Ron Linden - University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA

Professor: Ron Linden

Department: Political Science

College: University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PS1614
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Very good teacher, but ridiculous grader. Monumental amounts of info in lectures, very little of that info on tests. Test format a disgrace. Correct answer for multiple choice is any combo of 4 answers, making an "A" impossible. Offers extra credit, but its during the day when you'll probably have class. Attended every class, info was still insane.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PS1513
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Hardest exams I've taken at Pitt. The multiple choice questions have multiple answers and you need to circle all of them for full credit. He's also an incredibly tough grader. Ron DOES offer occasional extra credit if you go to events that the department puts on and do a quick write-up, but the events are in the middle of the day during classes

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PS1521
• 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:

One of the more difficult classes that I have taken but it was totally worth it. You HAVE to show up to lecture, but he is one of the best lecturers I have ever had so it really isn't that bad. Professor Linden really knows his stuff and I feel like I really got a lot out of the class.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PS1521
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

A man of excellent qualities. Students chafed at the exam structure, but as a lecturer he is perspicacious and lively and very difficult not to like, with an immense depth of knowledge upon which he draws at will. Knows how to rattle off significant volumes of information without droning or leaving note-takers in the dust.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PS1521
• 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:

Ron Linden is a amazing professor and extremely intelligent. I don't like the exam structure because I feel like it psychs me out (multiple choice with more than 1 answer and penalizes you if you're not perfectly right). But I still love his class and came back for a second term. I feel honored that I can learn from him and I love his lectures!

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PS1521
• 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 went to Pitt from '04-'08 and I took as many of Professor Linden's classes as I could. Even today, I sometimes talk about what a fantastic teacher Prof. Linden was! I took World Politics and East Europe in World Politics (maybe another, I can't remember!) Ron Linden was by far my favorite professor at Pitt. He was always hilarious too! Go Macs!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: WORLDPOLI
• 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: N/A

Comment:

One of my biggest regrets is not attending every single one of Linden's lectures. He's a brilliant guy who has done some awesome things in his life. Don't pass up the chance to take a class with him.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PS1521
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

East Europe in World Politics. Professor Linden is awesome! His class is tough, but fair. Exam questions come directly from what he tells you in class; honestly reading the book is less important. Tends to focus on themes so make sure you know how each leader/event/state relates to the overall history. Definitely would recommend!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PS0500
• 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:

Overall good quality professor, definitely knows his stuff. Tends to spend a lot of time on specific events in world politics rather than concepts. YOU NEED TO GO TO LECTURE in order to do well on the assignments and exams. Two exams and a few writing assignments make up your grade.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PS1512
• 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: N/A

Comment:

Even a few years after having Dr. Linden, I'm still referring to his lectures. If you're interested in East Europe, he is a must have. If you're not, his classes will be challenging. Exams have 25 questions worth 4 points each. They are a mix between multiple choice (yes, some have multiple answers) and short response type questions. You need t

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PS1521
• 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:

Great prof. Lectures are extremely interesting and class goes by quickly, however, the course was hard! If you have no background in Eastern European politics it will be a difficult course covering lots of material! Also tests (multiple choice) were heavy on textbook readings, if you don't want to read, don't take this course!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PS0500
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Worst professor I've ever had. Doesn't encourage classroom discussion; isn't funny; rambles incessantly about unrelated crap. To give you an idea, my final-which was NOT cumulative!-covered 10 chapters of material (equally about 300 pages), 20 pages of unrelated lecture notes and two giant Powerpoint presentations. Oh, and it featured 25 questions.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PS0500
• 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:

Take this class! Linden is very humorous, keeps you interested, though some of the topics are more interesting than others. I learned more in this class than in my high school government courses combined. Be sure you attend lecture every day, half the exam Q's are from lecture, but believe me, after a few classes, you won't WANT to miss any days.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PS1510
• 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:

Great professor. I came into the class without the slightest idea, but I really enjoyed it.. With that being said, this class was really challenging for me. Lectures mandatory, reading mandatory, 2 exams and 1 paper

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: POSCI0500
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Very interesting lecturer, note taking is absolutely necessary since a lot of his test material is drawn from his own lectures. I barely read the book because his teaching was pretty comprehenseive. The papers were challenging but very relevant to current events, which I heard wasn't true for other World Politics courses.very funny prof.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: PS0300
• 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 great guy. As a liberal, I loved his lectures and he made me laugh. On the problems: I found myself having a hard time with notes, trying to figure out the pertinent info and the not-so-much. Also, he's a pretty harsh grader on essays, but its just him wanting good work.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: PS1510
• 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:

AMAZING. Simply put, he knows his stuff, period. And, he is an incredible lecturer and can convey the concepts really well. He does talk fast, so be prepared to take at least 3 pages of notes each class. Just go to class and take good notes, and you'll be fine. Funny as hell, too - always whines about how he hates PCs and loves Macs.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: PS1513
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Was excited for the class and very disappointed. Grading system is way to complicated. Tests are tricky and material was surprisingly boring. Could not convey what he was trying to say. Simulation is good but expects us to act outside of our countries goals and gives you countries that don't have much information. Smart guy and funny. Bad teacher.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PS0500
• 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: N/A

Comment:

He kept me in class, which was amazing

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PS0500
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Humorous and knows his topics well. Enjoy his lectures. Lots of reading and papers.