James Taylor - University of San Francisco

Professor: James Taylor

Department: TBD

College: University of San Francisco

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: POLI101
• 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:

I took Prof. Taylor's Intro. to American Politics class as a visiting student and ended up becoming a Don to study politics because of him. Prof. Taylor goes above and beyond to get students engaged with the material and his passion to uncover the truth becomes contagious. Take any course he offers if you're ready to challenge yourself.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: POLS324
• 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:

One of the most real inspirational teachers I've had, Prof Taylor makes you understand the dynamics of history and political thinking to a solid and confided recognition in modern times. He is highly respected and he owns it but is truly understanding to the plight of students. Be prepared to write fast if you take notes, he's a bit disorganized

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: POL368
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Taylor is a very good professor. He is well respected in the Bay Area and in national media and academia, including teaches at UC Berkeley. He tries to help students understand the importance of politics and power in America. His classes are well attended by only the better students; weak students should avoid him.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: POLS336
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

A very good professor, who knows his subject and is eager to communicate important issues about race and justice to students. Yes, his lectures could be a bit more prepared, but I'd say that for just about everyone the Politics dept. He however is teaching really important material he really understands and want us to learn.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: POLS101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I took Professor Taylor at my first semester at USF. It was the must unorganized and confusing class I have ever been in. As an introductory class, I did not think I would be writing lots of paper and analysis but I ended up writing 11 papers in one semester. We were also expected to read 7 books in one semester. Don't take him.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: 330
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

A passionate and eloquent academic, Taylor is of special appeal to those liberally-inclined students interested in critical race theory and criminology. Crime, Law, and the Constitution or POLS 330 is an engaging course examining the intersection of constitutional law and Black criminology. Problems include a lack of structure in the assignments.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: POLS2
• 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:

professor taylor is so passionate about his class and the material that it really makes going to class fun. the subject of course is controversial (race equality and the law) however he allows for everyone to state their opinion without feeling judged. sadly i took him my last semester at USF, wish i had taken him for other courses

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: POLS101
• 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:

Taylor is a great teacher. He teaches with passion for his subject and student learning. He never puts students down even when they obviously flop in class. He exposes students to a wide range of material. Take him. He is great. My favorite teacher @ USF. If you are motivated, take him. If you are not serious, don't. Taylor ROCKS!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: POLS101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Taylor is a genius when it comes to his field, specifically religion and politics. However, he does not know how to run a class and is too "scatter brained." If it were not so difficult to get a hold of him or you knew the expectations of the class, it might be interesting. DO NOT TAKE if you like personal relationships with teachers.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: POLS101
• 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 very passionate about his subject, but if this truly is an introduction into American Politics for you, I would advise you not to take him. He talks about politicians and past philosophers and even just normal men as if they are all household names. The class lectures are hard to follow and you have no idea what is relevant to the course.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: POLS101
• 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:

Although Taylor assured us at the beginning of the semester that he understood it was an introductory course, he DID NOT teach the course as if it were an introduction to American politics. If you're looking for a light homework load, he's great. But I wasn't able to even comprehend what he was saying after the first two months. Overall: ehh..so so

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: POSC322
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Not sure who the above rater was, but I enjoyed the American Presidency Class. Students were empowered at every point to give opinions. If anything, only a few students seemed to known anything on the subject. Taylor gave a midterm & final & had students conduct panels on the course subject & even gave extra credit & STUDY GUIDES. He is great.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: POLI315
• 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:

American Presidency, just no! If you have your opinion be prepared to pay for it. His tests are outrageous and his readings are boring. He's a smart guy and his in class discussions are fun and engaging but they don't have anything to do with what the test covers. Be prepared, hardest class I have ever taken.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: POLS320
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Amazing, can't believe I didn't take him before. Knows so much about the subject, though he jumps around a lot. So passionate about the subject and really cares about student learning and participation. Not too many assignments but he expects good quality. Definitely recommend him, especially if politics is your thing.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: POLS101
• 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:

I always enjoy taking his classes. he is a very good teacher and his passion for the reading and students is exemplary.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: POLPOL1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He rambles a lot, but he is an amazing teacher! He expects a lot of outside work from you like reading and writing his huge research paper. But I learned a LOT from his class and he always finds a way to tie in different subjects together. His syllabus may be intimidating, but it's not that bad. Amazing Professor. Take him!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: POLI101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He never talked about the material in class but expected us to know it for all the quizzes and tests. His assignments were not explained well at all and I had seniors in the class who said it was one of the hardest classes they had taken. More history than politics. The final was THREE HOURS LONG. He is a nice guy though.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: POL317
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Taylor is a rock star on campus. But he doesn't know it. He cares about students. He cares about people. He is passionate. And too blunt for the faint at heart and girly men. I highly recommend anything he teaches. Only the best students take him a second time.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: HIST350
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Took for Religion and Politics. Oops. This guy rambles on for an hour and half about a loosely related topic of his choosing in incredibly esoteric, droll blather. Will occasionally pause long enough to single out several students to drill them on one of his 20 or so mandatory required texts. Tests difficult/study guides irrelevant. Hard as hell.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: SAR2929
• 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:

Taking him for Society and Relgion/ Religion and Politics. So far, hands down the best Professor I have ever had. Take his courses. All of them. He is hard but he is fair and you will learn, quite literally, a WORLD of information that is relevant and important.