This class was difficult, but lots of fun. Questions on the midterms and finals seemed easy at first, but required very thorough answers. It was hard to get an A, but not impossible. This class definitely sparked an interest in politics for me.

I learned so much in this class and it really opened my mind up to how Europe vs. developing countries developed. It seems like its hard to get an A but really easy to get a B. Jon Shoup is an AMAZING TA- and get a good one because they grade everything. All grades are based off writing-Quiz, midterm, paper, final. The questions are very predictable and are not hard but you have to write very thoroughly to get a A. The lectures are summarized really well on his slides, which he posts online. There is alot of material and Waldner is a VERY entertaining lecturer but the material seems so much more complicated in lecture than it really is. Recommended.

this class was way too vague. It's very hard to get an A which is really frustrating. I took this class for fun and sincerly regret that...

This is an awesome class. Prof. Waldner is an engaging lecturer . . . knows the material like the back of his hand, cracks jokes, drops the f-bomb. All lectures are power-points, about 2 hours of reading a week, quiz/midterm/final based on long essay questions which are relatively easy if you just study the lectures and readings.

This class was pretty easy if you understood the concepts, there's very little fact memorization if at all. Tests are just essays. There is a TON of reading but you can get by without reading most of it, especially because Jon went over the readings in our discussion section really well. Waldner has a strong personality and a wide vocabulary... It makes for a fairly entertaining lecture. Jon was a good TA

This course is a lot of fun and incredibly interesting. Professor Waldner is a very good lecturer and makes class enjoyable. This class very well may change the way you look at politics throughout the world.

Great lecturer, can skip class cause he puts the slides up online. Very interesting material and I would reccomend this class to anyone interested in the history of the formation of the modern state. Discussion sections help alot.

this class sparked my interest in politics

This was a pretty good class, Waldner makes you look at World history and its political structure in a really interesting way. There was an excessive amount of reading that was really unnecessary, the lecture material is what is important.

There is considerable amount of dense, complicated reading in this class. Nevertheless, the professor is wonderful at elucidating the concepts. Pay attention to the lectures and use them to study for the essays. Do the readings as well; however, you will be better prepared for the exams/ quizzes if you are quite comfortable with the material that he covers in his lectures as he will ask you questions that will be related to lectures. Try to have a good TA who can help you out in times of difficulty.