Cindy L. Cates - Towson University, Towson, MD

Professor: Cindy L. Cates

Department: Political Science

College: Towson University, Towson, MD

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: POSC103
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Pretty simple class, three papers on novels, midterm and final. She posts all the powerpoints on blackboard and online prompts. Don't need the textbook, used in once at home but never again. She cares about her students and wants them to do well.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: POSC422
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Cates is one of the best at Towson. She's sweet, funny, and always willing to help. You'll be doing a lot of reading, so you definitely need to buy the books. Your grade is made up of fifteen short (2-3 page) papers based on the assigned readings, a fairly lengthy term paper, and a presentation on that paper. Take any class you can with her!

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: POSC103
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

The class is pretty easy as long as you come to class and take notes. The exams are in class essays, but she provides study guides so you know what to expect. Throughout the semester you read 3 novels (common reads for high schools so chances are they will be familiar) and write a 3-5 page paper relating them to class topics.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: POSC384
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Fun class. a lot of group work, videos, hypothetical scenarios. A very practical class that lets you learn very hands on. A lot of papers that start to feel redundant. If you're super into your notes, this isn't the right class for you, cuz professor is a little bit all over the place in terms of notes, but there are no written tests

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: POSC384
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Fun class. a lot of group work, videos, hypothetical scenarios. A very practical class that lets you learn very hands on. A lot of papers that start to feel redundant.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: POSC103
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Class isn't very hard. Pay attention in lecture, as the powerpoints don't help much. I had to miss an exam because I was very sick, and she rescheduled it for me. She is very understanding. You don't need to be an expert in government to get a good grade, but if you've taken gov before, you won't have a problem. Online Fridays are great!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: POSC103
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Cates is very clear about her expectations. Her syllabus is lengthy and detailed - read closely! Usually there's no class on Friday, but an online prompt, which is pretty easy. There are three papers (3-5 pages) on three different novels. Midterm and final are essay questions, which she gives you a study guide beforehand. Not a hard class though.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: POSC103
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Cates is an average professor. Her class isn't tough at all. 3 books, 3 essays, 3 pages each. She doesn't give a lot of feedback on the essays and will often just give you a grade. For the midterm and final she gives you 6 essay questions ahead of time and then chooses 2, so there are no surprises. She also offers extra credit for attendance.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: 422
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Cates is amazing take her! No tests, weekly papers and research paper at the end but she helps with everything. A lot of reading but they're interesting works. One of the best prof. in the POSC department!

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: POSC422
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Cates is awesome, and makes judicial systems and laws as fun as they can be.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: POSC422
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Cates is one of the best professors at Towson. She is extremely helpful. This class is a lot of work though. You need to be a strong writer to not go crazy in this class. Expect two 2 page papers per week plus one long paper that you will work on all semester. If you do not have a lot of time to devote to this class don't take it- but its great!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: POSC103
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Such a sweet and kind teacher. read 3 books and write a 3pg paper for each. midterm and final - gives you 6 questions ahead of time and puts 2 on the midterm/final. online assignment every other thursday=no class for that day. she's not boring to listen to. available to help you any way that she can. TAKE HER!

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: POSC384
• 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:

A very friendly and helpful lady. Really cares about her students. Very insightful and informative. Also extremely organized and good at her job in every way. Assignments can be tough but this is my second course for her and I would take her for every class if I could!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: POSC103
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I took this class at 8am and attendance was extra credit and not mandatory (thank goodness). She really knows her politics and is really nice. The class is not an easy A more like an easy B or C. But if you put out the work you will get a good grade. There is no homework just on your own readings that you need to do in order to write the papers.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: POSC103
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Professor Cates is super nice and laid back! She takes roll but going to class doesn't help much with the essays and tests. There are 3 short papers and a midterm and final. Instead if class on Fridays, she had us do a short easy online thing every week.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: POSC384
• 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:

Professor Cates is a great professor. She makes an upper level course easy. She doesn't like lecturing, so expect doing a lot of group work. Take home exams. Three small papers instead of one big one. When she rarely lectures she's always clear, and is always clear when giving instructions. You get points added for showing up to class!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: POSC103
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

She's a really nice teacher, she's also super helpful with assignments and always tries to be engaging for a government class. I totally recommend her!

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: POSC103
• 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:

She is an absolutely delightful teacher. She gives you any type of help you need and her assignments are very interesting. She is super organized. Her syllabus is very detailed and helpful as well. I lover her. I will take her again if I have the chance.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: POSC384
• 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:

She's amazing. I've heard only good things about her and they're all true. She is interesting, understanding, and smart. Additionally, I took this class with Jack Issacs last year and it was terrible, I actually look forward to Cindy's class and never miss it.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: POSC422
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Professor Cates is amazing. She is such a helpful professor. The content is interesting, but the course is boring. Weekly papers are annoying and the amount of reading is excessive...but there are no exams in the class which makes up for that.