Joseph Smith-Buani - Portland State University

Professor: Joseph Smith-Buani

Department: TBD

College: Portland State University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: BST203
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This is the worst class I have ever taken. I wouldn't even call the lectures lectures. The professor rambles aimlessly, jumping from topic to topic as if he has no lesson plan. Half the time I'm not sure what he's talking about or why. In fact, I don't think he knows what he's talking about. Painfully boring, uncomfortable, uninformative.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: BST203
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Smith-Buani has a very relaxed, organic approach to teaching. His style works if you are interested in the subject and prepared for the schedule to change frequently. Not good for people that expect cut and dry expectations and lesson plans. Homework is easy, but be prepared for surprisingly tedious exams. On the bright side, they are online!

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: BST384
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Probably one of the worst professors I have taken at PSU. This is an African immigrant communities class, which is lecture heavy, couple films, couple tests and papers. Lectures were painful to go to. Life draining. Always unclear on every project and test. Got frustrated at the class for not being engaged. Never really knew what he was thinking D:

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BST467U
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I think he is a good guy and has potential to be a great professor. Unfortunately for everyone in this class, he wasn't his best this term. The syllabus and expectations changed almost every week. There wasn't much discussion, just lecture type review from the prof, which made the class brutally boring to sit in.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: BST203
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Intro to AfAm History: JS-B seemed confused about the detailed points of history, like he didn't really know more than the generalities of Black History. He asks for input from the class, but tends to do what he wants, and was overall not the best prof for this class. Sweet, friendly guy, would take an Africa-centric class from him instead.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: BST467
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Buani is a very helpful professor and his class is not slow at all. All his assignments are very clear and this is probably the best class I ever took. He is not bad looking either !!!!! I strongly recommend this class to you. He has a lot of experience from all over the world as well. Take this class!!!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: BST550
• 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:

Great professor! If one has spent time in Africa, one appreciates Professor Smith-Buani's style and demeanor much more. He does have an unconventional style but I believe this is somewhat intentional for socio-cultural reasons.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BST211
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Bit confusing but a good person

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: BST400
• 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:

Joseph is one of or quite possibly the worst professor I have ever had. He was totally unclear, taught me nothing, assigned a ton of reading that was never discussed, changed assignments and expectations at the last minute, and had no apparent interest in his own course material. Bad bad bad.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: BST450
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I took his African Cinema class. From the first class I knew it was going to be horrible. Took 2 3+ hr classes going over syl. it was hard to go. no assignments had guidelines and his take home exam could be fatal. 1/2 of the class just felt like an endorsement for the CFAF which he is on the board of. He's originally a math teacher, not BST. no go

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: UNST210
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Good

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: BST201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I found his teaching style and expectations to severely demotivate anyone who wanted to work hard and do well. In the end, everyone coasted by on his lack of clarity and utter confusion over the class syllabus. The TA agreed that the class was 'a bad experience.'

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: AFRICANSTUDIES
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

very disorganized... class slow moving, nothing is getting acomplished...i feel like the class is pointless

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: BST211A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Easy but sometimes he's unclear about his explaination. Beware of his take home exam...****poor quality.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: UNST
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Very disorganised, long-winded and fairly boring. Reading material has potential. Makes really corny jokes, which I consider a plus, but that's about it.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: CAP
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

A bit disorganised and without focus.