Nicholas Xenos - University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA

Professor: Nicholas Xenos

Department: Political Science

College: University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: POLISCI271
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Xenos is for the boys. He's really laid back and is a pretty funny guy. Also extremely intelligent but not in a way that stops you from contributing in class. Homework assignments are almost always reasonable and there are only three papers due per semester and he grades easy. One of the best professors I've had.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: POS397H
• 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:

This is one of the three classes I've taken with Xenos. He is the best professor I have ever had.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: POLIB
• 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:

Xenos will put you to sleep with his quiet voice. Brilliant guy and easy to follow along. The class is reading intensive. The material is fair but often boring. Machiavelli is the easiest part of the lecture. The rest is long and uninteresting except for history buffs. Worth taking though if you enjoy political theory.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: POLSC171
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

This class was boring, boring, boring.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: POL1
• 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:

This was the best class I took in college. Hands down, he was the best professor I took in 4 years. He inspires learning. I think every polisci major at Umass should be required to take one of his classes.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: POLSC374
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I really didn't want to do my theory requirement, but I really liked this class. Xenos is awesome, so you should take your theory req with him. I liked him so much I signed up for another class with him. There is a lot of reading, but he understands that different people get different things out of it so its not a problem.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: POLSC393S
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Take this class, or another Xenos film class if you can. I really enjoyed this class. Professor Xenos really sparked interesting discussions and debates in class. His lectures helped me with essay topics. I basically was able to write a good chuck of one of my papers in class.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: POLIS394
• 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:

the class was mostly focused on discussion of the text, but he was thoughtful and always willing to clarify...

Rating # 9

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Did NOT enjoy his class. I was a the only comm major in this poli sci graduate seminar. he always sided with the poli sci students and kind of marginalized me. i ended up with an A- when clearly i had done a good job compared to many others in that class.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: POLSCI271
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Most people in POLSCI dread completing their theory requirement, myself included. But I took Modern Political Theory with him and had a great time: he encouraged discussion, explained everything, and was always avaiable to help students. He made my class one of the best classes I've ever taken, and he is one of the best professors I've ever had.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: 171271
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

xenos is the man! not to mention very attractive. he is very knowledgeable and helps you learn without feeling intimidated. very personable. sometimes the class is a little boring and there is a lot of reading, but his insights make it worth it.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: POLISCI171
• 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:

He's a great teacher, really smart and funny. It was hard for me but i learned a lot anyway.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: POLISCI271
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

the best politics professor in the department. Very smart. Nice style of teaching. You'll learn a lot.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: POLISCI271
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Excellent, interesting class. Prof Xenos is an intelligent, engaging teacher who very helpful and personable. Highly recommended.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: POLSCI271
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Great teaching style. he teaches with you, not at you. Extremely smart guy as well. the class does have a lot of reading though.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: POLSCI271
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

great professor... class can sometimes be tough, with a lot of reading... but you will learn a lot...