Harold Waller - McGill University, Montreal, QC

Professor: Harold Waller

Department: Political Science

College: McGill University, Montreal, QC

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: POLI325
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This was the most disappointing class I've taken in the past 4 years at McGill. Waller is a grumpy, old professor, who is a little out of touch. His classes are boring, very unclear, and have a lot of reading, even for a polisci class. He is also quite rude and unapproachable during office hours. The TA I had wasn't much better. would not recommend

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: POLI327
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Waller is a bit of a grouchy old man but he is incredibly smart and you will learn so much. There is a 15 page paper. Additionally, the exams can be challenging- study your lecture notes. He assigns a lot of reading, but the lectures are much more important. He records his lectures which is really helpful for studying. Tough class but worth it.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: POLI325
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Waller may come off a bit cold at first, but he is a great guy, and more importantly a fantastic prof. His depth of knowledge and his ability to tie class material into various historic and current events is impressive. He is a hard (but fair) grader, no doubt, and he does not go easy with the amount of readings he assigns. Highly recommend.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: POLI437
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Waller is a very knowledgeable Prof who knows a lot of material on Israeli politics. Take this class if you want to learn about domestic issues, and not about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Lectures can be a bit long and dry but go to class because his exams are straightforward. Readings compliment the lectures so are not all necessary to read.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: POLI327
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Waller is an old-school Prof, and while his lectures may seem dry to some, they are filled with fascinating anecdotes and facts that only a person with profound knowledge and love for the subject could transmit to students. He makes you work for the A-- I have no idea if I pulled one off. But no matter what, I am thrilled I took this class!

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: POLI325
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Waller is a great professor and extremely helpful during office hours. Taking both US Politics 1 and 2, his tests are tough and the midterm is very time constraint. It is possible to do well in his class and he is willing to help. My tests have been graded by the TA and he is a fair grader. There is one long term paper.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: POLI325
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Overall, this was a solid introduction to the American political scheme; the class was extremely straightforward and as long as you read the textbook and did the study guide before the final and midterm, you should have had an easy time. My only complaint is that many of the essay questions on the midterm and final were very vague.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: POLI425
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Lectures were pretty dry and it was never very clear what he expected of us on the final exam which made it challenging to study for and to write. 1 research paper that was graded fairly easily.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: POLI325
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Prof Waller's lectures are quite dry but still worth attending. You'll learn a lot in this class, but be prepared to work hard for a good grade. The midterms are quite tough also he's very clear about what you need to know. The paper was marked really easily. Overall a good course.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: POLI325
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Waller is a very intelligent and great professor. THERE IS A 30 PAGE RESEARCH PAPER due at the end of the year-long course. Scarier than it sounds, but be prepared! Really interesting class, great TA, and super helpful

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: POLI325D
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He knows what he is talking about and is definitely very nice. Lectures have a lot of content but his presentation style is terrible, its easy to dose off, regardless of if you love the subject. There 30 Page Research Paper. The reading load is really heavy.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: POLI325
• 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: Not Mandatory

Comment:

If you are very interested in American government and politics then you must take this course because Prof Waller is extraordinarily knowledgeable and you will learn a huge amount. If you are just looking for an easy elective, this isn't it. Waller is awesome and he knows who is serious and who is not.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: POLI325
• 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: Mandatory

Comment:

Waller is awesome and this class is really interesting! His lecture style is unique but he knows so much about American politics is incredible, also he is the nicest guy if he go and talk to him during his office hours. Highly recommend Waller and this class.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: POLI325
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Waller is arrogant and honestly quite mean. He answers questions as if the student is stupid for not knowing the answer. His lectures are disorganized and delivered very dryly. Very unapproachable.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: POLI325
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He is basically a walking encyclopedia regarding American politics and government. Good basic overview of American system. Lectures are a broad overview of material, lots of reading but good material. Exams are a bit out of line with material. Being the director of undergraduate studies, he is very helpful to undergrads outside of class.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: POLI325
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

This guy literally up and disappeared on our year long class 2 and 1/2 weeks into it and we had to get a new prof. He reminds me of Ben Stein, big time. Long paper requirement, but he seemed like a nice enough guy.

Rating # 17

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

amazing prof - provided balanced, history based understanding of israel and palestine-israel conflict. provided me with tools to understand the domestic politics of israel in relation to international relations and the conflict.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: USPOLITICS
• 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:

Extremely well organized and Coherent. Be prepared to work for your grade and to assimilate a lot of pertinent information. Highly recommended!

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: US
• 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:

I loved all of his classes!

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: POLI437
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

biased, unclear for any of those who seek an objective view of the palestine israel conflict, it s the last place to be....it s really sad he s working in an institution known for its objectivity...