Peter Minowitz - Santa Clara University

Professor: Peter Minowitz

Department: TBD

College: Santa Clara University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: POLI030
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

If you are looking for an easy A, don't take this class. If you want to be challenged and become a better writer, this prof is for you! Minowitz is incredibly knowledgeable, humorous, and uses discussion-style classes. One of the best profs I've had. There're 2 papers and a participation grade. Go to office hours and meet with your peer-advisor.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: POLI111
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Minowitz may seem like a tough professor, but if you participate in class (even if you have a wrong answer) and go to office hours once or twice, he will know that you care. His papers seem way harder than they are. He's quirky.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: POLI30
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Papers are tough, but if you take an interest in the reading and speak up in class your participation score should make for weaker scores. If you go to office hours with your paper he usually tells you everything thats wrong with your draft, and shows you exactly how to fix it.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: POLI30
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Minowitz really knows what he's talking about. He gets a little off topic sometimes but everything he talks about is relatable. Be prepared for class (do the readings) and you won't be lost in the conversation. There are only two papers - the last one can be a joint effort which is either great or it sucks depending on the person you pick.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: POLI030
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

If you are interested in the reading material and enjoy class discussions, this class is a gem. Minowitz is great. The papers are a unique challenge that not all will like, but are manageable and even fun if done properly.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: POLI30
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Professor Minowitz provided me the most challenging material that I have ever been presented with at SCU. It helps if you are interested in Political Science/Philosophy, because if you're not the lectures may be hard to follow/dry. He is a phenomenal professor and really challenged me. Loved him and would take again!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: POLI30
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I took 30 with Minowitz and it was fantastic. His papers are hard, but he tells you that straight up in the beginning of the quarter. He is very good at making even the most boring political philosophers interesting. Participate because that creates a 13 grade slush fund to balance out an inevitable bad grade on the first essay.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: POLI30
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

No midterms or finals, just two papers that he is more than willing to help on. He'll call you out on skipping class or not participating which is one-third of your grade. He really knows his stuff which makes it interesting but it is very difficult.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: POLI30
• 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:

He is a very knowledgeable about this subject. He is ridiculously hard. He expects you to participate all the time. He penalizes you for asking for help. He has unrealistic expectations for an intro level class. His papers are dialogues. Don't take this class for an easy A or if you dont like to talk.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: POLI30
• 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 Minowitz is great. He is funny, brilliant, and kind. He knows a LOT about the books and even has some memorized. For poli 30 the grade is 1/3 participation so speak up! The other 2/3 are based on two essays. Work hard and go to office hours and you'll do well.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: POLI30
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Minowitz is a brilliant and funny teacher. He not only makes the dense readings interesting but easy to understand too. The class is graded on participation and two essays. So make sure you don't write them the night before and conference with him before hand. He is really helpful :) One of the best at SCU!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: POLI30
• 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:

Excellent Professor, difficult grader. Visit him to read your essays before handing them in and he'll tell you what you need to do. Simple :)

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: POLI41
• 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:

Great professor - he was recently promoted to the title of a full professor. Very helpful, understanding, and motivating. Knows the subject like the back of his hand; it also helps that he received his PhD from Harvard.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: POLS30
• 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:

Although he doesn't test, be forewarned that his essay's are hard to write. Topics have included comparing marx, locke, machiavelli and More to the Iraq War, for example. He thinks grammar is incredibly important. He also expects lots of short quotes. He is a very hard grader. Lots of reading. Be warned it is a very hard class.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: POLIPHL30111
• 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:

Go to class everyday. Participate like no other Go to office hours . He loves that Respond to his email. Have your essay profread 90 times participate!!!!! basically, be his **** for 10 weeks and you'll be fine

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: POLPHILOSOPHY
• 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:

No Comments

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: POLPHILOSOPHY
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Talkng in class is key, but you should also respond to his emails to get brownie points. He is not an easy teacher in the least bit and getting an A out of him is almost impossible, but if he knows you are a hard worker and your papers are creative as well as accurate, he will not hestitate to give you a good grade. Do all the reading before class or he will know that you haven't done it.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: POLYPHILOSOPHY
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

class material was boring. he was funnny.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: POLTHEORY
• 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:

No Comments

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: POLI30
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

You need to talk alot in class. He loves that. Also, be prepared with the material. He's quite critical on the essays so do a good job making yourself really clear with plenty of evidence.