Nicola Short - York University (all campuses), Toronto, ON

Professor: Nicola Short

Department: Political Science

College: York University (all campuses), Toronto, ON

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: POLS3230
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

the lecture notes we take are scattered. The prof covers many concepts often w/o getting straight to the point. basically, there are holes in the notes that i have to google myself. MC questions are ridiculous as they are incredibly detailed & ask about more than 1 thing w/ answers that don't make sense. Prof does not prepare us well for tests

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: POLS2090
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

prof is not 100% sure about what she is talking about. She says um and uh and essentially in every sentence making it difficult to take notes off of what she is saying when she pauses and says um and makes us forget the first part of the sentence. She doesnt get straight to the point quick enough & does not post slides until before an exam

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: POLS6000
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I took this professor's graduate level class, Neoliberlism. The readings were irrelevant. The class discussions subsequently were irrelevant. The history of social struggles that emerged as a result of the neoliberal agenda was entirely absent from the syllabus. I am thoroughly disgusted by this prof's ivory tower approach to the study of politics.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: POLS6000
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I had professor Short for a graduate course last fall and I'm thankful that I did. The class was really enlightening, professor Short's reading were very helpful in providing a solid base from which to build on. She was also extremely patient when sometimes we got off point and very gently nudged us back into focus without making one feel dumb.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: POLS8
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I worked hard in Nicola's class but it was in vain. I am very disappointed with her course.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: POL4000
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Short comes across as silently intimidating but it is all part of her teaching style. She expects you to do your work and be able to defend your stance against her (sometimes harsh) critiques. Yes, this may seem unappealing, but she is super nice and intelligent. You can and will learn a lot from her if you don't shy away from a challenge.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: POLS4905
• 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:

Long live the great Italian communist, Antonio Gramci!

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: POLS4215
• 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:

She is a really great prof. She is always willing to help you if u need it. I have taken more than 1 class with her (both at 4th year level) and she is amazing. Please give her a chance as she is an excellent prof who cares about your grade!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: POLS3250
• 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:

Really BORING!!!!

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: POLS2920
• 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:

Her lectures were confusing and scattered; her exams were ridiculous. I knew the material but her multiple choice exam had so many tricky options & the class average was terrible for it. She doesnt care if you know the material inside and out, her exams are about knowing specific minute details she considers "essential" (her favorite word).

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: POLS4215
• 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:

This peace research course was not that helpful. The weekly assignments were just brutal and pointless - they were exercises to keep us busy more than to teach us anything. If she wants to make sure that we are doing the readings, there are better ways than these terrible assignments. Also, she is somewhat smart, but a poor speaker. Smoking hot!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: POLS2920
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I really feel bad giving her a bad mark, but she is unable to teach properly. She heavily overuses words such as "essentially", which make her look like she does not understand the material. It is unfortunate because she is a smart woman, she is just very poorly spoken. She has no control whatsoever over the class. Consider it an extended lunch.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: POLS2920
• 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:

A very decent prof who tries hard though she is a bit unclear and scattered when she speaks. One can get the impression that either she doesn't know what she's talking about or that she's really smart but has a hard time toning down her intellect to lecture to us. I'll take the latter. Overall I liked her class and it went well for me.

Rating # 14

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

There is a reason why this Prof has so many ratings on this website, and it is because students deserve a warning in advance. Though I received an A in her course, her teaching methods were quite poor in comparison to most other Profs, and her speaking needs work - it is not that she has a speech impediment per se, but she lacks confidence.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: POLS2920
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I I had 2 classes with this Prof. True her lectures can be boring, and sometimes she can be all over the place. But when you need help, this professors is there. She really knows her stuff and is always willing to help you. I did not find her hard to understand. The TA's were the only issue for me. Give her a chance.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: POLS2920
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I didnt think her class was that bad. She is a knowledgeable prof and she knows her stuff but just has a hard time conveying it and thus her lectures sometimes become a bit unclear. Nonetheless, I did enjoy this class, and if you can write/type fast, have a decent attention span and do your readings, the course can be quite interesting

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: POLS2920
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

she's a smart lady i can see but her lecture just plainly sucks. her course is a mess. "essentially".."uh...uh...uhmmm"...she needs to get rid of that. u will survive this course if ur ta is good or ok. however, some of the ta's are equally worse then her. it is time for the university to think about putting some good professors in this course...

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: POLS2920C
• 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:

OMG, this prof is um, ah, the most incoherent of teachers ive ever encountered. The lectures use a very sophisticated language, but she is instructing with a variety of students and vocabularies, not having a conversation with peers. Im not boasting, I carry what could be considered a good vocabulary, but even with that, the lectures become boring.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: POLS4210
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Students in the class appear to be a bit apprehensive in taking a shot at answering questions or speaking up. But once you get over that, you realize that she's an amazing Prof and can be quite helpful. But you've got to make the attempt to meet her halfway and ask for help. I would definitely take another course by her.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: 4210
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

cont...know where they are going wrong and where they can improve, especially sinces its a 4rth year course. Aside from that she is extremely intelligent and can obviously improve. You can learn a lot from her