Current instructor

Richard Begam

Adjusted rating
RMP difficulty
captured reviews
About this rating

Raw average: 4.41/5 from 29 quality ratings. The adjusted rating blends this with the UW review average (3.66/5), weighted as 20 additional ratings. Smaller samples stay closer to that average. Each captured review is counted once in the prior; this does not correct who chooses to leave a review.

RMP profile ↗ · All captured review dates; profile matched by name.

What students say

Original student reviews · all captured dates

ENG353 · course not matched
Quality 5/5Difficulty 3/5
A great class for anyone interested in novels. Professor Begam, while initially intimidating, is friendly and interesting to speak to.
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ENG353 · course not matched
Quality 2/5Difficulty 5/5
Wouldn't recommend. Every aspect of the class is extremely outdated. I understand not wanting electronics in class, but it is unacceptable to barely have anything on canvas. I have zero idea what my grade has been throughout the entire course, and god help you if you miss a class or an assignment, or if you don't give him the exact answer he wants.
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ENG454 · course not matched
Quality 3/5Difficulty 5/5
He's extremely intelligent and well-read. You'll learn a lot if you're willing to participate and do the required readings/weekly study questions (which I recommend, even though it's a TON of work). However, he's not always the kindest and your grade is based on three assignments. He's also pretty hot, though.
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ENG453 · course not matched
Quality 4/5Difficulty 4/5
Extremely philosophical topics, background knowledge in philosophical concepts and Christianity is helpful but not necessary as he explains topics very well, one book a week so very reading heavy, study questions, 2 exams, and 1 paper, take this class if you want to learn something, very nice, funny, and absolutely brilliant but intimidating
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ENG454 · course not matched
Quality 5/5Difficulty 4/5
Outstanding professor. I was a little intimidated by him at first, but he's actually pretty nice and has a sense of humor. That being said, this isn't a class you can really screw around in. But if you do the readings and speak up in class, you'll have no issue. If you like James Joyce at all, take this class.
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Personal experiences, not a representative survey. Profile matching and captured coverage are shown in the source details.

Classes with Richard Begam

ENGL 699

Directed Study

1–3 credits

Directed Study is an English course for junior or senior students with prior or concurrent intermediate-level work in the same subject, requiring consultation with an academic advisor.

Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources

Heather SwanLarry Edgerton+31 more

No recorded grade history

Recorded teaching history

Distinct courses recorded per term

Explore courses taught by this instructor →
Browse recorded courses
TermCourseTitle
Spring 2027ENGL 682Senior Honors Thesis in the Major
Spring 2027ENGL 692Senior Thesis
Spring 2027ENGL 699Directed Study
Spring 2027ENGL 990Dissertation Research in English
Fall 2026ENGL 681Senior Honors Thesis in the Major
Fall 2026ENGL 691Senior Thesis
Fall 2026ENGL 990Dissertation Research in English

Teaching history may be incomplete. Course pages contain course-specific feedback and citations.

Instructor identity & provenance 
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