James Muller - University of Alaska Anchorage

Professor: James Muller

Department: Political Science

College: University of Alaska Anchorage

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PS333
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Muller is very knowledgable when it comes to the philosophy of political science and he will lecture you to sleep if you aren't careful. The class was one of the hardest classes I've taken and assigned reading was about 200-400 pages a week. There are two papers and two tests that determine your grade. Proceed with caution.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PSA101
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Muller is truly an intellectual scholar. He is passionate about his subjects and is clearly knowledgeable about what he discusses. His classes are structured traditionally with quizzes, essays, and a midterm and final. Readings are typically from primary source texts. A wonderful professor that has taught many generations of my family.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PSA332
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Very smart and cares for students. seems like a cool dude, but I hated going to his classes. Couldn't pay attention partially due to the fact that philosophy is dull when we get too far in the weeds but also because his lectures aren't very inspiring. Good thing he is an easy grader because I didn't even buy the 7 books.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PSA102
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

I would highly recommend Jim Muller's PoliSci classes. He's very quiet and soft spoken but brilliant and passionate about the subjects he teaches. We read 9 books but didn't take a midterm test or an in class final. Still, every book had a quiz after the end, so read the books and you will pass. His lectures are endlessly interesting. :)

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PS332
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

PS332 is a great course of you're decently sharp. You've got to keep up with the readings--thousands of pages of it, take close notes, and CLOSELY edit your papers. You won't fail if you don't read everything, but you have to try and grasp the overarching concepts. Overall, a fantastically smart professor. You will be better off afterwards.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PSA332
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

History of Political Philosophy I: Classical, is a reading course. You will read over ten books (hundreds of pages). The books are the greats of classical political philosophy (e.g. Plato's Republic and Aristotle's Politics). If you do the readings, this course is an education within itself. At first the lectures seem dull but they grow on you.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PSA332
• 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:

Outstanding professor. Very knowledgeable. Take this class with friends so that you have people to study with. Either do all the reading or go to every class and read the sparknotes. Excellent writing skills are a must. If you can't proofread, you won't do well. Fill up 3/4 of the blue book on his exams for an A.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PS322
• 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:

Dr. Muller is exceptional! Could be perceived as dull, by those who are probably dull. He is challenging, yes. But if you put in the effort, you will be rewarded. The best prof in the Poli Sci group when I went there. Was a bit like learning from an Aristotle of our time. If you don't get that reference, you won't be up to the challenge.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PS330
• 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:

Muller is phenomenal. He is crystal clear on what the reading assignments are (and there are a lot) but he breaks up the material well and thoroughly discusses it in class. There are 2 papers he requires effort on but is a fair grader! The midterm was pretty straight-forward since he told the class exactly what to know and be ready for. Nice guy!

Rating # 10

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Dr. Muller requires a lot of the student, but in this class you'll get so much out of it if you put in the effort. With 2 tests & 2 papers, it's easy to get an A if you read and attend class. He treats students like adults who are paying for an education-don't take his class if you're looking for an easy ride! One of the best profs on campus.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PS330
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Muller is very knowledgeable about the topic. People get intimidated about taking his class because they hear it's hard. It's not...if you go to class, listen, and write EVERYTHING down you'll do great. You don't even really need to do the reading if you go to class. One of the most worthwhile classes I've taken.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PS331
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Absolutely the very best professor I have ever had in my college career. A real teacher who knows his material and inspires the best performance in his students, Dr. Muller epitomizes everything a student needs from a college professor.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PS333
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Muller is the man!!! He knows the material backward and forward, dont slack and keep up with the reading. He put the fear of serious scholarship into me. Extemely competent. Ask intelligent questions because he will respond.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: HNRS191
• 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:

my class had to read a book that was over 2000 pages. it was impossible to keep up with the work and it seemed like everyone was getting good grades just because he didn't want to fail anybody. He also loves Winston Churchill so if being told innumerable and inevitably useless stories about Churchill doesn't interest you, this class is not for you

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PSA
• 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:

Great teacher, very difficult

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: POLSC10
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

good

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: PS344
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

James Muller is the Man! You'll read like crzay. Sparknote what you can. He's such a good Prof. I'd take him again after I graduate, but I'd audit the class.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: HNRS192
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I will never forget this professor. He is a challenge but he rewards the effort and I did get an A. I think that in his mind we deserve the best education he can give us and if this means reading a zillion books and writing until your hand turns blue...then that is what he is going to do. Thanks to him I am very informed about CHURCHILL....

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PS330
• 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:

Nice guy, but dang... Zone out for five seconds to write down what he's just said and you get lost. His final made me want to shoot myself just to end the pain. Study the Constitution like mad and use SparkNotes for everything else (*impossible* to keep up with the insane amount of reading) and maybe you'll be OK.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PS332
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This professor seems to teach classes the same way they were taught when he took them at Harvard--which can be inspiring or a nightmare depending on the course material. In this case, it was much closer to the latter. By the end of the year, only about 1/4 of the class was showing up if that, and his lectures are monotone and hard to follow.