Selby, Michael  

Psychology and Human Development

3.09/4.00

12 evaluations


PSY 304


Freshman
Credit
Elective
Aug 2001
I wish I had taken this class for credit because I would have received a B! This class covered difficult topics and theories but lectures were organized and interesting. Dr. Selby works in the field and gives you an honest peek into the science of the mind. I learned so much from this class, I almost changed my major!


Sophomore
N/A
Required (Support)
Nov 2000
Dr. Selby's lectures were interesting, and he used quite a bit of his own personal knowledge in field to illustrate his examples. Very approachable both in and outside of class. Took the time mid lecture to ask if the class understood the difficult material. Tests are pretty staright foward. I expect to receive an A or B


Senior
C
Required (Major)
Jun 2002
Selby was a pretty good professor for Biopsych. (I didn't have Freberg for biopsych, but she is an outstanding professor) I wasn't into the course material at all. I didn't really study like I should/could have. But about week 8 or 9 I started thinking some things were pretty interesting. I think if I had a better attitude going in I would have learned a lot more. So if your a psych major and think people are more exciting than neurotransmitters, that is okay, but don't make the same mistake I did. Go into with an open mind and try to learn something from the beginning. It will help you in other classes as well and probably in your grade too.

PSY 340


Freshman
A
Required (Major)
Oct 2002
Great professor. You must work hard in this class but you will learn a lot and enjoy it. The tests are hard but very fair. He includes examples from his clinical work. Overall, great class, great professor!


Sophomore
B
General Ed
Mar 2003
I was highly impressed with Selby. I have never taken biology, nor am I good with any type of science. I was very apprehensive about taking his class for that reason, and was therefore very surprised when I found his class interesting, and not hard. He requires no texts, just a book of his lecture notes, which comes in handy when following along. He uses lots of personal examples and ones from his practice. He is very approachable, and understands students - he could tell when we were beginning to get a little tired (it was from 4-6pm, and I've never been good with late classes), and offered to repeat the material next lesson, to make sure we had gotten it. His tests are hard, but fair. Since there is alot of material to study, I suggest start early, but definetly take his class for B5, since it is the easiest and most interesting class I've gone to that fulfills it. If I could think of science in this way, I'd call it 'fun'! :) He lets you out at 5:50, and gives a ~10min break at the hour so you won't fall asleep. Take him!


Junior
A
Elective
Dec 2003
Professor Selby is a really good teacher. The subject matter of this class is pretty difficult but he manages to explain it quite well. He tells lots of interesting stories and gives lots of good examples. The reading is extremley easy and also very, very helpful for exams. There is no textbook, just a 100 page notebook of notes, it's great. The first exam is the hardest cuz it deals with complicated cell communication stuff, but the other tests are ok. To get an "A" just do all the reading and memorize the different processes (how you hear something for example)because those will probably be essay questions. Also show up to lecture even though he does not take attendance. Doing the extra credit helps too. This is a really interesting class taught by a really good professor.


Junior
A
Required (Major)
Jan 2005
this man is a great professor! he knows what he's talking about and makes it very interesting to listen too. plus, the textbook he uses is his notes. you still need to take some notes, but its pretty much all there. his tests are a little on the hard side, but if you study plenty you'll be fine. take this class!!!


Junior
C
General Ed
Dec 2005
Selby was OK, very knowledgeable, but sometimes it felt like the class was too far beneath him for him to come back down to a beginner student


Junior
B
Required (Major)
Mar 2006
The class basically consisted of Dr. Selby explaining the textbook (that he wrote). Do the readings before class-that will totally help. I enjoyed this class, and I would take him again. He has a really dry sense of humor, and he seems to enjoy teaching. Don't be afraid of the chemistry part of the class. It's pretty easy-as long as you attend class and read the textbook.


Sophomore
B
Required (Major)
Aug 2008
Honestly, a horrible teacher. As said by other students, he is extremely intelligent and presents the material very well, but all he does is go over the text book (he wrote) and show video clips...but that is NOT the problem. The problem, which I believe is a worse quality in a teacher than being scatter brained or unclear, is that he seems to HATE being there to teach. I believe he has some psychological issues himself, he act like he thinks he's above you, and he makes you feel stupid when you ask questions. He will let you out early almost everyday, but if you stay after to ask questions he will make you feel like you are wasting HIS time, and respond with something like "it's just how it says in the text." You may as well take this class online and rent some videos for yourself, because he is the least personable, most demeaning teacher I have ever had. I came into this class enthusiastic and left furious at a man who robbed me of what I was looking forward to as the most exciting class in my major. He will present the material well, but he will not excite you, inspire you, or make you feel good about yourself in any way. Lots of potential, good at lecturing-- HORRIBLE AT TEACHING..


Sophomore
A
Required (Major)
Mar 2012
At first, I was unsure about this guy. But he actually grew on me. He's pretty funny and straightforward. My advice is basically to just memorize his book. The only point of going to lectures is to be there for the pop quizzes (which are extra-credit) and to see the movies which he puts some questions on the test about. But his tests are basically the book verbatim; he even tells you this the first day. Anyways, I thought he was a good professor overall, and I would recommend taking him.


Sophomore
A
Required (Support)
Mar 2018
He was a very sweet man, but I think he's getting a bit old. Very knowledgeable, he memorized all of his lectures my heart, but lecturing was a little iffy at times as he is hard of hearing and mumbles at times. His quizzes are very straightforward, and his exams are fair, I think the class was great, but I was really looking forward to an energetic professor who would really get me excited about the subject, and that excitement was lacking. I ended up getting an A, so its a very straightforward class with not a lot of extra work, but lectures were a little dry at times as its literally just out of the book. I heard this was one of the most interesting/exciting Psych classes in the department, and I was a bit disappointed that it wasn't that way for me.