J. Sears McGee - University of California Santa Barbara

Professor: J. Sears McGee

Department: History

College: University of California Santa Barbara

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: HIST140
• 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:

He is absolutely the best: he inspires, makes you laugh, makes you think, and takes the time to make sure that you understand.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: HIST140B
• 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:

Loved McGee. Fascinating lectures, but slides dont have text, so you have to listen carefully. Textbook helps clear stuff up. Grade is in-class midterm and final, and a book review of 2 books. Only regret is i did not take more classes from him before i graduated. A must take if youre a history major or lover.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: HIST140A
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He's a great, sweet guy with a passion for history. A little on the dry side, but that's probably his old fashioned charm. Midterm, research paper, final. Fair grader and always willing to help. Lectures move fast so a laptop is necessary. Reading is manageable but not a cakewalk. Lots of memorization.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: HIST140B
• 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:

By far the most passionate and hilarious history professor I've taken at UCSB. I've taken 2 classes with him already (4B, 140B), and also plan on taking his research seminar. Lectures may seem dry, but he is extremely accommodating as long as you're willing to put in the work. Midterm/Bk review/Final. He's been through it all, knows his stuff.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: HIST140A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor McGee can seem a bit boring at first, but he is very intelligent and understanding. I was terrified that this class was going to be impossibly difficult. However, Professor McGee understands that we are not experts in British history and grades fairly. The paper is a book review and is very easy if you start early.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: HIST4B
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He truly wants you to learn and better understand history and is extraordinarily helpful in his office hours.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: 4B
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

As a history major, I found this class to be disappointing. His lectures were very dry, and never had any text on his PPTs. As a visual learner, it was actually difficult with no text on the slide. He's very monotonous, but his limericks were funny. I personally would find another class. 2 essays (1 book review), 1 midterm, 1 final. Wouldnt take.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: HISTORY140A
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

McGee is great, he's very intelligent, an easy lecturer to follow, extremely helpful, and overall a cool dude. I had no idea what to do for my essay and he was a huge help, he really just wants you to learn about Early Modern Britain and is a fair grader.

Rating # 9

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Excellent, magisterial presentation of difficult material. Despite my low expectations, he made this course, "Early Modern Britain", into one of my favorites. The course starts with Bosworth Field and finishes with James I. Americans forget how much our heritage depends on this era.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: HIST4B
• 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:

I appreciated the traditional and concise way in which Professor McGee conducted his class. His lectures were not exactly exciting, but the fast pace he moves and his obvious preparation hold the attention of the entire room somehow.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: HIST140B
• 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:

He is one of the most helpful professors out there. I went to his office hours for my research paper and he helped point me in the right direction. He's really passionate about the subject and you learn a lot. But the tests can be pretty hard so you'll need to study a lot.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: HIST140B
• 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:

Incredibly helpful. He will recommend books and sources for a research paper if you go to his office hours. He obviously loves his subject. Many students complain that his lectures are "unclear" but if you read the textbook and pay attention to the list of names and terms he provides there is absolutely no reason why you should not succeed.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: HIST4B
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

If you find history boring..you'll still find this class boring. However, Mcgee is super friendly and very knowledgeable. His limericks will make you smile at the very least.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: HIST140B
• 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 was baffled at how smart professor mcgee was, but he completely rambled on and talked a lot on unneeded information. He spoke very fast and never highlighted important points, it was impossible to decipher what was really needed from his monotonous lectures. Not an easy class.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: HIST4B
• 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:

Very nice teacher, but he teaches a boring part of history with a boring style. Don't take unless you're a major.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: HIST140B
• 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:

Professor McGee has been one of my best professors, you can tell he really loves what he teaches and wants his students to love it as much as he does. His enthusiasm and excitement for his topic is infectious, and he actually wants to help his students, he wants them to do well in his class so go to his office hours! Great professor.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: HIST140A
• 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:

Exacting and detailed professor who makes the subject interesting for the most part. Expect a research paper and extra time put into the class. Not recommended for thos looking for an easy grade, or with minimal interest in the subject.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: HIST140B
• 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:

Great teacher, one of the best in the dept. Knows his stuff and is extremely helpful. He is picky on writing, so be careful with this. Also, I would probably recommend this class if and only your a Hist major, or like History because I could see it boring some. However, great professor.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course:
• 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:

this man is rad. he has a disgustingly comprehensive knowledge of his subject and he's interesting... for what more can one ask?

Rating # 20

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

He is the most interesting professor for history unbeleiveably knowlegeable practical teaching of the subject