Ira Klein - American University, Washington, DC

Professor: Ira Klein

Department: History

College: American University, Washington, DC

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: HIST120
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Overall, I enjoyed his class. Yes, he rambles and seems a bit disorganized in his thoughts at times, but if you suck it up, take good notes, and make the effort to have some decent familiarity with the material you'll do fine.

Rating # 2

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

i've commented on the "academic" side of my course&thesis work already but have to now add the unprofessional aspects/if you're a 6'/athletic/white male w/a scholarly background watch out,as matter of fact outside the trade degrees ie justice,business,be hyper carefulw/the academic degree profs/you are automatically the antithesis of the instructor

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: HIST101
• 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 Dr Klein for several courses in the 1960's that's right the 60's and he is a wonderful professor and even a better man. I loved him as a teacher and as a mentor he was without peer.He is immensely knowledgable about history but can teach even more about life. He was very funny then and very entertaining. He was also in his early 30's.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: HIST01
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

had him for course/thesis work in early 90s.like the rest of the dept. a left wing revisionist so if you're traditional history won't make any sense.actually told me two weeks before graduation to change my thesis from a brit wwi topic to the fabians! actually drove a girl out of thesis because she didn't know german! intentionally vague/typical

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: HIST321
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

a) You would never believe WWI or WWII were action filled because he gave no excitement about it what-so-ever. You can tell he's so smart and knows his stuff. It just doesn't translate. b) Turtlenecks are not proper attire for 90 degree weather. Just sayin.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: HIST331
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Here's all you need to know: I didnt pay any attention in class, read lecture summaries off blackboard, did the term paper the night before, and came away with a B+. Lots of books on the syllabus but none of them are really required.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: HIST250
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Easy B. Go to class just to get the lecture summaries (or have a friend pick one up for you) and you'll be fine. Hard to pay attention in class because he is so monotonous and repetitive at times.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: HIST396
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Must read the books for the midterm and final because is pretty much all he uses for them. Lectures 100% of the time but does hand out lecture notes every class. Very helpful if you go in to office hours. Does require a lot of work but is a good professor. Loves those who talk in class and will give better grades if you do.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: HIST250
• 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:

While I am very interested in the material, it was very difficult to stay awake in the class due to his monotone. He covers a lot of material, but if you study hard, it isn't impossible to get a decent grade in this course.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: HIST250
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

completely lecture-oriented class. hard to get an A and i have no idea how i got it but if you try your best u will. 12-page paper. essay midterm and final. has chapter summaries which really help especially when he rambles and u lose his point.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: HIST250
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

one of the worst classes ive taken at AU. huge 12 page paper, TA grades it and believes that a C is a good grade. 2 large essay exams. lectures are boring. overall way too hard for a gened. if u must, take it P/F and good luck

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: HIST250
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

facebook kept me alive in this class. enough said.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: HIST250
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Took him for History as a gen ed. He's pretty old school, sits on the desk and just lectures. Lots of reading, and rambling lectures. Hes a really nice guy, and offers wonderful insights, but if your not a history major, DO NOT TAKEEE, not an easy A, or B+ lol If you are a history major, you should take him, he knows his stuff.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: HIST235
• 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:

Very into the subject. Totally lecture-oriented. Very gracious and polite. Prone to rambling some. Is enthusiastic about all students' comments and contributions.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: HIST235
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Love Prof Klein! He is really funny. I understand why some people think he rambles during lectures but I am a history major and I'm really into it, so I comprehend it pretty well. The class is pretty easy, if you know how to b.s. on the midterm, final, and term paper. The only class I can not attend once in awhile and still know what is going on.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: HIST250
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

History majors can benefit from his vast knowledge, others will be confused for most of the semester. No class has bothered me until this one. Class consists of long, unstructured lectures. Not an easy class, almost impossible to get an A. Overall, too much work and worries for a Gen Ed. Avoid the class if you are not in love with history.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: HIST250
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Old school. He lectures and you take notes. Your only grades are a midterm, paper, and final. (And a presentation, but that's optional.) That said, if you take studious notes, you'll learn a lot. Also, way too much reading, but you can survive without it. Oh, and don't try to finish the final. You're not supposed to be able to.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: HIST235
• 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:

This was a good class if you're interested in history. He knows is stuff for the most part, and he does like his students a lot and tries to make the class good. However, if you take it as a gen-ed with no interest in the subject, you're probably going to be really bored.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: HIST235
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Klein is a good professor who genuinely cares about his students and his subject. Unfortunately, his lectures are rambling and incoherent. If I wasn't a history major, I would have had no idea what he was talking about. If you're not familiar with history you will be completely lost. (You have been warned)

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: HIST250
• 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:

Very intelligent in Asian history. Lectures can be boring and sometimes he goes off on tangents, but he does a good job explaining the important concepts in class. The class has a midterm, term paper, presentation, and a final. It's easy to do well but you MUST use textbook to get in the As.