4.6
Quality2.6
Difficulty97%
Would Retake86
Reviews97%
Would Retake
86
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
69
4
13
3
2
2
1
1
1
What Students Say
“I took this professor for HIST 125”
HIST125 - 5.0 rating“Being his student is one of the greatest privileges I've acquired from Mason”
HIST125 - 5.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
71%
Textbook Required
33%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
A+
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Stable
-0.03 avg changeRatings by Course
HST387
5.0
(1)HIST565
5.0
(1)HIST387SAFRICA
5.0
(1)HNRS230
5.0
(1)HIST300
5.0
(7)Difficulty by Course
HIST187
4.0
HIST300
3.4
HIST565
3.0
HIST387SAFRICA
3.0
HNRS230
3.0
Reviews (86)
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Really cares about what he's teaching.
Very passionate and knowledgeable about subject, very fair in grading. GREAT teacher!
Probably the best professor I ever had. I heard one guest lecture from him and he was so passionate and knowledgable about the subject I knew I had to take him. I had little interest in African history before taking this class, but he made us all care.
One of the best classes in grad. school or in college. Great storyteller, learned so much about South Africa and Africa, and history. Has humor and cares deeply about our writing. Bonus ladies, really nice to look at, very handsome, so never dull in class. Put together like a Zulu tribesman.
Very interesting lectures, he really knows what he's talking about. Great Class and very helpful professor
Professor Carton is a wonderful teacher. I had never really thought about South African history, but I am definitely going to take more of his classes, and will study more on my own. He has a way of making us truly connect with the topic. He is also incredibly beautiful, and if for a moment your mind wanders, it is to imagine him naked. :)
Hottest professor at Mason, hands down. Really passionate, amazing, blahblahblah. You get the idea.
totally agree. he's wonderful, and his passion for the subject is contagious! but i think my favorite part of class was just staring at him the whole time...omg, he's beautiful. haha. he is the best professor i've had at mason so far, definetly take his class!
Very dedicated, passionate, engaging, informative, helpful, understanding, and inspiring. Things to watch out for: very focused on you getting chronology right; the papers may be intimidating if you're not used to upper-level critical writing; 2 essay exams (you get the ?s beforehand); 2 essays (totaling ~12-13pgs together). Awesome prof and clas
Clearly the best history course at GMU! You will never fall asleep in his classes and his style keeps you engaged. The lectures are easy to follow. I would recommend Ben's courses to anyone. Plus, hes hot! What more could you ask for.
One of the best prof. I've had at Mason. He makes class fun and very interesting, and it's a plus that he's eye candy.
AWESOME does not begin to describe this man! He is passionate about what he teaches, and you leave the class far more enlightened about African colonialism than you ever thought possible. And, I must agree that he's good to look at!
Excellent. He makes everyone feel like a valuable part of the discussion, and his passion and brilliance sucks you in and inspires you. He's a human rarity in that he's a very special person, and he makes YOU feel special too. At first he might seem intimidating, but he's extremely helpful and fair in grading. Take his class.
Probably the smartest man I've met and definitely the best professor I've had. His passion for the subject can make anyone want to learn. He's so interesting that I'd listen to him talk about how paint dries for 2 hours if he wanted to. He goes above and beyond to help students. Take any of his classes if you get a chance, you won't regret it.
I've had this professor for two classes and I agree he is the best professor at mason i've ever had. He is so interesting and really helpful.
An amazing professor. I took this course over the summer because I wanted to get a world history requirement out of the way. I didn't expected this course to be exciting, but Carton totally made it that way. Made you feel apart of the story. Fair grader. Not bad on the eyes.
this man is the BOMB take whatever class you can from him even if it's not in your field. HE IS BRILLIANT! it is a rollercoaster ride of learning. you will work hard to earn your grade but it will be amazing and HE IS HOT! which doesn't hurt one bit....
Oh my lord! HE is soooo passionate about the course, and his lectures are so good. I hated history before I took this class! very good teacher! LOTS of reading but he puts things is a different perspective and you learn ALOT! TAKE HIM
Amazing class! I would suggest to anyone to take HIST 125 with Dr. Carton. He's a little nuts sometimes, but that makes the class fun. He tries to make it exciting and all you have to do is read. You have to write reading responses, but they're a piece of cake, and he gives you the essay question for the midterm.
wow...he is not hot, but he is a good teacher! take him...don't take other teacher!
Carton is a great history professor. He really knows his stuff, and is very passionate about what he teaches. Three reading response papers, which aren't too bad. Mid-term is an 8 page in class essay, and you get the question before hand so its easy. Read before the discussion classes, and participating in class will help.
If anyone can inspire you to have interest in History, this professor will. Still didn't work for me though...I found it boring. Everything seems to be above my head. Concepts were really hard to grasp. As a freshman taking this course, my first semester left me shocked. I think they should chill on all the writings....
Loved this class. it was the earliest class but seriously best teacher so passionate. Not hard, but do show up . DOn't really have to read the World together worlds apart book, i didn't and you do just fine.
This class was so easy, you don't need to read the big book, don't even buy it. The little one is helpful for class participation but it is seriously ten pages to read a week. Three three page papers, midterm, and final. The midterm and final are essays but if you take notes in lectures you can just spit them out and he loves it. He's pretty hot to
P. Carton is very demanding,and will chanllenge you to take the perspective of a historian. I really recommend him if you are not lazy and are willing to do the work. There is a lot of reading, but its worth it! He grades fairly and is an incredible speaker. You will learn A LOT and appreciate that class A LOT! He's extremelly charismatic !
P. Carton is very passionate and dedicated. He's an excellent speaker, graps your interest inmidialty! He will expect you to be ready in class just like he is, its worth it! He's HOT HOT!
This Professor is very knowledgeable. He is not an easy A but you will learn a lot in his class. Going to class is important and so is doing all the Readings. Readings are not fairly easy to keep up with and the class is really interesting.
Extremely engaging professor. He is very passionate, animated, and attractive. It was a pleasure attending class, very good lecturer and ability to peak everyone's interest in the topic at hand. One of the best professors Ive had at Mason. I think Im in love
Prof. Carton is BRILLIANT! Never had a more passionate and dedicated teacher...he should be giving lessons on how to teach! Truly cares about his students and wants them to succeed. Must do the assignments but he makes it all so very intersting and you def walk away having learned something!
A great orator whose passion and charisma make for an entertaining lecture. Only annoying thing was his repetitively irresponsible comments about companies which previously engaged in dubious practices. IE- The apartheid govt used IBM computers= don't buy IBM (implied). All in all a good teacher, despite his marxist leanings, and def. an easy A.
WOW, Prof Carton is a great teacher, very passionate about the subject, he knows his stuff...makes you want to learn. He's very interested in YOU getting the material and understanding it. I loved his class. Did I tell you he's very HOTTTTTT!!! distracted me sometimes.
Looks a lot like John Stamos. He is VERY intense & he seems almost scarey & difficult @ first, but after a while u learn that he's just passionate about the material. He gives very detailed lectures that allow the student to succeed. Class appears hard, but if u focus on the novels, study for stest, but ignore the textbook reading, u can do well!
This is the greatest professor i have ever had. This man keeps the class going, and draws you in. He knows what he is talking about, and captures you in his lessons. He super helpful and was always there when i needed help with my 300 paper. Everyone intrested in one of his classes should sign up!!! By far best professor at George Mason.His Hot
What an amazing person. Incredible teacher and an engaging class. Go to class, take notes, read, and participate and you will get an A. It's worth going because he's so into the material and there is never a dull moment. He remembers his students! He loves his job! Take this class or you will certainly miss out!
Take any class with him. He is an awesome professor, and his class is actually worth going to at 9 AM. While he doesn't allow you to surf the web (you are allowed to type your notes), I don't miss facebook during his class. His lectures are lively and enjoyable. I would take his class at a bad time before taking many other classes.
Great professor. Very passionate about history. Although lectures can be a pain at 9AM, I still enjoy going to class and listening to the topics he'll cover. Tests, quizzes, and papers are very straightforward, he gives you the the guides a week or so early so you'll have plenty of time and resources to prepare
This is the only class that kept me from a 4.0 this semester. Yes he is passionate about history, but what he covers in lecture is irrelevant to what he wants on the essay questions. Grading Criteria is unclear. If you don't like history or it is just a required course, get someone else for sure.
This class couldn't be any easier. I haven't cracked the book open once this year and have an A going into the final exam. Carton makes the lectures enjoyable because he is very passionate about history, However, he tends to get off topic and ramble about irrelevant things. Nonetheless, he's a great professor. Very EASY course.
He is, without question, the most fascinating professor I've ever had. His lectures really open your eyes about the world. I really don't know how to describe it. Plus, the class isn't too stressful considering the workload and material. Being his student is one of the greatest privileges I've acquired from Mason.
if you love history, you will love him. But if you are like many who only take the class because it is required and so you just want an easy way...don't take him. He takes the class WAY too seriously...it's just a friken 100 level class but he treats it like you're a history major. Also VERY wordy...gives long drawn out answers for everything.
SO INTERESTING!! Really I wanted to applaud some of his lectures. His classes are very demanding. The final is overwhelming but if you study for it and pay attention throughout the course it helps. You have to do the readings and there is a limit on the days you can miss. But if you see him teaching a subject that interests you then take his class!
Carton is the man. Great lectures. No paper. All exams are essay format. He loves what he does, and he is good at it. Highly recommended. He is the best I've had at Mason so far.
He is amazing. Very passionate and interesting, especially since he has spent much time in South Africa and has some great primary sources that are very rare to come across unless you've been to the country. It really brings apartheid into perspective. He also always has nice things to say about our classwork. One of the best professors at GMU.
Fun, compelling, and low-stress class!! It's always a pleasure to take a class with a professor who is so clearly passionate and knowledgeable in the course material. Fun story: He once sprinted across campus to deliver the class a video he so wanted us to see.
Carton is the best professor I've had yet. His intensity is hard to adjust to at first but you come to understand that is from his passion in the subject. He highly encourages class discussion and gives great study guides for his fairly easy exams. You can miss a few classes but he does grade for participation so try to show up as much as possible.
Professor Carton is amazing! He is easily the best professor I have had here at school. Incredibly smart and highly passionate about the subject. He likes class discussions and if you pay attention you will do fine. Make sure to do ALL reading assignments
If you have a chance to take Carton, I implore you to do so. His passion for teaching is only rivaled by his superb knowledge of the subject. I do not give this praise lightly, he is the genuine article. He could teach you about paint drying and you would love it.
Incredibly knowledgeable about Africa in its entirety. Very eager to help students and always keeps you interested. Would take his class in a heartbeat
Professor Carton is FANTASTIC, easily my favorite professor ever. He is incredibly passionate and genuinely loves teaching. Carton will go out of his way to help you if you ask. Writing assignments can be challenging (but not hard) but he always makes sure you have the materials to succeed. Would highly recommend to anyone!!
Dr. Carton had the most interesting, compelling, and captivating lectures of any professor I've ever had. I doubt anybody is as passionate about the courses they teach as Dr. Carton is.
He is a great speaker and makes you want to follow along and never loses your attention. Definitely would recommend to anyone, great lectures.
Prof Carton's class makes me want to do a minor in World History. Amazing lectures 11/10 would take again for fun. No homework and I never did the readings but aced the class.
Carton is overall a fantastic professor! Although I have no interest in history, he talks about it so excitedly and passionately that it encouraged me to listen. There are 3 tests, the first 2 are easy but the last one is very difficult in comparison. If history doesn't come easily to you, make sure to go to as many classes as you can!
A very dedicated teacher who loves what he does. He's always so into his lectures and goes on and on about the topics. Lectures really do help so seriously try to attend them all. Recitation always helps as well so attend those too. First two exams aren't hard, he gives study guides for all of his tests including the final. Great teacher!
Dr. Carton is without a doubt a compelling and very passionate History professor. His lectures are long, but go very well into depth on the topics that are tested. If you study well, read his lecture notes, and stay focused, you will ace this class. Great professor, made World History seemingly more interesting.
Professor Carton was one of the best professors I've ever had. Although this course was taken for a gen ed requirement and wasn't necessarily a choice, I looked forward to this class every week. Carton is extremely educated and so passionate that it creates intrinsic motivation for the students to be passionate and care as well. Amazing professor.
His lecture is amazing and his quiz is easy to prepare. Just listen carefully and you will receive a great point.
Dr. Carton is simply a cut above the rest. I know for a fact that most of the Department look up to him. Amazing lectures, great personality, and, best of all, no papers! There are three written examinations and one likewise written final. He gives you the questions ahead of time (!) Would take him again in a heartbeat.
Prof. Carton is probably the best professor I've had in my 3 years at GMU. I took him for HIST300 and HIST360 and thoroughly enjoyed both. He is a spectacular teacher, whether or not you are a history major. He is an extremely engaging lecturer, and invested and very encouraging teacher. He will make you work hard, but always help you if you ask.
Professor Carton is truly amazing. His lectures are very engaging and he makes the topic so interesting. All the grades are based on tests and attendance but he spends at least one class on review for each test so they are super easy. Carton really is an amazing professor, so if you have the opportunity to take him for any class, definitely do it.
Professor Carton is really passionate and knowledgable. his lectures are interesting and engaging. Every test has a review session beforehand, and a study guide that covered all of the material on the test. There's no surprises, and all lectures and powerpoint are posted online.
His lectures are very long and boring sometimes. He's genuinely interested in the subject and has lived all over the world. He gives detailed study guides that make it easy to pass the test if you study.
I took Dr. Benedict Carson's Hist 262 course at GMU back in 2012 or something like that and I was so happy to graduate I never got around to testifying what an incredible teacher he was. He is so passionate and knowledgeable. He captivates you and gives you some real, unfiltered, historical truths. I learned SO much from him. Didn't hurt he's cute
I took this professor for HIST 125. This class is easy if you do the work and hard if you don't. Let me explain: The professor gives out 3 exams. Before each exam, he provides a study guide, which is a ditto of the exam (exact copy). Master the guide, and you will get an A. He also responds to email, and attendance is 15% of the grade.
Benedict is one of those professors who truly cares about what he teaches. SO much so that his lectures take up the whole class. Very easy to zone out. No homework besides reading a few chapters here and there. Class is graded off of 3 tests, study the study guides (same questions). The final adds a 6+ para essay so be prepared. Memorization is KEY
FANTASTIC! Brilliant and beyond amazing prof. Took him my first sem. and wow! he is a great lecturer, could listen to him all day. Very bright cares about students, respected, test-heavy, attend class. he posts the notes. the notes are the study guide, go through notes find def on the study guide (quizlet!) memorize!, do readings they are helpful
Fascinating, enthusiastic professor. I loved his lectures. Time passes quickly.
THE BEST PROFESSOR IVE HAD AT MASON. You could listen to him lecture all day, he's so passionate about the material, and he wants his students to do well and understand the material. All the tests are word for word from the study guide, so you just to make sure you know the study guide. I highly recommend him, he makes you actually want to go.
Professor Carton is fantastic. He clearly cares a lot about what he's teaching and it comes across in his lectures. He gives the test before we take it so there's no excuse to do poorly (even though people do). He's extremely kind and really wants everyone to like history as much as he does.
He is literally the best professor I ever had. His lectures are AMAZING. Really enjoyed them. Also he gives really clear study guides for his exams. TAKE HIM
Never thought of myself as one to enjoy learning about history, but this teacher makes the subject material come alive. The textbook he uses is a good choice too because it actually gives first-hand accounts of key events in world history, rather than a dry summary. Just delightful
Very engaged with his students while lecturing. Recitations are helpful in understanding the topic.
HIST125 was pretty easy if you study! You're graded on attendance and your test. The study guides are helpful and as long as you study you'll pass. He is VERY clear on what is on it and what is expected. He is extremely knowledgeable and student assistants are extremely helpful during recitation.
I was completely enthralled by every one of Professor Carton lectures; he is probably the best orator I've ever been taught by. You're only graded by tests but they're very easy if you show up and try and in a particularly evocative and helpful way. Fantastic professor.
As a non-History major, this was the BEST class I have ever taken. Professor Carton is passionate about what he teaches, making the class enjoyable. It is very hard to fail the class. As long as you pay attention, you'll get an A. He only grades exams and attendance. I would definitely take his class again if I could.
Great lecturer! Its such a cakewalk in this class! Just attend class and all recitations then youll do fine. His TA Kyle Filter is super chill, awesome, and very helpful during exams and recitation! If you get Kyle as a TA in this class during recitation you are very lucky! Better than high school history itself! 10/10 Highly Recommended!
Graded by just 3 exams. Gives ppts and complete lecture notes, extensive study guides that have everything on the test (answers can be found in lecture notes). Very passionate, a little erratic and eccentric but kind and accessible.
Professor Carton is the best of the best, especially if you can get him for History 300. As a student of his I really felt like he cared and his lectures about colonial Africa, which he is an expert in, were amazing. He did a really good job navigating the online class during the pandemic which I'm sure wasn't easy, especially in a research class.
My class was 5 weeks during the summer but it didn't feel like too much at all. All that's graded is exams and participation. He provides study guides for the exam which you fill out and he pulls straight from those - super simple. He does tend to ramble, so be prepared for very detailed answers to all questions. Very nice and knowledgable.
Carton is by far my favorite professor at Mason. He is just simply fun to talk to. That being said, he will keep you the full time. He is VERY passionate about the subject. He has "diarrhea mouth" where he gives so much info on a quick question. But I love him! Seriously, I wish he taught my next years history. He is very entertaining!
Actually took him for INTS 362 for Fall 2023 but wasn't an option in courses. He was a great professor and an extremely knowledgeable guy. Lectures could sometimes be heavy but if you participate class discussions are great! Gave great feedback and cared about reading your essays to learn from you.
He's a great professor, likes to talk a lot and it can be hard to follow along with information needed to be used in papers but ts relatively easy to do well in class. Participation does matter, but if your introverted and don't like public speaking, you can get buy on minimal participation in discussions and the required discussion leads in class.
Great professor - kind, funny, and passionate about teaching history. Made it easy to understand & study guides were very useful to complete for exams. If I had to take another history class I would 100% take again.
Amazing professor. The whole class was based on a presentation about one of the readings, 2 in-class papers, and a final research paper. The in-class papers were done over Zoom and he sent the papers back so we could revise and earn a better grade. If I had to take this class again I would definitely take it with him!
This class has very little assigned work, but you get so much out of it. The only assignments are two drafts written in class (he gives extensive feedback so you can fix things and get a better grade), one presentation, and a final paper. (No weekly hw) The professor is very understanding and dedicates time to assist you with all assignments.
Class Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
71%
Textbook Required
33%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
A+
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Stable
-0.03 avg changeRatings by Course
HST387
5.0
(1)HIST565
5.0
(1)HIST387SAFRICA
5.0
(1)HNRS230
5.0
(1)HIST300
5.0
(7)Difficulty by Course
HIST187
4.0
HIST300
3.4
HIST565
3.0
HIST387SAFRICA
3.0
HNRS230
3.0