Mel Laracey - University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX

Professor: Mel Laracey

Department: Political Science

College: University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: POL1013
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

He doesn't want you to show up if you're gonna fall asleep. His lectures are completely based on the slides and he posts them all so you don't need to show up. Exams require minimal review. Very easy class.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PAL4323
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Laracey is a tough grader when it comes to essays but if he sees you putting in the effort and participating or asking questions he will help you out if you're almost at an A and have a B. His exams were pretty much all lecture based but his powerpoints are on BlackBoard for reference. 3 exams & 2 essays, each worth 20% of your grade.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: POL1013
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Great choice for Pol 1013, probably the easiest professor for the class in the entire school. If you're looking for fairly simple intro to politics course TAKE HIM! I took him in the summer II term and passed with a 92. I only showed up to class 8 times hahah, just print out and review the PPTS. bc it has all the information that'll be on test

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: POL1133
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

He's really sweet but his class is really boring. You don't really need to show up to pass and his tests are really easy. There are only a few grades though, you have 3 test each worth 30% of your grade. There is no final.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: POL3283
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Great professor. Outlines what he expects from you in assignments and clearly teaches new knowledge during lectures. Although he is lecture heavy, the material on the PowerPoints is on the test so it's a must read. You don't use the textbooks for anything except the papers. 10/10

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: POL1013
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

SO MUCH EXTRA CREDIT! The class itself was super easy, 95% of the material is common sense, or really easy to understand and remember. Basically studied a few days before each exam and got 80+. Recommend starting discussions on a groupme for this class about the stuff he goes over, as it was super fun and engaging for our class.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: POL1013
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Dr. Laracey is a great professor. He tries his best not to keep the class so dull, however, the subject is naturally tedious. With all being said, this class is an easy A. Do not need the book. Study PPT's and that is it. There is some pressure when it comes to exams, though, because how you do on exams determines what your grade will be.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: POL1013
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Basically just read the PowerPoint and listen to what he says in class. i like his sense of humor, classes can get boring but its an easy A.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: POL3283
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Great teacher! He is a bit monotone in his lectures, but he tries his best to involve student contact. His test are basically from the powerpoints and he is very clear in what he wants from his essays. The only complain I have is the books he assigns are CRAZY expensive even for rentals. (Environmental law AND American Presidency)

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: POL1133
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

There are only 3 exams including the final and they were worth 85%. The grades you get on the exam will be the grade you get on the exam. The lectures are very boring but you need to study the powerpoints for the exams. Take advantage of all extra credit opportunities.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: POL3283
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

The tests are very easy and are a mainly from the powerpoint. All his lectures are recorded and placed on black board, so you can basically not go to any classes, and just show up for the exams and to turn in the papers. He is a pretty easy grader on the papers,just make sure you don't have any typos.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: POL1133
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Such a great guy! Easy class, all you have to do is show up and the tests are pretty easy (TX politics).

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: POL1133
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Very boring class but easy if you just look over powerpoint and study for exams.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: LGS4223
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I took him this class for the summer law academy and other prev classes. He's def a harder grader during the SLA than in reg semesters. Sadly, he def doesn't like to push u over to the next letter grade if u are 1-2 points away. There is too much to cover for Torts in only 5 wks. Hard grader on final exam essay, but quiz points do help a little.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: POL3113
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Laracey is sweet, funny & approachable. I have taken him for 3 classes from 2013-2015: B (I slacked off), A-, & A. His classes are somewhat easy. They are def not hard if you put decent effort and time into them. His exams are mostly straight from the ppts. He is always available outside of class. Overall, somewhat easy A's.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: POL3283
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

He is a tough grader when it comes to essays. His tests aren't terrible, if you study the powerpoint you will do relatively well. He posts all PPTs and lectures on Blackboard, you don't necessarily have to read, about 10% of tests are from the books. Just make sure your papers are great.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: POL1013
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Go over the power points and you'll pass.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: POL1013
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Politics is a course were forced to take and Laracey is your best bet. He's boring but we take very few tests and if you study you'll do well. I took him in a class were he was able to record lecture which meant I didn't have to show up. he only took attendance to see if you came not for a grade. Also you definitely don't need the book.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: 1013013
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

One of the best professors I've had at UTSA

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: POL1013
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Dr.Laracey is a great professor. Lectures are boring, but would highly recommend attending class, his exams are lecture based. Also, he is friendly and thoughtful of his students. Average grade was an 89% but he rounded to an 90%. Overall easy class, highly recommend him if you want an easy A.