Joseph Wagner - Colgate University, Hamilton, NY

Professor: Joseph Wagner

Department: Political Science

College: Colgate University, Hamilton, NY

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: POSC151
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Wagner really wants his students to do well, to think critically, and to challenge him. He wants a very specific style of writing in students' work but is not very good at explaining exactly how to go about it. However, those who figure it out and put in decent effort can expect a good grade.

Rating # 2

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

One of the most confusing courses I've ever taken. The lectures can be very hard to follow.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: POSC260
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Wagner is a fantastic, brilliant man who is incredibly helpful in office hours. That being said, he's not the easiest grader, nor is he the clearest professor. He is so smart that sometimes he has trouble saying things in a way that students would understand. However, I still loved his class and I really learned a lot!

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: POSC151
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Very confusing, has incredibly strict rules as to how he wants his essays done, any deviation from this will result in a poor grade. Repeats the same things all semester, never discuss the reading. You're better off looking somewhere else if you want to learn.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: POSC151
• 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:

Wagner is hands down one of the smartest professors at Colgate, and one of the smartest people I have ever met. His class is definitely hard. No doubt. But you absolutely do see improvement as the semester goes on in your writing skills, critical thinking skills, and overall ability to comprehend dense material. Take a class from him, life changing

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: POLITICALTHOUGH
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

A great professor who will help you develop critical thinking skills. Classes tend to be very philosophical and emphasize critical analysis of arguments presented in the text. He is very helpful and loves to see improvement in students. However, this class is probably not the best choice for those who aren't interested in philosophical questions.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: POSC260
• 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:

Professor Wagner is the smartest professor I've every had by miles. His papers are tough, but if you pay attention in class and write down all the smart stuff he says you can just put it in your papers and get a good grade as a result. He's an awesome person though, and is a joy to listen to speak on intelligent matters

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: FSEM196
• 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:

Professor Wagner is extremely intelligent but also has a difficult time relating to students he does not immediately get along with. His grading turned out to be fairly subjective, and it seemed the best way to get an A was to come to him emotionally distraught. If you click with him and understand his way of thinking, he is great, otherwise not so

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: FSEM196
• 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:

He really cares about his students, he put in so much effort to helping out every single student in the class, and if you don't understand the material or his expectations he will work with you to get you there.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: POSC377
• 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:

Wagner is without a doubt the smartest human being I have ever encountered. The reason people think he is confusing is that he will often cite 5 or 6 different course readings in one lecture. This is because he expects his students to be able to connect ALL of the course readings to each other. This is the kind of class that will change you life.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: FSEM196
• 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:

Amazing professor. Extremely helpful in office hours. Has engaging course material. Difficult papers, but he is always willing to work with you on them. Will challenge you, but wants to see you succeed. Take Wagner!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: POSC151
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Wagner might be the most confusing man I've ever encountered. He is extremely intelligent and knows the material cold, but he just cannot translate his knowledge into a comprehensible class. He is very willing to help in office hours and is usually in his office, but this probably has to do with the fact that no one has any idea what's going on.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: POLSC151
• 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:

Is very adamant that Obama IS NOT a socialist, aka he's very assertive with his viewpoint. Very smart, clearly dedicated, loves what he is teaching. Sadly, I don't share that love and can't really comprehend him when he's explaining course material. He is VERY helpful outside of class though and despite my cluelessness I did fine, so all is well

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: POSC151
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Interesting material, but Wagner is one of the most confusing professors I have ever had at Colgate. His powerpoints must have been made by a 6th grader and his lectures are extremely convoluted and disorganized. Only take this class if you have to.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: POSC260
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

his teaching method does not work. my ability to write did not improve from his class because i was only allowed to write the way he wanted me to write. he should try a new teaching method. the reason why people are in his office all the time is because people don't understand what he is doing in class. that should tell him something.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: POSC260
• 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 totally agree with the last post. he tries to make you a better thinker and to expand your mind but in reality he just confuses people even more- and makes them only concerned about what the right answer is. so he is completely contradicting himself. what he wants out of his students is not how he teaches them.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: POSC232
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

An interesting class with a professor I would NEVER recommend. Tries to "expand your mind" but is actually just indoctrinating you with his perspective. Incapable of seeing other interpretations of texts. Expects to impress, and loves to hear himself talk. Take only if you're mindless and easily impressed/intimidated.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: FSEM195
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

You'll usually leave Wagner's class with your head hurting. He's extremely intelligent and demanding but if you make the effort to sit through the lines at his office hours, he really breaks everything down effectively and won't stop until you understand. Don't take for an easy A, but do if you want to improve your writing and critical thinking.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: POSC377
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He is ok if you like discussing the in's and out's of his world. Tries to project "intellectual" but it comes off more like "jerk." Be wary of this man.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: FSEM195
• 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:

Wagners class was definitly extreemly rewarding, while also very demanding. It requires alot of you but most times is the rewarding part because once you arrive at the end of the class you see how far you have come. Sometimes I left discouraged but in the long run it was a really good class and is really really intersting.