Mark Rushefsky - Missouri State University

Professor: Mark Rushefsky

Department: TBD

College: Missouri State University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PLS754
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Rushefsky has A LOT of experience in the health care policy arena. He can also be a bit long-winded but he's good-natured and willing to answer any and all of your questions. One large research paper and a final exam - that's it.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PLS101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

DO NOT take Rushefsky for PLS 101. He lectures from his own PowerPoints, not from the book, and what he teaches in class frequently disagrees with what is written in the textbooks, which makes the tests inaccurate. The only grades you get are four tests, which are still difficult to get an A on even with the curve that he provides. DO NOT TAKE.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PLS101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Engaging professor who knows how to teach poli sci. Not very good at answering emails (takes a couple days) but is available during his office hours and always willing to answer questions during class. Helpful powerpoints that are available on blackboard

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PLS101
• 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:

If you make an effort in this class, you will do fine. He is a very engaging and helpful teacher. Try to read some of the book and take good notes and you'll do great.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PLS012
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This guy is the most boring lecturer of any professor I've had. I have to sit right up front to pay the slightest bit of attention, but I am falling asleep within the first 15 minutes of class. His slides are hard to stuy with. He doesn't give study guides, he just tells you the chapters to read. Terrible at answering questions too. Don't take him.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PLS101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Very very difficult class. He seems like a nice enough guy but he throws an overwhelming amount of information at you in one class period. He reads strictly off his slides and whatever seems to pop into his mind at the time. No extra credit, never any homework, only 3 exams and a final. Tests are very hard and about as scattered as his lectures.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PLS101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Such a hard class. He rambles and talks about too much at once never know what your suppose to take from what he says. Test are pretty hard. He is just all over the place in what he says. I would not recommend him at all!

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PLS101
• 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:

Cool guy, hard class. Never opened the book. Final was easy. Tests were okay, grades on a curve. says he's only teacher that bumps on a final. Has an iphone, idk if that helps but its interesting. got 84 on first 2 test then like a 60 on the third. brought grade way down. xtra credit assign. brought grade up alot.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PLS101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He is a pretty cool guy, but this is a tough class. Got high B's on the first two tests, and a D on the third, that brought me way way down. This is the kind class that you seriously have to study for. you have to study for like three days in advance and his questions are the randomest things. Don't take if you want an easy class

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PLS101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He was a nice enough guy; used a lot of political cartoons and threw in some jokes in his lectures. Though, however much I studied, I couldn't get above a C on his tests. Luckily, he added 12 points as a curve so that helped me out a lot. Probably going to end up with a B in that class; don't take him if you want an easy A.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PLS161
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This class was extremely hard! He was of no help, and was all over the place. Tests were difficult and from notes, the book, and things he says in class.. Basically you have to study EVERYTHING at least a week in advance. I would not advise taking him.. I know there are easy teachers in this field.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PLS101
• 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 is crazy hard. He is always mentally wandering, never stays on topic. He will waste a ton of your time. He thinks he is funny, but he is not. You will have to really study in this class. Even with a 17% curve I still only got a B+. Most people didn't even last half the semester. Only two of us got A's.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PLS101
• 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:

I took this class just to get my GenEd credits out of the way, and part of me wishes I hadn't. Your grade is based solely on your tests, and the tests are definitely not that easy. Unless you're a wiz in government, don't expect an A.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PLS101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I came into this class thinking it wouldn't be bad. I keep up to date with the news and politics. This class is HORRIBLE. There are 4 tests. THAT'S IT. No homework. So if you aren't a good test taker, take this class with someone else. He has curved both exams by 15% and I still have a 65% in the class.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PLS101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Although the test were rather difficult, the class itself wasn't too bad. Attendance isn't absolutely mandatory, but it's 10% of the grade. I think he makes the class about as interesting as he can considering the topic and format of the class. Make sure you study for tests, they're the other 90% of the grade.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: PLS102
• 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:

I had 102 in spring of 08 and the class was fairly easy and interesting. He changed the format of the class to 3 or 4 multiple choice exams. Prior to that semester, he had difficult essay exams and a large paper due (so I've heard). The change has helped increase the grades of his students--I got an A, as did many people in the class.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: PLS102
• 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:

Dr. Rushefsky is QUITE knowledgeable in public policy; he has a dry sense of humor. There are very few who get an A in his class. He knows what he wants and expects you to give it to him. Take advantage of his office hours, and go in with a super open mind. Dr. Rushefsky can be quite beneficial to your academia.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: PLS102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He was impossible to get an A. Was very harsh on grading, and a lot of reading was involved.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PLS102
• 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:

I guess you just have to mesh with his teaching style if you are going to make a good grade. It is easy to get general knowledge of his essay questions but he will hack your grade up if you dont put in specific phrases no matter how much you show you know about it. Also, its really unfair that he is the only teacher for 102!

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PLS101
• 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:

As long as you read to book you'll be fine. You don't really have to take notes in class, he just talks the whole time about different stuff. The tests aren't that bad as long as you read the stuff.