Dan Balfour - Grand Valley State University

Professor: Dan Balfour
Department: Public Administration
College: Grand Valley State University
Rating # 1
Overview:
  • Course: PA240
  • Grade Received: B
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Good guy who knows what he's teaching and is passionate on it. He's definitely a tough grader. He has very strict standards on writing, and a good majority of your grade is the final paper. I recommend seeing him for help throughout to ensure a decent grade. Tests are difficult but if you do the study guide you'll at least pass.
Rating # 2
Overview:
  • Course: PA611
  • Grade Received: A-
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
DR. Balfour is very fair; expects plenty being graduate students but if you do your work well, you will get a good grade. As long as you make sense and can explain your point to him and make sense, you are good to go. Makes you think more criticaly
Rating # 3
Overview:
  • Course: PLS240
  • 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:
I am an A student, but I ended this class with an A-, almost a B+. The professor would always tell me I did great on my writing, but I only ever got one 100% grade! He states in his syllabus he really doesn't believe in As unless you go above and beyond. Interesting class, I do not recommend if you are worried about your GPA.
Rating # 4
Overview:
  • Course: PLS240
  • 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 thought I would enjoy The Holocaust course more but Balfour's strict standards on writing made me hate the course which is unfortunate. I'm an A student and ended this class with an B.
Rating # 5
Overview:
  • Course: PA619
  • 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:
Very helpful professor! He challenges your abilities in a constructive way.
Rating # 6
Overview:
  • Course: HNR231
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 2.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Had him for The Holocaust class. He was very very smart, knew all there is to know about the subject. For a class like this though I would've rather had more discussion/in depth stuff, but it was mostly lecture. We had 4 short essays over the readings and one final essay. Easy if you take notes, great guy!
Rating # 7
Overview:
  • Course: PLS240
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 2.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Best class offered by GV. I learned more in this class than my 4 years here. Prof. Balfour is so intelligent in this field and goes beyond the basics of the Holocaust that we all learn. You learn the politics behind it, antisemitism, and so much more! He uses lots of movies, pictures, slides etc. Exams aren't hard and the paper isn't either.
Rating # 8
Overview:
  • Course: HNR231
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 4.5
  • Course Difficulty: 1.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Awesome Prof! I loved this guy. Really knows his stuff on the Holocaust. Varies up the class times with movies, maps, survivor footage, pictures; not always lecturing. Books go right along with the lectures making them easy to follow. Lets you know what to expect on exams. No homework. LOVED HIM! Would take again.
Rating # 9
Overview:
  • Course: PA660
  • 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:
Overall, ok but boring. Very smart man and very helpful.
Rating # 10
Overview:
  • Course: PA643
  • 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:
Very unclear about expectations. Tends to talk in circles a lot of the time. Also tends to favor certain students.
Rating # 11
Overview:
  • Course: PLS240
  • 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:
Extremely Intelligent. Has a good sense of humor and really knows his material well. Holocaust class forces you to think in new ways, and to evaluate what happened instead of just looking at what happened. Really enjoyed. Great guy!
Rating # 12
Overview:
  • Course: PLS240
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 4.5
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: N/A
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Prof. Balfour is extremely knowledgeable and his lectures are very interesting (although sometimes a bit monotone), you will learn alot from him-2 exams, 1 paper, and make sure you show up
Rating # 13
Overview:
  • Course: PA661
  • Grade Received: A
  • Overall Rating: 4.5
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: N/A
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
GREAT! Take him for PA 614 if you can - hes a great teacher.
Rating # 14
Overview:
  • Course: PLS240
  • 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:
Interesting and fun class. Very smart man. One of the highlights of my academic career.
Rating # 15
Overview:
  • Course: HNR231
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 1.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: N/A
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
are u kidding?? CR/NC?! who are you? he is THE easiest prof i've ever had. didn't read and all you have to do is have him read your paper before you turn it in. I got an A-, maybe you deserved your bad grade and it's not his fault.
Rating # 16
Overview:
  • Course: HOLOCAUST
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 4.5
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: N/A
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Dan Balfour is so smart it's amazing. He IS a little monotone, but if you get to talking to him, he turns out to be totally with it. If you have him for Holocaust, you'll be fine. I didn't do any of the reading and got an A
Rating # 17
Overview:
  • Course: PLS240
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 4.5
  • Course Difficulty: 2.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: N/A
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Really Great Professor. Did not find him at all boring or 'dry'. Far from possessing monotone, very passionate and knowledgeable about the topic. His grading system is fair, exams will be fairly easy if you study the outline he gives you. Take this class!
Rating # 18
Overview:
  • Course: PA619
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 2.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: N/A
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Professor is very knowledgeabe, however, not very clear on expectations. Very hard grader if you have not had this Professor before. Recommend talking to other students or the Professor before turning in assignments.
Rating # 19
Overview:
  • Course: HP231
  • 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:
very nice man, knows his stuff. know possible essay test questions ahead of time, but a little bit of a tough grader on papers.
Rating # 20
Overview:
  • Course: PLS240
  • 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:
Nice but tries to push his agenda on political issues.
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