his classes are not hard if you pay attention, but he is strict and hes a republican...theres also a group presentation in all his classes.

Very nice, and tries to get everyone interested. But, it is a very complex subject. Good teacher though. Don't be afraid to ask questions, even if he makes you get down and give him twenty push ups. He's not a republican, though, he's a realist. He put down the current administration, so obviously he is a realist. No need to be liberal in business.

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how does "being republican" help?

Best finance class I ever took,notes are very clear,though finance is not my major and Iam not that great at it, I definetly learnt a great deal.He is very generous on the grading I got more than I hope I definetly would retake it again.

Great professor, one of the fews. Interesting class. He helps you with the problems far and behind of what is required.Can make boring material interesting...and you can understand him. I would retake him no second thougths.

One of my favorite professors ever. He really cares about finding the best ways to teach VERY difficult concepts. Also, he has the best, wildest stories about real international business activities. If he is not to your liking, you will know immediately (and you should drop) but if you like his style, you will learn an amazing amount.

Very difficult class but you can do well and will learn a lot if you work hard. Do practice exams and come to class prepared or you won't be able to catch up. He's a good professor who cares about his students. Take him if you want to learn International Finance.

hard class, easy to talk to the professor, guidelines are set on the first day of class. Every thing you need is accessable thru web site even practice test for Mid-term and Final. There is a oral project too. I have taken three of his classes and recieved grades from C, C- and B.

He is quite a character. I enjoy his teaching style and funny personality. He is very smart. Take advantage of what he has to offer. Cu

I took Dr Refalo 2 years ago. I hated the class. He has a very tough and aggressive teaching style. He will get in your face if you are a complete moron. Looking back, I appreciate and respect him. If you look to get in wealth mgmt, you need to take the 7 exam. His class will prepare you! And he predicted the market we are having now. He is LEGIT!

Very scary at first. However, teaches very well and is very strict and expects you to study every week. If you do all the problems you will do fine on midterm and final. Also likes to put down our school and compare it to NYU all the time. If you want to get an easy A or B - DO NOT TAKE HIM!! But if you want to learn - go ahead!

My class just took the midterm and all but a few failed it. Avg grade was 14 out of 30. He is by far the hardest professor you can get at Cal State L.A. But I will say that even though I did not do that well on his midterm, I feel that I have learned more from him then all my Fin professors combined. If you just want to walk through school and get

Makes learning a fun experience. I wish Prof Refalo teaches more courses in Finance towards my MBA. His lectures are not just limited to class room learning but they will go a very long way - in real world applications. For eg: His way of teaching derivatives helped me a lot in my CFA exam. CSU LA and all of our students are blessed to have him.

James Refalo is an extremely capable professor that has a virtual corner on every angle in institutional finance. This professor is for the student that wants to gain the most from his time in business school. He is completely open and accessible on a one-to-one level. You could name any influential individual on Wall Street or in Private Equit

The best teacher at CSULA. The class is really hard, but come on, this is a university, not high school!!! Read his notes. Ask questions if you don't understand! Come to his office hours. He is very helpful! Exams are hard but based on everything whatever was discussed in class. No surprises. I wish we had more professors like him at CSULA...

good teaching style

He teaches one of the hardest cources in international business major, and he does pretty good job with it. Glen Becks follower - a bit disturbing... but a good teacher. No easy grades, realy tough egzams.. got to study a lot if you want to pass. good luck

Class is 100% lecture. Homework questions are assigned but he doesnt collect. Test are 100% from book. **READ** and practice. Good professor overall.

Great professor; if you really want to learen finance and investment banking take this class. His time value of money lecture will help you understand finance. Once you understand it; you will never forget it. Prepare to study 8-10 hours a week if you want higher than a B. Took him for 335 and 331. Great professor; has practical experience.

Holy cow professor R, is a very sharp guy, I love his attitude, the only problem is his hotness, it distracts the students from the lecture. Thanks Dr. R

This professor gives you everything you need to get an A in the class. He provides you with highly-detailed lecture notes, and examples with explanations/answers included. As long as you do the required studying (outside of the classroom), you will be successful in this class. Not boring. Excellent Professor.

This teacher is very knowledgeable about finance. He also give you lecture notes & a study guide that he tests from. He is very passionate & shares his opinion with the class. Many mistake his passion for being abrasive & rude so if you are sensitive, don't want to interact in the class, learn, or study, don't take his class.

OMG!This class was difficult! Extremely hard to get an A, nearly impossible. At the end, most were happy to get a C. He is very knowledgeable & therfore gets upset when you don't have the right answers. Do the extra credit! Lecture notes &practice tests are all you need but you have to get it down cold. Will seem rude & arrogant but just ignore it!

Very challenging but that's the way school should be. Tough but great professor.

This was the hardest class I've ever taken at CSULA. One must put in sufficient time n hard work for this class. Professor Refalo is intimidating because he has a certain expectation for everyyone taking this class, but you'll learn a lot from his lectures and notes. Make sure to do his essay questions and problem sets!

Professor is really smart. Gives very good life examples that I will use later in life. Overall I learned so much in this class. 1 midterm, 1 final and online hw.(have to buy access code ) Exams are tough. study guide isn't enough.

Great Professor. You can feel that he genuinely cares about giving you real-world knowledge that you won't just trough away once the class is over. Gives you all you need to succeed in the class, be prepared to spend time reading the material.

This is not an easy class. However, if you take it seriously, you would learn basic concepts and terms for many fields related to finance. You will receive optional homework that you don't need to turn in but doing it will bring you value in the future.

Professor Refalo is very respected and knowledgeable. His teaching method is crystal clear and delivers the concept of the subject in its best way possible. He spends tremendous amount of time and effort to make sure you get the most out of the lecture. Quality self pre recorded videos provided that is a must to watch and learn. Meet the SUCCESS!

Professor Refalo is an extremely knowledgeable, deeply caring individual who's only goal is for students to succeed. You are getting an Ivy League education at a Cal state price. The lecture video's and written notes are very informative and very well written. All the information you learn is very practical and will help you succeed after college.

Dr. Refalo is tough, but he cares. Finances are not an easy subject. If students speak up and say what they want, he listens. Rafalo teaches one day, and the other day he goes over homework, students just need to ask a question. Even though he says you don't have to come, go. It will help. Just do all the homework.

Very clear lectures; makes finance easy. He is accommodating; provides lectures in person and video conferencing, and makes helpful resources readily available online. Provides examples, practice problems and is available for questions and is very helpful.

This course was challenging, but Professor Refalo provides extra materials to help with that and a day dedicated to any questions you may have! You have to do the homework, but attendance is mandatory. Professor Refalo is a strict teacher but helps you learn the material in this course.

In think the professor is very fair. He allowed us to retake a midterm to improve our first midterm grade! I love that even though it is an in person class, he has prerecorded lectures to access on canvas. Overall I believe he is trying to prepare his students for the real life workforce. Just do the work and you'll pass his class.

He is very straight forward and honest professor, doesn't sugar coat his choice of words. The exams are hard, but he helped the class by allowing our 2nd exam score to replace our 1st exam score. Good professor, but I guess some people are very sensitive lol. Make sure you buy the financial calculator he recommends and figure out your presentation.

Professor Refalo is very knowledgeable, generous, and caring. Take him if you want to learn about finance. His course is challenging, but if you do the homework and study, you should be okay. His lectures were all recorded online, which was a big help for me.

Professor Refalo is a passionate and supportive educator. His engaging, well-structured lectures and real-world examples make learning easy. He's approachable, helpful, and gives clear feedback. Highly recommend their class!

Professor Refalo delivers the Financial Institutions and Markets course with clarity and depth, making even challenging topics easy to grasp. The course is thoughtfully structured and enriched with practical examples. He's supportive, easy to reach, and truly committed to helping students learn. A great professor to learn from!

All the negative reviews are people who failed the class and didn't study. This professor is fair on his exams and curves the exam to allow students to pass. There are 3 Exams and a project, so STUDY- if you don't, you won't pass. He is very knowledgeable in finance, learning from him and his experiences in Wall Street was an incredible opportunity

Class is hard but he does give you a chance to redeem yourself later. Does offer some extra credit. He can come off a bit harsh but also he served in the military so you can expect that.

Not sure why people feel the need to bash an online class if you're unprepared or didn't study enough. Everything instructional is on Canvas but work and exams are on Connect. He gives adequate time for preparation and homework completion. He can come off strict but only because he cares. Clearly cares, as professors don't HAVE to give reminders!