Kevin Roddy - University of California Davis, Davis, CA

Professor: Kevin Roddy

Department: History

College: University of California Davis, Davis, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: FRS2
• 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: Mandatory

Comment:

A challenging but rewarding professor who encourages students to think analytically. His course was the hardest seminar I have ever taken, but it actually encouraged students to think critically about the text ("Guns, Germs, and Steel") instead of just reading it and answering questions about it.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: MST130A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I have taken three classes with Prof. Roddy and I can say that his classes were the most challenging and also the most rewarding. He seems strict and sometimes mean, but he is really a kind and caring person. Everyone who had the good fortune of taking one of his classes is better for it. I'm sad to see him retire.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: MST20A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

If you are dumb, don't take his classes.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: MST20A
• 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:

Great prof, very funny. Learns all names quick, lectures are mandatory. He will call on you in class, so be prepared/do the reading. He leads discussion which is amazingly helpful, don't be scared to talk to him. Ask lots of questions (best thing to do if you didn't do the reading). Papers are really hard, GET HELP!! Final is okay. Grades fair.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: MST21
• 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:

he's a hard teacher but fun

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: MST20
• 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:

Roddy is a fantastic teacher. His essays are incredibly hard, but every 15-20 people have a reader assigned to them, and you can use other readers to. USE THEM and you'll do fine. Roddy involves the class in every lecture, and runs his own discussion. Cares greatly about learning. He will learn your name AND remember it for years. Class = epic

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: MST20B
• 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:

Nice enough guy. He will know your name by the end of the first week of class. The papers are a pain in the ass, and the lectures have nothing to do with anything. You must attend most lectures and ALL discussions. In discussions he will pester you if you aren't focusing, or cant anwser the questions he asks you. Save your time, skip this class.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: MST20
• 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:

I just finished my final today and I just want to say I enjoyed this class so much. The class itself is hard, many times I felt like giving up; the papers require so much research and editting. But in the end, this class made me such a stronger student. Prof. Roddy is the best professor ever. There is no one more helpful than him in Davis!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: MST20A
• Grade Received: N/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:

Medieval Studies is NOT the crusades. It's Romans and Arabs and Beowulf. BE PREPARED TO WORK YOUR BUTT OFF FOR THE PAPERS. The lectures have NOTHING to do with the papers and seem very random. Do the reading. Go to office hours.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: MST21A
• 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:

Of all the classes I have taken at Davis I have found his teaching style to be the most rewarding. He cares more about learning and understanding the material than midterms and tests. Do the reading! He WILL learn your name and call on you. Grades based on three creative essays, attendance, and an essay final, no midterm. I really enjoyed this clas

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: MST20A
• 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:

This class was way fun but challenging. I thought it was pretty easy if you did the readings. Take advantage of office hours for the papers. The material was boring but Roddy was amazing and makes it interesting.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: MST21A
• 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:

Roddy is awesome/smart/funny. Class is somewhat challenging, but looking back I'd take it again. He knows EVERYBODY'S names, so do your work so you don't look like a fool when he calls on you. Leads discussions himself, which is nice. Office hours are VERY helpful, so go when it comes around to paper time!

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: MST10A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Awesome professor! Definitely a class to take, but be sure to read, because he will know your name and he will call on you.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: MST020A
• 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'll know your name by the end of the week, and believe me, he WILL call on you. Just make sure you do the reading. The only thing that I was upset about, is that he waited until 1/2 way through the quarter before mentioning the set up of the final and the last class to explain how to do it.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: MST130A
• 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:

He's pretty awesome! He knows what he's talking about, and is really fun to talk to outside of class! Studied abroad with him in Sweden. Go k-rodd!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: MST20A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

The class is challenging but helpful and will make you a stronger student overall.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: MST20A
• 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:

Brilliant teacher- enviously witty. Hard class, but if you work hard it's definitely fulfilling. One of my favorite classes.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: MST20A
• 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:

At first I wasn't sure what to think of him, but he is really a brilliant man and an excellent teacher. Don't be scared if he makes fun of you, he's just being funny. Go to office hours to discuss the position papers, he's very helpful. I can't say how awesome he is, I would take all of his sections if I could.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: UWP104A
• 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:

The UWP classes are notorious for being hard classes that are extremely difficult to get an A in. Taking that into account, Roddy isn't really all that hard. He is also very friendly and will help you outside of class. The expectations on the final assignment could have been better explained, but on the whole I enjoyed his class.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: MST20AMST20B
• 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:

i dont care about mst, i took the B class because Roddy is hands down the best prof on campus. He cares so much. He will help you a lot if you go to office hours so GO! Dont cry when you get the lowest grade ever on your first paper, the class is mostly on participation. the papers will give you great research skills. you gotta want it!