James Clingermayer - Murray State University, Murray, KY

Professor: James Clingermayer

Department: Political Science

College: Murray State University, Murray, KY

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: POL660
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I took his class online about a year ago and he didn't interact much with his students. He is also my advisor and am getting ready to graduate soon and discovered that he was not very engaged on these matters. Although he responds to emails.. he may come across as being rude.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: POL673
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I respected Dr. Clinger and overall, he was pretty good at addressing the topics of finance. He's very knowledgeable but dry at times. As long as you comprehend what he says in the lectures, you should be fine on exams.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: POL680
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I would not recommend this professor. Very unfair grader, does not explain material at all. You don't know what to expect in the class. He is not helpful! Beware!

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: POL240
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Clinger is a great professor who is really knowledgeable about Poli Sci. He is a dry lecturer but you learn a lot and his class is easy to follow. The book is essential to the class because he lets you use notes on the exams and his exam questions often focus on main parts of the book. Attendance is mandatory, 3 skips are allowed.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: POL140
• 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:

He's a great guy, and he knows his content, but he's a mediocre teacher. Lectures are incredibly dry, with no real direction. The class as a whole didn't really have much organization and structure. I can't recommend him.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: POL660
• 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:

Research Methods was challenging for me due to the statistics. Dr Clinger helped me on a number of occassions and never rushed or seemed too busy for me. He is an expert on the subject and I learned a great deal about "so called research" that organizations claim they do.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: POL673
• 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:

Dr. Clinger is a great professor. He has been super helpful to me and has a great knowledge of his subject. He is my Master's advisor and I have nothing but fabulous to say about him. Read all of the extra readings and you will do well in his class.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: POL140
• 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:

For the love of all that is holy, do not take this class. Save yourself the trouble. He is so dry and boring, plus his tests are beyond impossible for an intro level course. He has the worst method for notes and its impossible to understand what he is wanting you to remember. I wish I never signed up for his class.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: POL140
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

WORST teacher ever!! So boring and the tests are ridiculous especially for an INTRO class. Avoid taking him for any class, but POL in general so hard/boring.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: POL140
• 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 have taken every class he teaches. Yes you must be interested in the subject to appreciate his classes. I wish all of my teachers were like him -then I wouldn't feel any of my tuition was being wasted on bs classes. You learn in his classes. If you are an old soul you will appreciate his humor too.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: POL240
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I've had professors like Clinger before: a nice guy who's very passionate about his subject but also extremely boring and a stickler for grades. On the upside, he almost always makes his tests open-note, but don't rely solely on the text because he tends to put his own things on the tests as well.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: POL140
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

So boring. Thinks he's funny, but doesn't know a thing about what he's talking about. Do NOT take him.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: POL343
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Couldn't stand to go to class after Halloween, so dry and pointless

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: POL140
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Clinger is a nice man and very knowledgeable, but unfortunately quite boring. He has a very dry teaching style and sometimes is hard to follow because he talks too fast. However, if you participate in class and attend regularly, he will allow you to use notes on the test which can be helpful so long as you took decent ones.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: POL553
• 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:

I took 2 classes with him. He is very intelligent and definitely knows his subjects. While they weren't the most interesting to me, I still learned a lot from him. Do the reading assignments and participate in class and you'll do great. Notes are clear and if your class is involved you can use notes for tests. Very helpful with questions as well

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: POL690
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Boring class...Clinger lacks personality on class.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: POL553
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

This is a class that was very dry and his teaching style is dry but he knows his stuff, especially knows a lot of authors and literature pertaining to budgeting, public policy, and the like. He is a very easy going guy but could spice up the lectures just a bit.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: POL
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Very easy. Test was open note. If you go, study, and pay attention, this is an easy professor. He's very intelligent and clear.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: POL140
• 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:

Great professor. Not an easy course, but its interesting and practical. Attending class is highly important, like the other person said. He can get a bit boring, but he is extremely knowledgable and informative. I would recommend this class and Mr. Clingermayer.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: POL140
• 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: N/A

Comment:

Great guy-- KNOWS his subject! Attending class is very important. He is very interested in making sure his students understand the information. Highly recommended