Stephen Cohen - New York University, New York, NY

Professor: Stephen Cohen

Department: History

College: New York University, New York, NY

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: RUSSI1917
• 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:

Cohen is true Russian and Soviet sympathizer. I find it ridiculous that someone with such radical and fundamentally flawed views could ever be allowed to teach at an institution like NYU.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: RUSS101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He began lecture with stating that if you have no prior knowledge of Russian studies/history you would be just fine. He was wrong. Very wrong. I could not understand a word he said in lecture. Lectures were SO boring and RCT was even worse. He is very knowledgeable about his subject but should NOT be teaching undergrad classes.

Rating # 3

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

I ended up with an A, but I hated the class and him. Couldn't understand a damn word that came out of this knob's mouth. His words always trailed off like thssdfd... He makes you buy his own books, which I refused to read; cocky jerk. Won't let you forget he taught at Princeton; NYU isn't good enough. You can get an A by just doing the readings.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: RUSS1917
• 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:

Cohen is his own best critic. It is true that his class focuses mainly on domestic/internal affairs of Russia and not so much relations with the West, a fact he admitted recently. However, he is very good at what he does. While he seems set in his way, he is not oblivious to opinions other than his own. A great prof and a great character.

Rating # 5

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Regarding the comment below.. I didn't **** my TA and I got straight As too. But TAs are important too.. If you do the reading and pay attention you're straight. Lectures are initially informative, and less relevant down the line (when he tells Russia jokes) Cohen is a controversial expert in his field and set in his ways, but I enjoyed his class.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: RUSSI1917
• 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:

All the negative comments are really criticisms of the class and not the professor. Not only is Cohen beyond reproach, but the class isn't as bad as people say. If you can't write 3 750-word essays, don't go to college. (The other two essays are in lieu of a final exam, so no real extra work).

Rating # 7

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Lectures are often really interesting but just as often not. Same with the readings, on which all 5 (short) papers are entirely based. Good survey of 20th century Russia.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: WCRUSSIA
• 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:

His lectures are interesting, but towards the end of the semester they get less factual and more story based (which is more interesting but less useful). You don't have to go to class to do well, but there is a lot of reading that you'll eventually have to at least skim. The midterms super easy, but you will have to write 5 hard papers, which sucks

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: RUSSI1917
• 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:

NOMENKLATURA! Best professor at NYU. Enough said.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: WCRUSSIAN
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He seems a cool guy with a lot of fascinating personal anecdotes, but the class can be so incredibly dull, the papers are difficult, and the material often dry.

Rating # 11

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Interesting professor who's beyond passionate about the topic. If you are too, you'll do fine. Otherwise, be able to figure out what among a heavy reading load isn't really necessary and hope you get a good TA.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: RUSSI1917
• 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:

Cohen is the most amazing prof. you might possibly have... EVER!

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: WCRUS1
• 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:

= AWESOME.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: RUSS1917
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

When you come into this class, be prepared to do a lot of reading. Other than that, Cohen is amazing. He's from Kentucky but knows Russian fluently and has a genuine interest in Russian history and politics. Has a lot of connections with famous political figures in Russia and America. He also knows the authors of almost all of our books. His lectur

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: WCRUSSIA
• 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 prof, great topic if you're interested in Russia. TAs suck.

Rating # 16

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

You honestly don't have to read EVERYTHING you're assigned. If you go to every lecture and recitation, you'll be fine. This class is about Russian history and politics; it may not sound interesting but Cohen made it interesting. Grades are unfair because the TAs are responsible for every part of the grade, and not all TAs grade similarly...

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: RUSSIA1917
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Cohen is a conceited jerk. He's deceptive about what he wants from papers/exams and treats you like crap if you express any concerns. I was interested in the subject before but was turned off by his teaching methods and attitude.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: RUSSIA1917
• 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:

Quite possibly the best lecturer I've ever had for a class. Has been part of Russian history firsthand and relates his vast knowledge in an entertaining and informative way. Passionate about history and stresses that one should learn from the lessons of the past to improve the future. (Note: This is not so much a knock against him, but NYU: The class I had was 400 kids, so you'll be graded in recitation by a TA, unfortunately.)

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: RUSSIA1917
• 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:

Very interesting lectures, Cohen definitely knows what he's doing, but the grades all come from the TA's. A good class if you honestly want to know more about Soviet history, but if you're not interested at all in it don't bother, obviously.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: WCRUSSIA
• 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:

Heavy on political history, really informative - definately recommend taking his class.