Orysia Karapinka - University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA

Professor: Orysia Karapinka

Department: History

College: University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: HIST1001
• 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:

Karapinka is the bomb. If you attempt to engage in intelligent discussion, she will make things very easy for you to succeed in the class. A little participation goes a long way toward a good grade.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: HIST0300
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

A little hard to understand, but gives interesting lectures. Extremely funny. Gives you the midterm/ final essay questions a few days before the test so you can prepare.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: UHC1752
• 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:

I had her for History Seminar in Writing and the Lure of Utopias. Dr. Karapinka is by far the best professor I've ever had at Pitt. Some on here have the impression that she is intimidating, but it is only because she doesn't accept BS. Take her class if you want to challenge yourself, and be prepared to think.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: HIST0301
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

fun, interesting class. take it if you can. pretty easy as well, not very reading intensive, although you do need to read one novel. still, pretty little work. the recitations are very helpful.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: HIST1000
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Great teacher, and hilarious. Be prepared to be somewhat intimidated but she doesnt really mean in. She knows she can be imposing and makes jokes about it all the time. She is always willing to help anyone in need. She has a great accent and makes class very enjoyable, probably the funniest teacher here at Pitt.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: RUSSIANHISTORY
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

She was a good professor, and funny. I had a hard time understanding what she expected out of me, sometimes. I learned a lot from the class, though.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: HST1000
• 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:

I had Dr. Karapinka for my history seminar and she's one of the best professors I have had in four years of college. She's interesting, direct and honest with you. She's also a bit intimidating but I still really liked her.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: HST0300
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Russia to 1860. Gives you a good idea of what will be on the tests and tells you what she expects. Like particpation, but is very direct with you if she likes your comment or not. Very funny and critical. Like everyone says....kind of a badass, but if you pay attention and show interest, you will be fine.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: RUSSIATO1860
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Very interesting professor. She's very clear and makes the material from the almost unreadable textbook quite understandable. She's definitely a badass who will shoot you down if you don't know what you're doing, though, which is actually quite cool.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: RUSSIATO1860
• 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:

great prof., although the material's difficult, but very willing to help, and makes the material easier to understand. great to have a smoke with before class.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: RUSSHST1917
• 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:

An Excellent teacher. Funny and very clear in her lectures. Her TA's are no fun but overall I'd reccomend her.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: HST301
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Another prof who inspired me. I ended up with a minor in Russian Studies because of this woman. Very challenging, but worth it. Clas was always fun and interesting.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: HIST1001
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Great professor. She can be a bit of a badass sometimes, but thats part of her charm. She's always fair when it comes to grading. Her class discussions are concise and interesting. Entertaining class and she let us out early!

Rating # 14

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

TA's this semester made course a chore. Karapinka is an excellent professor. Very interesting course.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: HIST0301
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

not a bad class, she's sort of intimidating but she tells you everything you need to know. the ta's are extra helpful and basically outline the answer to the midterm and finals in the recitations. it's not super easy, but if you put a decent amount of effort into it, you'll be fine.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: HIST0301
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

History of Russia -1917. Very interesting class. Dr. Karapinka is really funny, and obviously very smart, but she isn't that easy of a prof. I really liked the class, but found she expected intro. students to retain an obscene amount of information! If you study, you'll do fine!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: HST301
• 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:

Besides her wonderful accent, Dr. Karapinka is a really fantastic teacher. She knows so much and has the power to talk you into understanding. I loved her class and recommend everyone take a class with her.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: HISTRUSSI
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Her lectures are wonderful to listen to. Good story tell and very matter of fact. She says you can get an A, all you have to do is come to class and listen. Very true.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: RUSSHIST
• 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:

After taking her Russian History course, I had no choice but to take the second. The lectures about the intellectual period preceding 1917 Revolution are absolutely mindblowing.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: HIST1001
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

She let us out early, fairly easy seminar, if you are sensitive, be careful because she likes to call on people and not let them get away with half-answers or not thinking. Overall, I'd recommend her.