Sujith Kumar

This professor has taught: CPSN101, GVPT105S, GVPT241, GVPT449A, GVPT449G, GVPT449I

Sort By:

Information	Review
Sujith Kumar Expecting an A Anonymous 12/10/2024	Professor Kumar is great. The coursework and classes are extremely interesting, anyone who has any type of interest for politics should definitely take this class.
Sujith Kumar GVPT241 Expecting an A Anonymous 12/09/2024	The other reviews pretty much cover it. Professor Kumar gets very "deep in the weeds" with his teaching. We seem to spend a lot of time and energy on somewhat bizarre, irrelevant theories. I feel like I have learned very little about the main ideas and questions in political philosophy and have learned a lot about what Professor Kumar finds interesting. He is a nice person and the courseload is not bad, but the essays are graded pretty strictly. He's the only professor offered for GVPT241, so if this is a major requirement/you really want to take this course, this is your only option. I wish another professor was offered for this course because it could be a very interesting subject.
Sujith Kumar GVPT241 Expecting an A Anonymous 12/06/2024	Kumar is an interesting case because on the one hand he seems knowledgeable on what he is talking about, but on the other he inserts his personal political bias into his teachings and especially since the class is political and philosophical that is the last place they should be. His lecturing style is kind of boring and he doesn’t make an effort to take questions or engage the class all too often. Alongside that, the weekly discussion posts and occasional quiz are repetitive and filler, I don’t feel like I am learning from them and it could do with some change up. He seems like he could be a nice guy out of class and the class as potential to be interesting, but his bias and style bring it down. If you’re looking for a class to fulfill a gen ed, this one isn’t bad just a bit boring. TAs were all great though.
Sujith Kumar GVPT241 Expecting an A- Anonymous 12/05/2024	This class is a waste of time. Probably the most boring class I have ever taken. If it weren't for the amazing TA's I would have dropped this class. Kumar is such a boring lecturer and even though it's an interesting topic for a class he ruins it by giving more of his own opinions than actual information. Essays are also very hard but the grad TA and the TA's are amazing and so willing to help and will always give you as much feedback as you need.
Sujith Kumar GVPT241 Expecting an A- Anonymous 12/05/2024	Before taking this class I was terrified by his reviews, but it honestly wasn't that bad. I found the topics to be slightly boring and very confusing, but he makes an effort for students to speak in the lecture and express their opinion on each of the theories which made it more interesting. The quizzes were not ideal, but he drops the lowest quiz grade which is nice, and they are open note and book. The content can be difficult, but you have to be open to talking to him. He is definitely slightly intimidating, but talking to him in person or over Zoom was extremely helpful for helping me to understand concepts and the two large essay assignments. He recognizes that sometimes people need help and encourages you to seek it. I only took this class because it was a gov requirement, so I do not see why anyone would take it outside of that.
Sujith Kumar GVPT241 Expecting an A Anonymous 12/04/2024	If you are interested in learning more about the structure of political theory and how to reshape your understanding of how much influence politics has on your day to day, then this is definitely a course for you. Kumar is a very chill and transparent professor and you'll often find him being very blunt about what things are or aren't, but while also being a little humorous. There is no group work in the class only 2 papers, about 5 quizzes, and weekly discussion posts. The class is not hard but if you aren't taking the time to ensure you understand the concepts then the work could prove to be difficult. Just try your best and you'll do very well in the course!
Sujith Kumar GVPT241 Expecting an A- Anonymous 12/04/2024	The class starts off interesting, but as the weeks went by, I felt as if we were covering increasingly fringe topics related to political philosophy. In Mr. Kumar's lectures, I felt there was often a certain framing of the philosophy that made me want to lean towards the viewpoint that Kumar holds. Professor Kumar's ideology is also very evident in lectures. There are weekly discussion posts which get tiring quickly, but my TAs were extremely lenient and would give a 100 for each as long as you submitted on time and did not use AI. The quizzes can be frustrating, but 1 out of 5 gets dropped at the end of the semester. There are two essays that account for the bulk of your grade, yet to get a grade for the second, but the first was not bad if you put in effort and ask clarification for the requirements. Sections were particularly interesting and led to some spirited debates, but this may depend on the engagement of your classmates and TA's. Overall, Professor Kumar is a kind and passionate lecturer even if the subjects grew increasingly tiresome. I recommend the class if you are generally interested in politics and ready to put the time in.
Sujith Kumar GVPT241 Expecting an A- Anonymous 11/22/2024	If you're expecting a deep dive into the core texts and thinkers of political philosophy like Plato, Hobbes, Locke, or Rousseau, you will find this class disappointing. Instead, we spent most of the semester on fringe theories that don’t have much relevance to the study of political philosophy. The lectures often present these theories as definitive, and there’s a noticeable emphasis on Professor Kumar’s personal political ideology, which can overshadow objective analysis. It’s frustrating because there’s no room for exploration of alternative perspectives and if you disagree you will get a bad grade. Specifically for the essays, the questions are framed in a way that suggests a "right" answer despite the fact that they are opinion questions. You are not supposed write an argument for what you think, you are supposed to answer it the way he wants. The week we covered terrorism was an absolute low point. Instead of exploring the philosophical or ethical debates surrounding terrorism in any meaningful way, we were introduced to a bizarre new definition that felt completely disconnected from reality. On top of that, the class also taught that terrorism could be justified. It felt more like a lesson in rationalizing violence than a serious academic discussion. Overall, this class feels like a missed opportunity. Political philosophy is such a rich and fascinating subject, and it deserves better than this. If you’re passionate about the classics and want a balanced, thoughtful approach, I’d recommend looking elsewhere. Unless you’re into hearing one-sided opinions and learning about obscure theories that probably won’t come up again in any serious discussion, you’ll likely leave this class feeling frustrated and disappointed.
Sujith Kumar GVPT449G Expecting a B+ Anonymous 05/27/2024	Professor Kumar made the class teach the required material. The format of the class necessitates each student to give 2 to 3 presentations on relatively long political theory essays. These presentations last the entirety of the semester, and are one of the largest portions of your overall grade. You won't know what you get on these presentations up to a month and a half after they are completed. Same thing for worksheet grades and discussions. He completes grading relatively late, which impacts the way you complete subsequent assignments. You cannot make changes without feedback. The second part of your grade is your two essays, which are unnecessarily LONG. He tends to grade these essays strictly. On a separate note, this professor is clearly left-wing. I don't recommend taking this class if you do not agree with his beliefs. He is not willing to compromise on a lot of left-wing values.
Sujith Kumar GVPT241 Expecting a B+ Anonymous 05/23/2024	I enjoyed the class and his teaching, however, his slides always had minimal information. If you miss class, it is hard to understand what is going on due of depth posted on ELMS. I also had a 89.2 and he refused to raise up my grade--which I believe was unfair.
Sujith Kumar GVPT241 Expecting a B+ Anonymous 05/09/2024	Prof is very chill. no group projects but two essays instead. Ta is ok.
Sujith Kumar GVPT241 Anonymous 05/01/2024	Nice profesor and pretty easy class. Strict grading though
Sujith Kumar GVPT241 Expecting an A- Anonymous 12/13/2023	Dr. Kumar is a genuinely nice person and interesting lecturer. He posts lecture slides ahead of class for the most part. They are brief so it is very important to to come to lecture. I recommend taking notes of the slides before class and just copying down what he writes in lecture. There are 5 multiple choice quizzes all 10 questions each that are open note. They are often mostly based on lecture material. There are lengthy readings (45-60 pgs) a week but not necessarily needed if you pay attention in lecture. Discussions are helpful to understand the content and review for the quizzes. He is very knowledgeable about the subject. There are two papers, one midterm individual assignment and one group final paper. These were graded very harshly by the graduate TA (Isaiah Espinosa). Not Kumar's fault, however tanked many grades and did not provide constructive criticism.
Sujith Kumar GVPT241 Expecting an A Anonymous 08/07/2023	Dr. Kumar is a genuinely nice guy and he does a pretty good job at applying old concepts to situations in today’s world. All slides are posted, making your life easier if you are unable to make it to class. Lecture is not mandatory but discussion is. Expect 5 multiple choice quizzes (your lowest score gets dropped), 300 word/week discussion posts and 150+ word replies, a midterm paper, and final group project (working well with your group is important). No exams in this class. If you try your best, succeeding in this class is definitely attainable; Dr. Kumar is very reasonable and so are his TAs.
Sujith Kumar GVPT241 Expecting an A Anonymous 05/18/2023	Good lecturer, and Dr. Kumar seems very nice and approachable. Always willing to answer questions. The number of homework assignments in this class is kind of annoying. Every week, you have to write a 300 word discussion post with citations from the week's reading, and you have to reply to another student's post. There are also 5 quizzes and a final project. I didn't mind the quizzes at all. The project was okay, but the professor and the TAs could have done a much better job explaining the instructions clearly. The discussion posts can be very tedious though, and sometimes I feel like I spend more time formulating my posts to get them over with than actually just taking some time to think and absorb the content. I think this course would benefit from a discussion post once every two or three weeks.
Sujith Kumar GVPT241 Expecting an A Anonymous 05/08/2023	I am surprised by his mediocre ratings because he is a great professor and incredibly knowledgeable. He gives 10-question quizzes every two weeks which are not that bad but are crucial to your grade, so do well. Additionally, there are weekly discussion posts that I would advise doing the textbook reading for these. It may not be 100% necessary, but it helps because you have to find quotes from the readings. Get the online textbook if you are going to get it. He is very nice to talk to and he is more than willing to explain concepts for a second after class. Doesnt give unit tests, but the midterm and the final paper are graded on the hard side, so meet with the TA so you know what he wants. Overall, Kumar is a great professor and definitional knows what he's talking about. Take him if you can.
Sujith Kumar GVPT449G Expecting an A Anonymous 02/10/2023	I took this course a couple semesters ago, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Dr. Kumar is a knowledgable and passionate lecturer with lots of compassion for his students. This class was challenging; it is set up like a graduate-level seminar, and requires two long-ish papers. Lots of reading that is required if you want to be active in the class discussions. Would recommend 100% to any student looking for a fascinating challenge!
Sujith Kumar GVPT241 Expecting an A Anonymous 01/08/2023	Lectures were entertaining, but all of your work is graded by TA's and a graduate assistant. There are no midterms, but there are five quizzes spaced throughout the semester that make up 25% of your grade total and a paper, plus weekly discussion posts that are graded by TAs. There is also no final exam, but there is a final project that is a group essay which is graded by the graduate assistant and you receive a grade for the rough draft and the final draft. This class is fine, but would not recommend if you don't have to take this class or don't care about 1700s-modern european/american philosophy because that makes the class insufferable and incredibly boring. MAKE NO MISTAKE THIS IS A PHILOSOPHY CLASS, NOT A GOVERNMENT CLASS AND THAT MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE.
Sujith Kumar GVPT241 Expecting an A Anonymous 01/08/2023	Kumar is a good lecturer and you will get a good grasp of the concepts if you attend and take good notes. Class was enjoyable until the end where we had to do a group project worth 30% of our grade. Got placed with a horrible group for the final project, ended up having to do the entire paper myself. When I brought forward the group contract well in advance to the professor, I was practically blown off. Wish there had been accountability enforced.
Sujith Kumar GVPT241 Expecting an A+ Anonymous 12/16/2022	You need to show up to lectures because what he says is more helpful than what is on the slides. Also, he reads off a paper so he isn't always fluid in lecture delivery, but overall explains the content. He makes quizzes open note and some answers are directly from slides, which is good.
Sujith Kumar GVPT241 Expecting an A Anonymous 12/13/2022	This course is very engaging and thought-provoking, especially If you like philosophy and politics. Profesor Kumar is also very knowledgable and a good lecturer. The work is fairly simple and easy, except for the group essay which was frustrating for me because it required a high level or coordination which was hard for my group. I think it would have been a lot easier to make it a personal essay instead.
Sujith Kumar GVPT241 Expecting an A- Anonymous 12/12/2022	Interesting class and Dr. Kumar is a good lecturer. Make sure to do your discussion boards. The only thing about this class is the Quizzes are rather hard, even though they are open notes.
Sujith Kumar GVPT241 Expecting an A Anonymous 12/09/2022	Dr. Kumar's class is pretty interesting but all you really need to pass the class are the slides. The lectures make you think and are engaging, but if they weren't mandatory you wouldn't need to show up. Make sure to do the discussions though they are a huge part of your grade!
Sujith Kumar GVPT241 Anonymous 11/21/2022	Dr. Kumar is a good lecturer, and the classes can be pretty interesting. The quizzes can be kind of tricky sometimes, but they aren't too difficult. The worst part about this class is the group project, where everybody in the group gets the same grade so if you get stuck with bad group members, you either have to do the project yourself, or get a bad grade.
Sujith Kumar GVPT449G Expecting an A Anonymous 05/31/2022	Definitely a difficult class, but Dr. Kumar was very knowledgeable and was a good lecturer. Attendance was not required, but it really helps if you go. Make sure you do well on essays, you will need to put above-average effort into them. Overall really good class and professor!
Sujith Kumar GVPT241 Expecting an A Anonymous 05/26/2022	Really good lecturer, but like other people say, the quizzes are really weird. There are 5 ten question MC quizzes scattered throughout the semester. Kind of hard to do them, but at least he posts recordings of his lectures online. Essays aren't that bad, as long as you do what the rubric tells you, you're good.
Sujith Kumar GVPT241 Expecting an A- Anonymous 12/21/2021	Late a lot to lecture but he was an extremely good lecturer. The quizzes were confusing which messed up my grade but I loved how he worded and elaborated on the topics approached in this course. The only real annoying thing is he barely gave us any time to do our lengthy discussion posts weekly, usually he would put them out the day before. If he was more organized I would give him a 5/5.
Sujith Kumar GVPT241 Anonymous 12/16/2021	Though he is a very chill guy he is very opinionated and likes to hint his views through the lectures. Also, his feedback on papers is not clear at all and makes it even more a pain to fix up. Claims he's a professor when he's just a senior lecturer
Sujith Kumar GVPT241 Expecting an A- Anonymous 12/16/2021	He is a good lecturer who makes boring material interesting. His assignments are fairly graded and everything is very manageable. He's always happy to discuss concepts and ideas with students after lectures and is committed to engaging the students with the course material.
Sujith Kumar GVPT241 Expecting an A Anonymous 12/12/2021	Not the most interesting class but Dr. Kumar is interesting in lectures. Quizzes are hard but all the information is posted on the posted powerpoints and they are open note so definitely workable. Wish he would take fewer questions in lectures and tell people to save them for discussion because it is often a waste of everyone's time but other than that a nice guy.
Sujith Kumar GVPT241 Expecting an A Anonymous 12/07/2021	Fairly easy course as long as you understand the material. Quizzes make up a bulk of your grade so study for those. Kumar's pretty chill and receptive to student's concerns. Not bad at all.
Sujith Kumar GVPT241 Expecting a B+ Anonymous 12/04/2021	He is a pretty likeable guy, but the quizzes I struggled with a lot until I figured out how to study for them. The class is not bad at all, minus the quizzes. If you are a GVPT major, study up heavily for them, but the papers are really easy, so you are fine there.
Sujith Kumar GVPT241 Expecting an A- julia128 06/16/2021	Dr. Kumar is very interested in this topic and it shows! However every lecture felt like he was just reiterating the already confusing textbook which wasn't helpful considering 4 quizzes made up the bulk of the grade in this class.
Sujith Kumar GVPT241 Expecting an A Anonymous 01/25/2021	I actually really liked this course. Kumar's lectures were kind of strange but still made sense. Our TA Joel made the discussions much clearer and helped us easily understand the content. But the essay prompts were SO unnecessarily confusing when they didn't need to be. We had one group project, no tests or reading quizzes, and two essays. Overall not bad but if you don't like Government and philosophy that much I wouldn't take it.
Sujith Kumar GVPT241 Expecting a B kinquist 12/27/2020	hes just ok. his lectures dont make sense at all but hes a nice person.
Sujith Kumar GVPT241 Expecting an A Anonymous 12/18/2019	Dr. Kumar actually tag-teamed GVPT241 with Dr. Glass (I don’t think they’ve done it before, and I don’t know if they’ll be doing it again). Personally, I enjoyed having Kumar because his lectures were more coherent and slightly more engaging. We had 3 essays total, and his essay prompt (the third and last one, used as our final essay) was clear in its expectations.
Sujith Kumar GVPT241 Anonymous 12/08/2019	I have seen a lot of bad reviews of him. He is not the best teacher, but he was really nice and very passionate about the subject. He also helps students to understand complex readings.
Sujith Kumar GVPT241 Expecting an A- Anonymous 12/10/2018	Terrible lecturer, terrible quizzes, terrible exams. Avoid at all costs.
Sujith Kumar GVPT241 Expecting a B- Anonymous 11/01/2018	Worst prof ever. Gives out a plethora of reading quizzes, comprised of five poorly written questions, that are worth more than exam grades, percentage-wise. Every Monday and Wednesday. This class made me do the most for a 200-level class.