David Ryniker - University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC

Professor: David Ryniker

Department: Anthropology

College: University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: SOCI302
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He is knowledgeable and seems to really be passionate about what he is teaching. The notes are not on slides so you have to go to class and a lot of the time he will not write down everything that he says on the board. Occasionally throughout the term he did make me uncomfortable about how he talked about certain topics.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: SOCI301
• 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:

I feel the need to chime in on Ryniker. I've taken 3 of his classes now. Genuinely the most interesting courses I've had at UBC. He is a genius. Yes, he's monotone I guess, but he's very passionate about his field and really stoked to talk to you if you have questions/need help/etc. I never bought any of the textbooks, but always went to class.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ANTH202A
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Good prof, marks fairly and gives really good feedback. Readings for this class were a little bit more than usual but nothing too insane. Class isnt mandatory but he did show a few movies that were tested on so recommended to go. Tests a lot on specifics in the text.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ANTH100
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Ryniker is a nice guy and very qualified in his field but he is a very dry and monotone lecturer but as long as you show up and take notes you'll be fine. The textbook is ridiculously expensive and a lot of material on quizzes and exams come from the textbook

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ANTH100
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Pretty boring lectures and almost nothing from the lectures are on the test. You have to memorize every discreet detail from the textbooks and be ready to be tested on any one randomly.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ANTH300
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Overall a nice guy, and isn't too hard of a marker. However, despite the fact there was no tests we had to write 7 papers. Was a lenient marker but would take forever to mark and hand things back. Was very lenient with due dates though, as he didn't care if you handed in the papers late.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ANTHSOCI201
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Ryniker is obviously very knowledgeable, but just talks at you for all of lecture. Multiple choice questions are very hard on tests and MC + essay require comprehensive study. The content of the class was very interesting but he was a damper. Also, provided little to no guidance on a 15 page research paper.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: SOC201A
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Ryniker is a very educated and smart guy, but his lectures are definitely in need of work, and hes super monotone. I didnt fall asleep by many of my classmates around me did. I found him very nice overall, and allowed for questions and class discussion. Tests are HARD, and your get tested in material from readings, not just lectures

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ANTH201A
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

One of the worst professors I've had in UBC. Has an extremely flat tone and a total lack of enthusiasm for his job. I understand that Dr. Ryniker is a qualified individual in his field, but how is it possible for an individual like him to be in charge of EDUCATING if there is such a lack of motivation to do it? UBC needs to look into it. Horrible.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ANTH100
• 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:

does to post lecture slides/syllabus/ANYTHING online... does not reply to emails, assignments are not clear and midterms/assignments graded roughly, does not hand back assignments until like the end of the term, so basically you have no idea about your grades! lectures are dull and have nothing to do with what he asks on midterms!

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ANTH100
• 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:

midterms were harder than expected especially considering I read all the readings and attended/took notes for every lecture. multiple choice questions will get you

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: SOC201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Ryniker is okay, I guess. He's not a bad guy, but his lectures almost put me to sleep. He talks very slowly and very flatly. The bad thing is that I would have really enjoyed the class if he were a little more lively. The class content was fun but the lectures were snoozefests. If you're not very passionate about ethnicity, don't take it.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ANTH201
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

DON'T Take 201 if you don't have to. The actual content of the course was interesting but he managed to make it incredibly boring. When he can't think of more than one example he says and so on and so on, heard that at least 100 times this semester. His tests are MC and essay the MC are very specific to readings and essays are marked tough.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ANTH201
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Tests are super specific, and he will ask you irrelevant questions about the tiniest details found in the readings. He grades essays very harshly. He isn't open to the opinions of the students, and his lectures are so unbearable. He's all over the place with his notes, and will say "and so on, and so on..." at least 50 times a class. Don't do it.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: SOCI310
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Goes off on rants, doesn't care about your opinion.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: SOCI301
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I have now taken three classes with Dr. Ryniker and can confidently say that if it weren't for some of his amazing lectures, I would not have taken three courses with him. Some of his lectures are extremely mind-blowing and have had a significant impact on how I think critically about social inequality, poverty, and racism in this world.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: SOCI201A
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

While Dr. Ryniker's exams do test you on small text details, he warns the class ahead of time that this will be the case. I personally liked his lectures and found him to be extremely clear on what learning expectation were, and if you follow his advice on what to study his exams are fine. Attendance, however, is mandatory for passing.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ANTH202
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

A Prof that is willing to engage you if you are willing to engage with the content. Being attentive in class is beyond essential. At first I was worried because he had no slides and would simply ramble and write on the board, but slowly I began to realise that he would become one of my favourite profs. A great way to teach, be willing to listen.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: SOC201A
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He rambles on and on. The lecture slides are very general, so you have to listen and take notes as he talks. Long pauses during lecture. He thinks he's very funny but really he is not. He marks quite hard on the essay portion of exams.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: SOCI201A
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

His class was particularly dry with dense and boring lectures. Grading is inexplicable - the grade you get appears to be an appraisal of your writing style and your ability to regurgitate things he says in class. Get ready to hear "and so on.." in your sleep -he repeats this phrase when he can't think of other examples.