Tico Braun - University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA

Professor: Tico Braun

Department: History

College: University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: EGMT1530
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The Individual and Society was, hands down, the best course I've ever taken. His lectures were entirely improvised, but his teaching was incredibly engaging. There was a LOT of reading, even though he said it would be pretty light, but the readings were interesting. All-in-all, would recommend, even though he's no longer teaching the class.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: EGMT1530
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

The Individual and Society for the New College Curriculum. Hes pretty great the first few lectures but then the course seems to be repetitive. Engagement courses are only 7 weeks long and I was over it by week 3. It's only at 8am, and I was contemplating getting out of bed each time. Lots of reading, but you dont have to read in detail to pass

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: HILA3111
• 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:

Tico is a gem! If you are taking this class, don't expect a traditional "this happened, then this happened" history class. More about themes and patterns in LA Hist. A lot of reading and hard to judge what grade you will get, but if you go into it with an open mind and you actually care about changing your perspective you will love it!

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: HILA3111
• 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:

Doesn't provide a lot of guidance, but he teaches a great class with some wonderful reading material. There is a lot riding on your journal and the final paper, as well as your attendance. This class requires commitment and diligence. Don't expect to coast through the semester even though you only have two assignments to hand in. Its a challenge.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: HILA100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Tico is truly an excellent teacher. Sure, you may not agree with his ideas, but put some effort in and he really pushes you to think. I took his small seminar at the beginning of first year, and it's been invaluable to me in terms of teaching me how to write and how to discuss texts in small classes. He's fascinating if you talk outside of class!

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: HILA305
• 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:

If you're looking for an actual history class, DON'T TAKE THIS ONE. Instead of talking about the chronological chain of events taking place in Central America, we talk about coffee, bananas and massacres. Tico is interesting sometimes, but he rants about things a lot, like the war in Iraq, which are irrelevant to the class.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: HILA305
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I was so disappointed by this class. It was been the worst history class I've taken at UVA. Braun does not lecture; there doesn't seem to be much rhyme or reason to the discussions he attempts to lead. This class has not been worth the significant amount of time it requires, and I deeply regret taking it.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: HILA311
• 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:

Coming to class isn't mandatory but it is a factor on your grade and does affect his opinion of you as a student in his class. He rambles but is generally an interesting lector. You don't need to read all the readings but def. most. He is not for the faint of heart or the staunch conservative; he tends to turn off conservatives so watch out for it.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: HILA311
• 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:

Great class. Lots and lots of reading, lots of wild discussions. There's a 20 page paper at the end which is 40% of your grade; your notes constitute 40%; and attendance/whether or not he likes you makes up the rest. Tico's a riot--you can't not pay attention--and makes coming to class (he takes daily attendance) worth it.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: HIST
• 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:

this is an old-fashioned marxist, and thus fun for conservatives... can't find types like that anymore. boring teacher though, and not a serious scholar; hence a waste of time - and only for undergrads if any...

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: HILA311
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Take a class with Tico if you seek socialist indoctrination. This man is easily the most radically left-wing prof. I had in four years at UVa. Historical fact and personal opinion were indistinguishable in his lectures, and the reading material reflected his individual biases.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: 311
• 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:

The most inspiring and enlightening class I've taken yet at UVa. Tico is really something. It is a vibrant and dynamic class, the only one I truly enjoy waking up for in the morning. If you're willing to open your mind, it will be the kind of class that will forever alter your perspective on La, life, everything.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: HILA311
• 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:

Tico is so great. He is one of my favorite UVA Professors. He taught me a lot about what it means to do history and be a historian.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: HILA305
• 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:

Ok. He's not so bad but not so great either. What happened is that this class, in my opinion, is def not for people that know nothing of Central America. It is for people who already know about the history of Central America and want to expand on their knowledge. That is prob why many people learned nothing and left frustrated. The guy knows a lot

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: HILA305
• 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:

wouldnt take it again if i could....

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: HILA305
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He's awful. I learned nothing. Class is a random jumble of unclear, abstract ideas, and he doesn't know how to put events in context so they are coherent. A waste of my time.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: HILA110
• 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, tico is the man

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: HILA311
• 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:

Don't expect to learn any Latin American history from this guy. His class = him giving opinions on different matters. Some of the readings are interesting, but you can do those on your own time. I'm all for an easy class once in a while, but this one is unbearably boring & truly a waste of time.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: HILA311
• 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:

Tico = rockstar professor. He will make you question everything you know. He teaches that everything is connected and intertwined, nothing is simple, there is no such thing as absolute truth, and does all of this to give dimension to the actual people of LA, without whom history would be irrelevant.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: HILA311
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Braun is fun to listen to, but his class is very hit and miss. Sometimes the discussion is fun, other days he just rants on random opinions trying to show how "nuanced" all our opinions are. But its not very helpful. This is NOT a history class, much more sociological/anthropological.