Stephen Pelz - University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA

Professor: Stephen Pelz

Department: History

College: University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: HIST496H
• 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:

Pelz is of a dying breed. He is old school, a bit of a curmudgeon, and does not tolerate laziness and ineptitude. For those reasons, his class is difficult. However, for those reasons, his class is magnificent and the intellectually weak were driven out. It's a shame he retired. High standards, always.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: HIS381
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Throws it into high gear on Day 1. Great lectures. Don't miss too many of'em. Be ready to read. Killed myself for a "B" but glad I took this class. TA, however, aspired to be too much like him in her grading style.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: HIST381
• 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:

Great professor. Knows a ton about the subject matter and has some great anecdotes as well. Class is fairly difficult but not if you apply yourself and speak to him during office hours.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: HIST402
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Here is a man who has NO passion for teaching. His lecture is a mumbled monotone. Unhelpful. Papers assigned in book report format? Give me a f**king break. No interest in providing insight or discussion. Assigned 6 books to buy, most of which are poorly written. Very boring lecture in which he only quizzes class on reading.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: HST381
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Superb at lectures, very interesting and knows an incredible about history. has amazing credentials Harvard p.hd, literary awards etc. Unfortunatly his belief is it's the students assignment and responisbility to figure out and learn the material. About as helpful as a brick during office hours, and not a big fan of individual instruction.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: 381
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Start memorizing the endless information from day one of this class; it is the crucial factor for getting through the exams. I took this class as a freshman, and got a C. However, I slacked off a fair amount. It is possible to get through his courses, but you must be prepared to work and memorize your ass off.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: HISTORY381
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Pelz is the man. His button-down vest and Dick Cheney speech are the only constants on this campus. Very hard class though, but very rewarding.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: 381
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Hard exams+10 page 2 book review due after 4 wks of class ... intersting lectures, but he's a realist and will teach his point of view. good class if you don't care about the grade. interesting lectures

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: HIST381
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

One of the most knowledgeable professors at UMass. Great lecturer, but overall a tough class if you want to get an A.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: HIS370
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

he is an **** and boring but knows his****. very unhelpful

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: HIST491H
• 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:

Good class, not too difficult considering it is 4 honors credits in a 2.5 hour lecture once a week

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: HST381
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Great Lecturer, Probably the most interesting class that I've taken at the University so far. However, attending lecture is exceptionally crucial for doing well on his exams. The grading is really hard and he wasn't readily available to answer questions outside of class. Other than that, great.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: 381
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

No Comments

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: HIST381
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I learned a ton, and still didn't learn everything he taught. There is a lot of reading, plus a nasty 10 page book review. If you are a freshman or sophomore, DO NOT take this class, it is really only appropriate for juniors and seniors. HARD!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: HIST381
• 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:

Fantastic class, great lectures. His spec. is East Asia, but his knowledge of the Cold War is amazing. Biased, but warns you about it first, and accepts others' opinions well.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: HIST381
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

no class at umass has taught me more than this one. incredible lectures, really good motivator.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: HIST381
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Toughest class i have ever taken as far as grades go but very interesting and you will learn a tremendous amount of things. DO NOT TAKE THIS if you value your GPA. I recomend auditing it just to check out his lectures

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: HIST381
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

he is an excellent lecturer. i learned a lot, but he didn't think so. He does not allow makeup or revisions in his crusade against grade 'inflation'. he's bias in the direction of history majors. if you can afford a poor grade, take this class.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: HIST381
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This isn't an easy class. Don't expect to get an A; expect to work really hard. The lectures are incredible.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: 381
• 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:

Really knows his stuff and is clear, but thier is a lot of notes; too much to learn, fun class to be in