Karl Barbir - Siena College, Loudonville, NY

Professor: Karl Barbir

Department: History

College: Siena College, Loudonville, NY

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: HIST499
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Barbir is a very knowledgable man. He knows so much stuff anyone else wouldn't. Im taking him for capstone and he has helped me develop my writing beyond recognition. He makes sure you have enough time to get everything done. His grading seems arbitrary. He gives you the first grade of the smester and thats what you get the the entire tim

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: HIST202333
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I had Dr. Barbir for West and the World II and Modern Middle East. He is incredibly knowledgeable of the topic and an interesting lecturer. However, he is a tough grader and doesn't follow the syllabus. He does cancel class semi-regularly. Will flip out if he sees somebody using a cell phone. Better for history majors to take then none.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: WESTANDWORLD
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Barbir is a very knowledgeable man. This is class is very low workload wise, and for half the semester you only need to read the textbook chapter... which nobody does because its not really necessary. He cancels class a lot so be prepared to sleep in. Hardest assignment is an article critique which isn't very hard at all. Take Him!!!!!!!!

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: HIST333
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Dr Barbir is very smart but the course was pretty boring. Not too hard though and he was a pretty nice person

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: HIST202
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He talks a lot during class and the class isn't discussion based, and he tells you to read, but most of what he covers in class isn't related to the book. No mid-term, but you have a few short essays.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: HIST202
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I took Barbir in West and the World II. His classes are easy, he doesnt give a lot of time to participate and rather just talks. Not many assignments just a few short essays. Final essay questions are given out ahead of time. Barbir is hard to get A's in though unless he really likes you. Gives out lots of B's. Not terrible but not great either

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: HIST330
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Take him for his courses on the Middle East!! It's his area of interest, so of course, he excels in it!! Such a sweet man. You will do well if you put in effort. Honestly don't have a bad thing to say about him, I've loved his class.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: HIST330
• 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:

I don't see where a lot of people are coming from when you say this guy is hard. For Middle Eastern History we had three 3-page take home essays that were easy, no tests, and these in class minute papers from readings that he grades pretty easily on. Theres 3 essay questions for the final which he gives ahead of time to prepare. Easy B/B+.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: HIST101
• 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:

Very informative and fair. I am not a history buff, but he kept it interesting.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: HIST201
• 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'm the same person who wrote for the Middle East course. However, Barbir has changed unfortunately for the worse. Plays huge favorites again, take anyone else for World History instead of this guy. He has no sympathy for his students it seems...classes are typically boring and useless. Just don't put yourself through this stuff!

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: HIST327
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Barbir is not bad, he's just not great. If you wanna get a good grade from him in your presentations and papers, be sure to visit his office hours often. He plays favorites and likes people who participate a lot in his class. While somebody said Harrison is too hard, I disagree. I would take Harrison for HNW over this man any day in the week.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: HISTORY290
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

DO NOT TAKE...if you don't participate he will be really angry with you...and his expectations are incedibly lofty...i hear he's better for his middle east courses, so just take my word on 290...which is to NOT take him...wait for somebody else to teach it!!!

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: HST101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Nice and very very smart, grades BRUTALLY. I thought I was good at papers and tests, but I couldn't pass any homework or tests.Lectures the whole time, acts like a baby when people don't do their homework, and practically fails you if you spell incorrectly, even if you knew the material.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: MIDEASTHISTORY
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I've heard so many horror stories about this guy...yet he's one of the most knowledgable, kindest teachers I've ever had. He may repeat his stories sometimes (though not to the extent I've heard), but they're usually pretty funny. All around great guy. Way overqualified for 101 though, take him in something he specializes in.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: HIST101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He really knows his stuff but not always interesting to listen to. He is a hard grader so you better know your stuff, LOTS of essays.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: HST101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He is a smart guy who loves stories. If you do not have very neat hand writting or are the best at english do not take. He refused to grade half of a test because, "This is too sloppy I refuse to read more." Lastly, he stormed out of class once because not everyone read ahead....Watch out if you take him

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: HIST101290
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Barbir is incredibly intelligent and very interesting to listen to. He has a story about anything and everything, and his classes are for the most part not very boring. People say Dr. Barbir is difficult, but they probably are not working as hard as they could or should. He is a very nice man and always willing to help.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: HIST330
• 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:

Dr. Barbir is like a walking textbook. He knows and loves what he's teaching, and both come across very well. He harkens back to an age of scholarly intellectual professors, and it is a break from the modern generation.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: HIST101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

What an a**hole. For example, one one quiz I wrote one word in the wrong tense because I has 30 seconds to write a full, in depth essay. I get it back and in big black words on the top read, "ITS VERY ANNOYING THAT YOU DIDNT LEARN THIS IN 3RD GRADE." Enough Said. DO NOT TAKE BARBIR!!!!!!!!!!!

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: HIST101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Extremely hard grader, very unclear, and reallly boring. He teaches History 101 information as if the students are graduate students or seniors.