Robert Kraynak - Colgate University

Professor: Robert Kraynak

Department: TBD

College: Colgate University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: POLT251
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Kraynak was really good at administering our SETS. I would definitely let him do that again for me.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PS201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Kraynak is one of the best professors / teachers I've ever had. He's interesting, has a great sense of humor, and offers a political perspective distinct from a lot of Colgate's faculty (though he is a pretty unbiased and open-minded professor overall).

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: POSC410
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I had Professor Kraynak for a couple of courses and I went on the DC study group with him. He's one of the most genuinely knowledgeable and passionate people about what he teaches, and I never had a problem accessing him to talk about a problem or ask a question. The DC experience was incredible and I 100% recommend it to anyone remotely interested

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: POSC380
• 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:

Fantastic prof. Taken him many times and heartily recommend- his Modernity & Conservative Critics and American Political Thought classes are some of the department's best. Clear lectures, clear grading standards, no surprises. Very knowledgable and LOVES teaching. Generally 2-3 papers and final. If you get the gist of his lectures you will do well.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: POSC385
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Kraynak is the greatest. A fresh perspective in a department skewed overwhelmingly towards the left. He is an extremely clear lecturer, and facilitates great debate in class. His classes are always engaging, and as long as you are moderately prepared and are ready to participate you will always leave happy.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: POSC410
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

At first he seems like an old conservative guy who's fed up with the modern world. In some sense that's right, but when you go deeper, Kraynak is also a good, kind man with a remarkably sharp mind to defend his somewhat outdated political views. He will force you to challenge your assumptions, and ultimately you'll benefit greatly. Would recommend!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: POSC410
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Kraynak is a great. He values and encourages participation from all different viewpoints. He cares a lot about his students and will always go out of his way to help you outside of class if you need it. His lectures are interesting and clear. I would definitely recommend a Kraynak class.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: POSC380
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Kraynak is a great guy. I may not agree with him a whole lot, but he's a good guy. His lectures are ok; he's very opinionated and isn't afraid to say so, and he's older so sometimes he can be kind of bland. Participation is important in his classes. His grading style is pretty easy, and he's usually pretty helpful if you go to him.

Rating # 9

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

If you are reading this to see if you want to go on the DC Study Group with Prof. Kraynak, here is my advice: stop reading this and fill out the application. The DC study group was THE best decision I made at Colgate, and I have more respect for Prof. Kraynak than almost anyone. He's excellent, the group changed my life, DC rocks, nuf' said.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: POSC
• 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:

The Washington Study Group has definitely been one of the best experiences in my time at Colgate thus far. I was very fortunate to have had Prof. Kraynak lead my program last spring. He is incredibly engaging, thoughtful, and extremely helpful. It was wonderful to have the opportunity to interact with him both in and outside of the classroom.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: POSC410
• 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 had a great experience with Prof. Kraynak on the DC Study Group. He is very responsive and helpful in this sometimes stressful semester. He presents the material in a very clear and interesting way. He awakened an interest in me in American political theory, and he led a very engaging and rewarding study group. Go to DC with him!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: POSC358
• 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:

One of the best courses I've taken. He's helpful and flexible...there's a line out his door to meet with students about papers. What I learned in this class I've never learned from another professor. Discussion was active, interesting, and provocative at times, but in a way that makes you think! Highly recommended.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: 26001
• 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:

Professor Kraynak is an amazing Professor that encouraged me to make Political Science my academic major at Colgate. Each and every class was a learning experience for me. Mid-way through the course, I found myself becoming a stronger reader and of course political theorist. One of the most intelligent, kind, and helpful Professors at Colgate!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: POSC464
• 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:

A highly intelligent and engaging prof - Cares deeply about subject matter. Willing to engage/debate both in and out of class. Great feedback on essays. A fair grader â€" As are attainable with genuine effort. I would highly recommend taking at least one course with Kraynak before graduating. Freedom and Authority (seminar) was one of the best I took

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: POSC433
• 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:

Intelligent and accomplished, but isn’t impressed with himself. Engaging lecturer; outside of class he is extremely helpfulâ€"has a gift for conveying his insights in a way that helps you excel. Kraynak is truly one of Colgate’s best. It would be a mistake to graduate without taking one of his courses or getting to know him, particularly POSC majors.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: POSC464
• 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:

Professor Kraynak made the course material interesting and easy to keep up with. He carefully and thoroughly dissected the course texts and related each text to the overarching theme of the course. He was always available to help during office hours and was always flexible in terms of grades and deadlines. I definitely recommend his courses.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: POSC260
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Professor Kraynak spends all of class time going over the readings. He reads passages aloud in his monotone voice, and the entire class stops paying attention a few minutes into his monologue. He falls very behind on the syllabus. People say he is an "experience" but in my case he wasn't a good one.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: POLC385
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Absolutely amazing. I recommend that every liberal student at Colgate take his class. He will make you think and question. One of the absolute best. I did not get a great grade in his class and yet I talk him up a year after the class. His points are valid and rarely talked about today. Take.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: POSC383
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Professor Kraynak is old school, and can be very dry at times, but he is still the man. He has a passion for teaching, and will respect your opinion insofar as you can back it up. He is a fair grader, and there are few grades in the class.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PS201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Intolerant of opinions that do not align with his own; a very bright man