Sergei Plekhanov - York University (all campuses), Toronto, ON

Professor: Sergei Plekhanov

Department: Political Science

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

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: POLS3500
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This prof really knows what he's talking about. You can tell he enjoys what he teaches, and he makes it very interesting. He is also very reasonable and resourceful, always willing to help. His class was an amazing experience, would recommend!

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: POLS4280
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Plekhanov is the greatest IR prof in the Political Science department at York U and a leading expert on Russian foreign policy (with diplomatic experience). He is brilliant, dedicated, articulate, and accommodating. He has high expectations, but he's also a very fair marker. Do yourself a favour and take at least 1 of his upper year classes.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: POLS3500
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The man is a genius, no doubt about it. However this causes him to have a very high standard when it comes to doing well on essays and exams. You really have to work for your grade but he gives you the opportunity to redo essays to bump up the mark ( so he's extremely kind) and is very helpful when you approach him (recommends sources).

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: POLS3500
• 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:

Sergei Plekhanov is a professor of the highest caliber. His sharp wit and amazing knowledge and passion makes him a fantastic teacher. He has personal experience related to the topic of Russian politics but he is also a professor of Western politics. Take the class if you want to learn. The papers are long but the topics are fascinating.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: POLS1000
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

What a great Prof. Very humorous - you'll be laughing half the lecture. He also has a strange, but funny, tendency to play music before every lecture. You can hear the wealth of knowledge in his words when he speaks. You won't be falling asleep in his lectures. If you're looking for a POLS prof, definitely take Sergei.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: POLS1000
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I enjoyed attending his lectures for POLS1000. He's a very good speaker, his lectures are full of jokes and stories. He doesn't tell you what to believe, but gives you the tools to reach your own conclusions. A wide range of topics are covered in depth. Attend tutorial too, you're guaranteed 20% for attendance,and you'll need the essay help.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: POLS3500
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Great Prof, really didn't need to purchase the book for the course, but I was eager so I did anyway.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: POLS100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

He will go through detail by detail exactly what is expected of you in the assignments and exams. Very clear and super kind!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: POLS3500
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Great prof, interesting topics, non biased, and is really passionate about his work.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: POLS1000
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Fantastic professor, starts his lectures with opera! Who doesn't love that! Very knowledgeable and able to present information consistent with a 1000 level class. Exam was odd, is quality of work expected is not consistent with the level of knowledge of a first year student. Should take it a little easier on the exam.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: POLS3401
• 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:

Having someone as Prof. Plekhanov as your instructor is something I considered a privilege. Where else can a POLS student gain access to the incredible vessel of knowledge and above all, first hand experience, of the post-communist transformation and the events that led up to it. Very interesting lectures. Highly recommended!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: POLS1000
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Love this professor! Was already interested in politics before, but after his class, I've learned to appreciate it even more. Very knowledgeable,and familiar with politics. Definitely try to get into his class if possible! Great lectures.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: POLS1000
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Very informative teacher, but a lot of the course material is very basic. Also, he sometimes has a tendency to start ranting about odd conspiracies by second semester. Quite interesting lectures.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: POLS1000
• 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:

One of the greatest professors at York. I am in 4th year now and still remember what he taught. Class attendance is not required 100% of the time but i dont know why you would ever miss his class. Even if you dont like Politics he makes it interesting if you give him a chance. Very approachable and understanding, and a very interesting guy.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: POLSA
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. This guy's a legend, he is passionate, compassionate, and incredibly intelligent. You have to really be a tool to not recognize this and a total slacker if you thought he/the topic was boring. If you want to learn, take his class! If you want an easy mark, go take some BS class where no critical thinking is required. This prof rocks!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: POLS1000
• 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:

Sergei is a prof who actually knows what he's talking about. He has vast experience with all of the material he teaches and he is very clear when he teaches it. All of his notes or online too! Also, he uses multimedia well which helps a lot and his rants are very tasteful as insights. So all in all, Sergei is a cool guy and a great prof.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: POLS1000
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

The course itself is pretty dull, but if you have the right TA you'll do fine (Nima!). The best parts of his lectures are when he completely stops bothering with the course material and just goes off on a random digression. Has an enormous amount of experience watching politics. If you take POLS1000 at York, try to get into his class.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: POLS1000
• 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:

Awesome Prof, participates in many seminars on campus and very approachable.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: POLS1000
• 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:

Great lecturer, easy course, nice guy. You just can't hate this prof, he's far to nice. His TA's might give you trouble but even at that it was a not so difficult A.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: POLS1000
• 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:

Very good professor and incredibly interesting. Was part of the Gorbachev administration so he has very unique first hand political science experiences. Highly recommended.