Martin Secker - California State University - Sacramento

Professor: Martin Secker

Department: TBD

College: California State University - Sacramento

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: HIST118
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

boring lectures but goes over all the readings so it's worth it unless you would rather do the readings yourself after class. Grade is composed of 2 midterms, a final and a portfolio. Portfolio is easy but a lot of busy work. Tests are short answer ID and primary source ID all based on readings. 4 absences allowed but rarely takes attendance.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: 118A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Secker is knows his stuff but his lectures are boring. take good notes and you won't have to read. His lectures are straight out of the books. He gives 3 exams or you can choose to write 3 essays. If you do the essays make sure you use primary sources! Over all very chill dude. Do the work, pay attention, don't fall asleep and you'll be fine

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: HIST124A
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Really nice guy. You can tell that he cares about the subject but he doesn't necessarily deliver it with a lot of enthusiasm. Sometimes the lectures can go on a bit long but Secker knows quite a bit of factoids that keep your interest(somewhat) Not a very hard class, midterm, portfolio, and final that is it. You DEFINITELY need to read though.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: HIST100
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I have taken HIST 100, 119, 124A and I have had nothing but a positive experience so far. The key to doing well in his class is actually showing up and you must stay on top of the reading!

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: HISTORY113
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Secker is actually a good teacher, I took him for hist 113. The class was boring but what class about Medieval European history wouldn't be? He is very clear on what he expects from his students, and you don't have to do all of the readings to pass with a good grade. He is Not as hard as everyone makes him sound to be and is actually a nice guy.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: HIST100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Took him for hist 100, a lot of unnecessary reading. One big paper at the end of the class, helpful professor and not a bad class.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: HIST113
• Grade Received: 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:

Took Secker in Fall2013 was the best professor I've ever had. He uses primary sources a lot and will expect you to do the same in your writings. I absolutely loved him.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: HIST100
• 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:

Excellent professor for those of you willing to cut the whiney crap and get to work. Dr. Secker expects you to put in the effort and time, do that and he will help as needed but not hold your hand. This is a class for people with grown up attitudes towards school. It culminates in a 20 page research paper. Pass this class, and you are good to go.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: HIST100
• 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:

You need to know before entering this class that it was going to be tough. There was two books and we had to pick a topic to write a 15 pg paper. It sounds really tough, but you do a lot of research Class was only once a week. He does get a little off topic sometimes, but he wants you to pass and act like a college student. Paper was the main grade

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: HIST116
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

There are no in class tests/exams. All the assignments are in the form of take home essays/papers. This is pretty much a class based on work ethic. If you want an A, plan accordingly because there are a lot of papers, including a 20-30 pg portfolio. Final is 2 essays. Midterm is 1 essay, and there is also a book review.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: HIST113
• 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:

Ok class so far, midterm due next week. Nice enough guy, just really hard to follow and could use the feedback that power points would go a long way to helping us understand timelines and materials. Hard to take notes on, portfolio looks like busy work, papers reasonable. We'll see what I end up with.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: HIST4
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Took him for hist 4 and only because it was a GE course and was not expecting his class to be so reading and writing intensive. Midterm was two papers, easy grading on them and lets you rewrite them, portfolio was a pain, but it was easy, then the final was also two papers, final was hard, do not recommend if you arent ready read and write a lot

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: HIST113
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I think that this class is a basic history class. The prof was really nice, but it's a history class which doesn't really interest me. We had a midterm paper, a portfolio and a final paper. Just go to class, take good notes.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: HIST50
• 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:

As some of the other reviews have said, you basically are forced to come to class to stare at him and listen to him talk about what you read about. It was hard for me to keep up when writing notes. No power points. Theres only 3 assignments: midterm, portfolio assignment, and final. The portfolio assignment takes for ever and is totally ridiculous.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: HISTFOUR
• 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:

Had him for history of western civilization. Yes, the class is boring if you're not a history major. BUT, he is extremely helpful in office hours. Go to class, take notes, do well on the papers. HE GIVES SECOND CHANCES FOR PAPERS.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: HIST197
• 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:

I am about to graduate as a history Major. I am so glad that I did not have him in a lower division class because he would made me hate history. I am in Hist197 which is a research class that ends in a 25pg paper and instead of letting us work on our papers he forced us to come and listen to him talk basically to himself everyday. Very infuriating.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: HIST133
• 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:

He's not exactly Mr. Excitement but he certainly knew what he was talking about and answered student questions well. Seemed a little depressed though, I took him for 20th century history and he definitely had a depressing outlook on the world, which was sort of draining at times. Overall though a good professor.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: HIST133
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Let me start off by stating that this class had a lot of potential, but Secker's teaching styles dug its grave from the start. Lectures are extremely boring and his disorganization made it hard to follow any of the lectures. He takes role so attendance is mandatory, he also goes directly off the textbooks as he lectures. Would not recommend.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: HIST110
• 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:

Lectures are boring and dry and his workload is demanding. The annotated timelines are ridiculous and his essays are even more ridiculous. He has high expectations and is extremely picky when it comes to the essays you write. Make sure u get Chicago style footnotes and citation down.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: HIST50
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

i have good and bad teachers, but he by far the WORST i have ever have. will not help you whatsoever, not available, most miserable person. will get angry if you ask any questions in class, i mean on topic questions, not bs. wont help explain, could care less about students. i have never had a worse experience.