Audrey Altstadt - University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA

Professor: Audrey Altstadt

Department: History

College: University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: HIS316
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Honestly, this was supposed to be a fun class for me as I love history, especially history of Europe. But this class ruined my enthusiasm for learning about the topic as her lectures are stale, useless, and basically just the readings (which are long and bland much like the class) I would hope that I never have another class taught by this prof.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: HIST315
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

She's stern, a tough grader, and will correct your English on your essays, but an A is definitely possible. You won't know how you're doing in the class until the end. In my experience, she's also not unreasonable with attendance. She knows everything, tells fun stories, and also ended the class with "May the force be with you". Solid professor.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: HIS315
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

To call her a tough grader is a dramatic understatement. She'll knock points off your essay for using words or expressions she doesn't like. For the exams you will need to remember every fine detail from the readings, which are achingly long and dense. Like many others I got my lowest grades on her exams despite studying the most for them.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: HIST317
• 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:

She was the toughest grader that I have had at UMass. I got all As in my other classes but she gave me a C-. What she emphasized in her lectures and the book were different so it was truly a guessing game for the midterm and final. She also talked about her self a lot which just made me and a few others in class uncomfortable. Not a great professor

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: HIST316
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

You're either going to love Prof. Altstadt or hate her. I had her for History of the U.S.S.R. and she really makes you work for your grade. There is a ton of reading but it is manageable if you are really interested in the subject (which I was). Even as a history major I found this class to be difficult because she really scrutinizes your essays

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: HIS316
• Grade Received: Audit/No Grade
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I found the way she teaches to be - I know this information because I studied it for years, you all can't possibly contribute anything meaningful unless you're telling me something someone else wrote. There was a ton of reading for basically every class, which I tried to stick to faithfully but I was graduating and well, you know, pass fail class

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: HISTORY317
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

If you are actually interested in the subject and enjoy discussing it and writing about it, you will do well. If you are just looking for a few extra credits, look elsewhere.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: 385
• Grade Received: F
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I took professor Altstadt's 1979 course a couple years ago and had a terrible experience. I was going through a personal crisis and she made me feel as if I was not welcomed in her class after missing 2 weeks. I tried to take her class the next semester (after she gave me an F) and she recommended that I drop her class. She is an awful person.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: HIST317
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Altstadt is one of the best on campus. Her classes are engaging and thought provoking. She does not hand out free A's, and does not put up with childish behavior. If you receive a poor grade from her, it is because you earned it. If you want a no-nonsense professor who expects you to act like an adult, take any of her courses.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: HIS316
• 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:

Not an easy class but if you are disciplined about doing the reading you'll be fine. She will go out of her way to help you if you put forth the effort and let her know if you are having trouble.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: HIST101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This class was a Gen Ed but it felt like a Graduate class. Professor hadn't taught the class in 10 years and was extremely hard. It should have been an easy A but it took all my energy just to get a B in the class. Wouldn't recommend it.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: HIS315
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Hey Russian History Tsars of Russia was miserably hard im an A and B student and I got a D of the midterm had to drop it. She handed the exam back the last possible day to drop the class also which made things even harder. I wouldn't take this course.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: HIST316
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I do not recommend an Altstadt thought course. She is a weak lecturer and overly hard grader.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: HIST317
• 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:

Quality teaching on the Russian Revolution. As a history major, Altstadt is one of the better history professors I have had at umass.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: HIST317
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

She pretty much ruined the material for me. Awful lecture style and reading/participation is required. Very hard grader. The midterm and final make up 80% of your grade. She would be better off teaching grad courses. Very knowledgeable but expects too much for an undergrad 300 level course.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: HIST497D
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Tough professor, but very informative and knowledgeable. Definitely raised interest level in subject. - Afghanistan and Central Asia

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: 317
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

So maybe not everyone will agree with me, but the class was awesome. If you actually enjoy learning and don't just want an A, this is the class for you. Really really tough, Altstadt is also really really smart. Yeah, you may have to rely on yourself to guide you through the class. You'll be a better person for it. Plus, it is incredibly interestin

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: HISTORY317
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Don't go to this class expecting insightful lectures or discussion. The time in class is completely spent belaboring insignificant points without any context. Your success in this class depends solely on your unguided interpretation of a terribly overly-detailed book. Avoid this class - and her - if you enjoy learning.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: HST630
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

A no-nonsense approach but surprisingly stimulating.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: HISTORY317
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Tries to make you learn things on your own. Uses that as an excuse not to answer questions. Seems like she purposely makes this boring by focusing on trivial subjects. Verry narrow perspective on subject. Don't expect any insight as to what was happening at the time, focused on cause and effect. - Russian Revolution