Alan Baumler - Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Indiana, PA

Professor: Alan Baumler

Department: History

College: Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Indiana, PA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: HIST206
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Finals are over, all grades are submitted, and my papers still haven't been graded. His class has been nothing but stressful. Not recommended unless you really want to stress out. The topic was really interesting but the grading and testing is just too messy. You'll be writing a lot as well-more than my writing intensive courses . Funny guy though!

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: HIST206
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Teaches his class like a writing intensive but doesnt list it at a writing internsive so you only get credit for a liberal studies. His lectures are okay but not great. So many papers. You never take an exam its all 4-5 page papers and you have to read 4 books and write papers on two.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: HIST436
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

His biggest problem is how he delivers his lectures. He speaks to us as if he expects us to know already what he's talking about. There were also a few occasions where he could be really rude when people would ask questions. He also didn't publish grades so you never knew where you stood until the end. He ruined a good subject for me.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ASIA200
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

First off, I withdrew from this class because I thought it was too hard. No notes are taken, and he rambles a lot about things that don't really correlate with anything. Overall was too stressful and overwhelming for a 200 class. Do not recommend.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ASIA200
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

His design for the class was well designed, but it was his grading criteria for his assignments that often made it difficult to get a good grade in the class. He gave good feedback but it was hard to get anything higher than a B. Even with edits he found fault in everything I turned in. This class was way too stressful for 200 level course.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: HIST198
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Okay, he is honestly a great professor. Little trick to passing: jot down notes without looking up, only look up when looking at photos (they'll show up on quizzes).. You'll thank me later. There is a basic guideline to every lecture, snap a photo of it on your phone. There are not slides that you copy from, strictly write importance of what's said

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ASIA200
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He's extremely unclear in his assignments and a harsh grader with little to no feedback about why you received the poor grade you will inevitably receive. He knows exactly what he's talking about. But unfortunately, he expects you to, as well. Boring assignments he refuses to change and seemingly little care towards his students. I do not recommend

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ASIA200
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Usually was unclear with grading criteria. Though he can be rude and annoying at times, he is willing to help when asked. Answers emails in a timely manner. Has a lot of international/cultural experience and is inspirational. He just needs to find a better way to present himself and his classes.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: HISTORY206
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I am a senior and took Dr. Baulmer's History of Eastern Asia class to fulfill my history requirements. Have averaged B's-A's in every class I have taken at IUP. Yet, I had to withdraw from Dr. Baulmer's course. He is VERY UNCLEAR and gives VAUGE directions for his assignments. After taking rough drafts to him he still gave me a D. Not worth taking.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: HIST295
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He was never clear about what he wanted from assignments. At the beginning of the semester, he would have us turn in several drafts, and then when I handed in final papers he would write that he didn't like the topic I chose, when he SAW ALL MY DRAFTS AND NEVER SAID A WORD. He made a girl cry, and I felt like I had to laugh at his jokes.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: 295
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

ATTENTION HISTORY 295 TAKERS: Baumler is not a good professor at all! I am a straight A student, but even I have a really tough time in his class! He is unclear about what he wants and grades very toughly! He spends the whole class lecturing about how being a History major sucks. Hated going to this class more than anything. :(

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: 295
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He definitely does have a unique sense of humor and he does seem to know what he's talking about. He's also very lenient when it comes to late assignments. However, he does grade tough and at times it's hard to understand what he wants out of us. There is a lot of writing in the class and that's usually where he's critical with grading the most.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: 295
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He is not very helpful, very unclear about the things he wants, then grades toughly about it. Hes constantly telling you that being a history major sucks and overall is kind of mean.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: HIST200
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He clearly knows what he's talking about, he just doesn't teach it very well. The class was taught from an asian studies perspective which is his area of expertise but not my area of interest which didn't help. I never knew where I stood with him as he always seemed to be disappointed with me. I got D's on my assignments but an A in the class.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: HIST332
• Grade Received: D
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Poor. He grades his papers really hard. No textbook which makes it even harder to follow along with him. He lacks clarity and barely helps you when you ask for it. This class was writing intensive so it was a paper due weekly along with a 12 page midterm and final.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: HIST332
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

expect to have many reading assignments if you are enrolling in his history or asian studies classes. his class format is always similar: no "textbooks" but normally 3 or more books assigned per semester. expect to read about 2 scholarly articles each week. the reading is heavy and tests tend to be take-home (extra difficult)

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: HIST200
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

While he seems to be a great man on a personal level, academically and professionally he is not. He lacks clarity in his assignments, and what he wants. He do not know how to explain his assignments, yet he grades hard and its not constructive criticism. He's very general and his office hours are no help either. I recommend no one to take his class

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: HIST332
• 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:

Professor Baumler is a very good teacher. He knows exactly what he is talking about and the best part about the class is the fact that he assigns papers rather than tests. He is a good presentor and i always look forward to learning from him.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: HIST206
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I advise anyone reading the angry comments to remind yourselves that those were made by people with poor grades, who couldn't see past his tough grading. He's a wonderfully humorous professor, who tries to get people to participate and he really knows what he's talking about. Take his class. It isn't bad if you pay attention and can write.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: HIST004
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Hes easy ,funny..sometimes and chill. Its an easy class.