Anil Hira - Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC

Professor: Anil Hira

Department: Political Science

College: Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: POL457
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Hira is a hard working and the only "FULL-TIME" prof in the faculty. He helps students and provides excellent feedback for improvements. Therefore, you are expected to work in a different standard. On the other hand, he is a tough grader, he assumes that student take only his course, and other life activities are "Certeris Paribus". Tough prof.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: POL457
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Andy definitely makes you put in the work for this class, but the outcome is very rewarding. He is passionate about what he teaches and is always available for extra help. Very thorough with instruction and cares about his students.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: LAS311
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

The Political Science department has multiple pages of complaints regarding Anil Hira.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: LAS403
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

If a student gets a C or C+ from Anil, then they did good.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: LAS403
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I'm so glad my Poli Sci friends and Professors warned me to stay away from him. He fails people and marks hard like he has something to prove.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: POL451
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

One of the most accessible and informative professors you'll find. Not an easy A but you can get a great grade if you're willing to work. I would just be careful not to to take too many intensive classes alongside one of Dr. Hira's upper division classes.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: POL253
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

tough grade and hard exam get ready to read 20-30 pages each week

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: POL150
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Pol 150 was definitely an interesting class! If you put time and effort into the weekly readings, and keep up to date on lectures, you'll be fine! In saying that, readings are defiantly heavy.. and theres a lot of them. At one point we had 200 pages per week. Two large papers make up your grade in the course, so take time on it!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: POL150
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The reading was a little heavy, but you learn so much! He is a great prof and makes classes really interactive and engaging.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: POL457
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

One of the best. He is very tough but his course will definitely improve your writing ability and critical thinking. Very caring though his outward behaviour might sometimes be abrupt-- prob because he's very busy. Even if you struggling, if you show him you are trying he does his best for you. Gives the best readings for the field he is teaching.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: POL452W
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Slackers beware, he will grill you hard for failing to study every week. Otherwise, he is honestly one of the best professors I've had the pleasure of taking a class with at SFU and really cares about the success of his students. I would recommend him to anyone looking to not only get a diploma, but an education too.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: POL253
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Andy is one of the quality professors at SFU. Definitely a course you will learn in but be prepared to work hard. His class is not for slackers and there is lots of discussion. He is also very flexible with his course and may make it a bit easier if you ask. Has some subtle jokes that are quite funny and his party at the end of semester was fun

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: POLI359
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Hira is a very helpful and informative professor. He has a high expectation on students' performance, but he is very organized and informative on the subjects that he teachs..

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: POL452W
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I failed his first class for POL451. Why? cause I slacked. I took his other class POL 452W it was just awesome. Be prepared to work hard but if you do he really does remember you and goes beyond to help you out! He also has a party at his house at the end of the semester :)

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: LAS201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I had classes with Andy 10 years ago when i went to SFU. Best prof i had at that crummy 2nd rate school. He makes you think and is a great mentor. Wish all my teachers had been as great.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: POL459
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He is a very disciplined scholar and a demanding teacher. He makes students think beyond the textbook. I would recommend this class to everybody as it made take more of pol. sc. classes.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: POL451
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

You either love him or you hate him. There is no inbetween. Be prepared to work hard. Slackers will fail. As long as you put in the work every day, he will make it worth your while. Extremely helpful when you go see him in his office. He has a very understated sense of humor. I would recommend him personally.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: LAS100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Anil Hira is a fantastic professor. He expects a lot from each student, but only because he puts in so much work, himself. View his website: http://www.sfu.ca/~ahira to see for yourself. My only regret is that I took this course in my first term ever. I was completely unprepared to work to a level I would be happy with. Interesting class.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: LAS200
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He is very demanding of all students and often calls on random people during class. He takes attendance every lecture and this course requires a lot of reading and analytical thinking. Also, for a 3 credit course, he required 2 essays, 2 midterms and a final. Also focused on a lot of history rather than current events. Be prepared to work.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: POL459
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Andy is the greatest Prof I have ever had. He is tough but very fair and helpful. I like that he makes an effort to scare the crap out of the slackers. If you can't take the heat and don't want to work, drop out.