Leon Halpert - Siena College, Loudonville, NY

Professor: Leon Halpert

Department: Political Science

College: Siena College, Loudonville, NY

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: POSC100
• 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:

Missed several classes. Wasnt not very open to anyone's opinions. He had a strict lecture style of teaching, and his office hours were slim to none.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: POSC100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

DO NOT TAKE. Easily the hardest professor at Siena. He requires his own citation method, and readings are never covered in class

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: POSC100
• 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:

Honestly this class was hell on Earth. Dr.Halpert is very nice and tries so hard to be funny, but he rambles on about everything and it is difficult to understand the content. The papers are fine IF he likes your writing style, if not you'll end up with around a C in the class. Go to his office hours if you have trouble, he's very understanding!

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: POSC100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

professor is hard. stay away from his class. he is super confusing and unclear with what his expectations are. He tears people papers apart and when you go to his office and ask him he doesnt know why he marked it wrong. he has his own citation method and if its not how he wants he fails you. DONT PUT YOURSELF THROUGH THIS !!!

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: POSC100
• 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:

Disastrous. Is completely unclear on directions for assignments then rips students who make mistakes as a result. Teaches political science courses but grades are almost totally reliant on his personal opinion of students' grammar and whether he thinks it looks good. Tests don't represent majority of what was discussed in class. Avoid if you can.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: POSC101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This man yells at the top of his lungs during his lectures. Makes you look like an idiot in front of the class by calling you out randomly (only if he doesn't like you). Asks you to make specific corrections on papers and then marks his own corrections incorrect. If you don't have to don't take his class. And if you do prepare for the worst.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: POSC100
• 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'm really not sure why the reviews here are so low, because Halpert is my favorite professor at Siena. The class is really interesting and he tries to discuss relevant topics, which is cool. Fair grader, what you put in is what you get out in this class; read the readings, study for the midterm, participate, and you should get an A.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: POSC100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Really confusing. Horrible teacher. Boring class. However, he's a really nice man, and if you need to take the class, just find humor in it with the people in your class and you'll be fine.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: POSC100
• 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:

Professor Halpert is a nice guy he really is, but he is not a good teacher. His assignments are vague yet his expectations are high and specific. What he lectures about in class is not what is tested most of the time. If you can help it take Contemporary U.S. Politics with someone else. Its not a good basis for POSC Majors.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: POSC100
• 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:

Professor Halpert is so nice but his class is ridiculously hard. DO NOT TAKE IT unless you aready know a lot about politics.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: POSC100
• 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 took his class as a senior to boost my gpa..mistake. do not take him! notorious for giving bad grades..favorite thing to do is tell students that they are wrong and make them feel stupid..take anyone else for political science! stay away!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: POSC101
• 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:

Awful class...Really Difficult to understand and follow what he says. Asks bad questions and gets annoyed when nobody can answer. Look for a different professor if you want to take Political Science.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: POLSC101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He is a great professor as far as political science goes. He is not biased and he teaches both sides without forcing his opinions on the students. Some of the questions and tests are difficult but he is always willing to meet for office hours and explain what he is looking for. If you are truly interested in political science, take him.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: POSC100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Terrible Teacher, Questions He asks make no sense, Not Clear. In Class, lessons are confusing, unclear, and hard to follow. If you really want to take this class, take it with another professor. Avoid Leon Halpert.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: POSC100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Terrible professor, does not explain the material thoroughly. He teaches the 100 course like it is a 300 or higher! Absolutely ridiculous

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: POSC315
• 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:

The only political science professor that actually teaches political science the way it is meant to be taught. I you want to learn a new way of thinking about politics then take him. If you don't want to, then avoid taking him. All-in-all, one of my favorites at Siena, and if you like dry humor he serves it up in ample supplies.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: POSC315
• 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:

Siena's best faculty asset. Dr. Halpert is easily the most knowledgeable professor I've ever had. Yes, he's a pretty tough grader, and no, US Congress is not the easy A you might be looking for. But if you really want to learn, I highly recommend Dr. Halpert's classes.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: POSC100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Very boring, esp at 815, but he's a nice guy. Loves to talk about current events, so tests seem hard and random. Keep His Emails!!!!! Also, do BONUS assignments and particpate like it is your job! I would recommend him with reservation, the reservation being only if you are truly interested in posc you should take him.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: POSC100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Very nice man he is available to extra help but you will probably need help on 75% of the information DO NOT DELETE HIS EMAILS thse are the questions he uses for the essay portion of his exams. Exams are not that bad if you put in solid study time. VERY hard grader on papers. Does not go over assigned readings ever so bring them up in class

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: POSC100POSC310
• 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:

I took him twice...people asked me why I did that to myself, and now I am too! Nice guy, but does not know how to teach in a way that properly integrates the assigned articles. Most students stopped doing the reading just because they were never discussed in class. If you do have to take Halpert, DO NOT delete any emails he sends you and read them!