Preston Smith - Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA

Professor: Preston Smith

Department: Political Science

College: Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA

Rating # 1

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Preston expects a lot from his students: his courses will be reading intensive. However, you will learn so from his classes that it truly will feel like all that hard work has paid off. Classes are always discussion based, so if that isn't something you enjoy, either let him know early on that it makes you uncomfortable or don't take the course

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: MULTIPLE
• 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:

I absolutely love this man! If there is one Mount Holyoke professor everyone should take at least once, it is Preston. Amazing intellect, biggest heart, amazing professor. You will grow from taking his courses!

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: POLIT101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Great professor, but he expects everyone to have his same view on things.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: POL104
• 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:

Knowledgeable in class, but too flaky out of it. He was my friend's advisor and rarely returned emails, and missed a few appointments. Also takes forever to get papers back- turned one in a month ago and still haven't gotten it back!

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: POL104
• 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:

For an intro course Smith assigned way too much reading! I think I had more reading from him than I did for my other 4 courses combined. Also, I would have liked a broader overview of American Politics rather than the narrow, drawn out overview of the New Deal we received.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: POLIT347
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He's very smart and will amaze you with his knowledge on a wide variety of issues and case studies in urban politics. He really only used books in our class and the pace was about a book a week. The CBL component wasn't very hands on, it was more about researching for community orgs. The class was fairly easy, but very informative and interesting.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: POL347
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He is intelligent, no doubt. He expects quite a bit from his students. To anyone who is thinking of taking him, make sure the passion is there. He will look for it.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: POLIT347
• 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:

great intellect! really good class discussions. has a lot to offer and challenges his students to think of politics in complex ways. understanding and helpful.

Rating # 9

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Truly interested and passionate about the subject matter, and that passion encourages students to follow suit. Really encourages thought, and makes sure people question their assumptions.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: POL250
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Great professor. Inspiring anecdotes and urging us to be active in social justice and politics. Difficult, abstract and hard to decipher paper topics. Good readings, but lots of them.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: POLITICS
• 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:

Professor Smith is a wonderful professor. He is very smart and very passionate about politics. He is intimidating at first due to his vast amount of intelligence. I highly suggest taking one of his Community Based Learning classes.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: POLURBAN
• 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:

Heard not-so-great things, but now his class is my favorite this semester. Take a class with Preston before you graduate!!

Rating # 13

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Wonderful man...really adore him as a teacher, and he is SO HOT!! definatly one of the hottest teachers at MHC...anyway awful paper topics though...unclear, and boring...ahh well good politics though, very smart guy and id love to know his life story...

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: URBANPOL
• 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:

Nice, fun and intersting. Great class!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: POLIT104
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Gives the worst paper topics, most of which do not make sense. Frustrating.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: POL104
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

so intelligent, he's intimidating. quite biased towards liberal politics

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: POLIT348
• 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:

Professor Smith is one of the most disorganized professors I have ever had

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: POL104A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Fun! Passionate! Is a Green. He's into particularly into Urban Studies.