Theodore Becker - Auburn University, Auburn, AL

Professor: Theodore Becker

Department: Political Science

College: Auburn University, Auburn, AL

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: POLI1057
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Really nice guy, but teaching ability is shaky. Class is supposed to be a discussion b/w students, but he usually starts rambling & it's impossible to stop him. He's very liberal, & since he wrote the textbook, so is the class. He is very adamant about his beliefs and their accuracy, but he's almost always up for intelligent discussion.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: POLI1057
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I haven't even completed the semester with Becker so far and already I am sick of his lectures. He has an incredibly negative view of the US government. IN ADDITION, he only looks at and believes very far, left wing conspiracy theorists. Keep in mind I am a liberal person, and he was too liberal to the point of laughable in my opinion.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: POLI1057
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Teacher rambles and I learned little

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: POLS1057
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Becker was good 20 years ago, I ma told by my parents. but since he is in his 80s, he often does not know what is going on. It is frustrating to the students he has now. All of us will get old and we understand. The university has been trying for years to gently retire him. He has a 1950s mental pic of matters.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: POLS1057
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

This class, is the world according to Becker. He takes a particular tact on issues and refuses to consider changing his ideas , regardless of student's ideas. Original, or critical thinking is not encouraged. Just give back the EXACT answers he told you. He is an attorney and I think he got stuck into one track thinking in his old job.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: POLS1057
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

If you wish to give back the same views as teacher, then you will do fine. In talking to other students, it seems the course pols 1057 does not have any set objectives from the university. I think after the first lecture I knew what his views were. How each student reacts to that information will be different. Each course costs a lot, so choose.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: POLI3340
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Becker is very helpful and nice. If you try you shouldn't have any problems. I really would recommend taking conflict res with him, it was really interesting.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: POLI1057
• 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:

Midterm 25% Final 50% Participation (Quizzes and attendance) 25% If you are not a poli sci whiz, you may seem a bit lost at first. But, you can start to see recurring themes as the class progresses. It was not exactly my cup o' tea, but I ended up with a great final grade. Just think like him on the test (no essays!) objective tests

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: POLI1057
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Becker's views are unconventional, but he's always willing to discuss them with you in and out of class. Requires lots of critical thinking about political issues. If you like that, take the class; if not, you won't do well. Very friendly guy, and has a lot of cool stories if you get him started. Sometimes assignments were unclear. Final worth 50%.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: POLI1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

This class has two possible objectives: to teach the basic structure of global politics and issues or to think critically. It fails in the first completely and you must have a extensive understanding of the second to keep up. Furthermore, the tests fail to adequately asses the latter; they only test understanding of his personal conspiracy theories

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: POLI1050
• 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:

This is an online class that is NOT good at all! All you do is read the textbook and other articles that he finds and then you all discuss it online with the TA. DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS!!!!!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: POLI1057
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Becker's 1057 is a reading intensive course from a leftist/libertarian, anti government perspective, but don't get turned off. Becker talks a lot, but the class is discussion based. Becker always listens to students' opinions and has some very interesting views of his own. Overall, a very enjoyable and intersting professor.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: POLI1057
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This is a good class to take IF you're interested in politics. I took it to learn about general government, but all Dr. Becker teaches is his opinion. And since I don't know anything about politics it's hard to follow sometimes. If you like to learn and discuss different political opinions, take this class. If you want a general poli class, don't.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: POLI1057
• 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:

I am really not interested in politics at all, but had to take this for an Honor's credit. It turned out not to be too bad. There is a lot of reading from the book he wrote, and sometimes he will start rambling about random stuff in class, but if you go to class, participate in discussion, and read the book, you should do fine.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: POLI1057
• 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:

Class is interesting, not difficult, very thematic. Heavy reading from the text (he wrote it), which is where all the exam material comes from. No papers, just a midterm and final (DO THE BONUS QUESTIONS). Becker is very nice, and while he has some strong opinions, he backs them up and will listen to yours. DO NOT take 1050--it's online! Take 1057.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: POLI1027
• 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:

Good class. Its an Honors course so hardly any HW but heavy on the class participation and tests. Good grade means reading the book (long but it's pretty much the only hw) and talking. Yea, he's opinionated but he wants you to learn the info. If you disagree just make sure to back it up. If you have trouble go to his office and ask, he helps alot!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: POLI1020
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This class is HORRIBLE! When you sign up for the class they don't tell u it's online so beware of that. 75 % of your grade is the midterm and final. Which are impossible b/c most of it is opinion and very tricky. The multiple choice questions make you feel like you know it but they have absolutely nothing to do with anything! Do NOT take him!

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: HIST1020
• 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 took the online course. I ended up with a B. His tests are all mutiple choice but the wording can be some what confusing. Study lecture notes, book notes and take the chapter quizes on blackboard and you should do fine, Hopefully! Honestly this class is not an easy "A" but the material is interesting and eye opening.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: POLI1027
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Becker's lectures are totally opinionated, which is to be expected of a typical college professor, but when he begins getting angry at students for having opinions that are different from his, and going on useless tangents that only waste class time and teach his students nothing...it's too much. This class was pretty useless.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: POLI1020
• 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:

I'm not giving him a bad rating because I don't like him. I'm giving him a bad grade because he was horrible.