Gene Irschick - University of California Berkeley

Professor: Gene Irschick

Department: History

College: University of California Berkeley

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: HIST101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Rigorously compelling ideas, be ready to question the methodology(es) of history, particularly, what is power? Is it a "commodity", can "power" be something that someone owns? Along with Michel Foucault, Irschick would say no, power is something that exists only in action and in relation to something else. For those who question limits of thought..

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: HIST11
• 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:

Good prof, really cares about his students, though his lectures are confusing. Readings, though, often clarify lectures so DO THEM! Assignments are very straight forward. Do exactly what they say. Loves Foucault. Some prior knowledge of The History of Sexuality Vol 1

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: HIST11
• 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:

Isrchick is one of my favorite professors on campus. Yes, he swears, yes he can be at times disorganized but history 11 is a must tkae class. It is also important to realize where isrchick's research field might have been and thus for that reason he might not put that great an emphasis on modern india. HIghly recommend this class

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: HIST11
• 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:

HE IS CRAZY! I have never heard a prof swear the way he does. You are starting to day dream of zone out the all of a sudden "****" comes out of his mouth and you are like "what the ****? did he just a ****?" Don't be discouraged this class is challenging but is one of the best classes i've taken. It will hacnge how you look at life. Take it!

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: HIST114
• 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:

A Pull type of class with a lot of critical thinking, A nice professor.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: HIST11
• 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:

Gene's a nice and very intelligent guy, but his age obviously shows. His lectures are cluttered--there's lots to get out of them, but they're fairly disorganized. He could probably stand to be less belligerent sometimes. Gives outrageously, inappropriately difficult assignments, though the grading isn't terrible. Survivable, but not recommended.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: HIST11
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Not a very good professor. As previously mentioned, too big an emphasis on theory. I didn't learn much about Indian history. He'd be much better if he could balance the theory and dates/places etc. As per difficulty, the class wasn't hard, I got an A- and didn't really read much. Just turn stuff in on time.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: HST11
• 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:

I understand the importance of theory in history, but important people/places/dates have a role too, which Gene does not address. He does not address post-colonial history or contemporary. Uses profanity often in class, is very rude. Spends half of lecture reviewing the last lecture new material. I could not stand being in the room with him.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: HST103F
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

If you are interested in social history, you will enjoy Irschick's courses. His focus is on the process of knowledges, not the memorization of facts, which is daunting for some students. Lectures can be unclear at times, but they come full circle by the end of the course and create an overall understanding of the topic and the historical process.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: HIST11114A
• 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:

A brilliant professor often faced with less-than-brilliant students hoping to take notes, memorize, and regurgitate. Though this class is heavy on memorization, it does require a great deal of critical thought and an interest in the topic that goes beyond what the usual undergraduate student is willing to have. I highly recommend this professor!!

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: HISTORY11
• 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:

Gene takes the time to learn your name. His lectures are random, but it helps you become a better student and be able to think critically.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: HIST11
• 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:

No Comments

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: HIST11
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Lectures are extremeley disorganized. Also, professor is strange and cusses out his students for no reason.

Rating # 14

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Many in my class theorized he did too many drugs in the 60's. He is very nice, but his course and lectures are very random.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: HIST11
• 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:

The philosophy studied in this course leaves little room for history. Did not help students to understand theories addressed in the class that had no place in a lower division course anyway.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: HIS114280
• 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:

too reliant on certain theoretical perspectives without criticizing them fully. except he will in office hours, so anyone who's lazy and doesn't involve him/herself in the class won't like it. also, extremely nice.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: HIST114A
• 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:

Tip! Gene teaches an anti-History course. Once you figure this out it is much easier to grasp. He doesn't believe in the "great man of History" ideology... You must be prepared to deal with theory, especially Foucault.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: HIST114A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Difficult teacher, forces you to think

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: HST
• 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:

Horrible. He teaches on these ridiculous unrelated tangents. One of the worst classes I've ever taken.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: 11
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Confusing lecturer, bad at teaching lower division.