Stephen Bach - University of California Irvine

Professor: Stephen Bach

Department: Political Science

College: University of California Irvine

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: INTL154W
• 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:

Best prof at UCI! Lectures are amazing and always made me think. Finally learned how to write too. Ivy league level prof who teaches at UCI. Wished I had taken him earlier. Funny too!

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ENGR190W
• Grade Received: INC
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

"Mandatory" reading is basically worthless. Quizzes based solely on lecture material. Also is harsh grader for papers. I took this during summer, and he was not really available for help outside of the classroom setting (said he does not respond to emails and no office hours basically). I would avoid taking 190W with this professor if possible.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ENGR190W
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Super hilarious guy, he had me dying all the time in lecture with his jokes. He has a lot of knowledge to provide for his students, however can seem pretentious at times (especially w/ engineering ethics). Also, he's somewhat a tough grader, and gives 4 essays in the term. Overall I liked him, just wish he was less demanding with the assignments.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: INTST154W
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Lots of work and really not worth the time necessary to pass. I would advise taking your upper division writing with another professor. Some students liked him but he acts incredibly smug and seems to enjoy talking down to students, would never take again.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ENGR190W
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Bach is a Poly Sci PhD, but pretends to know about physical sciences. He goes on wild tangents during lecture, and speaks definitively on scientific topics that he knows nothing about. His class all in all was super easy, but he grades extra hard on papers like your typical chippy liberal arts professor. Be prepared for cringe worthy lectures.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ENGR190W
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Lectures were fun and engaging. This is a writing class and there were 4 essays throughout the quarter. 3 were research papers, two of those being collaborative (in a group). Attendance was mandatory and there are harsh punishments for skipping (without valid, appropriate reason). Not a harsh grader. He made the class interesting with his character

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PS141B
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Super pretentious, but is intelligent and knows the material really well. An intimidating guy, but super tough grader. Class is difficult but worth it, if you can keep up with the readings and study.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ENGR190W
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

The best professor I've ever encountered and the best class I've ever taken and got inspired. He is a very fun and energetic professor that teaches well. At times he would share life lessons with us, guess they are more helpful than the course materials? Anyway, I miss his class!!! Btw the coolest motorcyclist aha

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PS141B
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

By far the most challenging class, yet the most fulfilling class I've taken at UCI. Professor Bach and the course were extremely demanding, but if you're willing to immerse yourself in the work and engage with the class, you can definitely get an A. Inspirational and high caliber lecturer. Class was midterm, paper, and final. Know the articles.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: IS152A
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

2nd class by one of my favs, Bach on NGOs in '16. Class was HARD, high expectations! Topic was dry I literally just came for the prof. Love listening to him and the tangents since I didn't care much for the topic. I would say his talks are IMPORTANT w/ lots of personality! Final/MT with IDs & essay, long paper everything was rough w/o tons of study

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: IS154
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Second time taking a Bach class. One of the best lecturers that I have had, always lectures on really profound/interesting/thought provoking ideas. comes off as strict and stern but really cares. Expects a lot from students (lots of reading!), but you will also learn a LOT. Difficult to get an A/B but doable. take a bach class before you graduate!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: IS152A
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

2nd class I've had with Bach and I don't regret a single moment of it. Midterm + final were 2 parts: identifying articles + short essay. 10 page research paper. Pop quizzes every now and then where you give a short overview of an article from the weekly readings. Also, no powerpoints or anything for notes, so you have to really listen during class

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: IS152A
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Okay professor. Tends to go off into tangents. Assigned lots of readings. Required a 10 pg research paper, midterm, and final. Both tests are 1/2 based on the readings and the second 1/2 based on the lectures. Hard grader which is fine but can be frustrating when he doesn't stay on topic during lecture. I'd say it's a lot more independent studying

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: 152A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This class is dope! The name of the class was not making me dream, and after the first day, I was thinking of droping! But S. Bach is SO inspirational and motivating that it made me change my mind and I'm glad I stayed. Best class ever, I learned so much! A lot of readings and work to do but it definitely worth it!!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ENGR190W
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The class was very time intensive, but the professor made the class worth it. He gives great lectures and really wants you to succeed. But the class is very demanding and the grade you receive accurately shows the effort you have put into the class.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: INTLST14
• Grade Received: D+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Very hard course.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: INTLST14
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

personally i thin he is one of the best professor in UCI. his lecture is inspired and amazing. Test are tough and many to write but definitely love his class. I would like to take his lecture again.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: INTLST14
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Honestly this is an easy class if you go to lectures, which are amazing, and do the readings from the Mingst book, where you can easily just read the first and last few paragraphs and skim through the rest. He usually sums up the reading from the main textbook in the last half of the lecture while discussing a current event in the first half.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: INTLST14
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

A lot of reading, you won't pass if you don't read the articles. He's a very entertaining professor who debates with his students often.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: POLISCI41A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

No doubt that Professor Bach is smart and knows his stuff, but good grief he's pretentious with lectures. He's those guys that get mad if you're not into the subject and lectures that way. He goes on a lot of rants about irrelevant things. I honestly did not need to go to lecture at all. For me the texts and exams were easy to do, but it's work.