Steven Kates - Simon Fraser University

Professor: Steven Kates

Department: TBD

College: Simon Fraser University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: BUS347
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He seems like he is really passionate about the subject but his total organization of the course is awful. 2 group papers with very unclear criteria and a final that is only 4 specific long answer questions where he provides no direction on where to study. Not a good exam to test your full knowledge of the course. Save yourself the frustration.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: BUS347
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Lectures are interesting and class goes by fast but I have lots of complaints about BUS 347 with him: He doesn't use Canvas so prepare for dozens and dozens and dozens of confusing emails. Group papers are a huge pain in the ass and the criteria is confusing. No idea how study for his final since what he wants us to know is quite unclear.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: BUS347
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Steve encourages you to ask him for help but does not give useful information on what he wants. He'll only tell you everything you did wrong after he's given you a bad mark. His slides rarely match what he talks about in class & doesn't covers much of the textbook. Passionate speaker, but lectures did not help much with learning course material.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BUS347
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He isn't nearly as bad as this thread makes him to be. He is passionate about the materials, however, he does often veer off track. Definitely read the book, it'll provide you with more concrete concepts. My biggest tip for the assignments, try to include things he discusses in class, whether it be Trump, Virgin Mobile, or any other brand/concept.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: BUS347
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Steve is a good prof. He gives a lot of feedback and really cares about the subject. He will stare at the class awkwardly waiting for an answer if he asks a question, and he will crack a lot of funny jokes. Consumer Behaviour isn't the place for politics, despite whatever disgusting EO Trump signed that day.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: BUS347
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

An utterly incorrigible display of ineptitude. Kates' lectures served as little more than a personal venue for dissemination of his distasteful anecdotes; by his own admission, his crowning achievement is covertly relieving himself into an empty soda can and concealing the act. Inconsistent and whimsical when grading; success is a game of chance.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: BUS347
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Steve is smart, and knows about the subject area, but he has personal issues that he keeps bringing up in class. He'll get annoyed if no one participates in his discussions and just stand there waiting to do it. Rarely gets through all lecture slides so expect to do your own reading. Group project 2 papers, and he has high expectations. Not chill

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BUS347
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I took his class 2 semesters ago. He is extremely condescending and disrespectful in comments on your assignments. When you go ask for help and guidance on an assignment he will give you none. Then when you get your mark back you will be surprised as he says it doesn't meet his expectations and it is a C grade. DO NOT TAKE IT WITH HIM, trust me.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: 347
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He encourages you to go to office hours to ask for help on the assignments, yet he is ZERO help. He is also VERY unclear as to what he expects from your paper. Not to mention he is very ignorant and opinionated. He also sends DOZENS of emails on a weekly basis that are not even mandatory to read for the exam assignments.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: BUS
• 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:

Excellent

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: BUS347
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Steve Kates is awesome -- as long as you are not easily offended. He is a funny and engaging professor that makes BUS347 interesting and fun. The class is pretty easy as long as you do the work. If you are confused by his wording, go to his office hours. He is very helpful one-on-one.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: BUS347
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

PROS: Made the class interesting. Off colour jokes, mostly funny. Encouraged students to ask questions. CONS: Very biased marker. Grades can be dominated by his emotions at the time. COURSE: make sure your TA is legit because he/she will be the one marking your final. We had one that boosted his friends' final paper.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: BUS347
• 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:

Worst teacher I have ever had, hands down. The syllabus makes no sense, his expectations are totally unclear and he's a complete jerk. He goes on offensive rants that have nothing to do with the class. Don't even bother going to class because the lectures are useless. Keep in contact with the TA the whole time because that is the only way to pass.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: BUS347
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

hands down. the absolute WORST teacher at SFU. the course has the potential to be incredibly interesting but this teacher just DESTROYED it. marking is subjective, writing is illegible, comments are often inappropriate, gives TOO much information on his personal life too... AVOID THIS TEACHER AT ALL COSTS. the TA Nate on the other hand - AN ANGEL!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: BUS347
• 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:

If you have any self respect for yourself, don't go through the stress of taking a course with him!!! Incredibly arrogant and cynical, and does not provide direction when you approach him for help. Instructions are very vague!! I'm only surviving because of the awesome TA...

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: BUS347
• 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:

Don't waste your time. He is too caught up with his own opinions. If you approach him with questions, he'll beat around the bush, and is inconsistent with his marking. He'll OK one idea, and destroy while marking. BE CAREFUL if you have no other choice!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: BUS344
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

No Comments

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: BUS347
• 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:

Anxious, confused, disorganized. This class was not a constructive experience.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: BUS494
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I would not recommend this course! He is not able to motivate the students and doesn't even seem nice. Avoid this professor!!!

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: BUS494
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

generally to caught up in his own way of looking at everything. he's not able to create any form of motivation, and students are just waiting to get out of this class. he is not very helpul when questions arize, and his assignments are pretty much useless realated to the cource content. overall a horrible experience being in that class