Jeffrey Rubin - Boston University, Boston, MA

Professor: Jeffrey Rubin

Department: History

College: Boston University, Boston, MA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: HI397
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Simply wanted to learn more about Lat-Am and Prof Rubin went above&beyond what I expected. He puts so much effort into every lecture&reading assigned, pays attention to who is struggling&personally invites students to OH. A LOT of reading/comprehension but you will learn so much & Rubin is the best professor I've had in my 4 years at BU

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: HI582
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I also took HI587 US-Mexico Borders. People who give him low ratings are people who don't prepare for class. His classes are intense. Reading is absolutely necessary. He pushes you on your ideas. If you love Latin America and like a challenge, take his course. You will be astonished at how articulate your oral and writing skills become.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: HI365
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Professor Rubin is not a mean teacher but can be condescending. He is a really tough grader go to his office hours he really wants to help you improve. Some of the books are a waste of money. Never skip his class .

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: HI397
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

The readings in the class are interesting and offer a different perspective than your average text book, but they are on average 3060 pages for each MWF class (A LOT). Papers are doable and you better be prepared to talk in class. He will usually run late and force you to stay. He can be demanding and condescending at times, but means well.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: HIST386
• 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:

Jeff Rubin is my favorite professor ever. He really cares about students, and is passionate about social justice and the material he teaches. He is inspiring and authentic. He promotes discussion and runs his class like a participatory democracy. He listens well, points out connections between student comments and facilitates dialogue.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: HI397
• 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: Mandatory

Comment:

Worst Professor Ever! No sense of urgency when grading. He is not approachable and he is condescending. His office hours feel like interviews where he asks tons of questions, whiling writing down everything you say. His lectures are verbose and linger. His discussions only touch on the surface of the issue. Get a new job Rubin!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: HI397
• 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:

Took two courses with Professor Rubin. If you are interested in Latin America and/or social justice, his classes will be great. The readings were fantastic - learned so much from them and enjoyed reading them. He requires that you attend class, and discussions are fun, but lectures are unfortunately a weak summary of the readings.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: HI398
• 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:

Rubin is honestly one of the nicest and most helpful professors I've ever had at BU. He's warm and really cares what students have to say. Lectures and discussions are not traditional but overall I felt I learned a lot in his class and he pushes students to think in a new way.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: HI398
• 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:

If you're smart and care about social movements, take this class. Rubin is brilliant, knowledgable, and cares SO MUCH about his students. He's rational and compassionate & class discussions were great. Go in with an open mind-- he just might change the way you think about social justice. I've never had a prof who ares so much about teaching.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: HIST300
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

VERY confusing lectures; it's really hard to take notes for this class. I would not recommend him, even though he is very knowledgeable and tries hard for student discussion.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: HIST386
• 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:

Rubin is a nice guy and tries to get everyone involved but is USELESS as a lecturer/discussion leader. Not only are his lectures unclear, but I am sorry to say that they are meandering and often pointless. If only I could only get back all the hours I spent sitting in his discussions!!!

Rating # 12

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Rubin is a nice guy. He does try very hard. However, his lectures are unclear, and he teaches history in non-chronological order using a variety of different, contradictory PDF print-outs instead of a text book. Tests are hard to prepare for, and "discussion days" are utterly useless. He is a nice guy, but I did not enjoy his course.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: HI386
• 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:

he is a very friendly guy, who really wants you to do well. He encourages you to speak up in class, and really tries to help you if you are shy. He talks very fast, and its very hard to take notes, but he is always available for help. He is a great guy!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: HI582
• 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:

Rubin is the best professor I've had at BU. He is brilliant, experienced, challenging, devoted to his students..he values everyone's perspective and learning styles, and he is one of the only teachers i've had to emphasize critical thinking. If you love Latin American Studies, it would be a shame for you to not take a class from him.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: HI386
• 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:

Do not take this class if you are dumb. Rubin speaks quickly, and sometimes his lectures are a little fractured, but that is because he is trying to fit everything in. He teaches a lot about the experiences of Latin Americans and doesn't cover too many concrete facts. Interesting/ unique perspective, but it can get confusing. If you are dumb.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: HI386
• 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:

Truly wants students to do well, strives for clarity, questions and comments more than welcome. Outlines exams very clearly. Amount of reading is not insane, for a history class. Very knowledgable about subject area and has first hand experience working/travelling in L. America. Strives to impart to students the personal touch of what he teaches.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: HI365
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

don't take this class unless you like reading an absurd amount of literature and enjoy taking tests where you feel completely unprepared and relatively incompetent. his review sheets are extremely demanding and he only puts a tiny fraction of the review sheet on the test. Horrible lectures, painful, in fact.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: HI386
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

rubin is genuinely knowledgable and passionate about this history of latin america and the issues faced by people in latin american countries today. he has a very personal approach to teaching history (readings are often historical articles or opinion pieces rather than textbook) take this class if you have ANY interest in latin america at all

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: HI386
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Wow. this guy is a piece of work. His lectures are really painful, readings aren't too bad. He really tries and he is well-intentioned but he acts a little too much like a human textbook. Syllabus is really detailed and he is pretty clear with what he wants. Good subject, not a helpful TF, excurciating lectures

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: HI386
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

There is a lot of info to deal with but he gives you exactly whats going to be on the test as a study guide a few days before, including the essay. he expects a lot but is also very willing to help and explain exactly what he expects. an overall nice guy with interest in his students. He actually takes the time to learn everyone's name.