Ryan Curtis

This professor has taught: HONR219E, PSYC100, PSYC221, PSYC221H, PSYC309I, PSYC334, PSYC420, PSYC468H, PSYC603, PSYC660, PSYC661, PSYC798B

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Ryan Curtis PSYC100 Expecting a B+ Anonymous 03/20/2018	Great guy! Dr. Curtis really knows his stuff and is very helpful in office hours if you're struggling with a concept. People really hate the class because they think it's a weed out course, but you'll do fine if you just do the work. The weekly worksheets are long and a pain, but all the answers are in the reading and help you study while you read. They can also be found online easily. There are 6 writing assignments, but again just answer the questions directly and without fluff and you'll be fine. Plus you can go to any of the TA office hours and they'll read over your papers before you turn them in. The exams can get you because they're multiple choice so you either know it or you don't but if you do all the work assigned it generally helps you study. Not a lot of extra credit.
Ryan Curtis PSYC334 Expecting an A- Anonymous 09/23/2015	I took this class in fall 2014 and to this day it is still my favorite psychology class that I've taken and he is the best professor I've ever had. I never even minded going to 9:30am lectures because he kept the class so engaged and made the lectures enjoyable. I learned so much and while it is a lot of work, it is very do-able because he makes the information easy to learn and understand. The final group paper was extremely long but it wasn't even that bad. I 100% recommend this class or any opportunity to have Curtis as a professor.
Ryan Curtis PSYC100 Expecting a D Anonymous 06/29/2015	Terrible professor. His quizzes are completely unfair. He says that his quizzes are strictly for him to tell if you're doing the reading and he said the answers can be found DIRECTLY from the readings. The problem is that half of the answers don't come from the reading...and you have to guess....which isn't fair because it's not in the reading... and he is NOT responsive to emails at all so if you try to explain why a question wasn't fair, he doesn't respond back (not professional...). For the essays, the grading scheme is: A (100%), B- (82%)...you can't score anywhere between 100% and 82%..... like what??..So one content mistake or one grammar mistake will already drop you down to a B-....another mistake will drop you down to a C-. Therefore it's possible to fail every single essay. Not a fair professor at all. Honestly, I'm a senior neurobio major so I've had some pretty tough/hard/unfair profs (like for Orgo2, Mam Phys, BCHM)...but honestly, curtis is the worst prof i've ever had here at umd.
Ryan Curtis PSYC334 Expecting a B+ Anonymous 04/15/2015	This course's content and lecturer are fantastic. A lot of it is common sense, but a lot of the content will surprise you. I read every word of the text book--each study is cited. If you want to learn a lot take this course. If you want to get a grade that will reflect your effort, do not take this course. Because I liked this course so much, I put in much more work than I usually put into a class. I met with the TA and professor several times throughout the semester, and went over each exam with Curtis after receiving my grade. You are not tested on your knowledge of interpersonal relationships. You are tested on your ability to take their exam. Each exam question must be answered with the EXACT word choices the professor/TAs are looking for. TAs unfairly take away points on the short answers but Curtis will often give them back. The group paper is graded the same way as the short answers. Good writing, strong support, and argument are not the grader's concern. Good luck!
Ryan Curtis PSYC334 Anonymous 05/23/2014	I actually took this class Fall 2013 but did not post a review then. Dr. Curtis is by far my favorite professor at UMD. I loved going to lectures, both the lectures and the textbook were incredibly interesting. He used personal examples and anecdotes to explain points and did not just use his powerpoint, although the powerpoints were actually useful (unlike some teachers). He kept the class interesting every day and I did not even mind the amount of work required. My only complaint would be the speed of grading (slow) although I'm assuming that was the fault of the TA's, not him. Definitely take this class and take Curtis for another class if you have the chance! You won't regret it!
Ryan Curtis PSYC100 Expecting an A Anonymous 05/03/2014	Dr. Curtis is very knowledgable and a great lecturer. The class is a lot of work and some questions on the test are tricky, but if you put in the effort and complete all assignments you should easily get an A or B. There are clicker points each lecture so it's best to go to those. There's also MANY extra credit opportunities.
Ryan Curtis PSYC100 Anonymous 12/20/2013	Good lecturer, but this class is A LOT of work. You can not slack off. The every other week Blended Learning Assignments were graded hard: you can only get a A, C, D, F and you can not redo them. Discussion was a joke. Weekly 50 questions that are submitted on elems on Mondays and no redo. The book is online(he wrote the book) so make sure you read everything. Test are HARD. Good luck in the class!
Ryan Curtis PSYC100 Expecting a B Anonymous 12/12/2013	NEVER TAKE PSYCH!!! If you like clicker classes, tedious online weekly quizzes (which you will end up taking shortcuts on), obnoxious blended learning assignments, and pointless discussion (which you will skip)..... then take this class. Otherwise, if you're normal and don't want to pull your hair out, avoid it. NOTE: I'm not saying it is hard, it is just miserable. Now on Professor Curtis: He's honestly one of the better teachers I had freshman year. He does a great job being prepared for class, he uses a variety of methods to convey the information, and he honestly loves the subject. I'm sure psych majors consider him incredible because he truly knows and loves his material. But, for the average Gen-ed satisfying student, he's just a pretty good teacher. He is very clear about his expectations and will not budge for almost anything. Read and follow the syllabus, and you won't ever need to even speak to him. Also, he is very available to the students and makes it clear that he is available to help with anything class-related. He's pretty funny, and even funnier when he gets pissed off about phones going off in class. (organize it one day to see; 4 rings going off should do the trick). Overall, nobody can claim he's a jerk or unreasonable. He's strict, honest, and professional. The comments about him being condescending are slightly true, but for the most part that's just people being knit picky .
Ryan Curtis PSYC100 msliko 08/22/2013	I had Curtis for PSYC100. He was very knowledgeable of anything to do with psychology and the way he led class and taught the material made sure that I was able to retain and apply everything that we learned. While he was strict on deadlines and assignments, he was willing to do what he could to make sure you succeed. I would recommend for any psychology class.
Ryan Curtis PSYC100 Anonymous 05/15/2013	Really nice guy but i had a hard time with this class. Easy material but asks for a lot on tests. There was a lot of extra credit in the class especially toward the end. But the weekly blended learning assignments were graded very . poorly- you either got a A, C, or D which is unfair to me doesn't let you redo them either. overall this class has been annoying but it could definitely be worse.
Ryan Curtis PSYC334 Expecting an A Anonymous 04/25/2013	Curtis was a great professor in my opinion. He clearly articulated all of the points, carried a professional attitude but at the same time was friendly, and even had his wife come in to explain how he practices the methods taught in the course. The online quizzes took a little bit of time, but as long as you read the textbook you can find all of the answers, and he then goes over most of what's covered in class. Would highly recommend.
Ryan Curtis PSYC334 Expecting a ? Anonymous 12/21/2012	Hes a solid dude, and a really good teacher, but he gives a lot of work. Also he takes years to give grades back. It took over 3 weeks to get an exam back. Don't even get me started on grading essays. Put it this way, the semester is over and I have no idea what my grade is going to be because I havent gotten my grades back yet for 2 essays or my final exam, so basically half of my grade is missing and the semester ended yesterday
Ryan Curtis PSYC420 Expecting a B+ Anonymous 12/19/2012	I took Curtis for Interpersonal and loved him. I also took him for PSYC420 expecting him to be fun and everything, and found that he wasn't. However, if you're serious about Psychology and plan on going into social research, you aren't going to find a better professor to teach you the material. He's challenging, but he explains concepts very clearly and knows what he's talking about. I highly recommend him.
Ryan Curtis PSYC420 Anonymous 03/12/2012	I had Curtis for both PSYC334 and PSYC420. When I signed up for 420, I intentionally chose Curtis because I LOVED him for interpersonal. He was funny, engaging, creative, and clearly passionate about the subject. Unfortunately, that did not translate into 420. He speaks really condescendingly to the class and has been far from friendly and approachable. I don't know what happened--it feels like it's not even the same guy. I would not take 420 with him--he's too much of a jerk.
Ryan Curtis PSYC334 Expecting an A Anonymous 01/01/2012	The material for this class is soooo intersting. It's the first time I actually read a textbook cover to cover but that might partilly be due to the quizzes on each chapter. Curtis has an insane amount of work for this class that isn't really necessary at all. This is what he gives: online chapter quizzes due before lecture, wiki project(soo much work), goals reports, goals pre and post test papers, and exam review worksheet thingies. There are lots of opportunities and I suggest that u do all of them. The exams are half mult. choice and half short answer. The exams can be tricky but once you understand how he thinks they get easier. Curtis is an engaging professor he just does the most when it comes to work AND he takes forever and a day to post grades. We didn't get our grades until December. he gets very defensive when you ask him about psoting grades but other than that he's a good professor. IF YOU ARE LAZY THIS IS NOT THE CLASS FOR YOU
Ryan Curtis PSYC100 Expecting an A- Anonymous 12/26/2011	Curtis as absolutely fabulous. Very funny in lecture and explains things clearly. He is accessible outside of class and is willing to clarify/answer if you have questions about subject matter. The only hard thing about the class is its size (PSYC 100). Grades don't tend to be posted on time, and the worksheets are real point-drainers/GPA killers. Wording in exams/worksheets is also not always completely clear. Curtis is a great lecturer, but the class itself doesn't measure up.
Ryan Curtis PSYC334 Expecting an A Anonymous 11/07/2011	TAKE HIM IF YOU HAVE THE CHANCE. Great lecturer / professor. He's hilarious, engaging, and exciting. This class is difficult - exams are tough, the wiki project takes forever, and he's a tough grader but he's an amazing professor and he's fair. This class is interesting in itself but Curtis makes it phenomenal. The textbook for the class is awesome, I decided not to sell it back I like it so much. TAKE THIS CLASS.
Ryan Curtis PSYC334 Expecting an A Anonymous 05/25/2011	I really wish there was a 4.5 option, because there is really only two complaints I have about this man. 1) Some of his exam questions are weirdly worded and vague. If you ask him to clarify what it is asking, he will smile at you and shrug his shoulders. 2) He takes FOREVER to post grades, probably the TA's fault, but it gets really annoying sometimes when you wait over 2 weeks for a grade. But now for the positives. He is awesome! He is sweet, funny, charismatic, and approachable. I took him for 221 and loved him, so decided to take 334 just because of him. The workload is a lot, but manageable if you don't procrastinate. He uses clickers which are really neat for his classes because you can see how many people in your class are virgins and how many of them have cheated on their lovers. He has some weird quirks about him, like his obsession with corn dogs and Tina Turner, but that just makes him even more adorable. I highly recommend him for 221 and 334 if you are willing to put out some effort for a really rewarding class experience.
Ryan Curtis PSYC334 Expecting an A Anonymous 04/14/2011	I love Curtis, but what's love got to do with it? (if you take PSYC334 you'll understand) Curtis is easily the best professor I've had at Maryland! You can tell he really cares about his students. I wish every Psychology class (or class in general) at Maryland was taught by him.
Ryan Curtis PSYC221 Expecting a B Anonymous 12/17/2010	I agree that Ryan is a good professor. The main problem that I had with him is that he takes a LONG time to post grades. When questioned about grades, he blames it on his TA's and has many excuses why things aren't done on time. Also, he assigns a lot of things throughout the semester, but they aren't impossible to complete.
Ryan Curtis PSYC334 Expecting an A Anonymous 12/17/2010	Easily the best class I have ever taken at UMD. He is a great professor and so engaging. You have to go to class because you get clicker points, but the exams are a joke and the assignments aren't graded harshly, so as long as you do your work and go to class you'll get an A. Class is so interesting and fun. There were so many times I left class smiling just because I enjoyed it so much. Definitely take Curtis!!
Ryan Curtis PSYC334 Expecting a B psychterp12 12/16/2010	Ryan is a fabulous lecturer. The class was so interesting and he was very engaging. However, there are a lot of assignments in the class. The exams weren't too difficult but I ended up forgetting to do a lot of the smaller assignments which really hurt my grade. I still highly recommend this class but you should be willing to put in the work it deserves.
Ryan Curtis PSYC334 Expecting an A sjk 12/05/2010	Curtis is one of the best professor in UMD!! I enjoyed every single lecture and going to his lecture was never boring. The course material is interesting and work load is very manageable. He made everything clear for each exam. You dont need to read the text book as long as you go to every lecture. His exams are relatively easy and straight forward. Overall, I strongly recommend to take this class.
Ryan Curtis PSYC334 Expecting a C Anonymous 12/02/2010	Ok. So I took this class because I hear it was great. Which it is. Most interesting class I've taken so far at UMD. He is an amazing lecturer and he uses clickers which takes polls of everyone...so he asks questions like "who has had sex within the last ___" and all (it's anonymous, which he shows you before asking). But the only problem is that there are these "prep" worksheets on each chapter before the lecture. They are only 3 points each, but it's easy to forget to do them. And the questions are tricky, and from a question bank so you can't do it with other people. So you get 2 or 1.5/3 a lot, and it seems like no big deal but it adds up to a huge gap in your grade. Also, there are goal reports and stuff for a goal in improving your relationship with someone. Cool concept, until the TAs grade your stuff and you see that you've gotten 5/10. Very difficult to do well on those, and again it takes a lot of points away. The exams are really easy, just read the text and highlight and you're fine. But again those goal reports/prep worksheets WILL fuck your grade up.
Ryan Curtis PSYC221 terp13 11/20/2010	Easily my favorite class, just because of the subject matter. But Ryan was great! He keeps the lectures interactive (he takes clicker points everyday for attendance) and interesting. He loves corn dogs, snickers, and whatchamacallits. Tests are really not that difficult if you 1) go to class and 2) pay attention in lecture and review notes. Three writing assignments, slightly difficult, but not impossible. One group presentation related to the two papers you have to write, although the papers are individual assignments. Weekly multiple choice "worksheets" on Blackboard for each chapter that we focus on. Questions can be tricky.
Ryan Curtis PSYC334 Anonymous 06/23/2010	First of all, I want to say that, yes he is a great lecturer. He is very engaging and attentive to the students' questions. The assignments are fair, as long as you monitor your wiki group's progress. However, what I really did not enjoy in his class were his exams. Some of the questions he asked are very obscure and are just completely irrelevant. I've attended almost every single class, and read through the entire book line by line, and I still came across questions on the exams that addressed topics that were rarely mentioned. I wish he emphasized more on comprehension of the topics rather than just ask for minor and obscure details.
Ryan Curtis PSYC334 Expecting an A- Anonymous 05/25/2010	Ryan Curtis is a pretty good instructor. The class material is very interesting, but I would not say the class is an easy A. It's definitely doable, but not a "ride in the park." There's a lot of work, but it's worth it because you learn so much in the process. Ryan gives 3 exams (MC and short answer), a wiki paper, online worksheets, relationships goals, and clicker points. There's also a chance to get up to 10 points (out of 500 points) of extra credit through SONA. I really enjoyed this class and I definitely recommend that all psych majors take it. Whether you want to become a therapist, or if you just want to improve your relationship with your friends and family, I would take this class!
Ryan Curtis PSYC334 Expecting an A Anonymous 05/21/2010	Curtis is great. He was a good teacher, had very organized powerpoints covering textbook information each class, had interesting clicker questions that asked people about themselves (for attendance), and it was adorable how he talked about his wife and how she and his 2 sons came in the last day! There is a Wiki project. Groups are encouraged and you have to write a 11 pg. paper on a topic of your choice (relating to relationships-- if it's a 2 person group it's 12 pages, 3 person group 13 pages, and so on. So it's not too bad if you make a 5 person group, 3 pgs, per person! The textbook is also pretty interesting. I learned a lot from this class, stuff useful in everyday life. Take this class! I really enjoyed it.
Ryan Curtis PSYC334 Expecting an A Anonymous 04/13/2010	Ryan Curtis is the man! If Maryland knew what was good for the psych department they would have him teach more classes. I know Professor Curtis from taking his class and working in an adjacent lab to him. He is a phenomenal teacher and really good person. I noticed a girl approach him prior to an exam with some sort of distressing situations and he responded with understanding. You must read the book and go to class, but you want to go to class because the lectures are pretty fun and interesting. Take Ryan Curtis for anything, but especially PSYC334 if you can.
Ryan Curtis PSYC334 Expecting an A Anonymous 04/09/2009	I have had Ryan for 2 classes and he is one of the best professors I have ever had. He passionately cares about the topic, and gives interesting lectures. The tests are easy if you study and even though he gives worksheets, they are quick and painless. Highly recommend him.
Ryan Curtis PSYC221 kbe12478 04/08/2008	Going into this class, I thought it would be pretty boring, and I thought that the teacher might not be able to handle the class, as he was just a grad student. However, Prof. Curtis rose to the occasion, and was a very impressive speaker. He gave very accurate, concrete examples of the material we were covering. He was easy to connect with, and approachable. He was knowledgeable and professional. An all-around nice guy. The workload was decent; three exams, weekly assignments that weren't too difficult as long as you had the textbook, and a group presentation. Also, discussion attendance is taken, and that is where the group presentations are done, so you should go. A good class, and fairly easy.