4.6
Quality2.5
Difficulty99%
Would Retake197
Reviews99%
Would Retake
197
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
156
4
27
3
8
2
2
1
4
What Students Say
“Best professor I ever had”
SOC4162 - 5.0 rating“This class was frustrating for me”
SOC4162 - 5.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
98%
Textbook Required
100%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
A+
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Stable
+0.02 avg changeRatings by Course
3101
5.0
(1)4090SUM03
5.0
(1)CRIME
5.0
(1)SOC41622
5.0
(2)CRIMINOLOG
5.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
CRIMINOLOG
5.0
3101
4.0
CRIMPRO
4.0
CRIME
4.0
SOCHIST
4.0
Reviews (197)
This person is a great teacher. He is definitely one of the U's finest. He has great respect for students. I am honored that I had the chance to take a class taught by him.
Interesting lectures. Classes primarily discussion-based.
all he talks about is stomping on his neighbor's grave. He is SO unhelpful, and having taking numerous courses in the criminology field, Samaha sucks.
By far the best the U has to offer.
Good stuff! I hope I have Samaha-types when I actually go to law school!
Samaha is THE BEST. He keeps your attention and his "no apologies" attitude is refreshing. He doesn't stress about being politically correct, he tells you how it is. TAKE HIS CLASSES!
Great teacher, plays devils advocate a lot for class to get students to think.
Excellent, excellent, excellent. I had him as a freshman and now as a senior I can easily say I have never found better!
"Fox news is the Al-Jazeera of the United States" - Samaha
The best the U has to offer. Extraordinary teaching abilities. Gets you to think without it being painful. You can't help but be intrigued by his wonderfully facilitated class discussions (which make up a majority of the class)
Joel Samaha is one of the best professors I have ever had. He doesn't try to teach a politically correct course and he speaks his mind. He also urges students to express their views.
Very thorough professor. But he has a serious political agenda which is distracting.
coolest teacher ever!!!!!!!!!!!1
Best teacherI ever had at the U of MN. I took as many of his classes as I could. If you have a chance take his class, it is an experience of what it is really like out there. He keeps you thinking and on your toes. I'll never forget what he taught me.
Best teacher at the U! He is honest and hilarious. His classes could be some of the toughest (depending on which class) that you take, but it is worth it. Samaha gives his students the ability to think analytically in a challenging way.
lectures are fun but his tests are extremely difficult. His TA wasn't much help either. He's very opinionated and lets you know it. Besides the bad grade i got in the class, I thought it was fun.
Great chap. Yes he's tough, but he makes the subject interesting. It's kind of like a strenuous workout - you're tired at the end, but you feel good and clean because you did it.
A wonderful man. I do not think I have ever met someone so interesting. Love the subject matter (history of law) and his sense of humour.
It's been ten years since I took his class; I'm in grad school for criminal justice now, partly due to how much I loved his course. I still say he's one of the best professors I've ever had. You think he impresses you now -- wait til ten years from now!
The best
Great teacher, one of the best at the university.
The best professor ive ever had. This class got me really interested in law. Hes really picky about assignments and such but its not that bad. Prob the most interesting class ive taken thus far
Professor Samaha is one of the best at the U. Class was interactive and mixed all sorts of learning materials (guest lectures, textbook, videos, his own lectures, lots of discussion). Highly recommended and SO interesting.
I just took his class to get a requirement out of the way but I really enjoyed it. The class is very interesting and highly recommended...
He teaches Criminal Law and Crim Procedure, and I would highly recommend his classes to anyone interested in criminology.
I hated that guy. He was extremely inflexible when I had a family emergency - a true family emergency, not a hangover/unplanned pregnancy/syphillis.
He's definitely a hardass and his tests are not the easiest thing in the world, but he was the best professor I've had at the U. Integrates all different types of teaching into his lectures and makes the class enjoyable and provides incentive for going.
Best professor ever had
Makes you work, but so does he - excellent presenter and facilitator. This is not an easy class or an "easy" professor. Then again, you will learn plenty about law and remember what you learned later when you will surely need it if you want to be a lawyer.
This is the 2nd glass I have taken with Samaha. It was a pleasure, as was the last class. He is very into the material and the class is very interactive. Best professor at the U, hands down.
I had Samaha in 1989 and 1990. Superb teacher, really made us think and the class was interactive. His were the best classes I had at the U of M including the 3 years of law school.
Had Samaha for spring of 05 and thought he was the best prof on campus, and I've had a few other good ones. He is wise and appears as the average everyday american joe but has a prestigious educational background. He was down to earth, witty, opinionated, and did not hold back, and was very good at starting up arguments. Good prof!
No Comments
Best Class I had at the U, anyone in Soc or with an interest in law/crime needs to at least take one class of his
Loved his class set-up. Extremely interesting. I love how opinionated he is ... 2000 pound killing machines, haha.
he knos what he's talking about but his tests are HARD!!!!!!!
My 3rd class with Samaha, and it didn't fail to keep me interested/entertained. Getting him talking about Edina's force of Hummer police cars and it's the funniest thing in the world. Enough stories to keep you entertained and make you learn something. Read the text super carefully for tests, pay attention, and you'll be fine.
I took my junior honors paper with Samaha. He's super flexible to student needs and gives constant feedback if you ask. He'll actually go out of his way to help you. And he's hilarious, he'll make fun of you if your paper sucks, but he'll help to fix it. You will improve your writing and you should get an A, he steers you so that it's hard not to.
Very difficult tests, but excellent teacher. Knows his subject backwards and forwards. Loves going off on tangents not at all pertaining to criminal justice, but are very funny and interesting anyway. Refuses to teach anything from the book (even though he wrote it) which may be why the tests seem so hard.
Amazing professor! Doesn't lecture from the book, and really teaches you about more important things. I loved having guest lectures that have good careers in the criminal justice field. Everyone was so passionate; it was very inspiring! Exams are hard though. Read and outline the book!
Amazing, amazing teacher. He's not going to bore you with lectures out of the book and he's not afraid to address controversal topics. Every class is built around current events and real people. The tests are tough, but you'll do well if you read the book and do the online practice questions on the companion website.
I have taken every single class he teaches. I would take them twice if I could, because even though he's been teaching for years, he keeps incorporating new ideas into his old stuff. The discussions are provocative, and he is HILARIOUS! Loves subtly making fun of opinionated students (all in good fun.)Take a class from him before he bites the dust.
Learned a lot, was funny, easy A. My favorite teacher so far at college.
He forces you to question your bias about how a criminal justice system should work. While the class was easy, the framework was such that it still allowed for a great amount learning about the subject.
great class and teacher
The text is easy and fun to read. Prof. is hilarious. He gives out tons of bonus points. Uses a lot of videos/guest lectures. This is the only class that I attend every lecture because he makes it interesting. Overall, the class is pretty easy. Take this class even if it is not in your major. It's good stuff to know, as an American!!
Prof. Samaha is the best there is. His Crim. Law class is tough with exams every week, but he makes it interesting. He has no regard for political correctness, and that makes him an outstanding prof.
Samaha kicks ass. You only read about 5-10 pages a week and have a quiz on them, then you just discuss important court cases all the time. The discussions are always extremely entertaining, especially his rants on any particular topic. Remember: check your political correctness at the door. We know he does.
ABSOLUTELY AMAZING
Samaha is the best professor I have ever had. He keeps you interested throughout the entire lecture, the tests are manageable, and the reading is actually INTERESTING! Take this class with him, you won't regret it!
Samaha is an awesome guy. The lectures were really interesting and he gets some good guest speakers. His exams were really tough though because he has some tricky questions. If your willing to put in the work, take this class.
Definately a deserving recipient of the Horace T. Morse Distinguished Teaching Professor Award. GREAT prof. Take his classes if you can. Only downside: My TA could barely speak English. Prof. Samaha cares greatly about his students' success, and his enthusiasm, warmth, and humor generate a classroom environment conducive to learning. A+ teacher.
By far my favorite professor at the U. He is demanding - if you don't attend class, participate in discussions, or do the readings, you're screwed - but he makes the material so interesting that you don't care. He also wrote a great grad school reference for me and even took me out to lunch when I got accepted. Great teacher and great guy.
many small writing assignments and many readings
He's great,fun, and invites guest from the field. You will learn alot. He rambles at times but just memorize the inclass clicker questions beacause they ARE the test. The test options are always A-C,A&B,B&C,None. And all of the choices you'll hear in lecture. I did poorly on them and still got an A. The is plenty of extra credit and.
Samaha is an amazing guy, but his 4162 class is WAY harder than his 3101 class, so don't expect an A just because you got one in the intro class. Expect to study an hour or two before each weekly quiz if you want a good grade. Still, the class itself is wonderful, filled with great debates with classmates and much devils-advocating by Samaha.
This class was frustrating for me. Super nice guy, great discussions in class, but the weekly assessments were just to see if you memorized the chapter. Create mnemonic devices for studying, to get through the tests. Know lists and tables that show up in the chapter. The text, which he authored, is disorganized and repetative.
The easiest class I've ever taken. Missed 30 points out of 1200 the whole semester not to mention my billion extra credit points. I didn't learn a thing however. This guy is way over the hill.
Joel Samaha is an awesome professor in the Intro to Criminal Justice! He is very easy to listen to. He really listens to students and their opinions. He allows discussions. He isn't biased toward republicans or democrats. You have clicker questions for extra credit/attendance, so you have to go to class.
Great class- Prof Samaha has a great sense of humor. Would have been helpful to have powerpoint slides when he was giving lectures. LOTS of bonus points and exams are pretty easy as long as you showed up to class.
He was fun
The best professor I ever had!!!!
I learned a lot in this class and it was an easy A provided you showed up to class and listened. He has a good sense of humor and geniunely cares about his students. His tests are fairly easy, but sometimes awkwardly worded.
People who don't like this guy are ridiculous. He knows what he's talking about and gives everyone the opportunity to talk. This class is a lot of discussion and its fun. There is a rather large assignment each week and a quiz but they are easy to pass. Take this class, he is great. Samaha will make you laugh all class.
Professor Samaha is a wonderful professor. You can tell he loves his profession and thoroughly enjoys teaching college students. The class is pretty easy as long as you show up and listen. He makes you have a clicker so that he can use that for attendance points. His class was very interesting and taught me a lot about the Criminal Justice system.
I read all the great reviews about this guy and signed up for his class. I have no idea what all the great comments are about. Yes, his class is way easy. Yes, the speakers he invites are good. Other then that though, the vast majority of the time you're listening to him drivel on about politics or nonsense that has nothing to do with the course.
Samaha is the man. Funny, involved, and very caring, it's clear that he loves his job and the students he has each semester.
Easy and entertaining. Basically if you show up, you'll succeed. He's kind of a crotchety old man, but it works for him. Take this class.
As my friend describes him, "He loves to bring up different controversial topics, and listen to the idiotic opinions students have, realizing we are the future of america... It's like h e knows we're screwed."
It's an easy class and he genuinely enjoys what he's teaching about. He's a crazy old man, but his class is totally worth taking.
The class is very easy, all you have to do really is show up. Professor Samaha is awesome, and keeps lecture not-so-boring. Nothing in this class to complain about really. The TA's make the exams, and it's not that hard if you attend class everyday. Not very much reading either, it's about 2-3 chapters per month really. A class worth taking.
Samaha is amazing. He is older than dirt, but he knows what he is talking about. His sense of humor is fantastic and there is never a dull day in class. Very little reading, one writing assignment as a group and multiple choice questions with a great study guide!!
Professor Samaha was a wonderful professor who has a great sense of humor. The things you learn in this class is very interesting. Easy class as well. I would recommend to anyone.
Probably one of the funniest professors I've ever had. His class was very informative and easy as well. I would recommend him to anybody. I would actually go out of my way to take a class with him, he's that funny!
Professor Samaha is one of the best professors I have ever had. I just signed up to take another of his classes because he is so good. He doesn't approach topics with a bias, but tries to educate students on the facts. The class was pretty easy to get an A in though you should go to lecture.
Awesome teacher! Awesome class!
easy class
One of my favorite. He loves his job and loves what he teaches. Not a student who doesn't love him because he's hilarious and makes his classes interesting. Highly recommended for anyone as a class because you learn a lot and have fun doing so.
The best. He is so funny and extremely well versed on criminal law. Provides tons of extra credit and has straight forward but interesting exams! Take his class! You get points just for showing up on time to class!
Professor Samaha is fantastic. This is my third class i've taken with him and i've enjoyed every one equally. Be prepared to participate in class and make sure to do the readings for the weekly tests. He brings a passion to the classroom that is unmatched and I highly recommend both this course and him as an instructor.
Very funny guy, great personality. The lectures can get off track, but he always owns up to that and returns soon enough. The course material gets covered, and he does a great job keeping the class politically incorrect, which fosters the discussions he leads.
Professor Samaha is fantastic! He makes class materials relate to every day lives! He loves teaching and is very dedicated. If you need help or are not understanding, he will definitely help you! I have taken two classes with him and loved them both! Some of his classes require quite a bit of work but it's worth it!
Absolutely one of the best profs every. Honest, direct and authentic. I would recommend to anyone.
Great professor! Very funny and sarcastic! Knows his stuff and is very smart!!! Not afraid to speak his mind. The best professor at the University of MN! Definitely take classes from him!
Simply said, he's the best.
I would highly recommend this professor. If you have an interest in Sociology and have a chance to take one of his classes do it! He has a real passion for teaching and it is incredibly refreshing to have a professor that truly loves his job.
He is incredibly inconsistent, hard to understand and his lectures are dull. Everyone says they love him and he's so sweet, but I tried to get help from him once and he laughed in my face and said, "that's what my TA's are for. Did you even read the syllabus"? Needless to say, I'd avoid Joel Samaha.
Extremely knowledgeable professor who is interested in class-orientated discussions and hearing the opinions of his students. Class met only once a week so reading outside of class was semi-heavy, however, completing the reading allowed for better participation in class discussions and understanding.
One of the best professors I had at the U. He really knows his stuff and you can tell he is passionate. Just remember to take notes since every little detail is fair game on an exam. If you do that and attend class you should do great.
Prof Samaha was my favorite professor I have had yet. He makes the class laugh daily and is very strong minded and passionate about what he teaches. I highly recommend him to anyone who appreciates an instructor that engages the class in the material and seems to genuinely enjoy his time teaching at the U!
Great teacher. Extremely honest and very opinionated! Make sure to show up to every class on time in order to receive I-Clicker points! Also Complete EVERY reading assignments and talk to the TAs if you need any assistance throughout the course. Once you do all of these things, you will get an A in the class.
Hands-down the best professor I've had at the U. He actually gets to know everyone's names if you take Criminal Law or Criminal Procedure. He is super funny and down-to-earth. It's probably one of the hardest classes I've taken, but well worth it. He will tell you to leave your politically correct baggage at the door! :)
Best professor I have ever had. He really cares about law, his students and questioning beliefs. His humor helps alleviate heated conversations and frustrations due to confusing legal jargon. Joel helped me to decide to pursue a career in law. His knowledge far exceeds any other professor I have ever had. Take as many courses as possible with him.
He doesn't know how to use technology. All of my exams were not accurately graded and after approaching him several times to fix the grade, he finally did so. If you think you earned a higher grade in the class than you received, you probably did. Just avoid him and the many headaches...
Seriously the best. He's super interesting and has a really dry sense of humor - some people take it offensive. He can be hard to hear/understand but his lectures are all entertaining and theres a least a movie or film once a week. Come to class to see the clicker questions they make up most of the test
This is the type of course that you dream about in high school and expect ALL college courses to be like. You actually THINK and DISCUSS in this class instead of just having someone recite to you what you could've read in the textbook. Attendance isn't mandatory, but after a certain point attendance starts counting as EC. Guest lectures are great.
Best teacher I've ever had
Hands down the best professor at the U. Makes you work for your grade, but you will actually LEARN something in this class. Samaha really cares about each and every student, and isn't afraid to let you know exactly what he's thinking. Be prepared to work, and be prepared to think. You'll be a better person after this class.
I really enjoyed this class and would recommend that anyone interested in going to Law school, or is interested in political science or law in general, take this class. Samaha wants his students to learn and engage in class. Samaha and the TA were very good at helping students. Overall one of the best classes I have taken at the U of MN thus far.
Best professor I ever had. Steered me in the right direction for my current career. Got on my case when I needed to be challenged. Makes you uncomfortable in your own beliefs. Still keep in touch with him years after his course. He really cares and knows his stuff!
Prof Samaha is the absolute best! While his class may be tough, it's totally worth taking. Very informative, and it's discussion based so it is always interesting! He provides awesome feedback on every assignment as well. A professor you can call at anytime or go to his office to talk to him about anything. Love his classes!
Best professor I ever had. Absolutely cares about his students. His class was extremely tough, only because Joel questions you and your beliefs. Still keep in touch with him years after taking his class.
Samaha is hands down the best professor that I have ever had. He completely changed the way I think about the world. I would HIGHLY recommend any class with him!!
Joel is honestly the best professor I've ever had at the U. He is so passionate about what he teaches and you will leave his class with more knowledge than you could expect. His lecture style may seem unconventional at first but I actually learned something in this class compared to others that had you stare at a slideshow all semester.
Joel is one of the kindest and smartest individuals I have ever had the privilege of taking a class from. While his class structure was something I was not used to at first, I really came to enjoy it throughout the semester. His groundbreaking work in this field, as well as his complete knowledge of the criminal justice system is unparalleled.
One of the sweetest, most caring professors you'll have. He's so knowledgeable and informed about the topic and isn't afraid to give you his opinions (respectfully). He brings treats to our 2.5 hour lecture every week and provides personal feedback on assignments. He genuinely cares. He always tell us how much we mean to him. Don't miss out on him.
Professor Samaha is a gem. We've had a few tech issues in his classes, but they don't detract from the fact that his courses are amazing. He encourages thoughtful discussion and is one of the kindest professors I've had. His grading is very fair, and he provides meaningful feedback to help you improve over the semester.
Wow. I graduate from the U of M in 1984. Joel Samaha is one of the few professors I remember by name from college. Great to see he is/was still teaching. And yep, his lectures were amazing.
Such a wonderful person. Great professor. Very caring. Good chance of doing well in his class. Extra credit put me over 100%
Professor Samaha is the best professor I have ever had. I have learned so much in this course. He presents the material clearly and with passion. You can tell he loves what he does. The class requires you to study and put in effort, but is extremely manageable. He cares for his students like no other professor. Also, Morgan, the TA, was also great!
Joel is a wonderful professor. This class only meets once a week over Zoom so you have to go to class but its for sure worth it! Class discussions on the readings are fun and conversational. Grading is pretty straightforward (no exams/midterm/final which is a plus). Highly recommend taking a course with Joel during your time at the U!
Having Joel as a professor was a great experience! We met once a week but he made each class very entertaining. You can tell he cares about the class content and about the students. As long as you try in the class you'll definitely get and A
Prof Samaha cares so much about his students. He's funny and provides really interesting perspective in discussions. He can be a bit out of touch at times, but he's always really open to hearing our thoughts on why a certain thing is the norm now. You can tell how much he loves his students, and I looked forward to his class every week.
Honestly the best professor. Very kind and flexible. This class sometimes covers emotional topics and he always offers a substitute for the homework assigned. The homework was very specific to the class content, he never gave too many things to read or watch which everyone can appreciate. Overall a good guy and great teacher.
This guy is an icon, and this ended up being my favorite class I have taken. The material does get deep and difficult to think about, but Joel and the TA make it clear that alternate assignments exist. No exams was a big plus, it's only the weekly stuff that gets graded (attendance, 2 assignments, little quiz). Genuinely listens to contributions.
I second all of the glowing reviews! Prof Samaha is amazing, I am looking forward to taking another class with him next semester. Discussion is required but it is surprisingly super easy to participate (I'm usually very shy)
Super kind and his love of teaching and the subject matter show through the way he teaches. I will miss this class and the prof sm!!
TAKE HIM!! He is so kind and wonderful - best prof at the UMN
The best Professor I've had at the U! Professor Samaha cares so much about his students and is so wise. Class has consistent weekly assignments and the course content is super interesting. 10/10 would recommend.
He's the best Prof. in the world. Don't hesitate to take his courses. (SOC 4161 + SOC 4162) 1) Do weekly readings 2) Do part ABC assignments 3) Take the lectures You'll absolutely get a really high score in the course. No regular exams and long papers, 4+ level course, Nice Prof. and TA ( My TA is Libby):) Why not?
I had Professor Samaha for 4161 and 4162 and he was great! The class itself follows the same weekly format with our Part A, B, and C. These assignments are all super manageable which makes the class enjoyable! Professor Samaha truly cares about his students and he always makes it known. I would highly recommend taking a class with him :)
Professor Joel is very clear with his grading and provides a welcoming environment to talk about people's opinions on cases and everyday news. Don't be afraid to state your opinion on things because it makes the class more interesting. NO EXAMS! If you read the cases, participate in discussions, and listen to the lectures you will pass this class.
Prof Samaha is a great professor! You can tell he really cares about his students, if you get a chance to take his class do it!!!
Loved this class and Professor Samaha!
Amazing adn thoughtful professor! His class taught me so much while being enjoyable. No busy work, everything felt helpful!
Really great class discussions and work was clear and not too long!
The best professor I have had in college. He really asks the hard questions that make you challenge your perspectives.
Professor Samaha is one of the best professors at the University of Minnesota. He is very passionate about what he teaches and he truly loves and cares for all of his students.Criminal Law is a very easy and straight forward class if you do the readings and engage in the in class discussions.There are no exams which makes the class very stress free
Really cool, caring, and passionate professor. Was sometimes a little unclear on the feedback, but I eventually able to understand what he was looking for! Highly recommend!
Joel Samaha is an amazing professor! He is super sweet and an amazing person. The work isn't tough. It does make you think but that makes it better. The class is discussion-based and there is a participation grade, but it's really easy to participate. He's one of the best professors I've ever had!
Professor Samaha's classes were amazing, he is extremely caring of his students and this can really be felt in his zoom sessions.
This class is not very difficult, but the assignments and discussions force you to think more deeply about the course material. I would take the course again. It was difficult for me to listen to classmates' opinions that differed from mine because I feel so strongly about some of the topics, so beware of this.
There is a reason everyone loves Professor! I know of so many law students and lawyers that specifically credit him for their choice of career. I have never met a professor with such a big impact on so many people, so much so that people in the field who didn't go to UMN know of him! He cares SO much about his students. take all of his classes!!!!
Prof Samaha is one of the few at the U that genuinely cares about his students and their success. His TA Libby, too. While I sometimes disagree with his grading because I find it subjective at times, if you put in the effort, you'll get a great grade. Do your parts ABC, show up to class and participate, and there's no way you won't get an A.
Only assignments were doing the weekly readings and quizzes. no final.
Professor Samaha is amazing! There are 3 assignments every week part A, B, and C. Part A and B are from the assigned readings, but are pretty simple, and part C is about class. Also pretty easy as long as you are putting effort in. I loved this class. It was probably one of my favorite classes. He truly cares about every student, and very helpful.
Professor Samaha is so passionate about his students. This shines through in each class period. He is so dedicated to his work and has produced a fabulous textbook. He encourages his students to challenge their thinking and grow as learners. Highly recommend class with this vibrant, kind soul!
SOC 4161 and 4162 are always my favorite undergraduate SOC courses. Don't hesitate to choose Prof Samaha's courses if you choose to go to law school in the future. It will be the courses that will benefit you for the rest of your life.
Truly my favorite professor I have taken here in my four years. Samaha is so kind and fun. He really loves and cares about his students and wants the best for them. He always gives great feedback on your assignments and cares about your life outside of class. He is the sweetest and I am sad I didn't get to take more classes with him.
Prof Samaha is the best professor I've ever had! I am not a SOC major - I took this class to fulfill an upper level elective requirement. And I am so happy I did! The workload is very manageable & I learned so much & the content is very interesting. Prof is so caring and keeps class fun. I would recommend him and this class to every UMN student!
Professor Samaha is very kind and I learned a lot from taking SOC 4161. He cared about us as students and took the time to give us feedback on assignments. The course requires a textbook, lot of reading involved, and assignments are writing intensive. However, he is a fairly easy grader. The lecture involved a lot of discussion and participation.
Professor Samaha is an incredibly kind man and the best professor I've had here! He cares so deeply about his students and he loves everyone of them. Thank you for an amazing semester :)
Samaha is so sweet and kind, he cares about students learning more than anything else. The material is interesting and fun to learn about especially if you are interested in law. The class does have some political content that is watched and talked about throughout the semester.
Professor Samaha is wonderful and I loved having lectures with him every week. Discussions are filled with a lot of material, great ideas, and different perspectives. There are 3 assignments per week and no final exam. Such a great course and I would recommend it to everyone!
Love Professor Samaha. By far one of my favorite classes I have taken at the U. The workload is the most reasonable that I have had in college. Loved this class and strongly recommend it to anyone interested in criminal law.
Professor Samaha is the best professor I have had at the U. He cares so deeply about his students and you can tell he really loves his job of teaching students. This course has moderate readings, it goes over basic criminal law terms and cases. The assignments are fairly easy to complete and all the info comes straight from the textbook
Joel Samaha is incredibly inspirational. This was my favorite class I've taken in my 4 years at the U. He is more than a professor. He is a leader and an inspiration. He touched my heart. He goes above and beyond to make us feel loved. His grading is flexible and he never assigns busy work. His TA Libby is awesome as well. They're an iconic duo.
I wish there wasn't a character limit. There's so much to say about Professor Samaha. I teared up on the first day of lecture seeing him use a walker to be at our zoom meeting with so much passion and positivity. Whatever your major is, take a class with Professor Samaha, you won't regret it. His assignments are very to the point as well 10/10.
Prof. Samaha has by far been my favorite professor in my 4 years at the U. He is passionate about what he does and challenges his students to look at different viewpoints. This was also the most straight forward and reasonable class I have had here, there was no busy work. I would recommend his classes to everyone! I'm thankful I took this course!
I really love to take professor Joel 's classes, and I am ready finish taking soc 4161 and soc 4162. Those two classes are both amazing and I can learning a lot of knowledge of law.
Professor Samaha is so caring, kind, and respectful and loves his students more than anything! The material is super interesting, there is no final, just an open note quiz and written questions due before class, and then longer more in-depth questions due after class. He will also spend time discussing current events which I also appreciated.
Professor Samaha is the best professor I've had at the U. He teaches because it is his passion and it shows. He cares about every student in the class even though it's all on Zoom. The readings are from his book which is very interesting and it is clear what is expected of us from this class. If you do anything in college, TAKE HIS CLASS!
Joel is one of the sweetest professors I've ever had and he is generally a very kind person. His students mean the world to him and he's so passionate about the cases covered in this course. This class has no exams, just three short assignments every week (one is a quiz). Participating in discussions is important/makes class more fun too!!
He is an expert in his field and a joy to learn from! He cares so much about the class and all of his students!
Joel is truly a stellar professor-- definitely the best one I've had at UMN! It's obvious how much he cares about his students and how passionate he is about teaching. There are only three assignments per week and zero busywork or exams. The cases we covered were very interesting, so participating in the class discussions wasn't very difficult.
Professor Samaha is one of the best professors I've ever had. He makes a 2.5 hr class feel the same length as any hour-long lecture. He's made me feel like a valued and intelligent student. I'd 100% recommend taking any class Professor Samaha teaches. He's a very fair grader. You'll get the points as long as you answer the questions substantially.
Very kind and caring. Participation matters, but if you're not comfortable speaking, you can directly message the TA your thoughts and get full credit (class was on zoom). Interesting material!
Amazing professor. Very easy and I would definitely take a class with this professor again.
Very kind and respectful
Such a kind professor :)
This is my second class with Professor Samaha and I wish there could be more. Very kind and caring towards his students. Material is very interesting! One of the best professors at the University of Minnesota! Take his classes for an easy A!
He's the absolute best and so knowledgable about the topics he teaches. Classes were full of great discussions that he helped facilitate but also gave students the room to express their own opinions about the criminal cases we were analyzing. He is a kind professor and definitely my favorite that I've had at the U of M.
professor samaha was a great professor! I am sad to see this class come to an end but have enjoyed my time learning under professor samaha immensely!
Highly recommend! Incredibly interesting and useful content, & Samaha is a wonderful, caring professor who is an expert on criminal procedure. The textbook (written by him) is really accessible for someone unfamiliar with legal jargon, and the class structure itself is fantastic and clear.
Professor Samaha, Joel as he prefers, is a very caring man that ensures everyone in his class has a voice. He promotes having different opinions and ensures that everyone feels respected everyday. Class is over zoom once per week, and it is worth it! Cannot recommend him enough!
Professor Samaha has amazing insight into Criminal Procedure! He is kind and cares deeply about his students. The layout of the class is very similar this week, which is nice because it provides some stability within the course. I would definitely take a class with Professor Samaha again!
This is the second course I have taken with Professor Samaha and I wish I could take more! He cares so deeply about his students and has extensive knowledge in the field of criminal law and procedure. He is not only knowledgeable as a professor but he is an amazing person who creates a safe atmosphere for learning in his class. I will remember him!
This is a phenomenal professor, I highly recommend him. He conveys the course material very well, and he genuinely cares about each and every one of his students. One of the best professors I've ever had.
I recommend this professor because he was one of the incredibly professors I took.
Professor Samaha is amazing! He is very caring and clearly very smart. He clearly respects everyone's opinions and perspectives on the topics we talk about in class. The textbook is pretty digestible and the assignments make a lot of sense.
The class is discussion based, you discuss cases. It is a safe space. There is a decent amount of writing based on the in class discussion. Professor Samaha loves to teach and learn from his students and is great at giving encouraging feedback on assignments. If you are actively engaged you should have no problem succeeding in this course.
By far my favorite professor throughout all of college. This professor is so caring, thoughtful, inspirational, knowledgable, and just everything you would want in a college professor and more. He brings in past students who have gone onto have jobs like lawyers, Harvard students, and so much more. BEST CLASS! TAKE IT! LOVE IT! He truly is the best
Joel is one of the best professors I've had at the U! He is really sweet and cares a lot. Class periods are discussion-based and are usually really interesting. The work required is interesting and thought-provoking, but not hard. Take both of his classes!
This class is now taught over zoom, and participation and attendance are part of your grade, but it is very easy. You are graded on 3 assignments every week 2 before class and 1 assignment after class that is due 24 hours later. It does not take long and you always get good feedback. One of my favorite professors!
Great professor who really cares about the material he is teaching, would definitely recommend to students in the future.
I loved taking this class with prof Samaha. He's an amazing teacher who really cares about getting to know his students. The workload is very manageable and we read interesting cases. I definitely recommending taking a class with Prof Samaha if you get a chance!!
Professor Samaha truly cares about his students and teaching meaningful content. I was so honored and thankful to have him as a professor. If you are a senior/4th year, I 100% recommend this class and Professor Samaha! This class did not have any exams but did have weekly assignments and open note quizzes which were all doable!
Professor Samaha has been one of the impactful professors I've had. He is very knowledgeable and really passionate about the subject and students. The workload is very manageable and the classes and a lot of the course content you learn about is through short case readings and class discussions. I really recommend to take any class with Samaha!
If anyone is considering taking a class relating to the Criminal Justice System, I highly recommend taking this course with Professor Samaha! I am a pre-law major, and this was one of the most beneficial courses I have ever taken. Professor Samaha is extremely knowledgable about the subject matter, and does an amazing job of passing on knowledge.
Professor Samaha is an incredible professor. He is so genuine, cares so deeply about what each student is experiencing and thinking. His courses are engaging, and his assignments are thought-provoking. Professor Samaha is one of my favorite professors ever, and I know many others. Take a class with him, it should be mandatory to!
Professor Samaha is a really intelligent and caring man. He's so kind and values what his students have to say. His assignments are pretty straightforward and basically the same every week. I've taken two classes with him so far and I recommend choosing his courses regardless of your major!
Professor Samaha is a very kind person that empowers everyone in his class to share their thoughts and feelings. His class requires three assignments per week which totals roughly 90 minutes of work, which is worth the fact of having one Zoom class per week. I highly recommend Professor Samaha and all of the wisdom he provides surrounding the law.
I enjoyed Professor Samaha's class greatly! He is so sweet and really cares about his students!
Professor Samaha is the best!!! He cares a lot about his students, is very knowledgeable and really tries his best to make sure that you understand the content. He is also hilarious!
Professor Samaha cares about teaching and his students so much. He makes the class very interactive and gives a light workload.
Professor Samaha is passionate about teaching. He shows a great amount of respect towards all of his students and cares about our success and learning. There is a lot of emphasis placed on attendance and discussion, but as long as you complete the required readings it should be pretty easy. There are no exams and all the quizzes are open-note.
Professor Samaha is one of the best professors I've ever had! He truly cares about his students and takes the time to get to know each and every single one. Lectures are very insightful and he invites all opinions, the discussions are interesting and he keeps you engaged with polls and music.
Joel cares about his students so much! He is a wonderful professor and an even better person. Class is super interesting and involves discusses cases! I would highly recommend taking a class with him if you can!
The course content was interesting and engaging. I would have preferred if less class time was spent planning class and trying to make technology work.
Professor Samaha's class is a MUST. I took his Criminal Procedure class and took Criminal Law because I wanted to be in his class again. He cares about every one of his students and makes sure you know that! The course is graded on 3 assignments each week and there are no papers or exams. The class is discussion-based.
Professor Samaha is so sweet and caring. He made this class worth it, and he actually wanted to hear our honest opinions on the readings. I highly recommend this class, it was the only one I had that I wanted to learn more about.
Professor Samaha is the best professor I've ever had! He's so caring and it really feels like he's rooting for me. You can really tell he loves teaching and truly values his students. My only complaint is that there are no more classes I can take with him! 10/10 class and professor would recommend
such a sweet professor! very easy to tell that he cares about his job and students. the assignments are straightforward, attendance is mandatory but it's only once a week.
Joel delivered the material well and was able to hear others opinions that were opposite of his as a way for him to learn from others rather than seeing it as a debate.
He is a brilliant and kind professor! I also like the way he delivered his lecture and assigned homework. No paper, no exam! 100% Recommend.
understanding and flexible. just do all the work and you'll be fine.
Professor Samaha is caring and engaging. Assignments are straightforward, and the textbook is useful. Attending class is a must. Unstuckstudy helped me prepare for tests and solidify my understanding.
Class Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
98%
Textbook Required
100%
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3101
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(1)CRIME
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(1)SOC41622
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