Ron Landes - Saint Mary's University, Halifax, NS

Professor: Ron Landes

Department: Political Science

College: Saint Mary's University, Halifax, NS

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: POLI1200
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

If you are looking for an easy ride, steer clear of Landes as he is a tough grader and makes that clear. If you are actually interested in Poli Sci he does a great job of explaining the topics, as long as you attend every class and read the readings. A bit arrogant and full of himself, but this was an enriching course for sure.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: POLI1201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Landes is very lecture heavy and extremely old fashioned (not always bad). He doesn't respond to emails (don't even bother emailing his SMU email), does not use powerpoint at all let alone post them on brightspace. You MUST be a good note taker or have access to the Fred Smithers centre to do good. And be prepared to read all 3 of his required book

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: POLI1200
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

There were times were Landes' lectures were amazing, and times when they were brutally slow. He is very full of himself and believes he is the smartest man (also very opinionated) so be prepared for that. Class was graded off 4 exams, three worth 30% and one worth 10%, so there was little room for error.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: POLI1200
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Amazing professor. Lecture heavy but very interesting and engaging. He is a funny guy that really knows what he is talking about. Read the books, and pay attention and you will be prepared for the exams. Would take another class from him for sure.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: POL1201
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

His teaching style is different compared to other profs but his explanation is so understandable. Just write down everything he says and pay attention in class and you will be fine. He also tries to give solid examples and makes use of great humour! No final exam, just 4 in-class examinations across the term.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: POLI1201
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Amazing prof with strong opinions. I had no prior interest in politics, however I found myself talking about it non-stop outside of class because of how much I learned. Not recommended if you do not have strong note taking skills as there are no slides or textbook to follow. Graded on three 30% exams and one 10%. No final exam or assignments.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: POLI1201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

knowledgable, passionate and funny guy but sometimes arrogant when it comes to views that aren't his. Hard to take notes because he talks with no powerpoint and often goes off topic, also no textbook to obtain info(just chapter books not related to lectures). Avoid his contemporary issues class unless you have high interest in american politics.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: POLI1201
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Whenever i'm in his class I'm always amused and concentrated. He doesn't use powerpoints so taking notes is absolutely essential but he is my absolute favourite prof so far! He is very opinionated, so if you don't like that then you probably won't like his classes. Readings are absolutely essential, but all around my favourite!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: POLI1200
• Grade Received: INC
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

What a funny guy! I had a great time in the class, similar to attending a stand-up show. However, read your literature! Exams are composed of about 70% of the readings. Don't miss class; you really won't pass, I suggest a laptop for this class, as no form of electronic storage of class material is used, the whole lecture is from his head.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: POLI1200
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I eventually had to drop this class because Landes was very upfront in his views and said, first class, that if someone didn't share his views "we won't get along". He is a little arrogant, pompous and quite stubborn His lectures would just be him talking at you, no power points, written notes.. like how am I supposed to learn and do well? DROPPED

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: POLI1200
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I had Landes for Contemporary Issues last semester and loved it. His lectures are really interesting and entertaining. Doing the readings is absolutely essential, most of the exams are based on them. He has some strong opinions that might offend some people so don't take everything he says too seriously. Overall great prof!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: POLI1200
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I took Contemporary Issues: Political Violence, and it was the best course I've taken so far! From what I've seen by others he is a tough graders however if you study hard and do the interesting readings given you will do fine. He really gets you thinking about the world and what influences politics.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: POLI1201
• 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:

Awesome and very interesting topics. I found the final exam to be basically based on readings and was disappointed because as a student paying for classes I would much rather listen to Dr. Landes lecture than be told to just read a bunch of papers. I value the education others can give me as I can read papers on my own time.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: POLIT1200
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Hateful. Believes that activists are the worst kind of people. Climate change denier. As anti-communist as you can get. Talks about human behaviour with no understanding of the brain.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: POLI4000
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Thanks to Dr Ron Landes, I can now be sure this comment is being stored at an NSA building somewhere in Utah. Opened my eyes to the fact those paranoid, tin-foil hat thoughts I used to have pertaining to government spying were actually true after all.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: POLI4842
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

If you're majoring in political science or int'l development you HAVE to take this guy's spying courses. The classes aren't demanding and the material is essential to understanding international power dynamics. The exams are easy, but only if you read the exciting historical spy novels he assigns.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: POLI1201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

I loved Ron's POLI1201 class. He knows what he's talking about, and this shows in his lectures. His lectures aren't boring, and he's very easy to pay attention to. There were no assignments in his class, but you do have to read a lot. Grading material was made up of 3 exams plus the final exam. Would definitely take another class with Ron!

Rating # 18

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

If you don't do your readings, and fail to attend class you will not do well in a course taught by Dr. Landes. If you are looking for great books and fascinating lectures this is the course for you. Dr. Landes provides a unique perspective that fails to be covered elsewhere in the department. His courses are truly an asset to your education.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: POLIMANY
• 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 BEST PROF EVER!!! He is tough, that's for sure but it is mostly obvious what he is looking for. Very interesting, you'll never want to miss his class. I hate reading, anything, but I loved his books. If you can, TAKE HIS CLASSES!!

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: POLI3452
• 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:

Amazing Professor! Anyone who is interested in Political Science and International Relations should take at least one of his classes- his classes and lectures are intense and interesting! Be prepared to read (really interesting books) and write alot of tests but it is well worth it!