Don Haider-Markel - University of Kansas

Professor: Don Haider-Markel

Department: TBD

College: University of Kansas

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: POLS625
• 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:

I feel like his lectures would be more interesting if he opened them up for class discussion, but you just have to listen to him talk the whole time. The class is also difficult since there aren't many chances to earn points other than tests and an essay, so don't mess up. He's a bit unorganized (the class got really behind), but also pretty nice.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: POLS625
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

DHM expects you to read thousands of pages of dull material over the course of the semester. Does not go over those readings in class at all. Tests are difficult as you're mainly tested over those readings. Lectures and powerpoints are very unorganized. Talks in monotone. Turned an interesting subject and made it painfully boring and difficult.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: POLS625
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This is a great lecture class but brutal for your grade. The number of films and readings is intense and exams and "quizzes" cover small details. This class taught me a lot but was frustrating since he rarely works with students outside of class to understand difficult concepts and there aren't many assignments to cushion one bad grade.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: POLS613
• 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:

Not designed to be an online course at all and the class was not updated from its in class equivalent. Did not give feedback on papers nor any explanations other than to read and watch the videos and understand it on your own. Not much of a teaching component involved. Wish I did not take the course.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: POLS613
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Nice guy. Not a good teacher. The course should have been labeled self-study or not an online format. The Blackboard components were fine, he just did not seem to know how to use Blackboard at all. The lessons packed with readings, videos and reading nearly the entire textbook was difficult to understand on your own without explanations.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: POLS625
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Not a political science major... but this was the most interesting and applicable class I've ever taken. I recommend this class to anyone and everyone! Go to class, pay attention and take notes, and you'll be fine. I had no POLS experience (besides 110 in highschool) and got an A. Highly recommend!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: POLS720
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Pretty tough course -- lots of readings. The guy knows his stuff, that's for sure, and does a decent job engaging with students. Most classes involved him giving a short introduction to the topic, then letting class discussion run for the remainder (a true seminar). If nothing else, I learned how to read on a graduate level in this course.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: POLS630
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

If you talk to him for five minutes you'll see that DHM knows his stuff. His research and writing are top-notch, but his teaching is little more than reading his long-winded powerpoint slides. The quizzes were easy if you studied, but the group project and research essay were huge undertakings. Interesting material, but DHM made it painfully dull.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: POLS625
• 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:

Unorganized, but extremely easy if you simply attend class. Readings really aren't necessary when it comes to the tests. His multiple choice tests are so random that you might as well not study, just pay attention in class.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: POLS625
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He makes a interesting class where you think you will learn about policy as it relates to terrorism into a history of terrorism class. Its frusturating. It is still interesting but because he is lazy and unorganized the class is not how it should be. You never know what to expect with him on tests but they turn out to be easy.Take notes in lecture

Rating # 11

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Professor Haider-Markel's public policy class is very interesting and relates closely to current events. The lectures cover a lot of material, so consider bringing a laptop to take notes. He takes a bipartisan stance in his lectures, which makes for a more balanced curriculum. Be attentive at lecture, complete the readings, and you'll do fine.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: POLS320
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

His Public Policy class was soo boring. He is super dull and not energetic. He will not help you in office hours either.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: POLS613
• 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 disagree that he looks down on undergrads. He knows his stuff and the midterm was just 3 questions. But we got the exact questions before. It was my first pols class besides 110 and I did fine.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: POLS618
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Overall, he is not a big fan of teaching undergraduate students. He looked at my class with a disdain that almost made me feel dirty for being an undergrad. I wouldn't take him unless you feel like listening to a dry, humorless drone for 150 minutes a week. I can't speak to what he is like as a graduate professor.

Rating # 15

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

He was very intimidating at first, but as the semester went on he lightened up and even started joking with us. He is extremely knowledgeable about his subject and I think he really wants us to learn the material. He is a hard grader, though, so be careful that you defend everything you write or he will dock points off.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: HIST625
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Good teacher

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: POLS625
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Knows quite a bit about this material. He lectures clearly. Missing a lecture is rarely damaging. If you can competently write papers, this class isn't too difficult.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: POLS810
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The nicest prof you will ever have! You just have to listen to him rather than to your classmates if you really want to learn.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: POLS625
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Very knowledgeable. One of the most helpful professors I have ever had.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: POLS625
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Good teacher. Wish we would have gone on a field trip.