Bohdan Somchynsky - MacEwan University, Edmonton, AB

Professor: Bohdan Somchynsky

Department: History

College: MacEwan University, Edmonton, AB

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: HIST101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Somchynsky was my favourite professor this term! I love history and I learned a lot from him, and his main assignment was a great challenge that I loved doing. His teaching method is quite orthodox but is tremendously effective. He cancels class more than other professors, so the full material is not always covered. I also found him pretty funny.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: HIST101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Worst prof I've had so far. His lectures are intensely boring and hard to pay attention to, and his expectations for assignments are more like what you would expect for a 400 level class, rather than what he was actually teaching, which was HIST101. Don't take his class.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: HIST294
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

IF Dr. Somchynsky taught more classes i would have taken all of them! hands down the best prof. in the history department not like predator womanizer Faulkner or SJW Pollock. He made history of Science (a somewhat boring topic) into a fun and engaging class (hands down my fav.) Dr. S you're the best!

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: HIS209
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Bohdan is the best HIST prof out there. His lectures are entertaining but mandatory, his grading is clear, his paper topics are easy to write on, and his exams are straightforward. Great prof and I would recommend him to anyone!

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: HIST112
• 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:

Mr. Somchynsky is a character. His class is worth taking even if its just to meet a cool dude. His lectures are top-notch, good flow, good content, and he makes it exciting to learn from him. His enthusiasm for teaching is evident. The tests are on his lectures. If this site is your make-or-break to take his class, no regrets here!

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: HIST102
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Somchynsky's class was amazing. His style of lecturing was so refreshing. He doesn't post his notes on Blackboard, so showing up is a must. I would definitely recommend taking a class with him.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: HIST101
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Lectures are pretty entertaining but very boring. Low class assignment demand. Gives you a very broad study guide for exams which is nice. Worst marker I've ever had. Expects you to answer questions like you were a history major otherwise you'll get half marks on everything. Very frustrating to know content well and not get the appropriate marks.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: HIST210
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

You need to go to class because every class is a lecture- which I personally loved since I'm not a fan of having to participate in discussion. Write down everything he says during the lectures and use the study guides that he gives you. He makes it very easy to do well as long as you show up to class and put in the work.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: HIST210
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Amazing prof. He is a fair marker and his lectures are amazing. Would definitely recommend.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: HIST210
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Very good lecture format, and he tells stories and funny anecdotes which really help you get the sense of the history (including personal accounts). You need to show up to class, as he doesn't post things online. Probably my favorite teacher at Macewan: the pacing of the lectures makes them very engaging, and time just flies by.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: HIST101
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Bohdan is awesome. I love the old school lecture format, and he keeps them as interesting as possible. If he writes a number on the whiteboard like 1/, that means its going to be on the exams. I found his marking relaxed. I'm not an amazing student but I did well with Bohdans class simply by showing up and being engaged. Start your paper early!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: HIST112
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Fantastic prof! He has a fairly "old school" approach to teaching the material, for example he does not post any notes on BlackBoard. However he tests directly from his lectures so if you take good notes and show up to class you will be golden. The papers are long but not particularly difficult. I have had him twice now and would choose him again.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: HIST102
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

The Traditional format of Somchynsky's which is lecture only takes some getting use to. You have to show up and take notes from what he says so you need to filter out the nonessential stuff. Never leave your papers or readings to the last minute that is a straight ticket to failure. I liked his style so much I took both HIST 101 and 102 with him!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: HIST102
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Amazing prof, my favourite class by far. Lectures are all oral based, he does not post on blackboard so it is imperative you attend every single day and take lots of notes. Tips: pay attention to the numbered lists he jots down on the board, those are almost always exam questions, and don't buy the textbook you'll never need it.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: HIST210
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Awesome guy and great lectures

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: HIST101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

if you can't make a class make sure you get lecture notes from a friend cause you will 100% need them, he rarely uses blackboard. if you study for his tests you'll do fine. He was very accommodating when I needed to switch dates for a midterm. really hard grader, be sure you have no grammatical or syntactical errors in research papers.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: HIST101
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Amazing lectures, he's definitely a fun prof but this class is NOT easy. Get ready to read and work for your grade. If you go to lectures, put some work in this should be doable. Highly recommended, worth the effort. Lots of writing, be specific - short answer should really be long answer(write a lot on your exams!). He likes specific answers.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: HIST111
• 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:

Bohdan is an incredible professor, but he is a hard marker and he expects you to take the class seriously. He has top-notch lectures, which is good, because thats what the test is 100% based on. He gives the best study guide you'll ever be given, and he is very helpful outside of class. Take advantage of everything he gives you, and you'll excell

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: HIST101
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

He is an amazing prof. You NEED to go to class, all tests are based ONLY off the lectures. He talks a bit fast and tells the course like it's a story. I recommend recording his lectures and taking the time to listen to them after and add to your notes. He has an enjoyable humour. You definitely won't pass if you don't go to class.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: HIST101
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He doesn't give any notes or use the textbook, the test is based on his lectures. You need to be a fast note taker, but he explains everything clearly and makes the content seem like he is telling stories. You need to put in a bit of work, but it is a great course and he teaches it very well.