Rene De La Pedraja - Canisius College, Buffalo, NY

Professor: Rene De La Pedraja

Department: History

College: Canisius College, Buffalo, NY

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: HIST0000
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Funny, a previous review summed my views up. He should go back to Cuba (although he won't, because it's a mess). "All he does is complain about America and how great Cuba is. Plus he walks and talks like he's in his own world." Perhaps that's the root problem.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: HIS131
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

DeLaPedraja is an "old-school" professor; no use of electronics, strictly lecture. For some that is great, but for others it will be hard to pass the purely lecture/reading based class. The exams are brutal, fail two and you should withdraw. If you're into lots of reading and lectures, take this class, otherwise, steer clear!

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: HON110
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Very good professor. He really knows his stuff. The hardest part of the course is the tests, but everything on the tests are right out of class notes

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: HON110
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

He is one of the best professors I have had at Canisius. He really tries to be there for you as much as possible and help in any way he can. He wants you to do well if you put in the effort. His door is always open and he is fair grading and testing. I would totally take any class he teaches.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: HON110
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Gives you a study guide before all tests. You definitely need to pay attention in class and take notes. If you don't like lectures, this isn't the class for you.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: HIS132
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

If you're not already an expert on Latin America, steer clear. I took 4 pages of notes every class and did the readings and still had no clue what was going on. I did so poorly on the test I had to withdraw because of the grading policy. He is a very good person and a good professor but heed the warning above.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: HIST0000
• 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:

Having taken several courses with de la Pedraja during my tenure at Canisius many of my classmates considered me a masochist though I believe they were among my most valuable experiences. Many I encounter professionally have difficulty writing a coherent thought which is a shame for a college graduate. Scholarship is earned through perseverance.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: HIS263
• 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:

His class is no joke, and he reminds you of this all the time. Grade is based upon test only. Very difficult course, but very knowledgeable professor and very rewarding if you are actually interest in learning about the topics. This is not a joke course though and I wouldn't suggest it to anyone lookin for an easy course.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: HON110
• 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:

Overall a good professor to have for the class but he can be a bit flat sometimes and his "discussions" are typically pretty one sided. When he grades, he is looking for specific answers, but they're the same things he repeated 10 times in class. Make sure to do the readings because they're a HUGE part of the course material.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: HISTSECT
• 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:

I had him at least once a semester each year and he was my advisor. You will learn something from him. The keys are take the notes he puts on the board those will be the test questions. If he gives you a list of points those will be essays. discussions of readings, you are told about them in advance, are easy I skimmed the readings and did fine.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: HIS372
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This man should go back to Cuba. All he does is complain about America and how great Cuba is. Lousy. Simply lousy. Plus he walks and talks like he's in his own world

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: HIS132
• 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:

He's a great teacher, really nice guy, kinda geeky funny, but overall was a really good class. YOU HAVE TO TAKE NOTES, his study guide terms all come from his lectures, so ya gotta pay attention. And his study guides are key to passing his exams, SO KNOW THEM.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: HIS254
• 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:

The most terrible professor I had so far. He's nice but has no personality. I would never take him again. There were three tests, his questions are very specific and have nothing to do with the general topic. That is including the discussions also. I would read and take notes and still look like an idiot during discussions.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: HISSOMETHING
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

nice guy, hard class. make sure u at least skim the reading assigned if there's a discussion that day. he'll randomly call on you, and write if u get the question right or wrong. there's like 4 tests, but they're doable as long as you STUDY THE STUDY GUIDE- HARD!! if u do that you should do ok. not gonna lie-the class kinda sucked but not horrible

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: HONSOMETHING
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Student: "I had some trouble on this test. I found it rather difficult." (high 70s grade) Teacher: "Nice Try. It was just a test." That was my last day in his class. Also he assigned a lot of readings from the highly mediocre book he is writing that takes a backseat driver perspective on Mexican history.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: HIS372
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He is a very intelligent man, but he is also very arrogant and finds delight in testing you on material not covered in the reading or class. He flat out tells you it's impossible to ace his tests and that's how he insures it.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: HON
• 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: Mandatory

Comment:

A very brilliant man! You really have to do the reading if it is a discussion day, and his tests are hard, but its possible to get an A. This professor really knows a ton about Latin America and although its a hard class, it is worth it.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: HISLIKE4
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Took him for an HON course, like it so much I took him for several other classes. Very dry sense of humor, wants all of his students to do well. If you have the chance, take his class at least once.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: LAREV
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

A really interesting guy. Class isn't too bad if you do the reading and REALLY study the review sheet for the exams. If you don't do that, you're screwed.

Rating # 20

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

After the first class, I thought I would be screwed. Only 3 exams and a participation grade. Get him to know who you are and you will do just fine. I thought I would be lucky to pull a B in the class but ended up with an A. Take good notes and go to class. I recommend!