Reviews of professor Vahid Niayesh

Rating: 5.0/5, difficulty: 1.0/5
I took Niayesh last semester and opted to take a different professor for a certain course the following semester, ugh what a mistake!! I sooo wish I took Niayesh again bc he's awesome. He's a highly esteemed professor and does not act pretentious at all. Niayesh really cares about his students, a true gem.

Rating: 5.0/5, difficulty: 3.0/5
Great professor. Easy enough class if you do the readings and watch the videos he posts on BB.

Rating: 2.0/5, difficulty: 5.0/5
While hes a nice guy, he assigns WAY TOO MUCH work for a 200 level class. Midterm handwritten 6 pages, 7 page research paper, 20 page final and page reflection due weekly on reading. Way too much breakout room activities.

Rating: 1.0/5, difficulty: 5.0/5
I would only take this class is you plan to specialize in middle eastern politics. Prof Niayesh knows his stuff Ill give him credit there. But he really expects a little bit to much out of his students for one class. The test are stacked and he gives multiple papers and assignments. This class is not a 3 unit course

Rating: 1.0/5, difficulty: 5.0/5
Prof Niayesh is one of the worst professors I have ever had. Very nice guy but way too many handwritten things. Does not teach, and mostly break out rooms. Not clear on grading & does not get back to emails or return grades promptly at all. Went all the way up to spring break with one assignment graded. Expects too much to not get anything back.

Rating: 2.0/5, difficulty: 3.0/5
Class seemed to be wasted on topics of conversation that didn't help with the two page weekly reflections. You definitely have to read for the reflections, as long as you do that you can get full points. The midterm is handwritten?! Ends up being around 12-15 pages to write. The final is typed but it's 20 pages- four essays-four pages each+ID words

Rating: 5.0/5, difficulty: 1.0/5
Professor Niayesh is amazing. His classes are open discussion which I loved. His midterm and final exam were essay questions and 1 paper. He gives amazing feedback and he is a wealth of knowledge. This is my second class with him and I would take him for any political science class. Definitely take his feedback on board.

Rating: 4.0/5, difficulty: 3.0/5
Takes late work and attendance isn't mandatory as long as you communicate with him. Does go off topic during lectures very often but all around great professor who knows his material. Wants his students to pass so does whatever he can to help. Exams were mainly based on the text not so much his lectures so would recommend to read the chapters.

Rating: 3.0/5, difficulty: 5.0/5
He's a very knowledgeable man, but makes the courses harder than they need to be. Mid terms & finals are hand written in a green book, multiple essays and term definitions need to be memorized. Essays are technical and long. I like the man, but as a professor, it's hard to give him a good rating. Takes weeks to reply to emails.