Pretty challenging course, but I loved it. I think that for as long as you keep up with your readings and attend lecture, you will be fine. Do not underestimate the exams, as they make up a huge part of your grade and are fairly difficult. Helps if you know a little about the Fourth and Fifth Amendment before taking this course.Rate My Professors ↗
Historical instructor
ALAN RUBEL
What students say
Original student reviews · all captured dates
Quality 4/5Difficulty 4/5
Quality 3/5Difficulty 2/5
I routinely forgot that this was supposed to be a class about ethics. For a class about the moral implications surrounding the use of data mining and algorithms he sure does love talking about legality. A lot of the readings are dense and long, but if you just get the jist of what they're saying and watch his online lectures, you should get an A.Rate My Professors ↗
Quality 4/5Difficulty 3/5
His knowledge about law and related materials is really good and he does a great job of communicating that to students. He is really helpful and accessible outside of class. Overall he's a solid choice and I'd recommend you take a class with him.Rate My Professors ↗
Quality 5/5Difficulty 2/5
Professor Rubel was by far the best professor I ever had. His lectures were super interesting and engaging and he strove to make sure everyone was engaged with and understanding of the material. Also he's just a super really approachable and clearly cares about your education. Plus 201 is an easy class that made me a better writer for sure.Rate My Professors ↗
Quality 5/5Difficulty 3/5
Alan is obviously passionate about what he teaches which makes lectures that much more enjoyable. There is a lot of reading, but he does a good job at highlighting the most important ones that will be on the exams. The exams are a timed essay, but if you've done the readings or attended lecture you will do fine. Overall great professorRate My Professors ↗
Quality 4/5Difficulty 1/5
The lectures are interesting, but there is no reason to attend unless you find them interesting. Your grade is based solely on papers and these weekly memos which require little to no effort. There is lots of reading which can be very dry at times. He is passionate though and is worth attending if you find it interesting.Rate My Professors ↗
Personal experiences, not a representative survey. Profile matching and captured coverage are shown in the source details.
Classes with ALAN RUBEL
LIS 399
Independent Reading and Research
1–3 creditsLIS 399 is an independent reading and research course focused on concentrated work on a subject or problem of interest.
No offering record · Spring 2026
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2022 · limited sampleRecorded teaching history
Distinct courses recorded per term
Explore courses taught by this instructor →Browse recorded courses
| Term | Course | Title |
|---|---|---|
| Spring 2026 | LIS 399 | Independent Reading and Research |
| Fall 2025 | LEGALST/LIS 460 | Surveillance, Privacy, and Police Powers |
| Spring 2025 | LIS 399 | Independent Reading and Research |
| Spring 2025 | LIS 990 | Research and Thesis |
| Fall 2024 | LEGALST/LIS 663 | Introduction to Cyberlaw |
| Fall 2024 | LIS 990 | Research and Thesis |
| Spring 2024 | LEGALST 407 | Jurisprudence and Social Issues |
| Spring 2024 | LIS 990 | Research and Thesis |
| Fall 2023 | LIS 340 | Topics in Information Studies - Social Aspects |
| Fall 2023 | LIS 990 | Research and Thesis |
| Spring 2023 | LEGALST/LIS 663 | Introduction to Cyberlaw |
| Spring 2023 | LIS 990 | Research and Thesis |
| Fall 2022 | LIS 931 | Seminar in Information Policy, Management and Institutions |
| Fall 2022 | LIS 990 | Research and Thesis |
| Fall 2022 | LIS 999 | Independent Reading and Research |
| Spring 2022 | LIS 661 | Information Ethics and Policy |
| Spring 2022 | LIS 999 | Independent Reading and Research |
| Fall 2021 | LIS 461 | Data and Algorithms: Ethics and Policy |
| Fall 2021 | LIS 999 | Independent Reading and Research |
| Fall 2020 | LEGALST 400 | Topics in Legal Studies and the Social Sciences |
| Fall 2020 | LEGALST 450 | Topics in Legal Studies and the Humanities |
| Fall 2020 | LIS 461 | Data and Algorithms: Ethics and Policy |
| Fall 2020 | SOC 496 | Topics in Sociology |
| Spring 2020 | GEN&WS 320 | Special Topics in Gender, Women and Society |
| Spring 2020 | LEGALST 400 | Topics in Legal Studies and the Social Sciences |
| Spring 2020 | LEGALST 444 | Law in Action |
| Spring 2020 | LEGALST 450 | Topics in Legal Studies and the Humanities |
| Spring 2020 | LIS 661 | Information Ethics and Policy |
| Spring 2020 | LIS 931 | Seminar in Information Policy, Management and Institutions |
| Spring 2020 | LIS 999 | Independent Reading and Research |
| Spring 2020 | SOC 496 | Topics in Sociology |
| Fall 2019 | LIS 201 | The Information Society |
| Fall 2019 | LIS 990 | Research and Thesis |
| Spring 2019 | LIS 990 | Research and Thesis |
| Fall 2018 | LIS 999 | Independent Reading and Research |
| Spring 2018 | LIS 661 | Information Ethics and Policy |
| Spring 2018 | LIS 999 | Independent Reading and Research |
| Fall 2017 | LIS 201 | The Information Society |
| Fall 2017 | LIS 999 | Independent Reading and Research |
| Spring 2017 | LEGALST 450 | Topics in Legal Studies and the Humanities |
| Spring 2017 | LIS 661 | Information Ethics and Policy |
| Spring 2017 | LIS 931 | Seminar in Information Policy, Management and Institutions |
| Spring 2017 | LIS 999 | Independent Reading and Research |
| Fall 2016 | LEGALST/LIS 460 | Surveillance, Privacy, and Police Powers |
| Fall 2016 | LIS 201 | The Information Society |
| Fall 2016 | LIS 999 | Independent Reading and Research |
| Spring 2016 | LEGALST 450 | Topics in Legal Studies and the Humanities |
| Spring 2016 | LIS 661 | Information Ethics and Policy |
| Spring 2016 | LIS 999 | Independent Reading and Research |
| Fall 2015 | LEGALST/LIS 460 | Surveillance, Privacy, and Police Powers |
| Fall 2015 | LIS 201 | The Information Society |
| Spring 2015 | LEGALST/LIS 460 | Surveillance, Privacy, and Police Powers |
| Spring 2015 | LIS 661 | Information Ethics and Policy |
| Spring 2014 | LEGALST 450 | Topics in Legal Studies and the Humanities |
| Spring 2014 | LIS 661 | Information Ethics and Policy |
| Spring 2014 | LIS 931 | Seminar in Information Policy, Management and Institutions |
| Fall 2013 | LEGALST 400 | Topics in Legal Studies and the Social Sciences |
| Fall 2013 | LIS 999 | Independent Reading and Research |
| Spring 2013 | LEGALST 450 | Topics in Legal Studies and the Humanities |
| Spring 2013 | LIS 661 | Information Ethics and Policy |
| Spring 2013 | LIS 999 | Independent Reading and Research |
| Fall 2012 | LEGALST 400 | Topics in Legal Studies and the Social Sciences |
| Fall 2012 | LEGALST 699 | Directed Study |
| Spring 2012 | LEGALST 450 | Topics in Legal Studies and the Humanities |
| Spring 2012 | LIS 661 | Information Ethics and Policy |
| Spring 2012 | LIS 931 | Seminar in Information Policy, Management and Institutions |
| Fall 2011 | LEGALST 400 | Topics in Legal Studies and the Social Sciences |
| Spring 2011 | LEGALST 450 | Topics in Legal Studies and the Humanities |
| Spring 2011 | LIS 661 | Information Ethics and Policy |
| Fall 2010 | LEGALST 400 | Topics in Legal Studies and the Social Sciences |
Teaching history may be incomplete. Course pages contain course-specific feedback and citations.
Instructor identity & provenance
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