James (Jim) Francis Keeley - University of Calgary, Calgary, AB

Professor: James (Jim) Francis Keeley

Department: Political Science

College: University of Calgary, Calgary, AB

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: POLI381
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Keeley is generally a great professor and a good man. His lectures can be vague and hard to follow, but if you read the textbook carefully you should be fine. In my opinion, his grading is fair, and he is very helpful and accessible to students outside of class.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: POLI483
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Gives two assignments, a midterm and final. The first assignment is very easy. The second is tricky - it's not too hard, but he likes to be subtle and throw curveballs. The exams also are not terribly hard. The problem with this class is there is so much information between the lecture, textbook and cases. Very overwhelming. Very interesting though

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: POLI485
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

There's a long term paper (25-35 pages) but surprisingly it was not that bad, as long as you pick a topic that interests you. The midterm was hard but the final is take-home so it was manageable. Definitely harder than most classes but if you work hard you can do well. He provides great feedback and steers you in the right direction for papers.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: POLI485
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

First day, after telling the class about a 25 page paper, the class dropped to about half. It actually wasn't that hard, so don't be a wimp! You get to choose your topic and you write a paper proposal, so that basically gets you started. Lectures were confusing, but I learned a lot. Oh, and did I mention the TAKE HOME FINAL EXAM??!! Study A

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: POLI381
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He was definitely approachable. If you wanted help all you had to do was ask. However, the paper in this course made it extremely difficult. I'm not a poli sci major and this course is not restricted to poli sci majors, but the paper demanded some kind of poli sci background. He seems to underestimate how hard this class can be to non-majors

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: POLI483
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I have never rated a prof before but this class was the most stressful part of my academic career. He marks so hard and expects you to remember everything. Final is cumulative even though there is ten times more info. then any other class. I am an A student and I really struggled. So stressful studying for the final that I cried like a baby

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: POLI483
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He is a really great professor, I enjoyed his classes thoroughly because he gave so much information that wasn't just a fodder to the topic. It was actually relevant. However, I've put easily 85% of my effort into this class, and my mark does not reflect that. General consensus is: he is an unfairly tough grader and expects way too much.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: POLI381
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I have taken or will be taking every course I can with Dr. K. He is exceptional. He is hilarious and cynical and it is brilliant. He is friendly and approachable. One of my absolute favourites.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: 483
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Keeley's International Law class is amazing. It is very easy to understand everything if you show up to class and take good notes, otherwise it is hard because he does not use power points or anything. Tests and assignments are fair and so is the grading. I really enjoyed the class and would take other classes with him.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: POLI483
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Some people love him, more people hate him. I hate him. I'm not a fan of straight up lecturing with no PPT and only writing on the board. Hard to follow sometimes as he talks fast. International law in itself is complicated. Paired with this prof, it made it unenjoyable. Hard marker on the assignments.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: POLI483
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Very VERY close attention to detail. Hard to do well in the class in my opinion. Expects a little too much out of an undergraduate 400 level class. Will avoid him at all costs.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: POLI485
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

By far one of the best professors at this university. Yes a lot of the material can be hard, but he knows everything there is to know about the subjects he teaches, and is extremely approachable and goes out of his way to make sure you understand something if you ask any questions. Would take a class with him every semester if I could.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: POLI485
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Great professor, not to mention extremely adorable! If you read your notes, there is no reason you cant do well in his course. Very helpful and approachable. He will sometimes even come to you and suppliment you with notes for your papers or what have you, without you asking. Really knows what he is talking about! best proff at u of c

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: POLI483
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Great class! Dr. Keeley's morbid sense of humour is hilarious. His exams and paper expectations are normal, however he is very unclear about his expectations for assignments. He tends to add a lot of "filler" when trying to explain something. He's like an older version of Sheldon from Big Bang Theory because he knows sooooooo much.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: POLI381
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Extremely knowledgeable which makes him a bit intimidating. But he is always willing to help. Definitely too difficult for a 300 level course.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: POLI381
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Knows his stuff, but extremely arrogant. I don't think he smiled or said anything friendly the entire semester. He is all business, and seems very unapproachable. And although his tests are fair enough, the 30 page paper is way too much to ask for this level. Dreaded going to class. Also, no slides, only lectures. Would not recommend.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: INTR301
• 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:

Such an intelligent man! Don't skip class because he only lectures and you'll miss a lot. He is really knowledgeable and funny, take his classes if you're willing to put in the work.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: INTR301
• 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:

Despite how challenging and long the papers are (the work load in his course is double most 300-level courses), I found that they were relevant and enriching in that they forced you to actually think. Enjoyed most of the reading material and found myself rarely skipping his lectures. Very smart and knowledgeable man. Nothing but admiration for him.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: POLI483
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Very Sharp and Funny , but scary in standards and material covered.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: POLI383
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Keeley is one of my favourite profs. He reeks of intelligence and commands respect simply by his presence. I have never felt like I've learned so much from a professor. Teaching and grading style are pretty old school, but I think his methods are more in line with what University is supposed to be than most profs. Work hard in his class!!