Ross Baker - Rutgers - State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ

Professor: Ross Baker

Department: Political Science

College: Rutgers - State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: AGOV104
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Professor Baker is by far the best professor I've had at Rutgers. His background is fascinating - full bright scholar, writer for CNN & the Washington Post, research associate at Brookings). He truly cares about his students and wants you to succeed- and all the books for the class (3 of which he wrote) are really interesting.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: AGOV104
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Ross is a nice guy who knows what he's talking about. His lectures aren't the best way to prepare for the exams since they're almost entirely based on the readings, but he's an interesting lecturer so I still went. If you go to recitation they spell out the exam questions so if you review what they say you'll ace them.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: AMERICANGOV104
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Baker Promises to be politically neutral and he is for the most part however he likes to slightly dig at republicans when given the chance. Regardless:easy class. Makes you buy 4 books (which of 2 or 3 he is the author) but I didn't use any of them. Go to recitation to learn what's on test. Class is boring as hell- bring laptop. Overall easy class.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: POLI104
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Knows a ton about government. Lectures can oftentimes get off track but they are interesting. I would recommend attending all lectures and recitations.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: AMGOV104
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Very knowledgeable, lectures can get boring but definitely are worth going to. He throws in lots of cool stories and trivia to make it interesting. You don't need to do the readings, since the TA's spell out what's going to be on the exams - so go to recitation. Pretty easygoing guy, would definitely take another class with him.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: AMERICANGOV104
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

This man knows so much about Gov that it honestly boggles my mind. I highly recommend taking any class you can with him (as I will be doing). Also, show up to class, participation isn't mandatory or checked, but, I think it is worth your time.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: AMERICANGOV104
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I took Baker's American Government and he is fantastic. He can be a bit dry and will go on about one thing for a while but he is extremely knowledgeable about Congress and the Senate. As a political science major this is definitely a great class to take and in general a really great GPA booster. I would take him again if he taught other classes.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: AMERICANGOV104
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He kinda has the Sean Connery thing going on, and his lectures are really interesting. I feel like most people got As in his class if you just go to recitation and do your reading. He gives a study guide and extra credit so they're no surprises.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: POL790104
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I took this course in the Fall of 2015, and I would say it was pretty easy becaue most of the material reviews United States history class material. The lectures are long and boring, but please attend as many classes as possible because everything discussed in lectures and recitations will be on the Mid-Term and Final Exam. The exams are essays.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: 790104
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Lecture can sometimes be long but attend them anyway! Grading: Midterm 40% Final 50% AttenParticipation 10%. Exams are easy) Define 5 of 8 terms and how they relate to American Gov. 2) 2 essays (4-5 pg in the little blue books) make references to lecture. 3 essays on final. GO TO RECITATION to get copy of slides! Easy A! GPA BOOSTER!

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: 790104
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Class is easy as hell. No need to read textbook just read the small books that he assigns and complete the vocab sheet and you'll probably get an A on the exam. No need to go to lecture either but if you don't go to recitation you'll probably do bad.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: 01790104
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Baker's lectures are really interesting and he is definitely an authority on what he's talking about. He makes really good points and you learn a lot. You don't have to go to every class but you really should because you can learn a lot from him. TA's are really good, don't miss recitation. Read the book or you won't do well.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: AG104
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I didn't attend a single lecture either. I just went to every recitation, skimmed both of the small books, and studied the terms the a couple of nights before the exams and I got an A. The TAs are your saviors. Make use of them.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: AMERICANGOV
• 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:

attendance isn't mandatory which killed me because i never went to class (which i regret). most of what you need from this class is in the recitation sections. 2 blue book tests. definitions & essay... study guide is given. definitely recommend this class but i also recommend you actually go because baker is a great lecturer and a great guy.

Rating # 15

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

This guy is unbearable..... other then the fact he doesn't EVER WRITE ANYTHING DOWN all he does is ramble ramble ramble and stand in front of the class. His tests are Garbage, and he only asks us 15 questions out of the possible 1000 things this guy talks about in class and in the book. Honestly he's not a bad person but he is not a good teacher.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: AMGOV104
• 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:

Prof. Baker is really intelligent and teaches you the material through his experiences in American politics. His lectures don't really cover the material you have to know, so go to recititation. The class is very easy, but Baker is a great lecturer, and I always enjoyed going, even if I didn't have to.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: AMGOV104
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Great professor, and very smart. Keeps class interesting with his stories. Love his style of lecturing. You do need one of the books and that is the book that Professor baker wrote himself; the other textbooks are not necessary. Great guy, takes notes, should get an A.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: AMGOV104
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

don't buy the textbook, don't go to lecture. go to recitation, write down EVERYTHING, read the two little books and you have an A. easier than most high school classes to be honest. I don't even know what the professor looks like ..

Rating # 19

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

He's a pretty interesting lecturer, but no one goes to class because attendance isn't mandatory. Make sure you go to recitation. The midterm and final are essay-based so make sure you know your stuff. Otherwise, a pretty easy class.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: AMERICANGOV104
• 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:

I had Flavio as my TA and it will be the easiest class you'll ever take. I probably went to lecture 3 times, but still got an A. You have to go to recitation to get the notes (MEMORIZE THEM) for the midterm and final. And if a extra credit assignment is offered, do it! Other than that it's basically like a free A.