Gerard Alexander - University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA

Professor: Gerard Alexander

Department: Political Science

College: University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PLCP3110
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Amazing professor. The reading is dense, but really ties in with the lecture. Grade was based on two papers (with REALLY long, confusing prompts) and one final exam.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PLCP3110
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Great professor! His lectures are incredibly fascinating and he explains his stuff really well. He's not easy and the class has a ton of dense reading, but he does a great job of explaining it and bringing it to life. I really learned a ton in his class. Found him very inspiring. Definitely a must if you're willing to work.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PLCP3110
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I thought Alexander was a great lecturer. He has a narrative style, which is helpful to understand the aggregate material. But the professor himself is arrogant. I went into his office hours three times, and each time was traumatized by his rude behavior. I you plan to remain anonymous to him, it's a good one. And useful for a focus in CP.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PLCP
• 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:

Take this class if you are a FOOL. Hated every single minute of this class (lectures are boring/talks too fast/only he knows what he's talking about), readings are too dense, structure of class is horrid. Worst class and worst professor in the Politics Dep. Do yourself a huge favor and AVOID THIS CLASS!!!!

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PLCP3110
• 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:

Really really good class. He makes the subject matter clear. You have to study and read, but you have to do that to excel in any class. Took this class as a first year without any previous politics courses and i'd recommend this class/professor. Engaging lecturer, interesting subject matter. No trick questions, information is straightforward.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: HIST232
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Strident and sarcastic. Rarely permits or respects other points of view in the classroom

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PLCP3500
• 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:

He?s an awesome professor, but if you?re not willing to work hard don?t take his class. Readings can be long and often require serious thinking. Weekly essays are a challenge. Prof. Alexander expects a lot from his students, but if you put in the work you?ll get more out of his class than any other at UVA. Think about it.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PLCP311
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Not a great lecturer. Just go to section. Fair grading. Do the readings and you will be ok.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PLCP418
• 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:

Alexander is incredible! Fun guy, and great material. This course is reading intensive, but 6 2-page essays with exception of 15-page final are easy to get A- on. Word of caution, if you are Jewish, this course has material and students, that defend offensive theories of the Holocaust.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PLCP424
• 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:

Great teacher. Take his class. Lots of work, but worth it

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PLCP311
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Requires a well-thought argument and if you put time into papers, it works. Not all readings are necessary, just those mentioned in class and TAs do expect a lot. Overall, an interestign course but make sure you have the time to put into it.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PLCP311
• 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:

Hands down one of my favorite professors at UVA. I was impressed in lecture and even more impressed when I spoke with him outside of class. He absolutely does demand excellence from his students. I disagree that he refuses to change his viewpoint; the trick is that you have to have a valid and supported point. Take the class, be ready to work.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PLCP311
• 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:

Really cares about the subject. A great class but lots of readings.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PLCP311
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

DONT TAKE THIS CLASS! I dont know if he has high ratings or not but he is a horrible teacher. He only listens to his own opinions and if he doesn't agree with you you might as well throw in the towel. Essay assignments are hard. TA's grade hard. Class is uninteresting and has too many readings.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PLCP311
• 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:

Half of the readings are beyond the grasp of the average undergrad, while the other half seem to relate to the material only after careful explanation. Lectures are interesting enough and extremely clear.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: PLCP311
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Argued today, 15 minutes, why forming group study guide was like stealing music off Napster. Papers graded harshly by TAs. Very extensive tedious readings. Makes very few people chuckle. His minor lisp on G, CH, and SH comes from trying to speak too hard and fast. Bring a laptop and type fast. If you don't accept his ideology you might not do well.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: PLCP311
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

The readings are long and dense. Reading responses are expected weekly on most of these readings. Papers are short, but graded harshly. Passionate lecturer, but speaks a mile per minute. I went from typing 25-30 wpm to probably 35-40. Proceed with caution...

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: PLCP311
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

The high recommendations for this guy are absolutely wrong. I don't know anyone in my class this semester who thinks he is a good teacher. Repeats himself way too much, gets way behind in the lecture schedule. Readings are overly intellectual and there are way too many of them. Unless you want to bang your head against a wall, don't take him.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PLCP311
• 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:

Amazing professor! Really engages students in the material. A lot of reading but definitely doable. Papers are short and graded harshly because he's looking for a very specific answer in them (but if he sees you improving over the semester he grades up!) Highly recommended!

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PLCP311
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He is a very fast speaker, but his lectures help in clarifying the readings. The readings are very long and extensive, but they are not all necessary. The papers are not too difficult to write but are graded very harshly.