Rob Walker - University of Victoria

Professor: Rob Walker

Department: TBD

College: University of Victoria

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: 300B
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Best professor I've ever had - best class I've ever taken. He really makes you think, and doesn't provide you with any objective answers. His lecturing is brilliant and really analyzes the modern world through the theoretical and philosophical perspectives of the thinkers we study. Very eye-opening class - highly recommend this prof.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: POLI300B
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Walker is a fantastic lecturer, and delivers whole lectures (and random/interesting facts) off the top of his head. That being said, you must read/think through the texts for yourself to do well on essays/exams. If you want any help at all understanding the dense theory texts, you should pick one of the other theory profs.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: POLI300C
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

he is good, does not use text books - use the original texts so you need to not rely on the dumbed down versions and get ready to work.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: POLI300C
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Walker is a serious man. If you want to get an A in his classes, and it can be done, you need to be able to understand and meaningfully engage with the assigned works and synthesis them into a broader understanding. More simply, if you aren't a heavy reader in general, you'll suck as a theorist. Goes with the field. Deal with it.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: 300C
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Show up, listen, and think for yourself. These lectures (A, B, and C) were the best education I received in my undergrad.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: POLI300C
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Worst prof of my degree. Spent 2 months on the first 2 books, and glossed over hundreds of pages of the last two books in 4 classes. He doesn't respond to emails. Worst of all, he never provided essay feedback despite claiming he was typing a page of notes for everyone. Went into the final with no gradesfeedback. It feels like I taught myself.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: POLI300C
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Took 2 months to grade term papers and provided no feedback. Went into final exam with nothing marked and no feedback on grading styles. Avoid at all costs, lectures are okay if slightly condescending but don't expect to do well.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: POLI300C
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He is definitely a nice guy one-on-one and very smart - this I can agree with. But he's also rather full of himself. He never responds to emails - even important ones. And he expects you to 'get it' - even when you're completely lost in translation. Yeah, he's funny - but being funny doesn't get you a passing grade...

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: 300C
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Rob is teaching excellence. His lecture language can be a bit confusing, but familiarizingreading the material will help leaps and bounds. He can be intimidating to chat with but he wants to hear back from you and how you understandengage with the material. Very funny guy as well, likes to have a good laugh. Seriously smart.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: 300A300B
• 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:

I loved Walker's classes. His classes left me thinking a long time after they ended, and they compel you to work hard and pay attention. Also, he taught me one of the most important lessons I ever got -unless there is a problem to discuss there is nothing to write about.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: 300B
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

First off, don't tell him you are nervous about taking a theory class. Second, the way he speaks is a little intimidating at first, but by the 3rd lecture you'll start to understand him better. Third, he will flip your world upside down. Fourth, don't expect marks until the end of the semester no matter what he says. Fifth, TAKE THIS CLASS!!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: 300B
• 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:

Walker is undoubtedly a highly intelligent man, but unfortunately the kind of intelligent that is incredibly difficult to translate to lecture style learning. Listening to him was like watching Inception - but backwards, and in Chinese. If you value your sanity at all, avoid Walker at any cost.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: POLI300B
• 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:

the guy is challenging, and he doesnt use text books but the actual original authors, and he troubles all the stuff we take for granted! But you can always talk to him after class. Hes very kind and funny, and I think this class was one of the most important I took so far. Hes very intelligent!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: POLI300B
• 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:

Walker is a God. Brought Machiavelli to life, hammered home the Hobbesian state, and "enlightened" our minds with Kant. He does not give you the typical textbook-theory that many political scientists offer, rather, he engages his students with a multi-faceted ancient/post-modern/modern philosophical perspective on the readings. Expect brilliance.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: POLI300B
• 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 guy is good, the class is about stuff that seem to be simple but he shows how deep the rabbit hole goes and makes some polemic coments so you realize how much we take for granted. Its real hard in the end but he is really helpful if you ask for help. Hes very very busy so you have to be opne.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: POLI300
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Walker is a Legend. The man is by no exaggeration a genius, masters students come sit in, just to hear him lecture. He lectures with no notes hes a true teacher, not just a instructor going over powerpoints. Marking: Fair, easy to get B/+ Hard to get A+. The other comments are true, he doesn't care about you or your opinion..but why should he?

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: POLI300A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

The grading consisted of one essay (50%) and one exam (50%). It was scary to go into the exam with absolutely no feedback. He is very intelligent and his lectures can be interesting. However, he doesn't seem to really care about his students.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: POLI300B
• 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:

when i first walked into this class, i thought holy #$%& what is this guy saying. but after a few weeks you learn that he doesn't want to give you a cookie cutter explanation, he wants you to think of it yourself. This was the first course that made me think for myself and develop concepts alone, right or wrong. That is why he is an amazing prof

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: POLI300B
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

His lectures sometimes spin in circles, but once you grasp his point of view you understand that his logic is completely outside the ordinary conception of politics. This is a teaching asset that should be valued within our institutions! For this alone you should take one of his classes. Be wary of long returns on papers, but overall a great prof!

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: POL300B
• 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:

When I first started taking a course with Dr. Walker, I was very intimidated and dropped the course. I simply didn't know what the hell he was talking about, and he sometimes has a way of speaking in circles. But once you are able to punctuate that difficulty, it is a very fascinating and insightful world Dr. Walker introduces you to.