Jeffrey Burds is a History professor at Northeastern University rated 3.67/5 by 440 students, with 3.67/5 difficulty and 45.0% who would take them again (TRACE + RateMyProfessors + Reddit, updated July 2026).
Jeffrey Burds professor reviews and ratings: 3.67/5 from 440 student reviews at Northeastern (45.0% would take again). TRACE + RateMyProfessor + Reddit.
Burds is absurd. Best described as his way or the high way. Instructions are unclear and only accepts the answer he knows but doesn't describe. He rambles through lectures and over assigns readings. Would not recommend this class if you want to spend your days doing anything else, but reading and trying hard for poor results.HIST1389 2023-07-24 20:36:39 +0000 UTC
No exams, but a lot of writing assignments. Just participate in class and follow his examples on how to write the papers/presentations.HONR1310 2023-03-17 20:00:00 +0000 UTC
He is a very rude person. He speaks very directly, has a bad attitude, gives chaotic lectures, and has a lot of course materials. I had to write one or two short essays every day, and the score given is very strict. The evaluation fir him is, don't take his course!HIST1390 2022-05-16 15:28:40 +0000 UTC
Burds was a good professor. HIST3334 was a very interesting seminar - attendance and participation mattered a lot. Burds could be a little sharp and rude at times, but overall he was pleasant. He gives a lot of feedback and sometimes it's harsh but true I guess. There are 2 presentations, one 12 page essay, and nine small/one page essay quizzes.HIST3334 2021-12-19 19:34:46 +0000 UTC
Very rude, did not feel like I became a better writer through this course, do not recommendHONR133O 2021-12-18 22:23:01 +0000 UTC
Do not take this class! Burds grades very harshly and gives unclear guidelines and feedback. Feedback was always random. Lectures were long. Content was interesting, but his grading style and assignments made it stressful. Would not recommend this. Your semester will be spent readings books and living up to his high/bogus standards.HONR3310 2021-11-11 04:13:16 +0000 UTC
Favorite professor at NEU. An incredibly knowledgable and very unique professor who will treat you as an equal with quality work. If you love the subject like he does, he will know. Good work and effort will get him as interested as you maybe drinking in Moscow. Also one of the few classes were passive recruitment was possibly taking place.HIST7203 2015-06-08 05:57:04 +0000 UTC
He lectures at length with his sociology and archival research background. He calls all his lectures discussions but they are just him talking at you and you having to say how a reading almost identical to the last was so 'disturbing' or 'interesting.' He is knowledgable, but he has a limited view of history and can't teach in an engaging way.HONR120534912 2015-04-10 12:15:54 +0000 UTC
He is sooooooo smart and knows everything there is to know about Soviet History and much more. Heavy on the reading and pretty tough on his grading, but it's totally worth it just hear him talk. His classes attract a lot of guys interested in spies and secret police. Not a ton of discussion, but he will ask a few questions so be ready.HIST2387 2014-01-24 16:40:16 +0000 UTC
Be expected to do TONS of reading and to write challenging papers. That said, Burds is one of the most memorable teachers I had at Northeastern. He is clearly an EXPERT in his field and you will learn some really interesting stuff in his class. He is intense, but if you work hard he will really help you. Heavy workload but great subject matter!HIST1201 2010-10-26 17:30:50 +0000 UTC
Awesome if you're bad at history; he doesn't make you memorize dates&etc. Quizzes are on books so you know generally what to study. He lets you write papers to make up for bad grades on quizzes. Best history professor I've ever hadHONR2205 2010-04-15 18:36:24 +0000 UTC
Although it's easy to get lost in his lectures, Burds is an interesting professor who genuinely wants to help students learn.HIST2011 2009-12-29 20:09:29 +0000 UTC
It was kind of odd how he expected so much time and effort devoted to the course when the actual classwork and readings were totally unrelated to the grades. Basically, he lectures about the holocaust but all you are graded on is a paper and presentation about whatever you want. I you have trouble the problem is with you and not him.HST201 2009-08-04 23:30:28 +0000 UTC
horrible. expects students to devote all their time to his class, regardless of other classes or work. just keeps piling it on, and asks for the most anal details in his tests. has an attitude of superiority, and never forgets to talk about his own work, no matter how irrelevant, for at least 1/3 of the class. never again.HSTU387 2009-06-29 20:39:44 +0000 UTC
Burds is the perfect image of a college professor. He sweeps into class in all black clothing and teaches like it's nobodies business. AWESOME! He really expects you to read all the books that the class is on. If you don't you will be able to follow along because his lectures are really good, but you will feel behind as well.HISTEURO 2009-04-03 09:53:03 +0000 UTC
Jeffrey Burds has an average rating of 3.67/5 from 440 student reviews. 45.0% of students said they would take them again.
Jeffrey Burds's classes have a difficulty rating of 3.67/5 based on student reviews.
Jeffrey Burds has taught HIST1389, HIST1390, HIST1286, HONR3310, INSH2963, HIST3334, HONR1310, HIST3335, HIST3304, HIST4701, HONR1205 at Northeastern.
Data updated July 2026.