Current instructor

Alexander Shashko

Adjusted rating
RMP difficulty
captured reviews
About this rating

Raw average: 4.87/5 from 202 quality ratings. The adjusted rating blends this with the UW review average (3.66/5), weighted as 20 additional ratings. Smaller samples stay closer to that average. Each captured review is counted once in the prior; this does not correct who chooses to leave a review.

RMP profile ↗ · All captured review dates; profile matched by name.

What students say

Original student reviews · all captured dates

AFROAMER 156
Quality 5/5Difficulty 2/5
Undoubtedly the most knowledgeable and well-spoken prof I've had here. He is passionate about the material and makes lectures truly something to look forward to. Graded on 3 essays, short weekly assignments, and attendance/particapation. Lowkey more work than I thought it would be, but it's very manageable. Couldn't recommend a professor more.
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AFRO154 · course not matched
Quality 5/5Difficulty 1/5
Professor Shashko is easily my favorite lecturer at UW. This is a first-year only course, so please take while you can. Best ethnic studies gen-ed by far.
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AFRO154 · course not matched
Quality 5/5Difficulty 3/5
He is the best professor I have ever had! SOOO engaging and interesting, and he is super passionate. I recommend this class to everyone
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AFRO154 · course not matched
Quality 5/5Difficulty 1/5
AFROAMER154 is the most interesting class I have ever taken, and Professor Shashko is a super cool dude, really nice to talk to, and knows everything there is to know about hip hop.
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AFRO154 · course not matched
Quality 5/5Difficulty 2/5
I went into this class thinking it would be an easy blow off class for my ethnic studies credit, but it ended up being my favorite class I've ever taken. Shashko is the only professor I would happily trek up Bascom hill for- his lectures and teaching are worth it and he's a great guy!
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Personal experiences, not a representative survey. Profile matching and captured coverage are shown in the source details.

Classes with Alexander Shashko

Examines the aesthetic and political evolution of hip-hop culture and its relationship to contemporary social issues, including US race relations and global popular culture.

Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources

Past student reviews · Alexander Shashko

Alexander Shashko taught the course with engaging, story-driven lectures that students found highly entertaining and informative. The workload included substantial reading, which was relevant but necessary to understand the material, and grades were primarily based on three papers that students described as interesting and not entirely difficult.

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Spring 2026

Examines the interaction between African American musical culture and its historical context from 1920 to the present.

Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources

Past student reviews · Alexander Shashko

Alexander Shashko delivered engaging lectures that students found interesting. Past assessments included three essays, short weekly assignments, and attendance or participation. Students described the grading as straightforward and manageable if they followed the rubrics and completed the work.

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Spring 2026

Survey of race's role in American politics from 1932 to present, focusing on the Second Reconstruction, Black Power, white backlash, and contemporary racial issues.

Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources

Past student reviews · Alexander Shashko

Alexander Shashko delivered engaging, story-like lectures that students found clear and enthusiastic. Assessments included exam prompts provided in advance, Q&A participation, and a few papers. Reviewers described him as knowledgeable and helpful, noting that the course offered a strong introduction to the material.

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Spring 2026

Recorded teaching history

Distinct courses recorded per term

Explore courses taught by this instructor →
Browse recorded courses
TermCourseTitle
Spring 2027AFROAMER 154Hip-hop and Contemporary American Society
Spring 2027AFROAMER 156Black Music and American Cultural History
Spring 2027AFROAMER 272Race and American Politics From the New Deal to the New Right
Fall 2026AFROAMER 154Hip-hop and Contemporary American Society
Fall 2026AFROAMER 156Black Music and American Cultural History
Fall 2026AFROAMER 272Race and American Politics From the New Deal to the New Right

Teaching history may be incomplete. Course pages contain course-specific feedback and citations.

Instructor identity & provenance
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