Kevin Lyles - University of Illinois at Chicago

Professor: Kevin Lyles

Department: TBD

College: University of Illinois at Chicago

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: POLS356
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Lyels was one of the best teachers Ive had in my life. He keeps his class engaged by doing a hybrid of lecture and Socratic seminar teaching. He allows his students to voice their opinion while also clarifying if that student gets something incorrect. He gives a lot of work but you learn so much in his classes. Highly recommend.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: POLS354
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

After 4 semesters and many classes, I've realized I've only had a few memorable professors. Lyles is the one I remember the most because of the way he teaches. He keeps you engaged with the material and doesn't hold your hand so it forces you to think critically about what happened with cases and why things are the way they are and were.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: POLS356
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He's a really great instructor! Really engaging. Lots of work, but once you fall in the rhythm it's manageable. Teaches you a ton of really fascinating things that are applicable outside of a constitutional law focus. Really enjoyed the class! There are DOZENS of extra credit opportunities that help pad your grade for the exams.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: CON354
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Fantastic professor. He is extremely funny and knowleable in the field.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: POLS354
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Awesome, awesome, awesome professor. I love this class and Lyles is an excellent professor.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: POLS356
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Lyles is an excellent professor. He is funny and I learned a lot in his class. In fact, I'm going to take him next semester as well, and possibly more in the future.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: POLS353
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Helped me learn how to break down a case and required me to be prepared. Took this class a while back but lessons he taught still hold true today.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: POLS353
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This one of the greatest and most intellectual professors I ever had the opportunity to have. Be prepared to learn some very useful and life changing material.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: POLS354POLS356
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Lyles is one of the most intellectually advanced and student-oriented teachers on the campus of UIC. I took POLS 354, 356, and 358 with him and although they are constututional law classes, I learned so much more than legal history. These classes are meant for anyone interested about the history of each subject.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: POLS353
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

If you aren't pre-law, understand that 353, 354,356, and 358 are Constitutional LAW classes. Lyles is thoughtful enough to use the Socratic method, have case briefs as assignments, and unleash on the heavy reading--all things common in grad level law classes. The point in heavy reading is to help you decipher challenging material accurately

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: POLS353
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Took 4 course with this professor (POLS 353, 354, 356, and 358). Each course offered something new and they were the most beneficial classes I have taken at UIC. You have to show up to class to keep up and must put in work daily to pass with an A. 100% my favorite professor I had at UIC.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: POLS354
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

We spent the lecture before our 2nd exam, discussing our "feelings" on the election, instead of reviewing for the exam, and we spent the lecture before our 3rd exam discussing whether or not we believed taking the class was "worth it." Dude never mentioned that the constitution is a "contract" which "the people" are beneficiaries of; which is basic

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: POLS356
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Take his class if you plan to go to law school! His lectures are interesting yet confusing... falls off track and blabs most of the time. He slides through his powerpoint so fast that you can't even write one thing down. His tests are hard. Offers extra credit but the requirements are intensive; they're long papers. NOT a blow off class.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: POLS356
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He means well. However, the material is long to read, difficult to understand on your own and yet he quizzes you on it. The wiki is confusing, his lectures are all over the place and difficult to follow. His teaching style is not the best. Oh and his PP slides are copied and pasted from sites you can find on Google. I would avoid him.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: POLS354
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

There are a lot of case briefs. By the end of the course, it becomes a good skill to have. The tests won't be easy if the material isn't studied. The wiki is used for this course and it's confusing at first, but you should get used to it. The lectures are fun and interesting and there are opportunities for extra credit. Professor is fair.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: POLS354
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Very good teacher

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: POLS358
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Took this class over Spring everyone kept saying how hard it was. Not difficult at all. Just copy the Powerpoint slides,listen in class and you don't even need to read his textbook which is actually really well written. Fun class, no stress, I definitely recommend it! Easy class.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: POLS354
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

You absolutely have to do the readings to stand a chance in this class. With that out of the way, Lyles is one of the best (if not THE best) profs I've had in college. He's motivated, articulate and has a command of information like none other. If you're looking for a blow-off class keep looking, but otherwise it's well worth your time.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: POLS353
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Lyles is one of the best Professors at this school. He knows how to teach, and how to make it sound important.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: POLS354
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I loved POLS354 because you actually get better by the end of the semester. Lyles is awesome and has a good sense of humor that serves the purpose of learning. Attendance is def. mandatory to do well. He gives many chances to improve your grade & is super approachable/nice.Lots of material but you will easily get used to it.Two words: Study groups!