James Matray - California State University Chico

Professor: James Matray

Department: TBD

College: California State University Chico

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: HISTORY130
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Mattray lectures are excellent but not good for learning. His lectures typically consist of him speed reading for the entire class, so you will depend on your textbook a lot because it is impossible to get all of the information during lecture. His tests consist of short answers and a essay, which isnt hard but his grading is ridiculously strict.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: HIST130
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Matray is like an avocado you see at the grocery store. Looks sweet and kind on the outside and rotten on the inside. He is super disrespectful to students and I had an incident with him and had to make a police report about him because he was verbally abusing me every day we'd cross paths on campus. Disgusted by his actions.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: HIST130
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This was genuinely one of the worst professors or teachers I've ever had in my life. He has 3 tests that he doesn't give you a study guide for and that are extremely difficult and specific. He requires you to buy an expensive textbook, and then 3 novels to purchase and read which each have a quiz. He also won't let you go to the bathroom.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: HIST451
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Matray is as tough of a grader as he is a brilliant professor. He is beyond knowledgeable and you will learn so much if you take his class. This professor should be taken by anyone majoring in history. It is a tough class but worth it.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: HIST130
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

The lectures are non-stop fast talking with LOTS of information. No heads up of what's on the test, and if you don't read you will not pass.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: HIST130
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Here's all you need to know: - Graded HARSHLY on 3 tests and 3 quizzes. (Those are the only grades you get.) - Tests and Quizzes (both essays) have absolutely NO study guide. (You walk in 100% blind) - If you aren't willing to read 50(ish) pages each night, DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS. - He's very harsh about attendance so make sure you show up.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: HIST130
• Grade Received: F
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Talks ridiculously fast during lectures, gets angry when you ask questions and just says read the textbook. Grades are 100% based on tests, which are all written no MC. Only study guidelines you get are dozens of terms to study and need to know everything about because there are only a few questions on the exam and you have to know specifics.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: HIST130
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Great guy who is beyond passionate about what he does, but he does not teach. He stands in the front of the class & reads a paper, as loud & fast as he can. Then, when asking if students have questions, gets frustrated when questions are asked. The testing material is never ending for each of the few tests, & very hard to study for.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: HIST130
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

If I could choose to take this class or jump into the river everyday with my best clothes on, I would definitely chose to jump in the river and stay there to never have to take this class again

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: HIST130
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I will keep it short and to the point but basically I want to start off by saying Matray gets a lot of hate on here just for having an above average class in regards to difficulty. That being said, if you take his class and actually try not only will you pass but you will LEARN.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: HIST490
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This will be the best prof you take at CSUC. Dr. Matray is one of the few people in your life of whom you will say that you can never repay. Look to your future, past your current schooling, and this coursework will do more for you than you can know at the moment. How do I know? Because Dr. Matray was my Master's mentor twenty years ago.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: HIST130
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Matray is one of the few teachers that is really passionate about what he is teaching. Tough class but looking at the bright side, the only homework you have is to study a lot for the 3 final exams and 3 book quizzes. The key to passing is understanding the material and studying. Miss class.. you are going to miss a lot of information.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: HIST354
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Matray is a quintessential historian. Tests are not easy and he expects a lot. Simple structure. 3 exams (essay) and 3 book quizzes. Lectures were EXTREMELY dense and it was an uninterrupted flow of information for one hour. Going to class is absolutely essential. He's a nice guy but the class isn't an easy A. It's gonna take some work.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: HIST130
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Helpful and kind teacher but an extremely difficult class. Don't have to read the books to pass, but do need to go to class for lectures.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: HIST130
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Hard class

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: HIST130
• 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:

This class is very lecture heavy with a new lecture every day that can cover up to a decade of history. There are three quizzes and three exams that make up your entire grade. He is very insensitive and often degrades students for asking questions. He is a harsh grader and assigns over a thousand pages of reading. Also, go to every class.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: HIST130
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Matray's 130 course is great and if you really want to get into the nitty-gritty of history I recommend you take his course. Exams are essays that reward you heavily if you generally understand what you're talking about. Quizzes are easy, just read the books on the syllabus and you'll pass easily. Solid class and great entertaining lectures.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: HIST130
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Matray is a very passionate about History, he enjoys teaching the subject, but he is a very tough teacher and expects a lot. I wouldn't recommend taking him as a first year just because his style of teaching is so difficult. He does wear cool ties :)

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: HIST130
• 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:

Professor Matray is a very tough grader with dry and boring lectures. He is NOT understanding of students and doesn't seem to care about his job. To put it in a nutshell, Matray is like the yellow starburst.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: HIST130
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Hard but impactful class. A class youll actually learn something valuable from. A passionate and brilliant professor. Was a lot of work but you actually get the education youre paying for!