Jon Swainger - University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, BC

Professor: Jon Swainger

Department: History

College: University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, BC

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: HIST300
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I've taken a couple of courses with Dr. Swainger and I really enjoyed having him as a prof. He really challenges you to think and some of his courses like Hist 300 have lots of reading but if you work hard you will do well. Definitely try to be at lectures.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: HIST210
• Grade Received: F
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I really like history, but I didn't like this course at all.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: HIST256
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Mr. Swainger has a clear agenda before he begins teaching. His political views are very easy to recognize as he does not keep it separate from his academia. He clearly supports black lives matter, third-wave feminism and leans to the left. If you are here to study history be prepared to sift through some of his radical explanations.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: HIST300
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

If I could listen to Swainger's lectures for the rest of my student career, I would. I've never had a professor understands what being a professor is about and what being a student is about. His classes are hard, he marks hard and the class is stressful. But you are, not only a better student, but a better person from it. Empathy and imagination!

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: HIST191
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Extremely hard marker. Don't take his courses if you are wanting an easy A. If you are wanting to learn and actually improve yourself, he is a great professor. He is forward and straight-up. If you are easily offended or upset, stay away. If you can handle constructive criticism, Dr. Swainger is your guy!

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: HIST211
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Amazing teacher but definitely a hard grader, write his way or prepare for tons of criticism. Super great teacher though

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: HIST256
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I loved not having to buy a textbook but hated reading the articles which are pretty much mandatory. Seems like a genuinely caring guy, sarcastic sense of humour, gives advice that's useful in other classes. Didn't like the lecture style, it was hard to take notes with his eloquent style of speech. Taking a class with him next semester though.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: HIST256
• Grade Received: D+
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

It is clear that Swainger knows what he is talking about and genuinely finds it interesting- which makes it easy to learn. But hard to study when there is no note slides to accompany the lecture (I am not the fastestbest note taker and found this challenging) The readings for the class are brutal to read, extensive and unexciting.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: HIST300
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr Swainger will ask you to do more than you think you're capable of, but you come out of his classes a better student. If you're looking for an easy pass, look elsewhere. But if you're willing to put in some work, you'll get a lot more out of his classes than just about any others.

Rating # 10

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

I did not find him to be a "strict marker". If you made an honest attempt, and put a lot of effort in.... your grade reflected it. He is by far the most helpful professor I have ever had. To him, no question is a dumb question. Regardless of the fact that he is extremely intelligent in his area, he never treats his students as inferior.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: HIST211
• 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:

I like his empathy and imagination comment. It has really opened my mind into not judging other people in terms of my context. However, the way he marks is not to a level. He marks how he wants too. So a 2nd year history paper marked by him will be completely different to another prof. I will never take another class with him again.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: HIST3
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

You can't coast through one of Dr. Swainger's classes. Because of this, he really does make you a better student. Your grade will reflect the work you put in.... He is also quite funny and easy going.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: HIST125
• 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:

Dr. Swainger is a very knowledgable prof, definately knows his stuff and is passionate about his subject. He has an actual intro and conclusion to each lecture which is very helpful to understand the main points and his lectures are very enjoyable and engaging. he is a tough marker but ultimately you get what you put in with him.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: HIST120
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Brutal marker, and kinda pretentious. But he knows his stuff, and class discussions are somewhat interesting

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: HIST300
• 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. Swainger is an awesome professor. Very funny in class and very approachable. He is very helpful especially if you are having difficulties with papers or comprehension. He is a strict but fair marker and makes you work for your grades.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: HIST300
• 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:

Swainger is a great lecturer. The "dog and pony show" as he calls it. He is really helpful if you stop by his office and he really wants to see his students do well. That being said, he is really strict when it comes to marking.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: HIST458
• 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:

Do not expect much freedom. If you do not wish to write a paper in his style and exactly how he wants it, you will not do well. Lectures were useless. Arrogant and thinks he is funny. Marking was arbitrary and probably more reflective of his mood than the papers quality. I question whether he actually read the papers.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: HIST300
• 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:

Swainger will always make you work for your grades. If you want an A you better work your ass off and pay attention in class. Great lecturer and very dynamic in lecture styles. He is brutally honest. SO if your not up for a stiff challenge or his forwardness then you should avoid him like the plague, otherwhise he is an awesome prof.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: HIST300
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

not a bad prof...interesting and helpful if you talk to him, especially if therews a problem with a paper. hard marker, but its your work that reflects it with swainger

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: HIST210
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The lectures and assignments were a little dry, but really how much can you do with pre-confederation Canadian history.