Cynthia Rostankowski - San Jose State University, San Jose, CA

Professor: Cynthia Rostankowski

Department: Humanities

College: San Jose State University, San Jose, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: HUM1A
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

If you feel like being confused and like being frustrated over disorganization then this class is for you! every lecture is something new and you will not understand anything she is saying because the main point of her lectures is to hear herself speak. if you have an opposite opinion than what she has stated, be prepared to be wrong.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: HUM1B
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

You either hate her or you love her. She does expect high quality papers which is fine because hey it's college. She will help you fix it and extend the deadline for full credit but its hard to pinpoint what exactly she expects and wants (expect many rewrites). She is very smart but is also intimidating and hard to please. Be prepared, hard class.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: HUM2B
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Rostankowski has decent philosophy lectures, but her seminars are mostly her answering questions we have. She is lenient on deadlines for papers as she expects a high quality paper. Beware it may take at least a month to receive feedback on papers as she has many university responsibilities, but that aside she is very kind and helpful!

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: HUM177A
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Her expectation on the long-answer free-response final: 15 pages, 5 per question you free-write for. No bathroom breaks, no getting out of the seat, no opening backpack for an eraser. I would also like to point out that you should be reading on average 40+ pages before a lecture. Don't take her unless you want a challenge for your 6-unit credits

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: 177A
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Being an honors-level course, HUM177A's standards are set higher. If yours are also set high, you will receive the grade you EARN. More than that, you will gain much knowledge that you can apply in many other courses and in life. Dr. R. teaches students to look deeply at the world in which they live. I feel privileged to have taken her class.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: 177A
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Rostankowski is a nice professor. Unless you're into the social sciences (philosophy, ethics, science), then take this class. There's 2 exams (essay & long answers), 3 papers (she has to approve your thesis) and a group presentation. Readings are very sophisticated. I strongly suggest that you create a group to keep up in this class.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: HUM177A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Her honors program, in my opinion is not worth it. The workload matches that of an honors course, but you will not be officially recognized as an honor student by the school. I highly recommend you explore what the program has to offer before committing an entire school year to it.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: HUM177A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Her honors class is no joke. If you decide to take this class, be prepared to do a ton of reading. There aren't that many assignments but they mostly difficult papers that require previous readings and research. She is a fair grader and her office is always open. Ask questions! Also be prepared to the midterms/finals as they are quite difficult.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: HUM177A
• 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:

This class makes me hate my life. If you are a full-time student, you may fall behind in this course. Tests are essay style, there is so much reading, and lectures are fast and boring. I wish I hadn't registered for this course.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: HUM2B
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Rostankowsi is amazing her office is always open. She has high standards and expects you to reach them, but she will support you.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: HUM177A
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

One of the best professors you will ever have. Her lectures are influential. The reading material can be difficult, but she breaks it all down clearly. Group Speech, 2 exams (essay and short answer), Group Project, 2 essays, tons of reading (7 required books and numerous short readings). Be sure to understand how the readings all connect.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: HUM1A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Very helpful professor and she knows the subject material like no other. Flexable on deadlines, just put your best foot forward, read, and work hard and you'll be fine. Lectures are long put she can really open your eyes to some remarkable concepts

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: HUM1A
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Humanities is a tough class, but Professor Rostankowski is a really good lecturer. If you have her seminar, she is willing to answer any questions you may have. She can be a tough grader and she expects a lot from her students, but that is the case for any humanities honors class. (Don't skip and make sure to do all the reading!!!)

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: HUM1A
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

AWESOME! She's super sweet, always willing to help, and great to talk to. Very flexible with deadlines, she's more worried about the quality of your work than getting it in on time. Very passionate about her subject and teaching her students.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: HUM1A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Always has an open office door (literally and figuratively) even when well outside of her posted hours. Never be scared to ask for help as you will find she will give you way more than you have expected. Rewrites are allowed and encouraged for all essays. Students' success and growth are the utmost importance for her.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: HUM120A
• Grade Received: INC
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

At first she seemed really nice and helpful, but as the course went on her lectures became confusing and unclear. She gets upset if you don't agree with her. She never gives back papers. She gives one midterm and one final and both are ridiculously long. The study guide will have almost 100 terms and you'll end up using like 30 of them.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: HUM2A
• 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:

THIS TEACHER IS AWFUL. SHE IS NOT HELPFUL AT ALL AND IS VERY RUDE. SHE TAKES EVERYTHING PERSONALLY, AND NEVER HANDS BACK YOUR WORK. SHE IS VERY UNCLEAR ABOUT ASSIGNMENTS AND BLAMES THE STUDENTS FOR HER MISTAKES. SHE CONSTANTLY PUTS DOWN HER STUDENTS TO MAKE HERSELF FEEL BETTER. BY FAR THE WORST TEACHER I HAVE EVER HAD, AVOID THIS TEACHER

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: HUM1B
• 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:

Her class is absolutely awful, she is actually awful. She grades you based off of how much she likes you personally and she is on the verge of insanity. Don't take her class unless you want to rip your hair out,or hers.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: HUM1B
• 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:

At first, she seems very strict about assignments and intimidating, but it turns out she's an easy grader. She is very helpful and nice during her office hours (and she has many different hours as well). She is very slow at grading and returning assignments, but that's understandable as she's very busy.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: HUM2B
• 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:

Very passionate professor and very willing to help you. I think she can seem intimidating compared to the other Humanities professors, but she's a lot different than I expected. I love how much she knows, it's really impressive. If you listen and ask the right questions, you'll learn a lot from her.