Phillips, Stephen  

If you have to take a History of Architecture class, I WOULD recommend Professor Phillips. He is an incredibly humorous man and he is very generous with his grading. On the first exam the majority of students scored around a low C and he gave us extra credit to help our grade. If you have to choose Phillips or Yip for this class, choose Phillips. He recognizes that this class is a GE and, at least in my class, the majority of students were freshman and were not Architecture majors, and he understood that and took it into consideration with our exams and grading. Also, he puts all of the information for the exams directly onto the slides, whereas Yip does not do that, and you have to pay attention to everything he says. And, you don't really need the book (even though he says you should have it), but I just made flash cards of every slide and I did just fine. I will probably end up with an A or a B.

I would say he is not that student friendly so if you have questions to him his answers always make you feel stupid. However his powerpoints are good and you can just study on them and don't have to do the reading in order to succeed. The class is very interesting in my opinion. 3 midterms, 1 final with multiple choice, fill in the blank and one essay question on each. We were scheduled 2 hours 2 times per week but each lecture ended up being 1-1.5 hours, which was pretty nice.

This was a super hard class, especially if you have no knowledge of architecture. But the professor is super nice and willing to help out. He also, does curve the class and recognizes when everyone is struggling in the class. Do not recommend this class, but if you have to take it make sure you get this teacher.

I got put into this class my first quarter, but I'm actually happy that I was. I wasn't quite sure what to expect from a History of Architecture class, but it was actually pretty interesting. Professor Phillips was amazing - he was clearly very passionate, and he made the lectures pretty interesting. He posted all of his lectures online, and he doesn't deviate very far from the slides in class, so a lot of people wouldn't go to class. I'm sure you could skip class and still do really well in the class, but going to class really helps with the tests. His tests are a multiple choice section, some fill in the blanks/short answers, and an essay question. He will tell you before the test in class what the essay question is so you can prepare for it, and since a bunch of people in my class stopped coming, he even went over what he was looking for in the answer. He'll also drop hints in class about what some of the multiple questions will be, so going to class is helpful, but honestly not necessary. His only grades are the three midterms and the final, so there's not really any wiggle room to slack off on the tests. When people didn't do very well on the first test, he added in points and will really work with you if you are having trouble in the class. I really liked him, and would recommend the class. Also, from what he said, the other professor that teaches this class makes it harder, so definitely try to get Phillips.

Literally, stay away from this class. I was forced into it and I have never had a harder time grasping any material in my life, I haven't received my grade yet, but I am sure it didn't turn out too hot, Phillips legit sucks at presenting any material, he bolds some key point in the powerpoint, but that isn't helpful in any way considering the tests require more knowledge on literally EVERYTHING. Just save yourself and take a gov class.

I was blocked into this class in my first quarter at Cal Poly, and I thought this class was going to be brutal. Professor Phillips was by far the best professor I could have had for this class. He was extremely understanding that the majority of this class was blocked in and not architecture majors, and therefore did his very best to present the material so that everyone could be successful. He posts all of the powerpoints from the lectures on PolyLearn, which is much needed since he lectures quite fast, and makes sure that you are aware of what you need to know in each powerpoint. He has 3 midterms, and a cumulative final. The tests overall were not that hard and I ended up with a B+ and I am a business major. Overall this class is very manageable, and I would highly recommend Professor Phillips!

Don't buy either of the textbooks, they aren't at all needed. Go to class. Take notes. Study a lot before the test. A.

I had to take this class as a GE and was terrified because it seemed intimidating. However, Stephen is well equipped to teach this class and understands that most people are blocked into his section. He makes it VERY clear what is going to be on each test, and the TA's hold review sessions to clarify what is of importance. All of his lectures are posted online, but I would strongly recommend going to class as he often hints or outright comments on what will be on the test. This class is very doable if you go to all of the lectures and pay attention in class, I didn't do any outside reading. He also let us out of class an hour early most days. Overall, Stephen was a pretty chill professor with a dry sense of humor, but he is passionate and does a good job communicating what will be on the test. It was a lot for a GE though.

Class is defiantly a lot of work for a GE, but if you have to take ARCH 217 TAKE PHILLIPS! Class lectures consisted him of reading of slides from a powerpoint. He bolded info on the sides that was on the exam. The class was blocked for 2 hours but usually ended within an hour and a half max. There was nightly reading but defiantly not necessary to do well in the class. I didn't open my textbook once all year. As the year went on people stopped going to the lectures because he would post the powerpoint on his PolyLearn, and when no a lot of people showed up he gave us practice essay questions for the exams and sometimes told us the exact essay prompt. GO TO THE LECTURES, even though they are boring. He knows its a GE and doesn't really get involved with the students, most interaction with the students is through the TA's, he didn't even show up on test days. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this class for a GE because you spend a lot of time studying the material, but he makes it clear what is on the test and as long as you study that you'll do fine.

Do not buy the textbook with him as a professor. He gives you everything you need to know in the lectures. If you are like me, and was just blocked in, I highly recommend making flashcards. There will be a ton, but it is super helpful. If you are an Arch major then you should probably learn about the actual floor plans and such. There are some flashcards on quizlet too that are helpful but I do not think all the ones you need are there.

This class is honestly kinda boring cause its kinda just throwing a bunch of facts at you. He's a pretty fair professor though, the tests are straightforward and based off the stuff he presents in class. He also bolds a lot of the really important stuff to know. Overall he's a pretty solid professor for this class.

Professor Phillips's ARCH 217 is the best option to take if required but it does require a fair amount of studying and memorization in order to do well on the exams. The exams themselves are pretty straightforward and he's generous enough to bold the important concepts to make sure that the students know what they should focus on to do well on the exams. The lectures themselves can be quite tedious but generally the class finishes in about an hour to an hour and a half so it's not entirely bad. The textbook is not necessary for the class. In order to do well in this class, attend the lectures even if they are somewhat dull, read up on the slides and memorize the important concepts.

Phillips, though he obviously knows a lot about architecture as a whole, is not a great professor for History of Architecture. He reads straight off the slides and his ISAs do almost all of the real work. It is one of those classes that you can easily just skip and teach yourself. There are many midterms throughout. That being said, he has somewhat dumbed down the course for non-architecture majors who are blocked into it as a GE, but he never lets you forget it. Honestly, he probably isn't a terrible teacher, he just doesn't teach anything really in this course.

Dr. Philips is very knowledgeable guy in the field of architecture. His class was pretty straightforward as you had to memorize the stuff that he bolder which were in the test for the most part. Although half the class stopped showing up by middle of the quarter, he would provide answers to exams in his lectures which was pretty beneficial. His exams weren’t easy but they were durable if you put in the right effort. Pretty solid professor and a good guy.

Pretty solid professor over all. I mean it's impossible for a professor like him to get to know every student in class due to sheer number of students there are in PAC but he was generous to help out by curving the exams. His tests were simple if there is a good amount of studying and memorization done. If you had to choose between Philips and Yip, I would recommend Phillips 10 times out of 10.

A good guy and a solid professor overall. Very knowledgeable in terms of architecture. Textbook is not necessary, just read up on the slides and focus studying on the slides to do well in the class.

Difficult class, especially if you have no idea about history, architecture, or religion. I was blocked into this class for a GE requirement, along with most students, but architecture students need it as a major requirement. Overall, if you want to get an A/B SHOW UP TO CLASS!!! You don't need the textbook, as his lecture slides contain everything you need to pass his tests... literally his test questions are bolded.

dont go to class its not necessary at all and dont buy the book either. He posts the slides for the tests and thats all you need. tests were fairly difficult but her curves the grades. I found the best way to study was to look at the pictures from the slides and list everything I knew about it, this was very help since much of the course relies on visuals. the week before finals he will do a review or is TA's for that matter since he makes them run the class basically. attend this and you will do great, I recorded it so that I had all the info and they knew everything that was on the final (as if they wrote it). really thought I was going to fail after the first test because I got a C but he was willing to help the class with curving. In the beginning I hated this course and would say I would recommend, but now that I have completed it I would recommend to everyone. Seriously attending class is unnecessary, but if you chose to attend he will let you out almost an hour early every class.

Stephen was a great professor and this class was a piece of cake. The class consisted of three midterms and a final which were all the exact same format. He clearly bolds and underlines the information that will be tested in his powerpoint and uploads them to polylearn. Honestly, I studied pretty hard for this class and it paid off, but his powerpoint made the studying really easy. 10/10 recommend this class as a GE

The first post for Stephen Phillips. Where to begin, Stephen, Stephen, Stephen. Why don't we give you a little break considering it WAS your first quarter at Cal Poly. I am sorry we do not have a laser cutter like Sci-Arch, Princeton, Berkeley.. or any of the other PRIVATE universities you compared us to. On the very first class meeting, "Stephen" talked to us about moving the practice section to be on MWF as well with our studio. When we told him it would be difficult to do it, he asked why.. "because we have to take our other classes on those days" and he responded with "you have other classes?" Lets just say that this is how the quarter started off, and at no point did he give us a break. When he does desk crits of your projects, he simply mentions other architects/artists/philosophers to look at, like he wants your project to go in "that direction". Just trying to keep his signature on all of our work, so that he may take credit for the manhours we put into it. On one positive note, "Stephen" introduced Rhino to us, an amazing modeling program that we should all fight to replace Form Z in the 160 class. Throughout the quarter, "Stephen" would talk about students behind their back to other students "Well, at least you're coming along better than _____" "Tell _____ they better get it together" "_____ is lazy" Crits went 6 hours long. We were given a project that was due in 32 hours, and he said nothing but "It'll pretty much be impossible to do all work that I expect in this amount of time."

Stephen is very good for design. His rigorous attitude pushed me to deliver some of my best work to date. He is very intelligent, and his knowledge with continually prove to be useful. He will examine your project carefully, and tell you who and what to research to get it moving in the right direction. The only downside to the quarter was his availability. He is very busy (running a firm, managing Hearst lectures, teaching classes), and this can get in the way of studio time. That said, he is very helpful when he is in class, and not afraid to provide valuable insight. Take this class.

I agree, a great professor. He knows a lot and is very personable...

Intelligent and knowledgeable man, but he lacks something in communication with others, to the point of seeming rude or arrogant. He's a busy man with much to do, so you can't help but feel you're being pushed aside to fit into his schedule at your expense.

I enrolled in the LA Metro off-campus program last year - and it was by far the single best decision I have made in terms of career opportunities and my continued development as a designer. But be warned; it is extremely difficult. It is by far the hardest thing I've ever done for an extended period of time. For perspective, I had taken Fowler’s studio prior to that, and while Fowler’s studio at one time was the hardest thing I’d ever done for an extended period – it is nothing even remotely close to the difficulty of LA Metro. You may find yourself stretched to your limit. Many of my classmates and I struggled quite a bit throughout the program, and for this reason many of my classmate really resent Stephen, but I have to say I don't totally understand why. It is true he can be a little hurtful, but I think that's mostly a factor of him simply being plain and honest (which personally I'd much prefer to an easy-going hands-off teacher). Be prepared to know that he's never going to totally happy with your project, and he's always going to have a substantial critique of its shortcomings - this is just inescapable really. Be confident, be assertive, and don't take every suggestion he gives you but rather balance his concerns with your own project goals. If you keep an open mind and try to think as objectively about your work as possible (rather than being so invested in your project that you take critique personally), I think you'll find that he is a very helpful adviser. I will say that while the program is fairly difficult no matter what, there are ways to mitigate the difficulty. There are several individuals in my studio who didn't struggle nearly as much as the rest of us because they were savvy and strategic about managing their time, working efficiently, and designing a manageable project. This is just to say that if you don't think you can manage everything then design a smaller project than is asked, or forego some of Stephen's assignments. The reality is that no one completes everything Stephen asks of them; those that do 80%-90% of it are guaranteed to earn an A in the class and Stephen's respect, which goes a long way. Frankly I think some of my classmates completed much less than that and still earned an A. It doesn't have to be as difficult as some people make it, and admittedly I have to say I'm apart of the group that made it hard on themselves. I think the most valuable thing offered by this program is the amazing employment opportunities offered by the internship/co-op component of the program. Stephen is really well-connected - he knows architects throughout the country and he has solid connections at nearly every top American architecture firm and a few international ones as well. This is especially true in LA; and you'll find that LA Metro offers internships at nearly every top firm in the area. I myself got the incredible opportunity to work for own of my favorite architects ever and it was really a transformative experience. Not only that but I now have a solid chance to return to work at that firm upon graduation, in addition to other employment opportunities I am afforded thanks to this program. In fact, I got to intern at the office of another architect I quite respect in the summer following LA Metro thanks to Stephen's help; this too is a possible work destination for me upon graduation. But Stephen’s connections extend beyond employment opportunities. If you are interested in getting a master’s degree someday, there is perhaps no better endorsement at Cal Poly than Stephen’s. He has written recommendations for numerous LA Metro alumni who later found themselves at prestigious schools, including Harvard, Princeton, and MIT, among others. He has a lot of sway, and if you demonstrate yourself to be a hard-working and diligent student, he will help you a lot in your later career. This is another reason that I’m a bigger fan of Stephen than some of my classmates; he really does care a lot about the success of his students, and he does way more work than is required of him to ensure that success. This is true in relation to his recommendations and employment connections, but it’s also true of the various extracurricular events he manages through the LA Metro program – talks, lectures, and forums with leading architects and critics. These are totally not a part of his job description, but he does all this extra work because he truly cares, whether it seems like it or not. Another valuable thing is that the student work is head and shoulders above all the other fourth year work. While Copenhagen and a few other study abroad program reputedly have solid academics, I myself can attest that I visited Copenhagen at one point and the work quality did compare to LA Metro work. Frankly the LA Metro studio will most years produce much better work than the average fifth year studio. If you don’t believe me I encourage to visit calpolylametro.com to see for yourself. Stephen also designs the program as a trial run for your thesis, and as a current thesis student I can attest I feel much better prepared to design and execute a good thesis project. To be clear: if you're not mentally tough, don't take this program. If you're not totally sure you want to be an architect, don't take this program - it's really not worth the massive effort. If you just want a break for your fourth year, and want to just travel and have fun, obviously this program isn't for you. But if you do want to practice architecture upon graduation (especially if you either want to work in LA or get a master's education someday) the LA Metro program is the single best thing you can do to improve your chances of success in the industry.

Stephen is an excellent teacher. Entering into my fifth year, I wanted to work under someone who understood how to take a project and help make it incredible. There is little about architecture that Stephen does not know; a walking encyclopedia, which is sometimes intimidating, but it can open your eyes to what is really going on in the academic and professional world. I took him or 4 quarters and really enjoyed it. In addition to his incredible talents as an instructor, he has contributed to the school through his connections with the academic and professional realm: Princeton, Sci-Arc, UCLA ect.... He brought outside professionals in to train students useing complex new tools we would not have been exposed to otherwise. In my opinion, Stephen has added to the reputation of the school ten fold. Any one who has the chance to take Stephen's class should feel very lucky.

Professor Phillips is an extremely knowledgeable, insightful and engaging professor of architecture, particularly for the thesis year. So much so, in fact, that several of us in our thesis class were taking him for the second time in our undergraduate educations, having taken his third-year studio and subsequently requesting him for thesis in fifth-year. In hindsight my experience studying under Professor Phillips was uniquely fundamental in my undergraduate formation and in the foundation of my life-long desire for intellectual investigation in design. My personal growth was strongest in his theory section, where I profited from his extensive knowledge of history and discourse. This provided a strong base in academic education and continue to grow after graduating from his thesis studio. On a personal level of instruction; his demanding schedule and expectations are a powerful challenge requiring a great deal of ambition and positive attitude. Regardless, this academic rigor is an opportunity for growth rather than a negative force of opposition, and prepares his students for the stress and demands of the professional realm. Professor Phillips always desires success for his students, and will take time to consult in office hours or at one\'s desk as necessary; his strength in insight has provided professional and academic wisdom that I will continue to draw upon for years to come.

Arch 481 was the most comprehensive and rewarding year of my experience at Cal Poly. Stephen Phillips created a studio that advanced itself far outside the schools parameters. He provided valuable insight not just to our projects but also on the next few years of my life in terms of architectural growth. His understanding of architecture discourse gives support that confirms and strengthens the understanding of current projects. Combining the strengths that Cal Poly has to offer with the addition of outside critics engaged me as a student to take on issues that I thought not possible of myself. The use of his theoretical framework and practical architecture knowledge gave rise to some of the most interesting thesis works I have seen since I started at the school. It is a difficult studio and is not for those who don\'t love what they do.