John Shosky - American University, Washington, DC

Professor: John Shosky

Department: Philosophy

College: American University, Washington, DC

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: SIS349
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

The class is all about culture, little history or politics involved. There is a lot of reading, most of it interesting. You won't leave this class with a deep understanding of historical or political aspects, but you will leave interested in the region. Your grade is your papers, which is pretty cool - you can write about whatever you want.Nice guy

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: SIS400
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I am really torn on Shosky. VERY NICE. VERY SMART. However, the class is incredibly vague Balkans Politics contains so much it was difficult to get down to the fine points of the subject, plus we ended up going on A LOT of tangents. Then the assignments would be VERY specific and difficult to write. But he is very cool. Recommend the class though

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: SIS319
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

3 15-page, single-spaced papers are the entirety of your grade. Very loose on requirements for papers, so communicate with him about paper topics - he's VERY loose on due dates, which is nice. Classes are discussion based; he likes to bring in food for a casual environment, but discussions aren't relevant to papers. Enjoyable, but VERY moody.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: SIS319
• 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:

Balkan Politics - An exceptional professor, whose passion for the subject in the broadest sense of the term (politics, poetry, music and food) inspired engaging discussion-led classes. Accusations of being close-minded are grossly unfair. Enthusiastic in providing detailed suggestions on essays if sought out. Very highly recommended.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: SIS319
• 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:

Balkan Politics. A part of the world I didn't care about before. Really interesting, and he was able to bring in guest speakers on topic that were really interesting. Made me want to learn more about it.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: SIS319
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Balkan Politics. Grading is okay: he assigns a lot, length-wise, but is willing to work with students (even recommendation letters). He's well-read, and friendly. He's also extremely close-minded and arrogant. Advice: don't interrupt him, attend class, and if you are knowledgeable about the subject matter, expect to be furious, flabbergasted.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: SIS395
• 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:

Professor Shosky is extremely knowledgeable about what he teaches and integrates current events into classes regularly. He is a challenging professor but definitely one of the best I have encountered at AU. He is incredibly passionate about what he teaches and wants students to be passionate as well. Expect a lot of work, but all interesting!

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: SIS396
• 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:

Prof. Shosky is fantastic. If you want to learn a lot, take one of his classes. He's got first-hand experience to share and is really helpful if you're struggling to understand something. His classes are a challenge, but you'll come out as a more well-rounded student. He is by far one of the best professors I've encountered in my 4 years at AU.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: HNRS302
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I had Prof. Shosky for Biomedicine and Bioethics and was extremely disappointed. Although he assigned an exorbitant amount of work (three 30-page papers)which is not mentioned in the syllabus, he obviously only put effort into grading the first assignment. He is also pretentious, arrogant, and unfriendly.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PHILGC
• 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:

Simply the best.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PHIBIOE
• 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:

Dr. Shosky challenegs his students with the amount of work that will be expected in the real world. If your not ready for the real world do waste his time nor the time of the other students. His discussions are extreamly interesting and leave everyone talking about them after class. He fosters an environment for learning and enjoys and encourages s

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: HNRS302
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

STAY AWAY! For Biomedicine and Bioethics Professor Shosky assigned three 30 (!) page papers. That is 90 pages of writing for one class. Ridiculous. The class discussions were alright but Shosky often confidently declared things that I later researched and found to be false. Way too much work for one class. He does not even read the papers carefully

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: SPD110
• 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:

EASY WILL Recommend

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: SIS696
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Great professor and great class!you will learn a lot but you will have to study a lot

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: POLIT012
• 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:

Prof. Shosky is clear, concise, and open-minded.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: HNRS302
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

one of my favorite profs. class is completely discussion based and he is very intelligent, but took VERY long time to send papers back. also took class out to dinner which is a nice perk. highly recommended.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: SIS553
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Shosky is not the easiest of profs.Only take this class (Central & E. Europe) if you are genuinely interested in the region and will put in the effort! Also, each class began with food from the country covered...a great way to keep kids awake during an 8:10pm block. Vaclav Havel's legacy and the superior quality of Czech beer are not debatable!

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: SIS105
• 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:

Incredible professor. Really willing to go out of his way to help his students, especially if you work hard. I'll warn you, you will have to work pretty hard in this class if you want a good grade, but its worth it. I learned more than my peers who took the same course with a different professor. Brilliant!

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: SIS100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

really incredible discussions in class, really challenges you to think further than the material taught

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: SIS105
• 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:

Brilliant professor, brilliant man. Makes course interesting, assigns very interesting essays, and manages to make references to South Park and James Bond in terms of IR. Best class I've had yet.