Alan Karras - University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA

Professor: Alan Karras

Department: History

College: University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PE100
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Poor lecturer but easy class. The class material is also very outdated.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: IAS45PEIS100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

VERY arrogant. I can definitely see why people said he lowers your berkeley experience. Avoid if possible

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PE100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Karras is for sure the best professor Ive had in Cal so far. Hes lectures were really inspirational and interesting, making me never want to skip one lecture. His midterm was fair, you have to study for u, but if u know what ur writing, you can get a good grade. Super smart and humorous guy, love him!

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PE100
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Lots of readings and you really have to work to get a good grade, but professor Karras always keeps lecture materials interesting. Also, go to his office hours - he's always willing to help understand the course material.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PE100
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Prof. Karras is very knowledgeable, but his lectures can be a bit dry. He's a bit intimidating and arrogant; be sure to come prepared to office hours because they're individual meetings. Don't bother doing the readings- just go off of lectures. I got an A and did about 4% of the readings. It helps to make a comparison chart of all the thinkers.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: IAS45
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Easy class but a teacher below par!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: IAS45
• Grade Received: F
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

What a class!

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: POLECON100
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Although intimidating at first, this professor's interest in the subject matter and engaging lectures make the classes he teaches very enjoyable. It is a lot of reading, however you can get most of the material from the lectures if you pay attention. Section is very helpful as well. Grades participation, so speak up in class!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: IAS45
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

I have to say this was hands down one of my favorite classes at Cal!

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: IAS45
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

My favorite professor so far at Berkeley! He seems intimidating at first and in lecture, but if you go into office hours he's great-- funny and helpful and really knows his stuff. There's a lot of required reading, he's very serious about no phones/computers in lecture. Overall the tests and essays are challenging but fair.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: IAS45
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Best professor I have had at Cal. He seems intimidating at first, but his dry humor will grow on you. I liked the class because he encouraged questions and emphasized critical thinking. The reading for the class was reasonable but there were 3ish longer novels. Enforces the no phone rule VERY seriously. You will get kicked out of class.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PE100
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

The class is fairly easy and not that challenging. He does not allow laptops in class but he should keep in mind that there are students with disabilities who need this medium for note-taking. Otherwise an okay class.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PE100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Very dynamic speaker. One of the best classes I've taken at UC Berkeley, made me glad I chose PE as a major. PE 100 is very theoretical but made it interesting. Some people don't like him because he blatantly calls on people who sleep in class. Electronics (laptop, cell phone, etc.) not allowed in class.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: IAS102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

By far the worst professor I've ever had. Extremely boring. Outside of class he is unhelpful and not very nice. Actually decreased the value of my Berkeley experience. Didn't learn anything except to avoid taking him ever again.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: IAS102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Definitely the worst class that I've taken at UC Berkeley. I was expecting to be challenged and supported by my professor. Instead we read books that he didn't understand and, therefore, couldn't teach. Moreover, He is not very helpful nor respectful of students. I don't think he has ever really considered viewpoints besides his own.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: IAS102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

He is certainly NOT the best and his teaching content and style are not very good. However, you can get an A in his class very easily.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: IAS45
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Wonderful Professor! He engages you in lectures and knows his topics extremely well. Is quirky and has great presence. Also VERY helpful in office hours and interested in his students.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: IAS102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Taking a seminar with Karras is awesome. I can't believe how much he has challenged me. He really takes the time to get me to articulate clearly about my thesis and not be afraid to rethink my assumptions. Yes, he pushes hard and I guess if you are not ready to be pushed you're going to hate it. But if you are you up for it you will learn a lot!

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: IAS102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

I hate this seminar. It is long and redundant. We receive very few (or no) guidelines for our papers. I think Karras is a nice guy, but, after taking this class, I would warn any and all IAS students not to take the honors seminar, unless you want an enjoyable year. Wow, I really detest this class.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: IAS102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Having to sit through a seminar-based class with Karras is torture. He is peremptory about his viewpoints, and condescending toward students. While the organization of the class is satisfactory, his attitude makes the course rather unenjoyable. I am afraid that Karras does not compare to the many great profs at Berkeley (though he thinks he does).