Nicolai Petro - University of Rhode Island

Professor: Nicolai Petro

Department: TBD

College: University of Rhode Island

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PSC417
• Grade Received: F
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He pulled me off to the side one day and told me that if I didn't stop being so "black" in class he would have to fail me.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PSC417
• 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:

Very knowledgeable about Russian foreign policy but is clearly a Russian apologist. He almost never criticizes Russia's actions but will always find time to criticize the US. Therefore, he clearly has a pro-Russia and anti-US bias. Some of his claims represent fringe ideas and not established fact. Very tough grader. Take with caution.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PSC417
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

To be honest, I ended up doing alright in Professor Petro's class, but just barely. His class consists of four papers and then a very lengthy final paper. All are graded pretty arbitrarily. No other work. Never know what to expect. Also, he will chew you out for most anything you say, so be prepared to have explanations for anything you say.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PSC350
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Great room for improvement as a professor, especially because of the fact that he seems to seek a feeling of self importance through putting student down. A 100% arbitrary grader, you cannot predict what grade he is going to give you. It seems that if you have good hand writing or are a spineless yes-student then you will get a decent grade.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PSC350
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Petro greatly frustrated me. He can be quite opinionated and thinks quite highly of himself. However, participate in his discussions and challenge his views. He will respect for you for it. His lectures can be involved and he posts no notes, so you have to show up and pay attention to transcribe all of the information in his lectures.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PSC417
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Not sure why all the reviews on here are so bad. Petro is a pretty solid professor and extremely knowledgeable in his field. I took Russian Foreign Policy this semester and it was one of the best classes I've taken so far at URI. Basically, he lays everything out quite clearly and if you put effort into your work you'll get a good grade.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PSC400
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Russian Foreign Policy. Petro is petty and un-inspired. Classes consist of listening to him mull over the readings until your eyes glaze over. His initially impressive lectures devolve after a month into predictable regurgitation of his worldview as if it were fact. In time, it becomes clear that he doesn't care.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PSC584
• 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:

Incredibly intelligent and will challenge you to make a clear and valid argument. One of the better professors at URI.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PSC320
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor is an intelligent person when it comes to the facts, but is not interested in hearing any opinions that differ from his own. Mr. Petro is a prime example of a teacher who is undoubtedly qualified and intelligent, but lacks the "bedside manner" of a truly effective teacher. Besides poor in-class skills, Petro is just an unpleasant person

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PSC350
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Extremely smart, but lacks likeability. His lectures are organized very well, so take diligent notes and you won't have to read. The only useful book was the one containing all of the Cold War documents. It has excellent summaries for keyterms on exams. His grading seems to hinge on his mood, but if you parrot his opinions, then you'll do fine.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PSC407
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I would have to completely disagree that he is an unfair grader. If he asks for an opinionated answer, he wants to hear his opinion not yours. He cares not about his students, but about himself. Its very evident in his style of teaching and for anyone who has had him knows exactly what is meant by that. Couldn't care less about his students.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PSC407
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I agree with many on how challenging Petro's classes are. Slightly egotistical and a harsh grader, but not unfair by any means. He expects a lot but as long as these expectations are noted it wont ruin your semester. However his classes are a risk to your GPA, if youre on thin ice try and avoid.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: HIS350
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The content of the course is outstanding but i would not recommend the class to anyone who is interested in maintaing a good gpa, unless Petro is not teaching the soviet POV. You will learn a lot from him, but judging by the way he grades, you won't have much to show for it.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PSC350
• 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:

Arbitrary grader, depending on his mood will determine your grade. I learned a lot from him as a person, as he is very well versed on Russian foreign policy, but he is so full of himself and what he knows, he thinks he is god. He is one of those professors who thinks they know it all. Egotistical person but very smart. Lacks humbleness. Unfortunate

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PSC401
• 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:

OK, prof. he likes to hear himself speak, but unfortunately it takes him forever to spit out what he wants to say b/c he wants to make it perfect. He's exams are easy as long as your repeat back to him everything he says word for word. He doesnt alway take attendance but if you go to class you will do fine. He is really smart and can be interesting

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: PSC407
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I've had him for a few classes now. His lectures are not exactly enthralling, but you will learn quite a bit. His classes are not easy A's but they aren't very hard either. He tells you exactly what to know for tests. Very intelligent. If try to argue with him on the wrong day he may leave you looking stupid in front of the whole class.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: HIS350
• 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:

One of the smartest people I have ever met, and knows russia more than anyone on this campus. hard but fair grader. Cold War politics was a great class but hard, make sure you show up

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ALL400
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Petro is one of the most intellectually savvy professors at URI. He nows Russia probably better then anyone on campus. On the negative side his lectures and his books (that he has written) are quite dense and requires serious concentration and at times re-reading. Great class to take if your truly interested. Great egg head classes

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PSC401
• 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:

He expects his words verbatim repeated back to him on the tests. His lectures are soul draining and it is obvious that he does not care about his students. He is arrogant, boring, and difficult to understand at times. Avoid at all costs in a department with 8 better teachers.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PSC406
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He makes you revise his textbook, his lectures are informative but incredibly boring, and he grades veryyy harshly, so chances of escaping this class are all tied to your ability to parrot his incorrect views and to keep your head down.