Steven Topik - University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA

Professor: Steven Topik

Department: History

College: University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: 70D
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Can come off as rude. Lectures are kind of boring. Two papers and a final. Papers were very confusing and the professor made them very confusing. Quizzes on Friday's were way too difficult and SO MUCH READING.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: HISTORY70D
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Essay midterm and final, gave good feedback on midterm, took about two weeks to return grades. Reading was usually 30-60 pages from various texts (maybe 10 from one book and 40 from another). Weekly multiple choice quizzes on reading (combined, the quizzes are worth more than the midterm) Funny, loves hearing opinions and calls on people at random.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: HIST70D
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I wouldn't recommend anybody take this class. Class itself is dull and not helpful. Attendance required and weekly iClicker quizzes were a drag. Not overly hard but he required a ton of reading.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: HIST162
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Taking Topik's history of Brazil class was not a surprise. He is an intelligent, articulate, and nice professor, but beware of his syllabus. The paper prompts are obscure and he devotes 70% of the material on reading that we don't even discuss in class! If you want to learn about Brazil without hurting your grade, I suggest reading Wikipedia.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: HIST162
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Beware of his papers, the prompts can be unclear and it's hard to tell what he wants. The worst part is when you ask him about what he wants he doesn't really give you an answer and makes you feel belittled.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: HIST162
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

His syllabus reflects his course: disorganized and incomplete. He can be a nice guy, but his lectures can be all over the place and he assumes that everyone is an expert in Brazilian history. Professor Topik could also work on limiting the political rants about the US government. He's a decent professor I guess.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: HIST162
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Topik thought it would be fun not to stick with the syllabus he wrote. He also decided that he would not have anything due all quarter except for 3 papers at the very end. He only wants to hear opinions that are similar to his own, and if you speak out in class with something contrary to his beliefs, he immediately shoots you down. do. not. take.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: HIST163
• 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:

He is a wonderful professor and is very dedicated. He is extremely knowledgeable. His lectures are engaging, and the class is challenging yet doable, which is good.He is willing to meet with students and genuinely cares about their success.I never felt bored in his class, as his delivery was always great and always encouraged class participation.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: HIST163
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

BO-RING. One of the worst lecturers, ever. Throughout the course of this class, maybe only 10-15% of the students consistently showed up to lecture. If you have other choices, take them. I regret choosing this class over others I could have taken. Worst of all, I did not retain a thing.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: HISTCOF
• 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 should have attended all of the classes. That's why I didn't get an A!

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: 70D
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Straightforward, willing to help in office hours. The TAs do all of the grading. His lectures seem to wander at times, but there are no surprises on midterms or finals, and he and the TAs hold reviews sessions.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: HISTORY70D
• 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:

Is very clear with what he says, and definitely cares about his students, but i feel that sometimes he isn't able to get his point across to any part of the class that isn't interested in history or the theme of the class. Is technologically inept, so if you are not, sit in the front row and help him to get on his good side.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: HIS21B
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Decent lecturer who is easy to follow along. Too bad the class material is just so dry.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: 70D
• 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:

people are critical of him but they need to toughen up. He's not a super easy grader and the course can be heavy, but I learned alot and it wasn't super difficult to follow if you put in the most minimal amount of effort. I found alot of other classmates who found him just as easy to follow

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: 70D
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He spent the first 10-15 minutes of EVERY lecture talking smack about Republicans. Hey, I don't like them either, but I've never seen so little professionalism in a professor before. The man should be fired or severely reprimanded. He is an arrogant, bigoted partisan.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: HISTORY70D
• 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:

Great! Very interesting, and helpful.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: HISTORY70D
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

One of my favorite professors. He's an interesting speaker and doesn't put you to sleep. He knows his stuff and he's really nice. I love this man.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: HISTORY21B
• 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:

Topik and Pommeranz split the class and let me tell you, I could actually pay attention through a lecture when Topik was talking. He is very knowledgeable, interesting, likes to use the dictionary and knows everything there is to know about the history of coffee. I'd recommend him anyday.

Rating # 19

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Wonderful teacher. Very interesting lectures.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: 70D
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He's a great speaker and really interesting. I'd like to take another one of his classes.