Great class.

Jeff's a really interesting prof. He tends to discuss big topic issues very quickly though, so it can be a bit (or very) confusing. I wouldn't recommend taking the course as an easy elective, but if conflict interests you this is the class to take. Go talk to him in office hours for clarification. Really nice and interesting man to talk to.

He's a really interesting and nice guy, but its a hard class to take in first year. His lectures can be difficult to follow, but they are interesting. Definitely not an easy credit.

Jeff was an amazing professor who is clearly interested in this field. He was available to answer questions and clarify any matters that I was uncertain of. His papers are tough (you really have to work to achieve a good grade) but if you put in the effort he has no qualms about giving you the A you deserve. I would take definitely his class again!

Jeff is a great prof. I took Post 9/11 Terrorism and Radicalization with him and I've learned more in the last semester about terrorism than I would in any other 3 courses combined. He clearly knows his stuff, and is extremely well respected in the field. You HAVE to do the readings in order to do well in the class!! Would recommend!

This prof was super interesting to listen to. Has real-life experience in what he's teaching you, so he can give perspective that the textbook doesn't. Demanding, but reasonably so. Takes time to properly explain and answer questions.

He is my absolute favourite. If you are looking to actually learn something in school take a class with him. He may be intimidating at first but trust me, you'll walk away from this class feeling very accomplished with yourself.

Ratelle is a great prof, but his standards are high. If you do the readings and answer the midterms clearly, by using direct reading material and snippets of his lectures, you can definitely get an A. Go see him in his office! He is more than happy to help on a one-on-one basis. Take advantage of prof's office hours. Stand out, get noticed.

He recognizes when the class starts to fall asleep (8:30am lectures) and cuts class short. Very knowledgable in his field, though he structures his class as an upper year course. Very animated in the lectures and enthusiastic about the subjects taught, but this is not an easy credit. Textbook is required to understand concepts on the final exam.

Ratelle is my favourite prof as a first year. Always sat front row of his classes even though they began at 830 and always showed up. Entertaining and he keeps you awake. Makes his expectations clear and expects you to seek help if needed. Class attendance is a must because he doesnt post much on slides but he explains things well. Friendly man.

Amazing, amazing, prof! His lectures can be dry but his humour makes up for it. Do the readings before the lectures for better understanding of the material, especially for the second half of the semester. Start the research paper early and when studying always go back to the text book. Took as an elective, and would totally take again! :)

Ratelle was super nice. He's sort of hard to understand (if you take the course in English) due to his accent. But he's always there for his office hours and willing to help if you need it!

I found Ratelle to be a really good prof! I learned a lot and each lecture was interesting. Be prepared to see some graphic content though, it's definitely not for the faint of heart. Overall, his class was awesome!

Jeff is the friggin best! if you go to class and study the readings you'll do just fine. Jeff talks a big game because he wants to see your best but he's a totally fair grader. great guy too, great stories. he'll help you with anything you need and goes out of his way to help you out. Jeff's the man!

He is a great teacher, most of the time his lectures are good and his power points can be easy if you did read ,he really tries and makes sure that everyone understand before going any further, and always open to questions. He is very accessible outside of class, always willing to receive students in his office.

Favourite class of first year by far.

Amazing prof, inspired me to change my major to Conflict studies. He really knows his stuff and I loved going to his class.

This is an amazing class with an amazing professor. He may seem strict but he is really nice and makes sure that you succeed. He speaks clearly and explains the concepts very well. If you are aiming for an A+ in this class, I recommend applying content from the readings on the midterm and the exam.

One of the best professor's I've encountered. Extremely engaging and knowledgable throughout his lectures. You must work for your grade as he is a tougher marker. However, he does admit this is a challenging course as it is so specific. If Conflict Studies and Human Rights isn't your major then don't take for an "easy" elective as it can be hard.

AMAZING overall prof! Very funny teaches in great ways (lies down on tables, uses examples students can relate to). His course is hard and you really have to pay attention and do the readings but he does his best to ensure everyone understand and is very open to questions. Gives very good explanations and help during his office hours. LOVE JEFF.

Jeff is a great prof. He has a great sense of humor and cares about the content that he teaches. The assessments are pretty hard for a first-year course, especially the research paper, but the content is really interesting. His accent might be a little difficult for some to understand but he is always available to answer any questions you have.

I loved his lectures, learned a ton. He is very easy to listen to and is amusing in a dry humor kind of way. He seems very intimidating, but he is a really nice person, I recommend talking to him especially if you are in conflict studies and human rights as he is a very good person to know.

Dan Bilzerian's look-alike... The man is a bad-ass and an expert in his field. This class is NOT an easy first year Social Science course. The midterm and final weren't too bad, but the research paper was challenging. He is very clear with his expectations - but they are tough. He is passionate and entertaining. I enjoyed his class a lot.

If you don't want to put in work, don't take this class. Make a friend too because you can't miss a single lecture, the textbook is based off of his lectures which are taught like a 3rd yr class. Read the text book and start the research paper early. He is amazing though, loves what he teaches and really cares. Go to his office hours and ask Q's!

Very tough first year prof with high expectations. A bit unclear for grading criteria but be sure to attend class, take notes and read. Essay is brutal but an A is very possible in the course with work. Nice guy, good course but not a typical first year course.

Loved his class! You can tell he is passionate about the material and he is very knowledgable. One essay which required lots of work but was graded fairly easy. Not an easy A but super interesting! He may seem scary at first but don't be fooled he cares about his students and is an amazing prof.

Ratelle is an amazing proff and I would never miss the chance to take another class with him. The course material was very interesting although heavy but he'd made it clear that it wouldn't be a typical first year course. I will remember his class for the rest of my post secondary career as he made sure that we knew we were no longer in high school

Ratelle is a prof at the University of Ottawa that I will never forget. HIs teaching style is extremely effective, his ability to answer questions during, after, and outside of the classroom is exceptional. Ratelle makes it clear the first day that his class and the material is going to be hard, but if you work for it, it is more than achievable.

Jeff is by far one of the best profs/teachers I had ever had. He makes lectures interesting, and does a very good job at responding to questions. Though his expectations are heavy, he makes them clear and is always willing to offer clarification if needed. Would definitely take another course with him. Love ya Jeff

Il est trop bon, la matière qu'il enseigne est complexe mais tu apprend tellement dans son cours, il est tellement gentil et il veut que ses élèves réussissent. Il est toujours prêt a répondre des questions et clarifier des concepts. Ses attentes sont vrm claire en plus! Jeff if you're reading this you're awesome, best teacher I've had @UofO :)

Prof Ratelle is by fa my favorite prof at U of O. He's like a teddy bear, all soft and nice and gives great feedback! It helps to do the readings but you can still get a decent grade without doing them (like moi). The material is pretty hard but interesting. His lectures are interesting and stimulating. Would definitely take any class he taught!

Professor Ratelle is the best. His lectures are really interesting and engaging and he talks about his own research which is really interesting. The final paper was pretty hard and he reminds you how hard it's going to be all the way up until it's due. Midterm/final were pretty easy, he hints at what the topics are going to be during the lectures.

He's great, helps out in every way possible.

Professor Ratelle literally makes you want to be in class. I dont know if he does this for all years but he truly cares for the first years as he understand they come fresh out of high school. He is passionate about everything he teaches. He is such a good prof and knows exactly how to teach and makes it a good lecture even at 8:30AM.

He scared me at first. But hes great. He teaches well. Its very important to read your book, and to ask questions alllll the time. ECH1100 is probably one of the hardest classes Ive taken a far but if you work hard enough for it, its all good.

Super fun and does a great job teaching! 10/10 would take again!

He is a real gem of a professor! his lectures are amazing and he does so much to make them interesting like putting on entertaining clips, and even jumping on the freaking desk to get our attention. He understands that we have other things outside his class, and does his greatest to make sure we succeed. (basically gives us the answers in class)

Hes honestly my favorite prof. Hes a great lecturer and really makes you enjoy learning (i know love history because of him). He obviously knows what hes teaching really well and he knows how to convey it even better. Hes also really cute!! All you have to do is go to class and take good notes (you wont need to do the readings if you do that).

Make sure you attend all the lectures because he gives lots of hints as to what is gonna be on the exams Exams are short essays (2-3 pages per question/ 2 or 3 questions per exam) 1 paper to write (2500 words) Criteria is clear Again, go to the lectures They arent boring, and he is funny and engaging

Subject matter can be somewhat challenging but his teaching methods really help. You can tell this is a prof who cares about his students and wants them to succeed. Very understanding and explains his expectations for assignments and exams very well. Would definitely chose to have him as a professor again. Plus his beard is a 10/10

Ratelle is an amazing prof! He is very knowledgeable about his topics, and is amazing at giving examples that help to understand very complex and in depth topics! He is overall a very funny and great teacher! The classes are worth attending. The class itself is very in depth and can be very complex, would not be an easy elective.

Ratelle is the best prof I've encountered in my first year. He is clearly very knowledgable, and his lectures are always entertaining! If you want a good grade, I would recommend attending every single one and listening carefully. This course is NOT an easy elective where everybody gets an A+, it goes in depth into international law.

Ratelle is a really enthusiastic professor and his lectures are very entertaining to be in. He gets very into the topic he is teaching and is an excellent teacher that makes complex ideas easy to understand. The textbook is good to look at for details but just going to class will give you a pretty good understanding of the topic.

Loved him, please take him. He is a true gem.

He is an amazing prof and is very passionate. He is always available to help and is incredibly clear about the requirements and gives very good hints for the questions on the midterm and exam. May be tough material but attending class and going to office hours helps a lot and if you do your due diligence, you will get an A in this course!

Wasn't the most inspiring lecturer but was very clear about what was important to understand and used lots of videos, took time to answer questions thoroughly. Practically gave us the questions for the exams. Don't bother getting the textbook, we didn't use it, exams are only based on lectures. Decent summer elective.

Absolutely amazing class. Loved every second of it. Ratelle is knowledgeable, engaging, and compassionate. Having a good understanding of history will help you a lot in this class! Overall, 10/10. Can't recommend this class with this prof enough.

One of the best prof I've had. I felt like I learned a lot. I was challenged by the subjects without feeling overwhelmed. Loved it.

Highly respected and humorous. He warns that the class will be hard but not really. He makes his expectations so clear that its hard to fail. He gives the exam questions during lectures. Highly highly qualified

Monsieur Ratelle is by far my favourite prof ive had so far. Hes understanding, interesting and just genuinely nice. All you have to do is study HARD and have an interest for what he teaches or else youll fail. His class is hard but him as a person: 10/10.

Great prof who wants you to do well. Lectures are interesting, if you go to all of them and pay attention you'll probably do well. Textbook isn't MANDATORY, but it will be extremely useful if you ever miss classes or don't understand a concept. Tells you his expectations in class, exams & the paper are very easy if you do exactly what he says

Best guy, coolest dude. lectures can be a little messy sometimes, but hes very into his work and that adds to the class. he literally tells you what's on the exam. he doesn't hire the best TA's though, so for the research paper good luck. other than that I really enjoyed his class.

Hands down one of the best profs I had in uni. Passionate, well organized, clear grading, caring, and hilarious. All around a great prof.

Prof Ratelle is knowlegeable, interesting in class and outside of classroom. He is an outside the box prof, i really enjoy him as a prof but you have to be serious and dedicated to his class.

Prof. Ratelle is a great guy. Super chill and straight up. He starts off the course with stating his expectations. You have to actually put the work in in this class to get a good grade (he's used to seeing low grades). Overall a pretty interesting class BUT there is a lot of info. He pretty much tells you what to study for the exams which helps.

Amazing professor !! Very interesting lecture and chooses great exam subject so that it is even more interesting

ECH1100 was my favourite class this year! But also probably one of the harder classes I have taken for sure. The prof explains the material really well and always lets you know what to know for the midterm and final exam. I wouldn't take it if you're looking for an easy elective because there is a lot of work to be put into for this class.

He's not only smart but humble and very clear with his explanations. He's always willing to push students to learn more and to ask questions! I'm not going to lie his exams are a little bit hard (because you have to analyze and not memorize what you have seen in class), but you can easily have a better grade once you have done the first one.

He might scare you at first, but once you realize how knowledgeable he is, you'll be blown away. Not only does he know his stuff, he has incredible experience. Don't skip class and do all the readings attentively. He teaches you so much, but only if you work for it. Hands down one of the best profs you'll ever meet.

I had this prof for ECH3720 and ECH3710 and he is amazing. He knows what he's talking about, he explains in depth the different topics and he makes sure you understand everything. It's probably one of the only classes of all my degree that I honestly learned a lot. You get out of this class knowing so much more and it prepares you for any debates.

M. Ratelle est devenu mon prof préféré depuis 2 ans maintenant. Il est très clair et explique très bien sa matière. Il est toujours disponible pour répondre aux questions. Ses dissertations, même sils sont «time consuming», les exigences sont claires et il ne te donne pas de limites de mots. Je me sens 100 % prête pour la vie professionnelle!

literally the best teacher I've had. He cares so much about the success of his students and will do anything to make his lectures fun and interesting. When I took this class, we were only graded on a midterm, a research project, and a final exam, which is great. I definitely recommend this teacher. He's awesome.

Very knowledgeable about the subjects he teaches.

I had Professor Ratelle for a couple classes, and he was a pleasure of a professor for both of them. His classes were always looked forward to. He gave genuine feedback on assignments, and was always willing to hold one-on-one zoom appointments to help his students. Assignments were reasonably challenging, but enjoyably so. Highly recommend!

Great prof, his lectures are well organized and informative. This class is not an easy A but it is very interesting. He records his lectures and is very quick to answer emails. He is a caring prof so don't be scared to reach out!

literally so nice!!!! gave me an extension when i really needed it and even provided numbers/websites for on campus support. really great prof would 100000% recommend.

I love this prof. He is amazing and really cares about his students. I wish him the world literally

jf is a legend. heavy lectures but very pertinent and interesting. you definitely have to work for a good grade but it's worth it. would take any class taught by him!

best prof everrrr

amazing teacher! had him last semester too, very caring & patient with students, always ready to answer questions, material is very precise & exams are based only in what you learn in class, no trick questions. Very lenient with students' personal situations. good & impartial feedback. favorite teacher, would have him again

AMAZING TEACHER !! heavy lectures so you can't skip his classes, however he's very caring and supportive of his students, extremely knowledgeable, good feedback, papers are based literally on the material so no trick questions, very precise and clear expectations, classes are sooo organized. best teacher out there

Great prof. Really cares about his students. His lectures are really interesting and engaging. There are a lot of readings but they're all relevant to the class material. His class isn't an easy A, but it isn't too hard of a class either.

Bets prof i've had so far, lots of readings but all relevant to the course. Lectures are heavy but he gives you access to the powerpoints and recordings, wouldn't recommend skipping class though. He's always available to answer questions and overall really cares about his students

It is amazing just how intelligent professor Ratelle is. He knows his stuff, and expects you learn his material quickly. He is amazing lecturer, who captivates his audience. However, his exams are very difficult. The final exam consisted of writing two essays by hand with no notes. There was tons of material to memorize. Be prepared to work!

professor rattelle is great! i got a good grade in his class by clarifying, asking him questions independently after class. very lecture heavy, tons of notes, and not always the most clear about a subject but he is always open to questions and pointers on how to do well. i really liked him and he gave me a great amount of support during the term.

Dr. Ratelle is amazing, his class was difficult but he did the best he absolutely could to help the students. He cares, he's so kind, VERY intelligent and he knows his stuff. This class was hands down the hardest A I've ever worked for, but, his class was so worth It and I learnt so much. VERY content heavy, do NOT skip class. he's always helpful.

ECH1100 is one of the most difficult classes in FSS, and the most difficult course that Prof. Ratelle teaches. He is amazing at what he does, and is very caring. Class comprised of a midterm exam (hand written essay), a research essay, and final exam which was 2 hand written essays. If you skip a class, you'll drown. He's an AMAZING prof tho!

A real G

While this is one of the most difficult classes ever taken, this professor was so approachable and helpful, that I got a 100% on my midterm. He tells you exactly what he wants from you in the exam and you are able to prepare for it a month ahead of time (which I REALLY recommend).

This class is fairly difficult and challenging, but probably one of the ECH classes I learned the most from in the entirety of my undergrad. He teaches well, his expectations are clear and if you study hard, you can definitely succeed well on his midterms and finish with an A/A+ in his class, it is all about the work you're willing to put in.

Good prof! very interesting

One of the best Profs in ECH, really knows his stuff and cares about his students. He is always available outside of class for questions and he clearly tells you what you need to study for your assignments. Grades were based off of 2 discussion groups, 2 midterms and a final, each exam was one single essay question.

Ratelle was by far my favorite teacher! He's so smart and it definitely shows. Make sure to study well on the midterm and final because aside from the 2500-word research paper you won't have a chance to make up for it. I got an A- on the final with about three days of studying.

The amazing teacher that I've had. Probably one of the only classes that you do understand, because it is not filled with academic jargon without an explanation. He makes sure that the whole group follows him, and usually, everyone is enough awake IN HIS CLASS to say yes. LoL. He cared enough to up me up a single point :) Thanks again!

nothing to say I recommend teacher who takes care of her students and responds very well to questions and misunderstandings he sends the evaluation subjects 24 hours in advance

Professor Ratelle was amazing. His expectations are clear and grading is extremely fair. Pay attention to hints during the lectures about what will be on the exams, because he practically gives you the questions you'll be required to answer. Make sure to ask questions if you get confused!!! 10/10 would recommend.

He is an amazing prof. He really knows his stuff and wants his students to succeed. His exams can be kinda hard since it's only one question but if you listen to him closely in his lectures, he will tell you want the question is and how to answer it. Will be looking to enroll in his next classes !

This teacher was just amazing :)!!!!! Sometimes it's difficult to understand some concepts, but every single time he takes time to explain it even further. Would 100 % take him again.

He was such a nice professor. Sometimes a little hard to understand what he's trying to say but such a caring guy. He recorded all of the lectures and posted them and also made the TA's re-mark our assignments and exams because they marked too harshly. Would definitely recommend!

Professor Ratelle is brilliant, but his class is no easy feat. Stay on top of the material, utilize resources like unstuck study, and you'll be rewarded with a valuable learning experience. Tough but worth it.

Funny guy, fun lectures, hard midterm and final though, be ready to study lots

A brilliant professor - so knowledgeable and an equally amazing human being. Very kind and teachers like this make the student want to work harder ! I would highly recommend staying up to date with the lectures, don't miss class, focus on his funny analogies and hints and you will do well! I have so much respect for this prof!

I have so much respect for this prof and highly recommend taking any class with him! JFR is extremely knowledgeable in the subject and a very engaging lecturer (I could actually sit through the 7-10 evening classes without falling asleep). He answers questions well. The grading is 50% midterm and 50% final. If you go to class you'll be fine.

Definitely can't slack in this class, if you don't do the work you won't pass but it's a really good class imo. Prof knows what he's talking about and you know he's passionate about it. Ready to help you one on one if you want. The class is also hybrid so you can look back on the lectures on your own time which helps a lot when exams roll around.

Would 100% take again. He's pretty funny and the lectures are interesting. You need to study though.

Interesting lectures! Although the course was split 50% between mid-term and final, the professor made sure the grading was fair.

Exams (midterm and final) are worth 50% each, and that makes this class very intimidating. Despite that, Ratelle gives you everything you need to succeed. He's clear on what you must know for the exams and gives the class a heads-up whenever one of those topics comes up. He's also great at answering questions and his lectures are always engaging.

Very entertaining, which makes class engaging, even if class sizes are huge, 50% midterm, 50% final. If you go to class, you'll be fine, but make sure to be detailed when writing exams.

Wonderful Professor, very able and qualified in the matter and in his relay of information. Conceptualizes abstract notions w funny analogies, course is very VERY content and matter heavy in readings and in lectures, b prepared t take many notes, however if interested you will love this prof. always open to questions. highly recommend.

The A didn't come easily, but the professor was wonderful. Very funny, very clear, and very succinct. If you're prepared to put the work in, you will have a good time. You usually don't have to do the readings unless you don't understand a concept or you genuinely want to learn more; taking detailed lecture notes is usually sufficient.

You're graded by only two things, the midterm and final that are 50% each. He posts recorded lectures, making it easy to rewatch them. Overall, he's a good prof, but the class has a lot of content that you need to understand clearly for the exam and know details. He does a good job of explaining the topics, but watch the lectures and take notes.

Overall, this course was great & super interesting. However, you are only graded by a midterm (50%) and a final exam (50%), which is a little overwhelming at first, but lectures are recorded and slides are posted, so if you attend class and/or watch all the recorded lectures, you'll be just fine!

1 midterm and a final both equally weighted (50%). Replies to emails extremely quickly, and you can send one to ask a question during class. Provides an online option for the course and records the classes. The course content was the problem, and not the prof. It was bulky and a lot to remember and link. Some TAs were also tough graders.