Kerry Dugan is a Philosophy professor at Northeastern University rated 4.0/5 by 56 students, with 3.2/5 difficulty and 100.0% who would take them again (TRACE + RateMyProfessors + Reddit, updated July 2026).
Kerry Dugan professor reviews and ratings: 4.0/5 from 56 student reviews at Northeastern (100.0% would take again). TRACE + RateMyProfessor + Reddit.
He teaches using a Socratic method, if you want to pass you must participate and ask questions. He is amazing teacher and is not here to fail you. Simply try and actually learn something from the class. Best class Ive ever taken!PHIL1170 2017-12-04 14:16:33 +0000 UTC
Love this man. He teaches in a very unconventional way but that's what makes the class so awesome, because it forces you to think. If you participate a lot and are genuinely interested in the class then you will do well.PHIL1101 2016-12-14 19:52:36 +0000 UTC
All I can say is wow. Existentialism has been the most intellectually challenging course I think I will ever take, and Dugan is absolutely brilliant. Everybody complains about the participation, but that's the point - ask your own questions. No quizzes, no tests, just read the book and discuss. Highly recommended, you'll enjoy every lecture.PHIL2343 2015-04-16 15:59:51 +0000 UTC
never tells you your grade until last day of class.... dont take him1170 2014-12-10 04:51:19 +0000 UTC
A large part of your final grade will be participation. He should realize that some students are just not built to freely express their ideas in the class.PHIL101 2013-12-12 01:38:40 +0000 UTC
Very impressed by his teaching... love how you see the world from a different point of view after his classPSY3153 2012-06-28 06:53:28 +0000 UTC
Dugan is exactly what a professor is meant to be. He teaches using the socratic method, and is very good at it. He is exceedingly intelligent and loves to share this knowledge. I took EX 1 and 2 with him and will never be the same. he brings out the best in you and you will truly love him by the end of the semesterPHIL343 2010-01-31 22:50:17 +0000 UTC
I'm a philosophy major who's taken 3 courses with Dugan and enjoyed them. He's very good. My one reservation is that he has develped a following - some very smart, some less so. Dugan favors them and is tough on anyone who argues with him. Even lame remarks from his followers slide by while better comments from others are dismissed or ridiculed.PHLMANY 2010-01-01 12:01:00 +0000 UTC
Well I have been acquainted with Prof. Dugan for years, and taken many of his classes, and once again my life has been changed for the better! This professor is one of the most genuine instructors that I have ever worked for - a man who cares about knowledge over the appearance of grades. A+ professor with A+ classes!PHL1145 2009-12-27 12:38:38 +0000 UTC
I'm torn on Dugan. He seems like a great guy, he evokes very interesting and useful class discussion, and he makes very thorough comments on papers. But he needs to put grades on those papers. And he needs to realize that students can do good work without participating all the time. Overall, it's worth it to take him.PHIL110 2009-12-21 05:37:40 +0000 UTC
Changed my life...again!! This class was extremely challenging, you have read with a lot of depth, and mostly reread the material. But what you get out of every class you take with dugan is an illumination that will light the rest of your life. This education is not typical it is internal and eternal. I recommend dugan 100%.PLATO4992 2009-12-18 15:31:31 +0000 UTC
Tough to evaluate. Dugan is unique in some very good ways and not so good ways. He is a very energetic teacher, really intense, and that inspires quite a few students. He can also put students on the spot in class in ways that border on cruelty. He brought one student close to tears. In almost every other respect he is a well above average Prof.PHL1100 2009-12-14 23:25:42 +0000 UTC
The best professor at Northeastern. Changed my life by explaining that philosophy is personal. Made me question all the social norms and our ways of behavior. Dugan FTW!!!!!!PHLU102 2009-04-18 22:48:57 +0000 UTC
By far the best professor I have ever had. Completely blew my mind with the ideas he presented, and his class (Existentialism) is the only one that has really stuck with me and changed the way I live my life, five years after I took it... Amazing professor.EXISTENTI 2009-01-14 10:44:11 +0000 UTC
This class is not technically difficult but he challenges everyone in the class to discuss and analyze complex issues. I did not like it at first, I found him intimidating but once I got used to the class format I really got a lot out of it.PHLU165 2008-11-10 19:57:13 +0000 UTC
Kerry Dugan has an average rating of 4.0/5 from 56 student reviews. 100.0% of students said they would take them again.
Kerry Dugan's classes have a difficulty rating of 3.2/5 based on student reviews.
Kerry Dugan has taught PHIL3343, PHIL1170, PHIL1102, PHIL2343, PHIL1101 at Northeastern.
Data updated July 2026.