Catherine Briggs - University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON

Professor: Catherine Briggs

Department: History

College: University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ISS350G
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

An amazing prof that truly cares for her students. although i never attended many lectures, she was understanding of the situation I was in and helped me be successful in the course!

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: HIST113
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Most boring lectures I've ever attended. You can tell she is very knowledgeable but her way of teaching is too boring and dry. Power points have too much text and are not useful for the assignments.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: HIST113
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Her tests are irrelevant to the class lectures; you just need to do the readings and you'd be able to do well on the test. Her lectures are very dry and the powerpoint bullets don't really help you when you go back after to do reviews. She also doesn't mark anything and the course marker is unfair. Overall seems likes a very nice person though.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: HIST113
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Excellent class, I aced the whole course.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: HIST113
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The prof is very dull. Every day she gets up and presents material, just stands there and speaks for the entire class. The slides that are given are not useful. It's so difficult to keep up to her speed and write down notes. She's a great person and very nice and funny, but this course requires dedication. The strength of your eyelids are tested.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: HIST113
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

She knows a LOT, and it shows in how she teaches from her knowledge. However, she is not great at summing up overall themes. It is hard to decide in this class what information is worth saving in your head and what to throw out, which makes tests challenging. Was not my favourite class, by any means.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: HIST254
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Great prof. Clearly very interested, and well versed in her field. Discussions are worth a lot but she's very fair with the grading. No midterms, 3 papers, 4 discussions on 8 chapters. Overall average class, above average prof. Will be taking courses with her again.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: HIST113
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Great professor! I think she did a great job teaching the course and the course itself was very interesting! The course consisted of an article Summary, a midterm test, a biographical study and a final exam. An A is definitely possible as long as you put in the work and effort into the course. I'd definitely take another course with her!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: HIST391
• 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:

Dr. Briggs is a mixed bag. She is a great person. Always very friendly and reasonable to deal with. Sometimes her lectures are a little dry, even for those interested in the subject matter. None the less, she is a solid professor who can teach you a lot. Her grading is very easy.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: HIST253
• 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:

Awesome professor! Would recommend to anyone! She's lenient with due dates and is always willing to help.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: HIST254
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Nice lady. Does her best to make lectures interesting, but with Canadian history there is only so much she can do. Medium marking difficulty. Lots of readings. Not a bad prof, but the class was a sure cure for insomnia.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: HIST277
• 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:

Easily one of the worst classes I've ever had. Contradicted herself the whole semester. No tests just papers and a take home final. Hard to do it properly when she contradicted herself,saying she wanted outside sources for the final then changing her mind 30 seconds later. Hard to get a decent mark when she constantly changes her mind all the time.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: HIST277
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

She knows what she's talking about but very, very boring. Coffee is a must to stay awake in her class.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: HIST254
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I thought she was a great prof. Easy to understand with clear expectations. She was easy to deal with around extensions and an easy marker.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: HIST113
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

She was a good prof. Very good at explaining everything and teaching skills. Made the class interesting most days. Only thing I didnt like is how the exams covered materiall from the coursenoters articles which were not covered in class. Other than that, good prof, great lecturer.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: HIST277
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

She's an extremely friendly person, but the class itself was unbearable. I stopped going after the first month because I couldn't stay awake anymore. There weren't any tests, just a review article, a paper, and a take-home exam (2 essays). I found her to be a somewhat difficult marker. Not the hardest, but don't expect to be getting straight A's

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: HIST253
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Briggs was extremely nice and obviously loves history! Do the needed readings for discussions and use her notes for her tests and assignments - you'll be fine! She likes to focus on the general theme, which makes it easier for non-history majors who don't know all the details.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: HIST113
• 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:

The professor clearly knows her material, and though she often repeats herself, the information is always very clear. Attending class is a must, info in the lectures are just as important as the slides. Very clear as to expect on evals. TA's marking can be inconsistant. HATED the reading material - extremely boring and overly long!

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: HIST11
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Professor Briggs is very helpful! She has a tendency to repeat herself but it's generally what will appear on the exams. The assignments are a little vague but with a little bit of thought, its not bad at all. Hated the journal article readings.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ISS350G
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Suffering from insomnia? Well, then this is the perfect class for you. She is a TERRIBLE professor, constantly repeats herself, can't stand her voice, and she is not helpful at all. I would not say she is qualified or up to the standards of other professors at the University of Waterloo. Someone needs to replace her position!