If you don't like participating in class, this professor may not be for you. He values intellectual conversation more than anything, and if a class goes off on an interesting tangent you'll be there a while. He will absolutely call on you during class during a book discussion with the expectation that you have done the reading. I loved him.

If you want to learn about the true history of the Americas then Professor Graden is your man. Coming from a Latino background our stories are never told or sometimes they are changed. I learned how to think about how our policies affect other countries. I learned about NAFTA and how it totally related to my family and why we ended up in the U.S

I have had a couple classes with Professor Graden throughout my college career and I have always found his classes the most interesting and diverse. He is invested in teaching the parts of history we don't always hear about or read about but that are very important. he values participation and intellectual conversation amongst all.

Awesome lectures, in depth and topical.

Professor Graden makes you think critically about history. He encourages us to be open minded and willing to understand the history of other countries. He has always been very helpful in and out of the classroom. he is someone who truly cares for his students and is very invested in our future. He has gained a lot of experience through traveling.

I've taken many classes with Dale Graden over the course of several years, and his energy, passion, and uncompromising commitment to his subject and his students have been unparalleled in my experience in secondary education. He is a dedicated educator who knows his stuff. The University of Idaho is lucky to have such an outstanding professor.

Dale has been a great professor regarding my approach on as a History Major. He has shown me there are multiple perspectives and analysis on Historical Events. Raised in the U.S I was not aware of the opposite viewpoint from the United States and how their Western Dominance isn't portrayed through the perspective of the Indigenous.

Dale Graden is a great professor. From the beginning of his course, everything is clearly laid and his expectations are apparent. If you put the work into the essays he will reward you for it. As well, he is very understanding and allows students to write extra papers if they are not pleased with their grade. I would highly recommend him!

The course was enjoyable and straightforward. The workload is easy to handle when you need a history credit. Graden gives fast feedback on essays and clearly states what's being looked at in the papers. You'll do fine in the class if you enjoy historical drama films and have decent critical thinking skills.

Professor Dale is a really good professor. You learn a lot. I definitely learned more about slavery than I did in high school. I recommend to take his course, you won't regret. He makes things so you won't be bored in class just hearing him lecture.

Dr. Graden is an excellent professor that provides thought-provoking content. History is often presented in an orthodox manner, so Graden's style is refreshing and engaging. As long as a student is willing to read/watch provided material and think critically they will be successful in his class. I would, and have, recommend his courses to anyone.

I've have had the privilege of taking Dr. Graden courses for over 3 years, which should say a lot. His teaching is what pathed the way for my major. As an out of state student, he has made my time at UofI worthwhile. You can go to Dr Graden about classwork along with regular obstacles in life, making him more than just a professor. Would recommend.

As a writer, I found it helpful for Professor Graden to not pull any punches when giving me feedback and grading my papers. As a result, my writing has improved. I'm was also thrilled to find out I took a course from a fellow Hemingway aficionado.

A lot of the films we watched were in Spanish and you had to read the subtitles. If you're into the different communist movements this class is for you. Overall Graden seems like a cool guy, though. The class is super chill.

I very much enjoyed the course with its great selection of films and books to choose from. I found Professor Dale Graden to be helpful and fair. My favorite read from the course was by far "The Brothers: John Foster Dulles, Allen Dulles and Their Secret World War" by Stephen Kinzer. I highly recommend them all: course, book, and professor.

This class helped me increase my understanding of the 1950s red scare, communist uprisings in Latin America and Cuba, along with the complexities surrounding drug trafficking and human smuggling along the U.S. Mexico border. If you enjoy challenging yourself, expanding your mind, and increasing your historical knowledge this class is for you!

Dale is a professor who cares about the material being taught. Every class I went to felt like an opportunity to learn as a student and exchange ideas as an independent adult. Too often are classes in universities reduced to a petty race for grades while Dale's classroom stands out as a place to learn important information in a relevant context.

This was my first class with Professor Graden and it was all around a great experience. You do have to read a lot, but the books are extremely helpful for understanding the topic overall. Professor Graden does a great job of relating the course, Social Revolutions in Latin America, to the world today which made the course useful beyond the class.

I am a graduate student, attending on-campus classes was difficult. This class, I read books and we would meet for coffee to discuss each book as I completed them. What I enjoyed most is our discussions. I am conservative, he is liberal, but each meeting was incredibly insightful and engaging. We agreed and disagreed respectfully. Great teacher.

Prof. Graden provided better insight for improving my writing than any english teacher I've had without detracting from the subject of the course. This class is exactly what you would expect: critically analyzing books and movies relevant to the period (1950s). The selection of books and films are great and I'm glad to have read/watched each one.

I took History and Film: Americas since the 1950s from Prof. Graden. The class was wonderful! Prof. Graden offered a variety of films to watch, including many Spanish language films and films of different perspectives. There is lots of writing in this course, but it was well distributed. I found something of interest to write about for every paper.

Graden put on a great summer course. There was a lot to read and watch but it certainly was not overwhelming. Hist 414 was the perfect course to take this summer.

I'm actually bummed I took this class and professor as an accelerated, online course, because I would have loved to have taken it for an entire semester. Dale clearly loves what he teaches and loves to foster the students' interests. He is super helpful for problem solving, especially for an online class. I would definitely take him again!

HIST 414 -Hist & Film: Americas since 1950. Instructor had clear expectations & great responding quickly to emails. Great class if you want to learn more about history in a less traditional method. Textbooks are actually books you can check out of a library or purchase online inexpensively. Many of the films are subtitled, but very interesting.

Professor agraden has a very easy to follow, well structured course that will keep you interested and motivated in class.

I have taken classes from Prof. Graden before and every single one of them has been thoroughly engaging and not too difficult. The expectations for class are very clear, read a book, write a paper. The time given to complete the reading of the book and completing the paper is more than enough. I highly recommend taking any of Prof. Graden's classes

Dr. Graden is always there for his students and is very knowledgeable in his areas of history. With Dr. Graden, you will learn about all the machinations of global imperialism, racial oppression, colonialism, & African and Latin American Studies. I highly recommend this class as I learned so much from him. Read books & write essays & your set.

There are readings assigned each week but you can easily just write the papers without them. He has 1 page essays to write on movies based on history. These are easy. Then 2 3-4 page essays on a book you read. Pretty essay got an A on both and skimmed the books when I sat down to write them. The final is to write a 3-4 page essay. Would recommend!

I really enjoy Professor Graden's classes. I have taken two of his 400 level classes and each one was able to be very informative as well as entertaining about history that is sadly not mainstream. I will recommend him and his class for as long as I can.

D. Graden is one of the most passionate professors I have ever had. Cares about the material and works hard to make classes engaging. The assigned books made me get into reading again, and his classes inspired me to add a history minor. Discussions were always interesting and class is much better and more rewarding if you engage with the material.

Great professor, interesting class, five stars *****

Very well presented course. Variety of learning opportunities, books, articles and films. Always responded to emails within one day if not sooner.

I enjoyed this class a lot. Graden's required readings are always interesting and I didn't know much about the Cold War and the Americas during that time, so I liked that this class included sources about multiple countries during this period. The class was very fast-paced which was understandable for a 6-week summer course. Overall a good course.

Graden is an awesome professor. He gives the least amount of work but somehow still manages to teach you the most and get you to think critically about the world around you. The man is like ten libraries stacked into one mind. Hist495 was a great, fun class that really taught me a lot with low to almost zero stress. 10/10

Professor Graden is one of most insightful professors in the department. Each class was a very laid back discussion where he actively encouraged us to discuss the material in any manner that we saw fit. The material covered is extremely varied, making sure that that everything is fresh and novel to the class. All in all a great experience 10/10.

Graden's classes are always a joy to be in. They are interesting and insightful, and they take a different perspective to history than is offered in High Schools. They do require active participation and preparation in order to gain the most out of his classes, but this preparation is always worth it.

I have enjoyed every one of Professor Graden's classes. I appreciate his effort to use different mediums in class and to recommend countless additional resources on each topic. 441 was full of heavy topics, but Dr. Graden managed to convey the hidden histories of slavery in the Atlantic world and I learned a lot by participating in the class.

Dr. Graden's History of Modern Brazil was a great course. The syllabus was easy to follow and I appreciated the abundance of resources provided. The course was online and had no lectures, but I enjoyed reading the recommended books and found it valuable to learn from someone who has spent time in Brazil researching their history and culture.

Professor Graden's HIST 495 is a very smooth capstone class for history majors. He understands our crazy schedules and is supremely flexible. There is usually a good bit of reading for each weekly meeting, but it is not a big deal if you miss some of it. Lecture topics can get pretty random or political, but are very interesting. Easy/fair grader.

Prof. Graden grades and gives great feedback on homework in a very timely manor. Modern Brazil was a very insightful class. Several books, articles, and videos were recommended for better understanding of the subject matter. I would definitely recommend taking any class on Latin America with him as he is very knowledgeable of the subject.

Graden is a great online professor. Modern Brazil was an interesting class and I learned a lot from it. I wouldnt take this class if you have a hard time staying on task, as it is online. Another negative is a lot of reading. There were six books for this class, so keep that in mind. Otherwise the course work was easy to complete.

I really appreciated the prompt responses, provided resources, and useful feedback.

Prof. Graden is very knowledgeable about Modern Brazil and recommends readings that really provide great insight. His feedback is meaningful and helpful. Furthermore, Prof. Graden's instructional style allows the student to grow based on their own specific interests in the topic.

Dr. Graden includes amazing readings to his lectures and the required books are excellent. This slavery course was incredibly informative and it made me choose two of Dr. Graden's courses the next semester. I would highly recommend for anyone that enjoys reading great articles and learning important information regarding slavery or Latin America.

The reading is heavy but the homework is super light. You mostly just write 3-4 page review papers and they are usually only 4 or 5 of them due throughout the whole semester. He doesn't do busy work, just straight to the point. This is my 4th time taking a class from him and I will probably take his classes more since my degree is in History.

This class was very enjoyable and the professor was clearly well equipped to teach this class. I have Cuban ancestry and the professor was able to point me to fun facts or extra resources for me should I want to learn more. I enjoyed the texts assigned and the reading prompts were well thought out in order to complete the assigned projects.

Even though this was an online course, Professor Graden was very timely in getting back via email and offering suggestions and advice on assignments. He provided helpful feedback when grading that helped with my writing - not only for his class but improved my writing overall.

Dr. Graden was very clear in his instructions, quick and responsive in his grading and selected interesting content for the class.

I took this class online, and I am happy I did. We did our own learning through assigned readings and book critiques. The classwork is very clear in the syllabus. He also grades very timely, and gives good feedback. There is not "busy work" in this class. The work is actually enriching. Also, every book we have to read is available at the library.

An extremely easy-going professor that has clear criteria for completing the class, that doesn't flood you without busy work or intensive homework. Class is straightforward and enjoyable. Would recommend.

This professor is that he is very helpful outside the class, if you are struggling with something and reach out to him to get help, he will help. His courses are unlike other courses because of the content, what he teaches is extremely valuable. The literature of which he chooses for the class to read are what makes the courses special.

This has been an enjoyable course, but this isn't your average film class. Yes you watch movies, but the issues and topics it covers are important and they make you work in a way that's rewarding. Even with the movies, the lectures and discussions are always engaging and enriching.

This Class gives students a good picture of events in Latin America by having them read several biographies and or personal accounts of people who have spent time in the region. Before taking this class, I know almost nothing about the revolutions in Cuba and Chille.

Very interesting class. Grade was based on 4-5 short papers. Prof. Graden responded to every paper I submitted and would also offer suggestions for other books/films I might find interesting based on what I wrote. He was very friendly and helpful through email and quick to respond.

The information was extremely diverse and interesting to learn about. Dr. Graden's use of film, music, articles, and books made the information more authentic and easy to connect to. This was a great course and would definitely take again.

This course had a lot of meaning to me as a black African American student athlete. This course educated me on world history and history throughout my own race. (that I never knew about) I am extremely grateful to have took this class and would take retake this course with the same Professor 10/10 times

Should you want to expand your knowledge of Latin American and Caribbean histories (17th-21st centuries) look at taking a class with Professor Graden at the University of Idaho: I have lived for a decade in Latin America (Venezuela and Chile) & 3 years in the M.E. He has a wealth of knowledge which he shares regularly in lecture. Great attitude!

Dr. Graden is a fantastic professor. I took his 438 History of Mexico and Modern America's class and I was impressed with the course structure as well as the readings assigned. The class started with the Aztec empire and progressed through the Mexican Revolution and into the modern issues that trouble Mexico and Central America such as immigration.

Dr. Graden inspires by leading students to the material, then allowing them to explore it independently. He provides outstanding feedback, including links to additional resources that provide more comprehensive coverage of the subject matter. Dr. Graden demonstrates his commitment as an educator by going above and beyond institutional standards.

Dr. Graden expects you are intelligent and hardworking and gives full latitude to your creativity. Don't be afraid to follow your instincts, but make sure to write good theses and follow them. His online courses are almost exclusively book reviews, so be prepared to read a lot. Highly recommend.

I have taken a couple course with Dr. Graden. Both times I have thoroughly enjoyed both this approach to teaching the course material as well as his feedback. The texts used are engaging and thought provoking. His feedback has been thoughtful, inspiring, and relevant. I would urge anyone interested in history to take one of his courses!

This is one of the best classes at U of I. Professor Graden has chosen multiple readings that are insightful and incredibly thought provoking. If there is confusion or questions, he responds timely and with helpful tips. The information in this course is gathered through self-analysis of the readings, allowing for examination of everyday life.

Loved how it was online, but also slightly involved on campus. Super flexible with material, meaning if you express interest in going a different way with an assignment, is all ears.

As an adult returning to school to complete my degree, it was refreshing to have a professor who so carefully curated his materials and thought deeply about how the course was put together. Professor Graden compiled thought provoking and difficult topics for us to write on and wrestle with in the forms of critically acclaimed films and literature.

This professor brought film history alive with an impressive depth of knowledge and a passion for Oliver Stone's work. The assigned work illuminated the cultural and political contexts of Stone's films, making the course a thought-provoking exploration. Highly educated and caring professor. One of the best I've had.

I think Dale Graden is an exceptional educator and one the best professors at U of I. I've taken two of his courses and am enrolled in a third in my last semester before graduating with a minor in history next May. He is helpful, quick to reply to requests, and his courses are inspiring. Highly recommended!

I took HIST441 not knowing what to expect out of a course titled "Slavery and Freedom in the Americas." I am grateful for the lessons Dale Graden bestowed upon us throughout the semester. There is history here that is relevant today not found in other curriculums. I believe this is an essential class for historians and educators alike.

Dr. Graden makes HIST 440 essential. His storytelling/analysis brings global issues to life, fostering critical thinking and global awareness. At a time when humanities are under threat, this course proves their value. It's vital that UI keeps offering insightful classes like this one, ensures students engage with the world critically and deeply.

Dr. Graden makes HIST 440 an invaluable class. His engaging teaching and in-depth analysis connect Latin American revolutions to global issues, fostering critical thinking and global awareness. Courses like this are essential for helping students engage with the world thoughtfully. It's crucial that UI continues to offer such impactful classes.

This course should be a staple of any history program. For a topic so often overlooked and avoided, Dale approached "Slavery and Freedom in the Americas" with an expertise that made the class a comfortable space to discuss heavy, but essential topics. As a future educator, I found this course particularly useful.

This course was not the capstone course I was expecting, but was one I am glad I took. It had a level of flexibility that allowed us to discuss 'Hidden Histories' and critically discuss topics. It could have used some more structure and clear ideas presented, but you will learn a lot in this course.

Professor Graden's senior history seminar was as I expected, full of intentionally curated, thought provoking literature and media, with discussion heavy classes. Attendance was not mandatory, but it would have been a great loss to miss out on the lively discussions of issues both past and present. Graden offers great freedom within written work.

440 was one of the courses that even though it was fairly non rigorous, I learned probably more than any other course this semester. The reading list was awesome and you are encouraged to generate original thoughts and conclusions rather than parrot the professor's ‘correct' interpretations.

This is by far my most preferred course of the term: the content selection for review is beautifully constructed and eloquent in design. I can see how this class could easily slip out from under someone, as it is graded on very few items. Absolute pleasure to work alongside.

I loved this class and enjoyed interacting with Dr. Graden.

I'm so glad I took this class. I thoroughly enjoyed all of the readings and the creative freedom I had to write book critiques. Dr. Graden made learning fun, and structured this class perfectly. He is a great professor who provides thoughtful and kind feedback. I highly recommend taking Modern Mexico and The Americas, or any of his other classes.

Professor Graden and this course are fantastic. The homework is very manageable, requiring critical thinking and personal opinion (which I love). I am grateful for the effort that goes into the applicable reading/film selections, guiding us through enjoyable and relevant content. Highly recommended for any history major!

Dr. Graden's Mexican History class was fantastic. The course grade was based upon 4 papers and they were fairly easy. Great material and would take again.

This was the best kind of class to take over the summer. Each week I had to watch at least one movie and review it. I also had to read 2 assigned books and review them in relation to a movie. All the movies really made me think about history in a new context. The open ended nature of our “film reviews” gave me freedom to write what was on my mind.

This is an awesome class. Definitely don't procrastinate the writing assignments because there are not many, and he does have a high standard for writing quality. I appreciate that he is very organized. This would be a perfect summer course or to add if you're planning a heavy credit load.

This was a deep immersion study of LatAm and Central America countries (revolutions, social currents and trends + street art ) mostly in a historical context of last 50 years. Professor used video and personal experiences to share the historical context which added a deep connection to the material for the students to learn and appreciate

Taking History and Film was a good way to increase my credits without the normal amount of stress. Professor Graden gave clear expectations and gave feedback when requested. Overall, the class was fun and I enjoyed it.

This class had a thoughtful movie selection with multiple topics to choose from. They all brought up different topics in history, that are still relevant today. There are two books of your choice that you must read. Overall, an enjoyable and educational class that was fun to take and great for reaching my humanities credits.

HIST4400, at least, is very easy and a great introduction to both "social revolutions in Latin America" and U.S. involvement in LatAm. It's a small class, and we sometimes strayed into more every-day or domestic matters, but it's all always either connected or at least a bit insightful. If you feel like you're losing your head, take this class.

Incredible lecturer, one of if not the absolute best I've had. He is not at all afraid to criticize subjects which others may shy away from, like the patriarchy, the government, capitalism, etc. He frequently ties historical events and feelings to modern ones. The tests are easy to complete as long as you show up to class and pay attention.

I am a complete history nerd. Because of this, it is really easy for me to like history teachers/professors because I have always loved history, so it doesn't take much. But my goodness Dale has blown me away in such a good way. I would recommend any student to find a way to take his class. He is a good talker and explains things super, super well.

Dale was an amazing professor. His ability to lecture for extended lengths but not bore you is astounding. He connects things from all over even to problems you see in todays world. He's not afraid to criticize people either and he really does put his opinion out there. This class is simple and fun as long as you show up to class and pay attention.

Dale was very fair with grading and group discussions. He taught Latin American history and with his personal experiences with a lot of the places he taught about, he made me really interested in it.

In all of the history classes that I have been in I feel like I actually learned something in this class. He likes to talk about not only the basic history but the underlying dogs as well.