Howard Botwinick - SUNY Cortland, Cortland, NY

Professor: Howard Botwinick

Department: Economics

College: SUNY Cortland, Cortland, NY

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ECO307
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Great professor, unique viewpoints and a fresh, different perspective than other economic courses/professors. Easy to talk to and very sociable. Class does require a lot of reading and standard amount of short papers, but overall would take again.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ECO105
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Amazing guy, but if you are even slightly conservative, you'll hate him. He is a straight up socialist but his class is so interesting and he cares so much about what he is lecturing about. I would take this class again.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ECO105
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Botwinick is one of the best Professors I've ever met. He makes sure that you actually learn something in his classes. His classes seem difficult for an entry level class, but if you pay attention and use his office hours you can pass with good grade. He is very tolerating and open-minded as long as you can explain your opinion. Great guy!!

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ECO105
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Botwinick was one of my favorite professors. Everything that's on all of the tests, he covers and then covers some more in class. He makes sure everyone understands before moving on. Lots of reading but they're actually very interesting & informative. Be ready to work & be challenged! There's no way you're passing this class if you're lazy.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ECO105
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS. Way too much reading for an entry level. Tests are ridiculous. Boring class and grades way too hard.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ECO105
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Probably the hardest class I've ever taken. I never read so much for a class in my life. He is the worst professor, grades tests based on his views, which is socialism. If you even try to give in your own opinion he will argue you. Don't plan on coming to this class with an open mind because he will just close it right up. STAY AWAY.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ECO105
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Botwinick is a really knowledgeable guy. He is nice and understanding, but doesn't take excuses or put up with students not applying themselves. Heavy reading and reasonably high expectations on papers. Loved his class, learned a lot, and it was refreshing to here his perspective, he is very passionate about what he does.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ECO105
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Botwinick gets a lot of criticism because he teaches ECO105. It counts as a GE and so students who aren't used to the difficulty of the major are shocked and blame Botwinick or his politics. Yeah hes liberal but grades conservatives fine. Don't take as a GE if you'reused to joke courses. Grow up, take responsibility for poor grades, work harder.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ECO105
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Brilliant guy. If you're willing to go into the class with an open mind and learn, this will be one of the more insightful classes you've taken. If you're not interested in challenging your worldview, take this class with someone else, and save yourself the inevitable failing grade you'd likely get in the course if you took it with Botwinick.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: 105
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

If you actually go to class, pay attention, and have a open mind to ideas... you should have absolutely no problem in this class. Very smart professor, has his own book published through Princeton University Press. More professors should know this much about the topics they are teaching. Will take him for future courses.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: 105
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Reading these negative comments are disgracefulinaccurate. He is a socialist but does not impose his ideas on anyone at all, if you have different views he has an intellectual conversation with the class about it. Very smart guy that is passionate about what he teaches. Would love to take again. If you are struggling he has plenty of office hours.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ECO105
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

If i could give a lower rating than one i would. this class is called "political economy and social thought". When HE teaches it, it should be called "let me impose my views of socialism and convince you to hate America". Massive readings that this self proclaimed environmentalist prints out and hands to you sums up to over 200 pages a student.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ECO105
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

BEWARE he is socialist! out of 40 students he only knew my name because i am republican. I got half off on every question on the first test. I will never take another class with him. Luckily we got a new teacher (look at Flavia Dantas) and I pulled my grade to a C+

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ECON105601
• 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:

Great professor! His passion for the subject is really inspiring!! He really shines a light on what is really happening in the world, not just a ECON class...this class really changed my view on the world. Very luck to have had him as a teacher!!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ECO105
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Nice guy, but probably the worst teacher that I have ever had. His notes are useless and he grades very tough. He has his opinions on politics and feels very strong about them. I felt like this was a 500 level class. I'm an ECO major and did fine in all my other classes. He's just not a good teacher, but a nice guy.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ECO105
• 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:

Dr. Botwinick teaches a great class. Tests are tough, but if you study a little bit and pay attention you should do fine. You really learn alot, and you learn about what a mess our country really is in. I recommend him if you truly want to learn, but if you dont want to put in the work I would look elsewhere

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: POL105
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He seems like a good guy with good intentions but he expects a lot from his students. He wants you to get into the head of Marx and Adam Smith and preach their ideas. So if you learn their ideas exactly you will do fine. Otherwise prepare for a rough class with a immense amount of reading.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ECO105
• 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:

His real world experience in factories and unions helps apply real world logic to economics which truly helps master it. His socialist ideas might scare some but he doesn't push it on students. Instead, he listens to your views and has an intellectual debate over them. I am currently taking his class and it is both interesting and stimulating.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ECO105
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Botwinick is one of the best professors I have ever had. Economics was not a strong subject for me, but he taught me so much more the eco. He has changed the way I view our government and politics. He is a great person and i suggest taking any class with him. He was more than just a professor and will change the way you think!

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ECO105
• 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:

The papers may seem overwhelming at times but as long as you keep up with the readings you will learn a lot from his class. Professor Botwinick has changed all my views on politics and I would really suggest taking his class.