Derryl MacLean - Simon Fraser University

Professor: Derryl MacLean
Department: History
College: Simon Fraser University
Rating # 1
Overview:
  • Course: HIST352
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Interesting lectures, plus he's very accessible & friendly. However does feel a little bogged down in minutia at times as he focuses quite a bit on the wording of journal articles + theories/frameworks. Good prof overall though! Final & essay were challenging but not overwhelming. Prior Middle East knowledge helps. Didn't use sourcebook much.
Rating # 2
Overview:
  • Course: HIS249
  • Grade Received: A
  • Overall Rating: 4.5
  • Course Difficulty: 2.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
One of the best history professors.
Rating # 3
Overview:
  • Course: HISTHIST
  • Grade Received: A+
  • Overall Rating: 2.5
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
What a character! Tests are easy bc the terms he gives you essentially are the test. VERY prone to going on LONNNG tangents. You never need to do readings for the Islamic Civ course tutorial bc it's all group discussions in small groups he doesn't supervise. In fact half the time he leaves the room. Very involved in Islamic studies conferences.
Rating # 4
Overview:
  • Course: HIS249
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Amazing Prof. Derryl is a great teacher, a great intellectual in Islamic studies. He is very approachable with help. It was so far the best and most interesting class I have taken at SFU
Rating # 5
Overview:
  • Course: HIST347
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 3.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
So dry. So boring. One of those profs that's been around forever. Doesn't seem to have any passion although he is knowledgable. Take it if you have to, but if you're looking to be fascinated, don't bother.
Rating # 6
Overview:
  • Course: HIST249
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 4.5
  • Course Difficulty: 1.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Great Prof! No need to read text just write down everything he says and memorize it and you will def. get an A! I bet the other commenters did not even take many notes in class and just studied the text!
Rating # 7
Overview:
  • Course: HIST352
  • 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:
Perhaps the most knowledgeable history prof with his subject. It was a joy to hear him lecture. If you show up on presentation day not knowing what you're doing, he'll be very hard on you. Otherwise, going to his office hours were incredibly useful. I would talk more classes with him.
Rating # 8
Overview:
  • Course: HIST352
  • 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:
In contention for best Prof at SFU. Excellent Prof, equally as great person. Agreed with other comment, would attend lectures just for fun.
Rating # 9
Overview:
  • Course: HIST249
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 1.5
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
knows alot about what he teaches, and likes to use lots of unnecessary foreign terminology and convoluted academic speak in order to prove it. does not make his subject matter accessible. avoid him if possible.
Rating # 10
Overview:
  • Course: HIST252
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 1.5
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Totally unorganized and extremely hard to follow during lecture. I won't deny that he is incredibly passionate about what he teaches but is hard to understand.
Rating # 11
Overview:
  • Course: HIST249
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Highly recommend recording all lectures since he speaks for 2 hours non-stop. The book is useful if you're planning on receiving a B+, A-, or A because it is very consistent with Dr. DM's opinions and lectures. Otherwise it is not a difficult course. I've never seen any prof as polite and as reasonable as him.
Rating # 12
Overview:
  • Course: HIST249
  • 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:
Very difficult class, wouldn't recommend.
Rating # 13
Overview:
  • Course: HIST249
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 3.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
One of the hardest classes I've taken at university... interesting, but really difficult.
Rating # 14
Overview:
  • Course: HIST252
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 2.5
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
He is very interested in what he teaches, but has a tendency of going of topic very easily. The text is not helpful and his lectures, which are not recorded, are the only source to study from. Expectations and criteria for assignments was unclear and had a significant impact on the marks.
Rating # 15
Overview:
  • Course: HIST252
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
maclean is the best professor in sfu..lectures are amazing with loads of detail....nobody knows more about islam and the subject material than he does...he speaks a lot and fast and it tough to write everything but make sure do dat.textbook is useless..a little strict marker but he usually talks about the material he tests u on...wrk hard n do wel
Rating # 16
Overview:
  • Course: HIST249
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 2.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
He is really difficult to understand for all of you that say he's a great speaker he is not. Beware! he does not make sense and his lectures are incoherent. he is not helpful wit his assingments either i went to him more then one n told him i was struggling n he offered no help! i was forced to jus stop going to his class. AVOID AT ALL COST!
Rating # 17
Overview:
  • Course: HIST469
  • 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:
Darryl is the BEST prof that I have ever had. He'll always give you as much time as you need and explain everything thoroughly. He is down to earth, but VERY intelligent and knows his topic inside and out. You must be willing to work hard otherwise you WILL be confused as Islamic history is so rich. IHEARTDM HE IS THE BEST PROF EVER
Rating # 18
Overview:
  • Course: HIST249
  • 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:
An excellent Prof who knows EVERYTHING about Islam. Expectations for the course are fair, but the Hodgson textbook is useless. His choice of TA ont he other hand is atrocious. A useless imbecile who couldnt care less about the subject matter, or showing up to tutorials.
Rating # 19
Overview:
  • Course: HIST249
  • 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:
I don't think I've ever had a professor who knows as much about his subject as MacLean. Lectures can be a little convoluted; he tends to go on tangents that don't directly involve the course material. However, he is extremely informative and an all around great professor.
Rating # 20
Overview:
  • Course: HIST249
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 3.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Very passionate. Good speaker. Great topic. MacLean is a very fair marker. 2 probs though. The Hodgson textbook is useless, too abstract for a survey course. And he's always behind in lectures. Tests were fair, expectations for the paper were rather vague, start planning ahead, 1001 nights. Would definitely recommend MacLean and the course.
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