Zoltan Barany - University of Texas at Austin

Professor: Zoltan Barany

Department: TBD

College: University of Texas at Austin

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: GOV312
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Barany was eh, OK. Not sure if it was just my hate for GOV but I hated this class. Very unorganized and no one communicated anything!! Especially the TAs Thomas and Avery the worst TAs ever!!! This class is a joke. Took it during the COVID-19 pandemic and the TAs were still very tough graders. There are only 3 exams and one paper, so watch the pps

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: GOV312L
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Tests really arent that hard. I didnt attend class after the 2nd wk of school but if you just study the PPTs youre solid. Barany and the TAs dont seem to care at all about this class so if you have something important to discuss, just go to office hours. They probably wont reply to your emails. And dont bother getting the book.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: GOV312L
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Barany was a good professor and the course material was really interesting. However, the tests were graded unnecessarily hard by the TAs for a core class and averages were low. Your grade is only 3 tests and a paper, so you have to do really well on each to get a good grade. I learned a lot, but I would look for an easier prof for GOV credit.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: GOV312L
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This class was a total nightmare. Tests were 80% of the grade and were worded ambiguously to the point they were almost incoherent. TAs are helpful in office hours but then grade impossibly difficult on tests (class average on an exam worth 30% was a 79 in a lower division, core class!) Books have nothing to do with the lecture material.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: GOV312L
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Barany was super cool. He might be a spy. His tests were ok, just don't blow them off - you do actually have to study. Also, you'll have to do quite a bit of reading for a government class...

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: GOV312L
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Barany is probably my favourite professor I've had at UT. His classes were very interesting, and he keeps you engaged with his wit and humour. Lectures aren't mandatory, but you miss a lot if you skip. Tests are relatively easy, and the TAs host a review session before each one. This class should be an fun, easy A with some minimal effort.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: GOV312
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Tests were based on lectures, readings from books (which were actually very interesting) and films. Lectures aren't mandatory, but if you want to receive a good grade you need to attend them. He's very funny and the tests are easy as they are made by the TAs who have a review session before every test and go over the information.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: GOV312L
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He posts all the PPTs online, there's 3 tests, and a paper. The TA's grade everything so I think it just depends on who you have. Our TAs were really nice and funny. Tests are written with the goal for students to do well, however they do put a few random questions on their to make sure people don't get a 100. Paper was only 6-8 pages, very easy.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: GOV312
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

The lectures are interesting and the content of the class itself, including the readings, are pretty cool. Dr. Barany is funny. That being said, his TAs are a total nightmare. They grade extremely inconsistently. They make the exams easy except for four-five random questions that absolutely do not test your knowledge about the class. Rude too.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: GOV312L
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Professor Barany is hilarious!! This is his first semester teaching Politics of Poverty (as Gov312L), and it was awesome and intriguing. He posts all the PPTs online, there's 3 tests, and a paper. While the class was super easy, it was clear he enjoyed teaching the class a lot. I loved him/this class so much that I'd definitely take more w/ him!

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: GOV312
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

His gov 312 class is incredibly easy. He just lectures each class & uses power points. You can honestly never go to class and just read the PowerPoint for the test & you will still pass. He only has 4 grades. 3 tests & 1 six page paper. The tests are incredibly easy. The books he chooses for class are also enjoyable. He has a great personality!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: GOV312
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Professor Zoltan was a good and funny professor. But my cold war class tests were unnecessarily hard and confusing for a government class. The TA did literally everything except teaching and she wasn't nice at all. Don't take this class if you are not a government student or if you don't want multiple choice questions were like 3 options are alike

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: GOV365
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Barany's class was undoubtedly one of the most difficult classes I've ever taken, but his dry sense of humor, extreme intelligence, and willingness to help entirely make up for it. I would take another class with him, without hesitation

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: GOV381
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Loved this course. The readings were interesting, class discussions stimulating, and Dr. Barany was always helpful and available to students. This is what I thought graduate school was supposed to be like! You should definitely take a course with Zoltan. You won't be disappointed.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: GOV324J
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Extremely smart and pretty funny guy. However, he hates teaching in general and hates students in particular. I was very interested in the topic and learned an incredible amount, but he made no attempt to hide his disdain for teaching, which was disappointing.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: EUROPEANPOLITI
• 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 difficult tests on a hard subject matter. Excellent professor with limitless knowledge on the subject matter, one of the tops in the govt. dept. Is willing to help you outside of the classroom.

Rating # 17

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

I thought he was funny. It is better if you are interested in European government/politics. Do the reading and prepare for the essay!

Rating # 18

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

He's funny

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: GOV312
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

*sigh*