Gregory Smith - Trinity College, Hartford, CT

Professor: Gregory Smith

Department: Political Science

College: Trinity College, Hartford, CT

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: POLS219
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He's a super interesting guy with a vast amount of knowledge on the subject. Probably one of the most accomplished professors at trinity.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: P219220
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Great teacher, great guy, and very well liked by all. He wants everyone to well. Highly recommend taking anyone of his classes.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: POLS220
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Smith's class was really interesting. His lectures seemed pretty long sometimes but he has a funny sense of humor and is pretty cool. I would definitely take a class with him again.

Rating # 4

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

The tests were pretty hard and required a good amount of studying. If you take notes in class and read the books before the test you should be okay. He seems intimidating at first, but wants his students to do well. He is willing to help students on papers so go to his office hours. Overall good class and I learned a lot!

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: POLS400
• 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 had Greg Smith for History of Pol Thought I and II, My Senior Seminar, and Political Philosophy and Ethics. Smith is one of the best professors I had at Trinity. He can come off as intimidating, but he really cares about his students and is very approachable and is very willing to helping students with their papers.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: POLS105
• 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:

To the poster below me, it would seem strange that a professor who wrote a book on Nietzche would so easily dismiss him as you say. Nietzche is in fact one of professor smith's specialites.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: POL102
• 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:

He teaches philosophy to people who dont know about philosophy: freshman who have never had a philosophy class. I am a phil major and he not only had very problematic readings of important thinkers(plato) he off handedly would disregard other important thinkers(nietzche). he is good if you want to be told what to think, and not think for yourself.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PHIL105
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Mindblowing stuff. Ive never thought so hard in my life. Very worthwhile class and professor.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: POLS105
• 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:

Wow! He will blow you away. Does not contradict himself - weird for people who teach philosophy. Take a class, you won't regret it. I don't. Just take notes in class, read the sections he tells you to read during his lectures and have full attendance. Tests and essays are straight forward. Work hard - A is for sure if you care about grades.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: POLS105
• 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:

Smith is such a bro - used to write presidential speeches for Reagan! His PolPhil class is very interesting, quizzes are hard but papers are straight forward. Taking class with Smith again next semester.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: POLI401
• 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:

Had him at University of Michigan when visiting in the 90s. He was fantastic in the classroom and always happy to help students. Rare to have someone who has a full class for an afternoon class in the spring semester. His enthusiasm directed me toward political philosophy as a course of study. Thanks!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: POLS300
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

My favorite professor at Trinity. He has a real no-BS style which is very refreshing. You will learn a lot and you will have a good opportunity to be creative with papers.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: POLS334
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Awful. I really wanted to learn about Platonic dialogue, but am extremely disappointed. He likes to rag on all types of people. Has a "holier than thou" attitude and doesn't seem to care for effort.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: POLS219
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Best Professor I've had at Trinity. I've taken a class with him every semester since I've been here (4 so far). I don't always agree with his interpretations of things, but he definitely knows his stuff.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: POLS220
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I took this class solely because of prof. smith's reputation and he definitely lived up to expectations. he's a great lecturer and makes all of the classes interesting and humorous. the quizzes are hard if you don't study but he grades the papers pretty easily. great guy and one of the best professors at trinity

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: POLS332
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Professor Smith is extremely smart- former presidential speech writer. Makes political philosophy come to life. Not at all stuffy. Think Ben Stein humor... but better!

Rating # 17

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

This course is very easy if you go to all of the classes. His quizzes are just what he went over in class, and you can get enough info for essays from your notes in class. You could probably get by without using the books but thats not a good idea.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: POLPHIL101
• 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:

Excellenet Lecturer, very interesting class, fair exams, I really enjoyed this class, I decided to become POlSCI major cause of him!

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PHIL102
• 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:

Great lecturer, very knowledgeable and interesting to listen to. Random dry humor made class fun. Readings not at all necessary (don't buy the books), quizzes were sometimes tough, papers easy. Just go to class and learn from his lectures. Good course to take P/F.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: POLS220
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

easily the smartest teacher and best lecturer at trinity.