or minor. Definitely take him!
Rating # 8
Overview:
  • Course: PHI105
  • Grade Received: A
  • Overall Rating: 4.5
  • Course Difficulty: 2.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Not a stressful class, grades fairly (perhaps a bit too easily), gives you a wide range of perspectives and is very insightful. Office hours are a must with him sometimes. He rambles a bit sometimes in class, and cancels a lot, but if you do the reading and pay attention, you'll learn alot.
Rating # 9
Overview:
  • Course: PHL101
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Dr. Stephens is the nicest and most helpful professor I've ever had. He cancels a lot of classes, but I don't feel like we got too far behind. His class is often unorganized and hard to take notes in, but if you go to his office hours and talk things through everything will make sense. He is incredibly helpful and I strongly recommend him.
Rating # 10
Overview:
  • Course: PHL105
  • 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:
Does not use a textbook. Makes you print all of your readings. Grades on a scale that he admitted himself to be impossible to get 100 (even if he was taking it). Grades exams tough. No papers. Confusing lecturer.
Rating # 11
Overview:
  • Course: PHIL101
  • 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:
I adored Dr. Stephens during my time at Hillsdale. Funny, engaging and his teaching will show you new worlds. I had major health problems and he was always understanding and helpful. He went above and beyond. Take Ancient Philosophy with him- it is the best class ever.
Rating # 12
Overview:
  • Course: PHL101
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
I took a class with him back in 2002, and honestly of any teacher I had in my college days, in retrospect he was definitely the best. The only class I was ever disappointed about when it got cancelled.
Rating # 13
Overview:
  • Course: PHIL410
  • 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:
The "philosophy of mind" seminar he conducted changed how I think about everything. He did not lecture so much as moderate our discussion, ask challenging questions, and guide us toward understanding the material. BEWARE: if you go into this class with strong views about anything, you will be challenged.
Rating # 14
Overview:
  • Course: PHL105
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 2.5
  • Course Difficulty: 2.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
I don't get it. Learned nothing except how to cope with pretentious classmates.
Rating # 15
Overview:
  • Course: PHIL493
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Take a class with this professor and prepare to learn (in his words) that their is no Santa. His classes will change the way you see the world. His lectures are lively but deep, and he admires contribution and comments. Take him for a seminar and you will come out a different person.
Rating # 16
Overview:
  • Course: PHL105
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 2.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Very nice prof, but confusing and hard to follow- worst class I ever had.
Rating # 17
Overview:
  • Course: PHL105
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 4.5
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Dr. Stephens is absolutely amazing. You'll understand how everything fits together. Also, he can say the exact same thing multiple times, multiple ways, and while you may not understand one particular phrasing, you'll get the others, and you'll understand the concept. Brilliant mind. Want to take another class with him. I adore this man.
Rating # 18
Overview:
  • Course: PHL105
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
On a paper draft I was despairing of he wrote "There's more here than you think." This is indicative of his teaching style - his encouragement helps you on to greater hights of thinking. The fact that he cancels class a lot didn't really bother me because the amount learned in remaining classes was equal to or greater than that of any other course.
Rating # 19
Overview:
  • Course: PHL105
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 2.5
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
One of my least favorite classes ever. Very hard to take notes and to study for exams. I did enjoy writing the paper, however. He canceled class a lot, which was a plus. Only recommended if you have a high interest in and understanding of philosophy.
Rating # 20
Overview:
  • Course: PHL101
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 4.5
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
one of the best professors I've ever had the privilege of learning from! You know he's good when I've attended more classes than the professor!
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