4.2

Mark Baron

Political Science - University of Calgary

4.2
Quality
3.1
Difficulty
85%
Would Retake
233
Reviews
4.2
Quality
3.1
Difficulty
4.2
Helpful
4.2
Clarity

85%

Would Retake

233

Reviews

Rating Distribution
Official

5

159

4

33

3

11

2

12

1

18

What Students Say

One of the best profs at the University of Calgary

POLI465 - 5.0 rating

Baron is by far my favourite professor at the University

473 - 5.0 rating
Class Info

Online Classes

100%

Attendance Mandatory

82%

Textbook Required

20%

Grade Predictor

Your expected effort level

LowHigh

Predicted Grade

A-

95% confidence
Based on 72 grades
Most common grades:
A (32)
A- (24)
Not sure yet (18)
Grade Distribution
A(39)B(3)C(2)D(3)F(0)A-/B+(28)
Based on 95 reported grades
A: 32
A-: 24
Not sure yet: 18
A+: 7
Common Tags
Skip class? You won't pass. (38)
Amazing lectures (34)
Respected (21)
Caring (20)
Graded by few things (19)
Hilarious (18)
Inspirational (18)
Lecture heavy (16)
Rating Trend

Stable

+0.09 avg change
May
Jul
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Oct
Nov
Dec
Last 6 months
Ratings by Course

473

5.0

(2)

SEVERAL

5.0

(1)

POLI383475

5.0

(1)

EAST333

5.0

(3)

POLI473

5.0

(1)
+22 more courses
Difficulty by Course

EAST201

5.0

POLI343

4.5

POLI

4.3

SEVERAL

4.0

POLI351

4.0

Reviews (233)
5.0
2.0
POLI381
Jun 10, 2003

Semi-boring course, but good teacher. Explains what is on midterm/final well.

2.0
3.0
POLI359
Dec 22, 2003

No Comments

5.0
3.0
POLI359
Mar 25, 2004

Great Prof, really seems to care about what hes doing. Has a very moderate teaching style (only once you start to ask questions out of class do you realize he leans pretty far to the ...). No "on the board notes", but by now you should be able t

5.0
2.0
POLI381
May 14, 2004

Very boring monotone voice, but passionate about teaching and knowledgeable. Get passed his boring tone, and you will do fine. Ask a question and he will answer well - challenge him and he will become exciting.

1.0
5.0
POLI359
Jun 13, 2004

No Comments

5.0
3.0
POLI381
Oct 16, 2004

absolute hilarious man, his quirky character makes the class very stimulating - I go crazy about his knowledge

5.0
3.0
POLI359
Oct 21, 2004

Very knowledgable. Explains content in a very logical and cohesive manner. Willing to answer any question and in detail. Very funny too

5.0
2.0
POLI381359
Nov 27, 2004

I am in love with BARON! He is absolutely amazing. I could never say enough great things about him

3.0
3.0
POLI
Dec 1, 2004

boring, but easy marker

4.0
2.0
POLI377
Dec 25, 2004

Pretty good lecturer, but he talks way too fast. Exams are pretty easy though, multiple choice

2.0
3.0
POLI377
Jan 6, 2005

re-speaks the textbook and BORING! Monotone voice and gay corny jokes that were SO not funny. Exams arent too bad, MC, but watch for the final! Hard marker though on the essays and not helpful at all regarding them! Instead of answering questions,he asks questions which makes you more confused.

2.0
3.0
POLI381
Jan 15, 2005

Knew I was going to have problems with this guy when in the first week of class he mentioned he was a communist. Very wordy (likes to refer to the hyper-global hegemonic blah blah blah).

1.0
3.0
POLI377
Jan 18, 2005

Although he was intelligent, the lectures were extremely boring and tedious. He tends to drone on and on with very dull and complex terminology. Tests were M.C., a good portion tested were just memorization of small,boring, facts.

5.0
3.0
POLI359
Feb 3, 2005

Doc baron was wicked. he was really helpful. Just approach him and he will do what he can for you, especially when working on your paper.

2.0
3.0
POLI359
Apr 9, 2005

Class was boring, straight from the text and rambled on and on. Class went off topic alot and he sometimes would take 30 min. to anwser a students question! First MT was hard, class average was low, but made up for that with easy final and easy paper.

2.0
3.0
POLI381
Apr 10, 2005

Ugh. His style of lecturing left a lot to be desired - totally unstructured, no support materials, nothing even remotely resembling coherence, for the most part. Answers to questions were too long, and the maximum essay length was 2500 words - not enough considering the broad essay topics he gave.

5.0
3.0
POLI381
Apr 20, 2005

Awesome prof, funny guy! Very clear delivery of lectures, willing to answer questions inside and outside of class. Tests were fair, moderate marker in terms of easiness, and as for the paper - also moderately hard marker. Overall good class.

5.0
1.0
381
May 12, 2005

I've got two A's from this prof so he is wicked in my books. Once you get used to his extended vocab he is great to listen to. Baron is one of the best Poli-sci proffessors, but he is not for those students who don't truly love poli-sci.

4.0
3.0
POLI359
Jul 5, 2005

I don't know...I thought he was quite knowledgeable, and when I asked him for help he seems pretty willing to give it. I certainly think he's a good teacher.

5.0
4.0
SEVERAL
Sep 22, 2005

Great Prof, really enjoyed his class, especially his jokes (at least he doesn't take himself too seriously). One of my favorite profs in University. If you go to him for help during his office hours, he is more than willing to help and will spend a great deal of time making sure that you are on topic with your papers, and have enough resources.

1.0
4.0
POLI351
Oct 28, 2005

Ramble, ramble....blah blah blah...boring anecdote...blah blah...ramble...more off-topic rambling...insincere self-deprecieating blather... blah blah blabbity blah... by the time I was finished with the class, I wanted to break this guy's kneecaps! He blabs incessantly, then bludgeons you with an impossible final!! SUPER SMARMY!!

5.0
3.0
POLI359
Feb 1, 2006

Great teacher...makes classs interesting compared to other teachers

2.0
5.0
POLI475
Apr 17, 2006

Rambles on in lectures - can't stay focused on the subject. Some say he is entertaining - I don't agree. His grading standards are WAY ABOVE the rest of the POLI SCI dept profs. He is a GPA killer - and likes it that way. Getting an A in this couse takes much more work than other senior courses. Avoid this guy at all costs.

4.0
2.0
POLI381
May 11, 2006

I disagree with those who think he marks too hard. In reality, he is extremely helpful, and will always help you if you ask nicely. Those who whine about him killing GPA's should just work harder and approach him more often.

5.0
3.0
POLI381
Jun 7, 2006

Getting an A is definately tough in his classes, but he's better than most profs and his exam style is pretty straight forward. Just show up and memorize you're notes

5.0
3.0
POLI383475
Jun 7, 2006

He is a great prof. He is a kinda hard marker but willing to help you at all costs. He is totally approachable so go and talk to him if you need any help. He talks too fast so it is hard to keep up but he is a great all around prof.

5.0
4.0
POLI381
Jul 3, 2006

A great prof who really knows his stuff. The classes were really interesting but he marks pretty hard.

4.0
3.0
POLI475
Aug 16, 2006

good on lectures but terrible on exams and term papers needs to be less of a prick

3.0
4.0
POLI359
Aug 26, 2006

One of the most annoying men I have ever met in my life. Do not sit in the front row; he is a spitter. This class was a pedantic repeat of every other political science class I have taken, and his assignments required us to regurgitate his notes to him - not like he was right there or anything. Boring, a huge jerk, and not a great teacher.

5.0
3.0
POLI381
Sep 3, 2006

He's an okay Prof. Repeat your notes and the textbook definitions on your essays and you'll do fine. He's approachable and responds well to student questions.

1.0
3.0
POLI359
Nov 17, 2006

Only prof I've ever heard say Marxism is still a legitimate political theory because no one's proven it doesn't work. (?!?) He'll say anything to make Republicans look evil, even if what he's saying is wrong. The best lecture of the class was the one Ted Morton gave. I spent much of the class rolling my eyes at the typical lefty political diatribe.

5.0
4.0
POLI359
Dec 18, 2006

Good prof and really knowledgable. He expects you to know your stuff, but work hard and you'll do fine. I've taken two classes with him, and done pretty well in both. If you have questions on your paper, he's really helpful.

4.0
2.0
POLI359
Dec 19, 2006

Good prof with a good sense of humour. Lectures were generally interesting, which was good because the textbook was almost useless. His exams are easy (all multiple choice) and he is a fair marker for term papers.

5.0
1.0
POLI359
Dec 22, 2006

This class is boring but Baron can actually manage to keep you awake, the man knows everything, and he's got his funny breaks too. Makes anything interesting

4.0
3.0
POLI359
Jan 8, 2007

Tip: For the final, study all the stuff on Communism hard-core; it easily made up 60% of the test. I skipped most of the lectures and still managed a passing grade, despite getting totally owned on the final. He's a decent speaker, but the class starts insanely slow. You can get by with missing a lot before the midterm, but go to EVERYTHING after.

5.0
4.0
POLI359
Feb 17, 2007

Tests are hard if you aren't well prepared. But I can gaurentee that you will NOT find a better prof anywhere in this university. Baron knows everything about everything, he's incredibly neutral in lectures and marking and has a way of teaching that's incredibly captivating. It's really a shame he doesn't teach more courses. I HIGHLY reccomend him.

5.0
3.0
POLI359
Mar 8, 2007

No Comments

4.0
3.0
POLI359
Apr 23, 2007

Insanely energetic lecturer; he talks for 50 minutes straight with no notes. Very knowledgable and approachable. As others have said, the final is all Communism, so show up to every class after the midterm and skim the textbook before the exam.

5.0
4.0
POLI359
Oct 16, 2007

Absolutely wonderful Prof. This is the sort of guy who will keep your attention the whole semester. He spouts his entire lectures right from the top of his head, and still manages to be coherent, organized and addresses all of the relevant topics. His midterms are hard, but not impossible, and he marks his papers slowly but fairly. Love this guy.

3.0
4.0
POLI359
Feb 9, 2008

Not the kind of professor that appeals to me. Definitely knows his stuff, but conveys it in long-winded, essay style speeches. When he answers questions, his explanations are long, drawn out, and a lot of people get lost as to what the point actually is. Tends to be vague in what he wants for an essay. I won't be taking another class with him.

5.0
4.0
POLI359
Jun 24, 2008

Prof. Baron is great! Truly the greatest prof I have come across at the university. He is absolutely brilliant and fascinating. Extremely easy to approach and ask questions. Makes lecture interesting and worth listening to. His courses have been my favourite.

5.0
3.0
POLI475
Jul 2, 2008

I love this prof. He is one of people that you can tell he loves his job. If you ever need help, he is always available. I also took 359 with him and he is great. One of the best prof's I have had at the school. Take a class with him if you can

5.0
4.0
POLI279
Jul 7, 2008

Excellent Prof, and is also an excellent guy. He doesn't post notes online so it is necessary to attend as many lectures as you can (which isn't a bad thing because they are very well explained and full of interesting information) Great speaker, though good note taking skills are required to do well in his class. Fair marker. Loved it

5.0
3.0
POLI359
Nov 25, 2008

Encyclopedic knowledge of everything that's relevant to the course, very intriguing lectures, gives fair tests and a fair marker.

2.0
4.0
INTR301
Apr 23, 2009

Prof knows his stuff, but he is extremely slow at returning assignments. He is slow at creating assignments, and generally seems disorganized. If you want good feedback, don't take this class, because you won't get feedback. I am very disappointed with this professor.

5.0
4.0
INTR301
Apr 23, 2009

don't know what the last guy is talking about, this class was a blast! Unless your one of the the slugs who didn't get involved in the simulation or actually try. A lot of work is expected but you can learn a lot. Highly recommend!

5.0
5.0
POLIPOLI
Jun 3, 2009

Mark Baron is an awesome prof, I love that he comes with no books etc, he just talks and tells you what you need to know

4.0
4.0
POLI359
Jun 18, 2009

Great prof, incredibly knowledgeable. HOWEVER, I woudln't recommend taking this course with him in spring. He uses very little visual aid and talking for 3 hours with little stimulation otherwise can get tiresome. Other than that take the class and enjoy, pick his brain, he knows alot.

5.0
2.0
POLI359
Jun 26, 2009

He's definitely an amazing professor with an immense amount of knowledge (he hardly uses any notes on top of that). I loved being in his class because he was very passionate and interesting to listen to. Plus he is open-minded to all opinions and from his lectures, it isn't possible to discern what side of the political spectrum he is from.

4.0
3.0
POLI359
Jun 30, 2009

Great lectures, but he's often bogged down in nothing but definitions and semantics. Be prepared to memorize everything he says. Spring semester probably didn't do the course justice.

3.0
1.0
POLI359
Jul 2, 2009

As a non-poli major, I found him to be pompous and arrogant. His use of long winded sentences and ridiculous words is totally unnecessary and made the 3 hr class seem even longer. That being said, the class was extremely easy as it was pure memorization. I wouldn't take another poli class after this one though..

4.0
1.0
POLIPOLI
Aug 26, 2009

Great prof. One of the most knowledgeable instructors teaching at the U

4.0
4.0
POLI363
Sep 10, 2009

Pretty easy course. He talks so much, I have so many notes from this class, yet for the most part it was pointless to write down. Only 1 midterm which was so easy and then an essay and a take home essay exam. Pretty fair marker. Doesn't use PP, email or post anything online.

5.0
3.0
POLI359
Dec 8, 2009

i think he is a fantastic prof. he is very clear and his lectures are organized. i find his classes interesting and he is so knowledgeable and passionate. also he marks fair. i highly recommend him!

5.0
4.0
INTR301
Dec 17, 2009

Professor Baron is cool. He is a fair grader, and by fair I mean you have to put effort into your work to get a good grade. The only thing is that he talks in class like every word is life and death, but if you can follow along and take good notes, you'll do well on the tests.

5.0
4.0
POLI359
Jan 1, 2010

Baron is one of the best profs in the poli department. His lectures are interesting, relevant and organized. It is easy to pay attention in this class. Marking can be a little bit hard.

5.0
2.0
IR301
May 3, 2010

He is absolutely perfect!!

5.0
2.0
INTR501
May 4, 2010

Baron is the best. His class is engaging and interesting and funny, although our discussions were a series of lists. We read a lot for this class, but it was worth it, as I came away learning a lot. The grade was 2 midterms and a final worth 30/30/40, no paper no participation. Great class, but don't expect a free pass.

5.0
4.0
POLI464
Jun 7, 2010

Baron is by far my favourite professor. He marks a bit harder than some, but he goes out of his way to help you with assignments. He even helped me with papers for other classes. Super approachable and is almost always in his office. I have taken 4 classes with him and wish I could take more. Take his classes!!

5.0
3.0
POLI359
Jun 25, 2010

Baron is a difficult grader but he will go over things clearly and clarify things whenever you ask him, although he refuses to post ANY AND ALL NOTES since he wants people in their seats. Talks very fast so unless you type 95 words per minute, stay well away.

5.0
4.0
POLI359
Jul 19, 2010

I love Baron! He is funny, very intelligent, and passionate of what he is teaching. He is, however, pretty hard on marking exams so put in the effort. He also talks a mile a minute so I'd suggest you get an audio recorder for this class. Overall, would take another class with him.

4.0
5.0
POLI465
Nov 11, 2010

I am confused. What seemed like a good professor is turning into a nightmare. Long winded and uses pompous words. But what got me is the banana peels he throws so that as many people slip in the exam as possible. - Stay Away unless you are very good or can afford a C in your GPA.

3.0
5.0
POLI465
Nov 19, 2010

If you have little knowledge of China or the Soviet Union this course is made more difficult. He is a VERY fast talker. With how much material he covers I thought his expectation of students were unreal and graded far to hard considering he wanted a summary of China's history and an analysis of it in 50 minutes, plus good spelling and all!

5.0
5.0
INTR301
Dec 2, 2010

He talks unbelievably fast. Learn to type/write as fast as you physically can. Makes things understandable and interesting. However marks really hard, and assignments are very long. DO THE READINGS

5.0
5.0
POLI465
Dec 15, 2010

Knowledgeable for sure! Interesting and learned alot. Definitely have to learn to write fast!! And yes it is hard, to get anything better than a B, GPA killer = sad

5.0
4.0
POLI359
Dec 21, 2010

He is a great prof. He was a very passionate professor who knows his stuff. Will be taking another class with him. It is not an easy class, but was one of the classes that learned the most in.

5.0
2.0
POLI435
Jun 9, 2011

Amazing teacher. Although he speaks fast, he repeats what he says again to ensure you get it. I had another class with him and did extremely well. Do your readings, those are extremely important. Great teacher.

5.0
3.0
POLI464
Jul 7, 2011

I love Baron, I took two classes with him last year. While not the easiest marker, I felt I learned the most out of these two classes. He was always available to help! Highly Recommend.

5.0
3.0
POLI464
Jul 15, 2011

I'm a Political Science major and I have to say Baron is by far my favourite Political Science teacher at the U of C! Extremely friendly, very approachable and incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about Poli Sci! Talks a bit fast and doesn't post notes, but if you go to class and take good notes you'll do fine! Would definitely recommend.

5.0
4.0
POLI343
Oct 27, 2011

Best prof I have had to date, a sentiment that is shared among many of his students. You will pass the course with flying colours if you attend his lectures! He is passionate and will challenge you, but will also offer his help at any point in time.

5.0
4.0
POLI359
Nov 2, 2011

So incredibly informative, funny, smart, amazing! You will laugh while you learn with this guy. Don't skip class because it's actually really helpful.

5.0
3.0
POLI381
Dec 5, 2011

Excellent instructor. Exams are rather hard, so do keep up with the reading and review his notes.

5.0
3.0
POLI359
Jan 4, 2012

Wicked prof. Super helpful if you go to his office hours. Hates email though. Midterm was pretty hard but the Paper and the final were a piece of cake. Definitely planning to take more courses with him.

4.0
3.0
POLI465
Jan 6, 2012

This course was excellent. However, I'd advise taking HTST 317 before taking POLI 465 because it will help considerably. In fact, the second portion of 317 essentially mirrors POLI 465.

5.0
3.0
POLI465
Jan 9, 2012

Easily the best professor I have ever had at U of C. Knows his stuff, easy to talk to and always takes the time to thoroughly answer your questions. Be prepared to do all of the readings and attend all of the lectures!

5.0
4.0
POLI464
Mar 30, 2012

Dr.Baron is the best prof you could ask for at the U of C. Friendly, approachable, helpful. I'm glad I took a class with him my last semester, I got to leave on a high note

5.0
2.0
EAST317
Apr 18, 2012

Prof Baron is very detailed in his lectures so you have to be a fast typer, but he does summarize a lot. Interesting lectures and nice prof. Quite easy exams, just have to study. Not much emphasis on textbook usage though although I purchased it.

5.0
3.0
POLI435
Apr 19, 2012

This is my fifth class with Baron and he's my fav by far. He's the only prof I've met in post secondary worth paying money for. He's funny, knowledgeable and understanding. He's the reason I am getting my poli degree. Great man

4.0
4.0
POLI279
Apr 23, 2012

One of my favourite profs. He knows a lot but his stories make him much less intimidating. I learned a lot from this class and a great new perspective on world history.

5.0
4.0
POLI279
May 19, 2012

Like others have said, his exams are hard. Take good notes and read ALL the readings (this is where I fell short). That being said he was awesome, the lectures were interesting and really fun and he is really helpful and approachable. I will for sure be taking more classes from him in the future.

5.0
3.0
INTR301
May 30, 2012

Brilliant professor. Very clear and straightforward in his lectures; approachable and willing to help outside of class. He's super friendly, too... he still says hi to students in the hallway that he hasn't taught for a few semesters.

5.0
2.0
EAST317
Jun 22, 2012

Really nice and easygoing prof, jokes around a lot. Clearly he loves what he does and is really enthusiastic. Either you have to be a really fast writer or just take notes on a laptop, because the majority of material tested is on what he says. Try not to miss any classes because he doesn't post anything online.

5.0
1.0
EAST317
Jun 23, 2012

3rd class with him and looking to take more with him! He's super knowledgeable and passionate about East Asia, plus my notes are always structured well and makes a lot of sense. Easy A+, if memorization is your forte and you don't mind no pp- which I actually hate using. This prof is very helpful outside of the classroom and very friendly!

5.0
2.0
POLI435
Jul 4, 2012

Dr. Baron is one of my faviorte professors. he is very knowledgeable and helpful. he is understanding, approachable and funny. his lectures make it hard for you not to pay attention. he engages in interesting discussions and willing to answer any questions. the was my first class with him and i will be taking more in the future. highly recommanded

5.0
4.0
POLI279
Aug 27, 2012

Exceptional Prof. One of the best prof's I've had the pleasure to learn from. Make sure you show up for class; no notes on BB.

2.0
5.0
INTR501
Oct 18, 2012

Horrible professor. Doesn't explain things clearly in class. The paper was marked extremely hard. I even went to go see him a couple of times about the paper and he was SO unhelpful. AVOID.

5.0
2.0
POLI359
Nov 19, 2012

Dr. Baron is an extremely talented professor and a fantastic person. He is helpful, extremely intelligent in his field and very endearing and kind to students. If you work hard in his classes, you will do very well. Listen to lectures (they're very interesting) and read your textbook, everything ties together. I will recommend Dr. Baron always.

5.0
2.0
POLI359
Dec 1, 2012

It's almost scary the amount of knowledge that Dr Baron possesses. His lectures are always very interesting. My one complaint is the intense amount of eye contact he makes. I've never been unsure of what to do with my eyes during a lecture until Dr Baron's class. That being said...highly recommended!

5.0
3.0
POLI465
Dec 10, 2012

Hands down one of the best professors in the department.My third class with him. Extremely knowledgeable in his field, down to earth, and makes lectures interesting. Midterms usually multiple-choice and easy if you come to EVERY class and do the readings. Tougher marker on papers. Pushes you to try and do really good papers - as is the point.

5.0
2.0
POLI465
Dec 25, 2012

One of the best professors in the department. Extremely knowledgeable and passionate about the material. Going to class is mandatory, but you don't need to read the textbook very much if at all. For essay exams he gives you the exact question beforehand. He also gives very good advice about the paper if you go and talk to him during office hours.

5.0
3.0
POLI359
Jan 8, 2013

THE BEST! his class is so interesting. midterm was a little hard but final was so easy.

5.0
3.0
POLI381
Apr 16, 2013

One of the best profs in the department. Lectures were engaging, exams and essays weren't overly hard. Lectures with clarity, and sets you up for success. Be sure to attend his office hours if you're confused about material, SO HELPFUL. Thoroughly enjoyed this course and would recommend even though lecture is mandatory (no notes online).

5.0
2.0
POLI435
Apr 29, 2013

He is a great prof, very helpful. His lectures are interesting and straight forward (makes up for the boring and theoretical readings). So make sure to attend class. However, the course itself is pretty lame, at the end of it, you'll discover that there really is no "Canadian" foreign policy, unlike U.S. foreign policy for example.

5.0
3.0
POLI464
May 1, 2013

Mark is one my fave parts about undergrad. I regret not taking more classes than the 4 I took, and I would highly recommend him to anyone!

4.0
4.0
POLI279
May 5, 2013

Very tough prof, but also funny and fairly engaging. Spends too much time answering student questions, and he talks fast. Also doesn't use blackboard at all, which means if you miss a detail or two, you're out of luck. Hard marker, and tests require extensive studying. Comes across as intimidating, but he has TONS of knowledge about the subject.

5.0
2.0
POLI381
May 13, 2013

This was my third class with him. He's a great prof, extremely nice and aproachable. However, his grading can be tough on essays, especially essay exams. The Textbooks are sold in bundles, and they're really good, especially the readings. Coming to Class is a must, no powerpoints. In a different class he did use projector sheets for terms/ideas.

5.0
1.0
EAST333
Jun 18, 2013

Super passionate, super helpful, super friendly, super easy

4.0
3.0
POLI464
Jun 19, 2013

This was my third class with Baron! Amazing guy. So helpful and nice. Be sure to take notes during his class, cos most of his exams are from the notes. Take everything down. And as long as you skim the textbook for big ideas, you should be good! Marks the papers very fairly! A definite yes if you are a Poli Sci major!

5.0
3.0
EAST333
Jul 13, 2013

Took this as a Spring elective. Dr. Baron has very detailed and organized lectures, optimized if following the textbook. While the texts were "required", he worked mostly off of lectures. Tests are fair and concise; MC tests were well written and written final was graded fairly as well, with non-majors' writing skills considered. Friendly and fun!

5.0
4.0
EAST333
Jul 22, 2013

Highly recommended professor, friendly, passionate and engaging. Though he talks a bit fast, but it isn't that hard to take notes. Mark very fairly. Best pro. so far!

5.0
2.0
POLI465
Oct 8, 2013

The best thing about Baron is that you know what to expect on the paper and exams. Although he talks super fast, he is still very clear. The structure of POLI 465 is very similar to his other courses, so if you've taken him before you know what I'm referring to. Overall, one of the best profs at the UofC.

5.0
3.0
INTR301
Grade: A-
Nov 15, 2013

Prof. Baron is the kindest, most helpful, passionate and understand professor I've had the pleasure of learning from. I've yet to meet someone as knowledgeable about world dynamics as he is. I can genuinely say he reminded me why I'm majoring in IR.

4.0
2.0
POLI359
Nov 22, 2013

Dr. Baron is one of the most talented and knowledgable speakers I have ever seen. He does his lectures entirely from memory and never misses a beat. He takes a lot of time to answer student's questions and has a wealth of knowledge to answer any question in detail. Only draw back, is good luck getting a hold of him if you need to talk to him.

3.0
3.0
IR301
Dec 29, 2013

Very passionate about the subject but he doesn't use a powerpoint and his lectures are hard to follow as he speaks very fast and often unnecessarily uses subject specific vocab. Fair marker. Textbooks good for complementary reading.

5.0
2.0
POLI359
Feb 20, 2014

He is the most intense professor I have ever encountered. Yet, his knowledge in most things but foremost China is quite impressive and worth taking a class for it alone. If you are not scared by his teaching demands( LOTS of scattered Ideas) and like his style, I would fully recommend.

3.0
5.0
EAST201
Mar 5, 2014

If english is not your first language or can't take note really fast, then never think of taking class with him. You will not get a good grade. There is no powerpoint slides for you at all. strong listening skill required

5.0
4.0
POLI279
Grade: B
May 16, 2014

He talks very quickly and class attendance is important if you want to pass the exams. It is obvious that he loves what he's talking about, which makes the class even more interesting. Paper is very time consuming and tests ask for very detailed things that were mentioned in class once.

5.0
2.0
POLI473
Aug 4, 2014

Wonderful professor! Attendance is a must, he doesn't use BB. Incredibly easy-going and kind, always willing to stay after classes and elaborate on concepts. Not an easy marker, but highly recommended nevertheless as you'll learn tons.

5.0
3.0
435
Oct 23, 2014

Baron is by far one of the best poli sci profs at uofc. He can come off a bit intense, but it's just his devotion to the topic. He is extremely intelligent, and if you can manage verbatim notes - do. Every word he says is pure gold! Love this guy, both as a prof and a human being. Marking is fair, especially on essays if you try your best. Cool guy

5.0
4.0
POLI279
Nov 6, 2014

Mark is an amazing prof and a walking encyclopedia. You can ask him anything and he will be able to answer on the spot. He is very funny but an extremely fast speaker. Does not post anything on BB so attending class is a MUST but it is always entertaining to go because he is very passionate about what he teaches which makes class really interesting

5.0
3.0
INTR501
Dec 4, 2014

(Took his 501 class on China.) By far my favourite professor at the University. Incredible talent for lecturing - his lectures are engaging and he brings a great sense of humour and enthusiasm to the material. Amazing knowledge of the subject matter, approachable and helpful, good natured and overall a joy to be taught by. Would recommend, 100%.

5.0
3.0
INTR501
Dec 8, 2014

Dr. Baron is amazing, I have taken many classes with him. His lectures are passionate, enthusiastic, and hilarious. He is well organized and has great depths of knowledge. Attendance is mandatory, readings are a must. He is considerate of students, highly respected. Would take more classes with him if i didn't already take all of them.

4.0
4.0
INTR301
Dec 9, 2014

Dr. Baron although very passionate in his lectures is by far the slowest marking prof at the university!! You didn't receive your midterm mark until after you submitted your paper and you didn't receive your term paper mark until less than a week before your final exam, causing more stress and leaving you unsure of where you sit in the class.

4.0
4.0
IR301
Dec 19, 2014

Funny, knowledgeable, respectful, intense. His exams are not easy but he is a passionate professor with some pretty good jokes (as corny as they may be at times). Great human being too- understanding and there for you when you need it. Showing up to class is 90% mandatory- Baron's lectures explain everything you need to know!

5.0
3.0
473
Grade: A
Mar 11, 2015

Engaging professor with endless amounts of knowledge. Must attend classes to do well on exams. Incredibly approachable for help, extensions in the case of illness etc. Lectures are entertaining; you'll never fall asleep. Multiple choice exams can be tricky, but his written finals are super easy and he's a fair marker on papers. Absolutely love him!

3.0
3.0
POLI381
Grade: A
Mar 17, 2015

He is ideal for auditory learners, as talks without a lot of visuals so you need to pay attention. He's knowledgeable and always addresses questions really well. He loves to talk.

5.0
3.0
381
Mar 18, 2015

Dr. Baron is an unreal prof, hes super knowledgable and is clear in his lectures. He is an old school lecturer so you need to go to class but super beneficial. 1 midterm, 1 paper and a final. Super approachable and always throws in a good joke once in awhile, keeps you interested.

5.0
4.0
473
Grade: A+
Apr 6, 2015

Dr. Baron is by far my favourite professor at the University. His lectures are amazing, he is very humble even though he knows A LOT, and he is always more than wiling to help students in any way. He is fair, and in the grading is purely based on personal merit. He makes it easy to understand the subject and he is hilarious. Excellent professor!

5.0
1.0
POLI464
Grade: A+
Apr 8, 2015

Dr. Baron is one of the best professors at the University of Calgary. His lectures are excellently articulated and presented. It is easy to get an A in his classes, if you show up to class and pay careful attention. He is willing to provide necessary help to allow students to succeed. Furthermore, he is very caring and helpful. Ive approached him

5.0
3.0
POLI465
Apr 16, 2015

Have never had a better professor than Dr. Baron. He will you students in any way he can and gives amazing feedback. Amazing and clear lecturer who is full of knowledge. If you take good notes and attend every class you will ace the midterm and final. If you meet with him regarding the paper he will definitely point you in the right direction!

2.0
5.0
POLI435
Jun 30, 2015

His lectures were good, though a bit dry. His tests were ridiculous. Two were essay-based, and the final basically asked students to sum up the entire course in two hours. He offered no assistance with examinations, despite their broad scope.

5.0
2.0
POLI435
Grade: A
Jul 25, 2015

He is an amazing lecturer, very engaging and easy to pay attention to. We were given two tests and a final, and he provided essay questions in advance for the two written tests, which was extremely helpful. He's also very kind and funny, which is a bonus in addition to his superb teaching skills!

5.0
3.0
INTR301
Grade: A-
Jan 8, 2016

Professor Baron is the most eloquent and clear speaker I have ever heard in my life. He can lecture for a straight 50 minutes without stopping, and you can understand and absorb everything without a problem. Throws in a little dark humor and personal anecdotes to wake people up and give us a chuckle. Is more than willing to help!

4.0
3.0
POLI279
Mar 13, 2016

My favorite prof this semester. Amazing lectures. Interesting character.

4.0
4.0
POLI279
Apr 4, 2016

Very interesting class, but honestly was beyond the difficulty expected of an into class. Tough paper, and the readings are brutal. Tests were difficult, and he provides little direction for studying. He talks quickly and doesn't repeat or post notes, but very interesting prof & material. You'd really need to work for a high grade.

5.0
3.0
POLI279
Grade: A-
Apr 18, 2016

excellent lecturer, i found his test to be challenging but fair. hes an extremely fair marker for the research assignment, would recommend taking this class for anyone as long as you attend, youre good.

5.0
4.0
POLI279
Grade: B+
Apr 25, 2016

By far my favourite prof this year. He is really passionate about political science and international relations and it really comes through in his lectures. Must attend every class to do well and take notes on everything he says. Very content heavy course and a lot of effort is needed to do well, but its still very manageable to get an A.

4.0
3.0
POLI279
May 2, 2016

Baron is truly an incredible prof! One of the best lecturers I've had, he speaks clearly and fluidly in a way that makes it easy to take good notes. You must come to class to do well, because he doesn't use D2L or lecture slides at all. Readings are pretty dry and he tests directly on them. Super interesting course and passionate prof!

4.0
3.0
POLI279
May 4, 2016

Excellent prof and his lectures are amazing. Super passionate about what he is talking about, which makes the class interesting. Downside: extremely slow marker. Took over a month to get our essays back and its been 2 weeks since the final and no grade. Other than that super great prof, not difficult, and an enjoyable class - would take again.

5.0
3.0
POLI359
Grade: A
Oct 6, 2016
Would take again

I love Baron. I've had him for POLI381, POLI359, and INTR301. Although intimidating at first, he is actually the sweetest prof. Talking to him 1on1 will help for discussing paper topics or asking questions. I take any and all classes with him that I can.

Caring
LECTURE HEAVY
5.0
1.0
POLI435
Nov 13, 2016
Would take again

Pay attention during lectures and review your work almost everyday A

Skip class? You won't pass.
Clear grading criteria
Amazing lectures
4.0
3.0
POLI465
Grade: A
Dec 7, 2016
Would take again

Baron is awesome! He is so knowledgeable about Chinese politics. Go to class because you get a lot of info. out of each lecture. Midterm is easy if you go to class. Don't expect him to go on about what will be on the mid term or paper, but go into office hours to ask questions and he is happy to help. Really fair tests and fair marker!

Skip class? You won't pass.
ACCESSIBLE OUTSIDE CLASS
Amazing lectures
5.0
4.0
INTR301
Dec 11, 2016
Would take again

Dr. Baron is an awesome prof, he truly cares about his students and is great to talk to outside of class time. He's incredibly knowledgeable and I learned a lot in this class. However, I thought the grading methods for the paper were slightly confusing, and the paper itself was a bit too difficult for a second year class.

Tough Grader
Skip class? You won't pass.
3.0
4.0
INTR301
Grade: B-
Dec 13, 2016
Would take again

I really liked having Baron as a prof. He is funny and very knowledgeable. However, his tests are somewhat hard. The paper required was was very difficult, and it was not marked fairly.

Get ready to read
Skip class? You won't pass.
Hilarious
5.0
4.0
INTR301
Grade: B
Dec 23, 2016
Would take again

If you're taking a POLI or INTR class you NEED to take a class with Baron. He's animated, knows his stuff, is such a great resource, approachable and fun. His course is hard, but a good challenge. The term paper and finals were tough. 10/10

Tough Grader
Skip class? You won't pass.
Inspirational
4.0
4.0
INTR301
Grade: C-
Dec 27, 2016
Would take again

Baron is an amazing person and wonderful prof. He's loaded with so much information. Midterm is based on vocabulary words mostly. Tough marker on final essay and term paper.

Tough Grader
Skip class? You won't pass.
GRADED BY FEW THINGS
5.0
4.0
INTR301
Jan 24, 2017
Would take again

Mark was my prof at the University of Lethbridge for my undergrad in poli sci. While he may come across as intimidating, especially with his passion and depth of knowledge for the subject - he is the kindest man. I always appreciated his company. He's a great person and a fantastic prof.

Skip class? You won't pass.
Inspirational
ACCESSIBLE OUTSIDE CLASS
5.0
4.0
INTR501
Grade: A
Jan 27, 2017
Would take again

I liked Mark so much during my undergrad that I took 8 classes from him over 5 years. Probably the most interesting lecturer in the Poli Sci department, you will be blown away by the amount of information that just flows out of him. He doesn't provide slides or notes, so be prepared to attend and pay attention.

Tough Grader
Skip class? You won't pass.
Amazing lectures
5.0
3.0
POLI435
Mar 4, 2017
Would take again

Dr. Baron is the most knowledgable prof I have met. Attending lecture is a must, as notes are not posted on D2L. Write down everything he says, review it, and you're good to go. Gave out final exam question in last lecture, so just prepare your essay before by memorizing your outline and you're ready for the final.

Respected
Skip class? You won't pass.
Amazing lectures
5.0
3.0
POLI359
Mar 7, 2017
Would take again

I could write a dissertation on how much I love Mark Baron. Took 3 classes with him and enjoyed each one. Straight lectures and no slides but he makes it easy to listen to. Genuinely cares about your success and your mental health. Please take a class with him if you can, if not for his teaching then for his outfits alone. Too pure for this world

Respected
Skip class? You won't pass.
Inspirational
4.0
3.0
POLI435
Grade: A
Mar 22, 2017
Would take again

Dr. Baron is an amazing professor. For POLI435, most of the testing material comes from lectures, and they're a mix of multiple choice and written. Solid course if you're interested in Canadian foreign affairs, but if you don't know much on it, Dr. Baron makes it incredibly interesting and fun!

Skip class? You won't pass.
ACCESSIBLE OUTSIDE CLASS
Amazing lectures
5.0
3.0
POLI279
Grade: A-
Mar 25, 2017
Would take again

Baron is an amazing professor who really genuinely cares about the class and material. His lectures are so engaging and entertaining, but you need to attend class to pass. Readings are mandatory because he test on them!! Only take this class if you are interested because if not this class will be a pain! Love him, awesome class

Skip class? You won't pass.
ACCESSIBLE OUTSIDE CLASS
Caring
4.0
3.0
POLI359
Grade: A-
Apr 14, 2017
Would take again

Compassionate, caring, and incredibly knowledgeable on the subject matter. Makes time for students in office hours, and grading expectations are clear. You are given all the tools to succeed in his class. Attendance is a must, however.

Skip class? You won't pass.
Hilarious
Caring
4.0
4.0
POLI279
May 3, 2017
Would take again

Although his a good prof, I found his MC tests really hard and so did others. But his class is a joy to go to and is filled with information regarding politics and the world. His well respected by his students and everyone seems to want more out of him. You will HAVE to attend class though, no notes online.

Respected
Skip class? You won't pass.
Amazing lectures
5.0
3.0
POLI359
Jun 18, 2017
Would take again

Baron is a great teacher and a great man. His lectures are very organized and easy to follow, and he's very knowledgeable. He's also friendly and approachable, unlike many other teachers I've had. Highly recommended.

Respected
Inspirational
Hilarious
5.0
3.0
POLI465
Jun 29, 2017
Would take again

Mark Bae-ron is the most amazing prof at the uofc. Every single class he taught me was super engaging, and he is super knowledgeable about everything. 10/10 amaze.

5.0
3.0
INTR301
Nov 15, 2017
Would take again

Baron is literally the best prof I've ever had. He is so knowledgable and engaging, so the class is never boring. Very personable and helpful, highly recommend going to his office hours, its always beneficial and educational. He doesn't post any of his notes so don't skip. What he marks on is very clear. I honestly wish he taught all of my classes

Skip class? You won't pass.
GRADED BY FEW THINGS
Amazing lectures
5.0
3.0
POLI435
Dec 8, 2017
Would take again

I really love Professor Baron. He's incredibly nice and respectful to students. He's one of the only teachers I feel actually comfortable speaking with. He is incredibly knowledgeable, and you will learn a lot in any course he teaches. The workload is not too demanding, and I love the way he teaches.

Gives good feedback
Respected
Inspirational
5.0
3.0
INTR501
Dec 12, 2017
Would take again

Baron is the best teacher at this school, hands down. He's absolutely inspirational. So knowledgeable about the material and gives the most fascinating and engaging lectures.

Respected
Inspirational
Amazing lectures
5.0
4.0
POLI435
Grade: A-
Jan 6, 2018
Would take again

I love Mark more than life itself. Lectures are amazing but he doesnt post notes. If Mark taught Calculus i would still take the class I love him that much. One of those profs who genuinely cares about their students and is SO passionate. This is not an easy A class but worth every single minute of effort you put into it.

Tough Grader
Skip class? You won't pass.
Amazing lectures
5.0
3.0
POLI435
Grade: A-
Jan 15, 2018
Would take again

Baron's one of those poli sci prof's who makes an A 90%+, but it's worth taking his classes anyways. He's a fantastic lecturer, and genuinely cares about teaching his students. He is a great help during office hours for clarification, and he is a fair marker. I prefer when his classes have papers, but this one had 2 midterms and a final.

Gives good feedback
Respected
Amazing lectures
5.0
3.0
POLI435
Grade: A-
Mar 8, 2018
Would take again

Dr. Baron is by far one of my favourite profs. If you go to class there is never any surprises on the tests and he sets all students up for success as long as you put the time in. He is more than passionate and is very easy to listen to. Hes approachable and a fair grader. He will help you to the best of his ability on anything.

Skip class? You won't pass.
Hilarious
Amazing lectures
3.0
4.0
POLI279
Grade: A-
Apr 23, 2018
Would take again

You can tell Baron loves his job. Awesome lecturer but his final was worth 50% & was MC even though the 2 midterms were written. Readings aren't required until the final exam so make sure you keep up with them so you don't die during finals week like I did. He gives the midterm essay question the class before Takes over a month to give results back

Gives good feedback
Clear grading criteria
TEST HEAVY
4.0
3.0
POLI279
Grade: A-
Apr 23, 2018
Would take again

Pros: gives the exact midterm questions (essay) the class before, super engaging lectures, textbook has companion site (no practice tests though) Cons: only graded on 3 tests (Midterm I is 20%, Midterm II is 30% & final is worth 50%) final is MC when the midterms are essay style so you don't know what to expect Takes 5+ weeks to give marks back

TEST HEAVY
GRADED BY FEW THINGS
LECTURE HEAVY
5.0
4.0
POLI279
Apr 30, 2018
Would take again

One of the best profs of my first year. If you have to take a 9am class, take it with him. He's super concise, and detailed in what he wants you to know. He always keeps it interesting. The only thing is that he doesn't post on D2L- come to class and take notes or make a friend that takes really detailed ones to leech off of.

ACCESSIBLE OUTSIDE CLASS
Hilarious
Amazing lectures
5.0
4.0
POLI465
May 5, 2018
Would take again

One of the best profs at the University of Calgary. I would HIGHLY recommend taking any political science course with Baron, especially 465.

Skip class? You won't pass.
Inspirational
Amazing lectures
5.0
4.0
POLI359
Grade: Not sure yet
Oct 31, 2018
Would take again

My favourite professor ever! Baron is a really good professor, you can tell he's passionate about his job through his lectures. He is very approachable if you are confused with anything. I recommend taking a class with him, though you gotta put in effort to pass his class but you will enjoy it!

Skip class? You won't pass.
Amazing lectures
LECTURE HEAVY
5.0
4.0
INTR301
Grade: A
Nov 6, 2018
Would take again

Baron is the best professor I've ever had. His lectures are entertaining, and he is extremely passionate about what he teaches. Going to class IS A MUST if you want to succeed, let alone pass, in this class. He doesn't post anything online, isn't particularly great with emailing, but he is ALWAYS there for you in office hours.

Respected
Skip class? You won't pass.
ACCESSIBLE OUTSIDE CLASS
5.0
3.0
POLI359
Grade: B+
Dec 7, 2018
Would take again

Baron is probably my favorite poli sci teacher at U of C, his lectures are always fun and I learned so much.

Gives good feedback
Respected
Skip class? You won't pass.
5.0
4.0
INTR501
Grade: A-
Dec 8, 2018
Would take again

you will never have a professor better than Baron. He is extremely knowledgeable and passionate about the subject matter and is always willing to help students and explain things to them.

Hilarious
Amazing lectures
Caring
5.0
4.0
INTR501
Dec 12, 2018
Would take again

Mark is by far my favourite professor at the UofC. He is incredibly passionate about his subject matter and presents some of the best lecture's I've ever attended. You need to work for your grade and he expect's a lot of work done outside of classes. I learned more in his class than I have in entire semesters.

Get ready to read
Inspirational
Amazing lectures
5.0
2.0
POLI359
Grade: Not sure yet
Dec 25, 2018
Would take again

Amazing prof, one of my favourites Ive ever had. Makes lectures interesting and hes always funny and relatable. Definitely take a class with him.

Hilarious
Amazing lectures
Caring
4.0
3.0
POLI279
Jan 9, 2019
Would take again

Really awesome prof! Very passionate about the courses he teaches and is very friendly. Would definitely pay attention in class because he doesn't utilize power point and teaches all from memory. One of the best profs I've had to date.

Respected
Skip class? You won't pass.
Amazing lectures
5.0
3.0
INTR301
Grade: A+
Jan 28, 2019
Would take again

Dr Baron is one of those rare gems who cares deeply for the wellbeing and success of his students! I've had the pleasure of taking several classes with him and he's honestly one of my favourite people in the world. He's very lecture heavy, but readings are minimal and he's a very fair marker. Will never test on something he never mentioned in class

Skip class? You won't pass.
Hilarious
Amazing lectures
5.0
2.0
INTR301
Grade: A
Feb 20, 2019
Would take again

Best professor for this class and in general (I had POLI 359 with him as well). Super engaging and you can tell he knows his stuff. Answers all questions in class and makes sure they're good answers. Tests were a combination of lectures and readings so come to class and do the readings! Cares about students and he is super funny so that's a perk.

Skip class? You won't pass.
Amazing lectures
Caring
5.0
3.0
POLI279
Apr 8, 2019
Would take again

Very knowledgeable and passionate, as well as funny and interesting/engaging. You have to come to lectures because he doesn't post anything and writes on the whiteboard only. He seems like an extremely caring guy. I loved being in his class.

Skip class? You won't pass.
Amazing lectures
Lecture heavy
5.0
3.0
POLI279
Grade: A+
Apr 8, 2019
Would take again

Mark was by far the best prof I have had, very enthusiastic and actually funny. He doesn't use D2L so make sure to show up to class because you won't understand anything if you don't. Covers things thoroughly.

Skip class? You won't pass.
Hilarious
Caring
2.0
4.0
POLI279
Grade: C+
Apr 13, 2019
Wouldn't take again

Unpopular opinion: I really struggled with Baron. I was given a D on the first midterm, and when I went to discuss why he gave me such a bad grade he said: "I will go through it with you, but I won't negotiate grades." When we met to discuss it, he wouldn't budge so I appealed the grade and got a B- when marked by a different prof. Frustrating asf.

Accessible outside class
Inspirational
Graded by few things
5.0
4.0
POLI465
Grade: A-
May 19, 2019
Would take again

First of all, I am so happy that he got the SU teaching excellence award this year!! He deserved the award 200%!! He is my favorite professor in U of C, extremely knowledgeable and caring. I even went to him for advise for paper from another class but related subject, he is more than happy to help me out. He also remembers you after semesters!!

Accessible outside class
Skip class? You won't pass.
Amazing lectures
5.0
3.0
POLI279
Grade: A
Jun 3, 2019
Would take again

He posts nothing on d2l and he takes a few weeks to give grades back but it doesn't matter b/c his teaching makes up for it. The best way to do well in this class is to take your own notes in class and make them detailed, he gives you the topics you're talking about and then gives you the exact points you need to know. All test questions are fair.

Skip class? You won't pass.
Graded by few things
Lecture heavy
5.0
4.0
POLI359
Grade: B+
Jun 13, 2019
Would take again

Great prof

Accessible outside class
Test heavy
Amazing lectures
5.0
3.0
POLI279
Grade: A-
Jun 24, 2019
Would take again

one of my best profs so far. highly recommended!

Respected
Skip class? You won't pass.
Amazing lectures
5.0
2.0
POLI279
Grade: A
Aug 3, 2019
Would take again

He is the KING of lectures. Period. I can still remember what he exactly taught in every class months after, without even looking back to the notes.

Respected
Inspirational
Amazing lectures
5.0
3.0
POLI359
Grade: A-
Nov 6, 2019
Would take again

Mark Baron is the best. He is so nice and embodies a father figure. His tests are very fair, what he tells you to expect is exactly what you will get. Showing up to class is a must, but he makes to so much fun and engaging. He is so passionate and cares a lot about the students understanding.

Get ready to read
Skip class? You won't pass.
Caring
5.0
4.0
POLI359
Nov 27, 2019
Would take again

Mark Baron is the G.O.A.T.

Respected
Hilarious
Amazing lectures
5.0
4.0
POLI359
Grade: A-
Dec 12, 2019
Would take again

His tests are fair and if you don't miss any classes + study you'll do great. But above all are his lectures. They will inspire you, make you love political science and I remember what he said even months later because of the passion he projects. First professor who was kind to me and now he even remembers my name. Favourite professor of all time.

Skip class? You won't pass.
Inspirational
Amazing lectures
5.0
4.0
INTR301
Grade: A-
Dec 12, 2019
Would take again

Baron is the most inspirational, caring and passionate prof I've ever had. Make sure you attend all the lectures and study and you'll do fine. Favourite professor of all time!

Skip class? You won't pass.
Inspirational
Amazing lectures
5.0
3.0
POLI359
Dec 18, 2019
Would take again

Mark is the best prof ever. Would recommend taking a class with him.

5.0
4.0
INTR301
Grade: A-
Jan 11, 2020
Would take again

Baron has been one of the best profs I've had in university. His lectures are amazing, he gets right to the point , and whatever he talks about is what he tests on, no surprises there. His grading is fair and he also gives feedback. Amazing prof. I'm taking POLI 435 next semester just because hes lecturing it.

Skip class? You won't pass.
Hilarious
Amazing lectures
5.0
3.0
POLI359
Grade: A
Feb 3, 2020
Would take again

Easily the best professor I've had in political science. Baron really is the reason I've fallen in love with my degree and his lectures are simply spectacular. Even to the average university student, I would highly recommend taking this class if you have any passion for politics. Exams and assignments are by no means easy but most definitely fair.

Respected
Inspirational
Amazing lectures
5.0
2.0
POLI279
Grade: A
Mar 31, 2020
Would take again

Baron is a gem. He is among the most genuinely caring profs I have met. At the end of every lecture, our whole class would give him applause for some reason. Maybe it was because he was funny? Ended class ten mins earlier? Or that every student in that lecture room knew he cared. Whatever the reason, you will not regret taking his class.

Skip class? You won't pass.
Amazing lectures
Caring
5.0
3.0
POLI279
Grade: A
Apr 18, 2020
Would take again

Absolutely amazing. Very fun and interesting lectures where he makes the material very easy to understand. Actually cares about his students and is very accessible outside of class time. Very good sense of fashion, his black shirt and blue jeans were one of my favourite things to see in the morning. You can't go wrong with him. An absolute gem.

Skip class? You won't pass.
Amazing lectures
Caring
5.0
1.0
POLI279
Grade: A-
Jul 7, 2020
Would take again

One of the best Prof ever. He would make you love political science. Make sure to write notes and you'll do great.

Gives good feedback
Respected
Skip class? You won't pass.
5.0
3.0
INTR301
Grade: A-
Jul 16, 2020
Would take again

Baron is the only professor at the U of C that I pray to have. Looking forward to his INTR 501. Beyond excited. He is literally THE BEST.

Skip class? You won't pass.
Inspirational
Amazing lectures
5.0
2.0
INTR501
Grade: Not sure yet
Dec 16, 2020
Would take again

Baron is the best. This class is usually very heavy content based, this year though in the beginning it was the same, later Baron revised the readings from 30 to 10 readings in total because he wanted us to have less pressure especially due to covid. The MT and Final is easy as long as you follow his outline!

Respected
Graded by few things
Caring
5.0
3.0
POLI359
Grade: A-
Dec 22, 2020
Would take again

MB is the best professor in the PoliSci department. His lectures are interesting and engaging. This is my second time taking a class with Baron, the first time was in person and it is different now that its online but he still puts the effort into what he teaches and makes the students want to learn it. Excited for POLI 435 next semester!

Clear grading criteria
Amazing lectures
Lecture heavy
5.0
1.0
POLI359
Grade: A
Jan 12, 2021
Would take again

Baron is always a safe bet and Id recommend him to anyone in any degree. He had the ability to take complicated concepts, and articulate in a way that anyone can understand. Hes also a fair marker, and gives good specific feedback on exams. Profs usually dont care about your well-being but it sure does feel like Baron cares about you.

Respected
Graded by few things
Caring
2.0
3.0
POLI279
Grade: Not sure yet
Mar 19, 2021
Would take again

Really does seem like he knows what he's talking about, however his online lecture style is so dry that it's hard to stay focused even though the lectures are only 20minutes. Only uploads one lecture a week, and they're not very long (but very dense) Gives great in-depth feedback on assignments. Would take again if the class was not online.

Gives good feedback
Participation matters
5.0
2.0
POLI279
Grade: Not sure yet
Apr 7, 2021
Would take again

Kind of a bizarre course in the online format. He only posted about 15-30 minutes of lecture material each week. But it was very dense. Three open book take home essay exams which were easy. The course was interesting and really easy, but it didn't feel like we covered much material at all.

Get ready to read
Skip class? You won't pass.
Test heavy
4.0
2.0
POLI279
Apr 22, 2021
Would take again

Online lectures were posted once a week and were pretty short but he covered all material that he asked about. Three take home tests made up the grade and he gives feedback for everyone so we can improve. Overall it was a pretty easy class and wasn't too hard to do well.

Get ready to read
Graded by few things
Test heavy
4.0
2.0
POLI279
Grade: A
Jun 17, 2021
Would take again

I think Dr. Baron's class was hindered by the online format and would have been much more engaging in person. Lectures were somewhat repetitive but did cover topics in-depth. That being said, the course/textbook content was really interesting and he is a very fair marker. He also provides good constructive feedback on the written midterm exams.

Get ready to read
Graded by few things
Test heavy
5.0
2.0
POLI359
Grade: A
Dec 9, 2021
Would take again

Dr. Baron's assignments are really clear and concise, and the material on his tests always comes directly from the lectures. He is a really nice professor! Great to talk to after class.

Gives good feedback
Respected
Inspirational
5.0
3.0
POLI359
Grade: Not sure yet
Dec 13, 2021
Would take again

Mark is probably the best professor I have had to date, he seems to actually enjoy talking about the subject matter and is super knowledgeable. There were no actual tests and instead gave us take-home tests which were essays to be completed over the course of a couple of days. His drip is immaculate as well. Take his class if you can.

Gives good feedback
Inspirational
Hilarious
5.0
3.0
POLI359
Grade: A
Jan 7, 2022
Would take again

Baron is phenomenal, giving his time outside of class to entertain any number of questions you might have. While also making the material engaging and exciting! I would take any of his classes again and if you love political science, take as many of his classes as you can!

Inspirational
Hilarious
Caring
5.0
2.0
POLI465
Grade: A-
Mar 14, 2022
Would take again

Baron's assignments are very straightforward, and his grading criteria is super clear and fair. He is an interesting lecturer, and his classes are well organized! You always know what to expect when taking a course with him which is much appreciated.

Clear grading criteria
5.0
1.0
POLI279
Grade: A
Mar 18, 2022
Would take again

A legend

5.0
1.0
POLI359
Grade: A
Mar 18, 2022
Would take again

Best professor you could ask for

5.0
3.0
POLI402
Grade: A
Mar 23, 2022
Would take again

The most amazing professor I have had, Not only cares about his material, but cares even more about his students. Gets so into lectures and discussions it involuntary engages you even more. Ask a question, good or bad he will answer in the fullest of his capacity and explain why it was a good question either way. This man is a gem.

Amazing lectures
Gives good feedback
Caring
5.0
2.0
INTR301
Grade: A-
Apr 11, 2022
Would take again

Dr. Baron is one of the gems of the POLI department. His lectures are packed with relevant info and always engaging. Extremely fair marker on take home exams which he usually gives about a week to complete. Does not post lectures on D2L so definitely make sure to attend in person - you won't be disapppointed!

Amazing lectures
Lecture heavy
Graded by few things
5.0
2.0
POLI279
Grade: A+
Apr 11, 2022
Would take again

Mark is an incredible professor. Cares about students understanding of course content and very straightforward marker. Super passionate about global politics and it shows. HIGHLY recommend.

5.0
2.0
POLI465
Grade: A
Apr 20, 2022
Would take again

An icon! The papers he assigns are so easy, and he marks them super fairly. Everything is laid out in a super clear manner and his lectures are pretty interesting. He has really reasonable expectations for students and is very kind. Can't recommend enough, take all your required comparative politics classes with him.

Amazing lectures
Clear grading criteria
5.0
3.0
POLI359
Grade: A
May 5, 2022
Would take again

Not the most organized professor, however, he cares greatly for his students, is extremely understanding and gives really good and interesting lectures.

Amazing lectures
Caring
Graded by few things
5.0
2.0
POLI465
Grade: Not sure yet
Dec 5, 2022
Would take again

Professor Baron makes class so enjoyable! Make sure you show up though and are ready to write/type while actively listening

Amazing lectures
Hilarious
Respected
5.0
2.0
POLI465
Grade: Not sure yet
Dec 10, 2022
Would take again

He's an amazing professor, and an even more amazing man. He's very approachable, and after every class, there's always someone talking to him or asking him questions. He's also very knowledgeable, like a walking encyclopedia. Make sure to always go to class and be ready to type/write, because he's a talk-and-chalk kinda prof. Highly recommend!

Get ready to read
Hilarious
Caring
5.0
3.0
INTR301
Grade: A-
Dec 13, 2022
Would take again

Dr. Baron is amazing. In this class you'll be graded by 3 essay-style exams which you have a week to complete. Textbook wasn't really necessary but attendance is ABSOLUTELY mandatory! He mostly wants to see material from the lectures that aren't always in the textbook. Fortunately, he is funny and engaging, his class was the highlight of my day.

Amazing lectures
Lecture heavy
Graded by few things
5.0
2.0
POLI465
Grade: A
Dec 16, 2022
Would take again

Baron is without a doubt one of the best professors in my experience at U of C. Clear criteria, easy tests (IF you go to class) and a genuinely phenomenal human. He is hilarious. Not going to class will be shooting yourself in the foot (no posted notes, this genius just tells you what is in his head). Baron is a professor students are lucky to have

Participation matters
Amazing lectures
Clear grading criteria
5.0
2.0
POLI465
Grade: A
Aug 27, 2023
Would take again

Baron is the absolute GOAT. He's on a sabbatical right now and I was very much considering extending my degree just to take his class. Go to class, pay attention, and midterms will be a breeze. He made my 9am lectures worth going to, and is by far, the best prof I've ever had in my entire degree. Bonus points for being a brother from the hood.

Clear grading criteria
Gives good feedback
Caring
5.0
2.0
435
Grade: Not sure yet
Apr 21, 2024
Would take again

Just go to class every day, do the readings, and make sure you ask questions. Not only is he a great guy, but he's a teaching treasure to the UCalgary PoliSci department.

Amazing lectures
Caring
Graded by few things
2.0
2.0
435
Grade: A
May 8, 2024
Would take again

he cares abt his students and passionate about his lectures, but it started off very dry. he talked really fast, his lectures are history heavy, and class is for people looking for a reasonably average class than it is for a class that deepens understanding of the trajectory of the topic.

Gives good feedback
Lecture heavy
Accessible outside class
5.0
1.0
POLI465
Grade: A
Jul 2, 2024
Would take again

Mark Baron IS THE BEST PROF EVER! I struggled last year, but thanks to him, I got my mojo back lol. He's actually funny, unlike other profs. His lectures were to the point yet engaging. Everything on the exams was talked about in class. Such a cool dude, def my new favourite prof! Spring was too short. I need more classes with him in the future!

Amazing lectures
Hilarious
Caring
5.0
2.0
POLI465
Grade: A
Sep 25, 2024
Would take again

Baron is a phenomenal prof - his lectures are engaging, grading is fair, and he genuinely cares about students. Attend class, take notes, and use unstuck study AI for prep - you'll do great!

5.0
3.0
POLI465
Grade: Not sure yet
Nov 20, 2024
Would take again

Mark Baron is a true expert and a great prof. Make sure to attend lectures because he does not use d2l or slides. This may discourage some from taking his courses, but he is a very engaging lecturer so I haven't found it a problem. Would highly recommend.

Amazing lectures
Respected
Graded by few things
5.0
2.0
INTR301
Grade: Not sure yet
Dec 7, 2024
Would take again

Amazing Professor, you know someone's a genius when they can lecture non-stop without notes, only a Bubbly. Professor Baron's lectures are fast paced, spanning past/present events and don't use slides (make sure to get notes from friends). Grading and exceptions are clear, be prepared to think critically, and don't be afraid to ask questions!

Amazing lectures
Inspirational
5.0
2.0
INTR301
Grade: Not sure yet
Dec 18, 2024
Would take again

honestly the best prof at uofc. He shows up with a bubly and vibes and gets his point across. I would lock in for lectures since he doesnt post anything on d2l.

Hilarious
Caring
Respected
4.0
3.0
INTR301
Grade: Not sure yet
Dec 20, 2024
Would take again

definitely possible to pass without attending lectures, but it'll make your life easier to attend because baron is good at explaining and expanding on topics in-person and doesn't post anything online.

Test heavy
Accessible outside class
5.0
2.0
INTR301
Grade: A+
Mar 5, 2025
Would take again

Class style: - Whiteboard only, no D2L resources - Encourages questions and always loops them back to course content Advice: - Attend class and pay attention; he asks questions like "as stated in class..." - Read the textbook definitions of terms He's also got this deadpan humour that works really well! Highly recommend this class.

Amazing lectures
Hilarious
Graded by few things
5.0
3.0
INTR501
Grade: Not sure yet
May 6, 2025
Would take again

The best professor I met at the U of C. He cares and he can teach!!!

Participation matters
Amazing lectures
Gives good feedback
1.0
4.0
POLI
Grade: Drop/Withdrawal
Jul 14, 2025

I do not see the hype with this guy.

Tough grader
Lecture heavy
Graded by few things
1.0
5.0
POLI343
Grade: A
Jul 20, 2025

He went through the content painfully slow, and then right before the final he covered like 4 chapters in one week. He doesn't teach, he just reads off of the lecture slides. He also refused to upload the answers for the midterm exam which didn't help us improve ourselves. Overrated.

1.0
5.0
POLI381359
Grade: A-
Aug 4, 2025

Mark is a professor that enjoys very tricky questions. I attended all of his lectures and he spends majority of the time away from course content, delving into irrelevant tangents and history instead of the syllabus content. His ability to convey the material was very poor and I learned everything from watching other lecturers.

Get ready to read
1.0
5.0
INTR301
Grade: A
Aug 17, 2025

Mark treated the students with a high level of disrespect. He laughs at students who get questions wrong in class and corrects them harshly. He also goes on long tangents during his lectures that are swayed by his personal political beliefs. His supposed knowledge is not worth being treated poorly.

Participation matters
Test heavy
1.0
4.0
POLI381
Grade: Rather not say
Aug 25, 2025

His courses are not accessible, he even said on the course outline that he would not be accommodating anyone that missed a lecture.

Lecture heavy
Test heavy
Graded by few things
1.0
5.0
POLI
Grade: Incomplete
Aug 28, 2025

POLI 492- provided next to no resources to prep for the upcoming exams, due to his style of teaching I really struggled to follow along and to prep adequately. I tried to rely more on the textbook, but that did not work, as it was only like 10% relevant for the course.

Get ready to read
Lecture heavy
1.0
4.0
INTR501
Grade: Not sure yet
Oct 16, 2025

Refuses to provide anything extra to aid in your learning, but also his hand writing isn't the most organized.

Get ready to read
Lecture heavy
Graded by few things
1.0
5.0
EAST317
Grade: A
Oct 19, 2025

The class is just reading the slides, which are hard to understand. If you have choices, take another professor's class. Btw, from my perspective, he is rude.

Lecture heavy
1.0
4.0
381
Grade: Not sure yet
Nov 1, 2025

Borderline speaking gibberish, it doesn't exactly help that his hand writing is very messy and there are no power points to refer to. The textbook will likely not be relevant.

Test heavy
1.0
5.0
POLI
Grade: A
Nov 11, 2025

Prof Baron is a nice guy, but is pretty weak as a prof. Weird lectures designed mostly around his subjective opinions and a useless textbook the he makes you buy. Marking is really weird and unnecessarily hard making his sections have relatively low averages.

Tough grader
1.0
5.0
INTR301
Grade: Not sure yet
Nov 17, 2025

His teaching methods would've been perfect if we were still in the 1990's or maybe early 2000's.

Lecture heavy
Test heavy
Graded by few things
1.0
5.0
INTR301
Grade: Drop/Withdrawal
Dec 6, 2025

Took his class as I heard many great things from other students and even Machacek, but honestly very disappointed the course is like a bad hybrid between Dr Dumas and Dr Rices teaching with no power points and the course only being graded by 3 exams.

Lecture heavy
Test heavy
Graded by few things
5.0
2.0
POLI465
Grade: Not sure yet
Dec 13, 2025
Would take again

Baron is amazing. I have seen a lot of comments complaining, but really the only thing you have to do is pay attention in class and take good notes. If you are someone who does not pay attention in class or is on their phone the entire time, then yes, you will struggle. But if you go to class with the willingness to learn, you will do well.

Lecture heavy
3.0
4.0
INTR501
Grade: B+
Dec 16, 2025

He is a nice person however; his multiple choice questions are REALLY difficult, I never missed a class, took notes and read the textbook but still just got a C in that midterm which brought my overall grade down. Prepare for any question possible and background knowledge of the topic. He is a bit generous in marking written exams though.

Participation matters
Lecture heavy
Graded by few things
1.0
4.0
INTR501
Grade: Drop/Withdrawal
Dec 25, 2025

Showed up to every lecture and took active notes, but lets lets say if I didn't drop I would've likely failed. Maybe the course should be more related the textbook and maybe there should be creative assignment, instead of just 3 closed book exams.

Tough grader
Lecture heavy
Graded by few things
1.0
5.0
435
Grade: A+
Dec 26, 2025

Not a good professor; does not explain things well, refers you to the textbook when you ask for help. Do not take his class if you can help it.

Class Info

Online Classes

100%

Attendance Mandatory

82%

Textbook Required

20%

Grade Predictor

Your expected effort level

LowHigh

Predicted Grade

A-

95% confidence
Based on 72 grades
Most common grades:
A (32)
A- (24)
Not sure yet (18)
Grade Distribution
A(39)B(3)C(2)D(3)F(0)A-/B+(28)
Based on 95 reported grades
A: 32
A-: 24
Not sure yet: 18
A+: 7
Common Tags
Skip class? You won't pass. (38)
Amazing lectures (34)
Respected (21)
Caring (20)
Graded by few things (19)
Hilarious (18)
Inspirational (18)
Lecture heavy (16)
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Ratings by Course

473

5.0

(2)

SEVERAL

5.0

(1)

POLI383475

5.0

(1)

EAST333

5.0

(3)

POLI473

5.0

(1)
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Difficulty by Course

EAST201

5.0

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4.5

POLI

4.3

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4.0

POLI351

4.0

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