Gene Frankland - Ball State University, Muncie, IN

Professor: Gene Frankland

Department: Political Science

College: Ball State University, Muncie, IN

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: POLS280
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Yes, he's nice. But that doesn't remove the ridiculousness of the class. There is an obscene amount of reading that is by no means optional. You can't fake it and make it (the tests are mainly comprised of oddly specific questions). I genuinely like the guy, but do yourself a giant favor and don't take this class if you don't have to.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: POLS382
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Frankland is a very knowledgeable man and teaches his classes with very high expectations. I took 382, which is a "writing" class. A very thorough research paper is due at the end of the semester. All tests are essay based. You MUST read or you will not pass - and there is A LOT of reading. Put in the work, and he will acknowledge it.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: POLS280
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This class was one of the most challenging classes I have taken. He requires 30 pages of readings from the textbook, along with 10 articles on blackboard and several readings from the CP13/14 book per WEEK. You HAVE to read these things, because the tests are 2/3 readings 1/3 lecture. Also have an essay assignment on a select country covered.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: POLS280
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Not sure what other people are complaining about with Dr. Frankland. Sure, you have to attend and take notes and tests are supposed to be challenging. And yes, you have to read. But he's a great instructor, an expert in his field, AND inspirational! If you want to actually learn and not just pay for your grades, then I highly recommend him!

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: POLS280
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Frankland's class is difficult, and I would not recommend taking his class as an elective. However, if you are truly are interested in the subject I highly recommend him, you will learn a lot, but be prepared to work for it.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: POLS280
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This class was by far the most difficult class but also one of the most rewarding classes that I have taken at Ball State. If you don't read, you won't pass---it's that simple (and there is a ton of reading). I did learn a lot and I am happy that I took this class but DO NOT take this class looking for an easy A.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: POLS280
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This class IS challenging, and there is a TON of reading. However, there is nothing wrong with that. What I do have a problem with is the tests, which make up 80% of your grade. Instead of being tested over main ideas and important themes, you are tested over tiny and insignificant details. "Gotcha" questions. You're tested on unimportant info.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: POLS280
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

The worst part about the class is that he does not enter your grades on blackboard. You find out your grade on your final transcript. Nice guy, stuck in the past. Write everything down in lecture because he's unclear about what you should know until the CLASS before the test. No study guide. Ps I'm in the honors college.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: POLS280
• 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:

You have to read. You HAVE to read. There is no way you will pass your test if you don't. A lot of the readings are on blackboard. His lectures are pretty straight forward. He isn't very clear on what he wants you to write down or really remember. Basically, taking notes in in this class can be difficult.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: POLS347
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

For being an intro to environmental law class with majority of the students not being political science majors, the class was extremely difficult and an excessive amount of work. Lectures were difficult as there were no visual aids. You had to listen carefully and write quickly. There were at least 20 readings to do a night which is impossible.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: POLS280
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

You should be considered a full time student JUST for signing up for Franklands class. The amount of reading is so time-consuming, it's impossible to do if you want to do anything else. The amount of reading for this class is like that of a graduate level or even doctorate not a 200 level course.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: POLS280
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Frankland is a nice guy, but his class is more than appropriately challenging-it's outright too hard. His tests cover SO much material (last test covered 200 pages, plus about 50 online articles) Worst is the tests don't even cover half the material, and he doesn't tell you what to focus on, and the ?'s are over tiny details instead of main ideas

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: POLS 290
• 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:

Nice guy, very knowledgeable,& good professor. You CANNOT pass w/o reading. You actually have to do the readings to do well in class & can't just pass by showing up everyday. The class is tough but not impossible. He clearly tells you what to read. It's a LOT, but doable. Do NOT take if you want an easy A. And did I mention-you have to READ!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: POLS280
• 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:

Dr. Frankland is a nice guy, but his class is unreasonably difficult. Average material for a test is the mandatory lectures (in which he'll go off-topic making notes a pain), about 40 Blackboard articles, and about 150 pages from the textbook. Class average on the first test was a D and there are no curves. Take if you're not looking for an easy A.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: POLS280
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

the class is SUPER hard with a TON of reading from 2 textbooks and additional articles. if you don't read, you won't pass. test are hard, too, even if you do study. lecture is mandatory and boring. he talks quite and goes off subject. hard to follow along. would NOT recommend!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: POLS347
• 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:

If you want to learn about European parties or environmental law, and you're not searching for an easy A, take Dr. Frankland's classes. He's a damn good professor and is an expert in his field.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: POLS347
• 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:

Absolutely horrible teacher and an even worse grader. His class discussions go WAY off topic, entirely too much reading and his exam/quiz questions are over minute details found amoungst the 300+ pgs they cover. He will dock points for not giving HIS answer. Horrible teacher...NEVER AGAIN!

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: POLS280
• 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:

Dr. Frankland is a nice person, however, he has poor pedagogy. He speaks quickly, mumbles and jumbles words together in his fast speech, and he gets off topic easily. All of this makes focusing difficult. His "study sessions" aren't really helpful in determining what to focus on for the test. Nice man, poor professor.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: POLS347
• 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 guy is personally a nice guy, but is horrible as a teacher. His lectures are WAY off topic & his exams/quizes are all opinion questions where he manages to count off points for having an opinion that is not his own. AVOID at all costs.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: POLS385
• 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:

I love the man, but his class, not so much. A LOT of reading, tests questions seem pretty straight forward but he always manages to find one stupid thing you forgot and docks points for it. As much as I want to love Dr. Frankland (he really is the cutest little man), I won't take any more classes from him.