Bruce Bimber - University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA

Professor: Bruce Bimber

Department: Political Science

College: University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: POLS171
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Horribly structured and managed class. Two midterms, a project, a final. Curve is strange and unexplained: 94 is a B+, 95 is an A-. Readings are dense and tests require knowledge of specifics. Section was useless with TA receiving no help. Little to no feedback on assignments. Made a mess of a fascinating subject. Skip this one if you can!

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: POLSCI171
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Lecture slides are extremely lacking. Section was quite literally the most useless section I've ever had and I've taken most PS classes. If you need an AP class take ANYTHING else. 2 midterms (in which an A- was a 95%), a project worth 10% but takes up most of your time and a final that tests you not only on readings but other presentations.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: POLS171
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Bimber is smart, but seems bored during the lectures. Lots of PP, reading is intense and exams are difficult. Grading is a toss up, ultimately depends on TA. The group project was a bit unorganized and lacked focus. He is a GOOD prof, will accommodate your needs and answer all questions. Don't slack off, this is NOT an easy A.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: POLSCI171
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Loved him and loved this class! Everyone should take this. He is very engaging and the class material is interesting.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: APS12
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Great professor! lectures are super insightful, Mario is the BEST TA!! and bimber's hilarious if you get his jokes :). Oh and he's pretty hot.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PS12
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Bimber is very engaging and a good orator. He has a lot to say though and its hard to get everything down. Attending lectures is a must and staying up on the readings because the exam questions come mostly from the readings and the book. Don't get Gina as a TA though, she is very abrasive and is not open to students' opinions! Overall, good class!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PS12
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Amazing teacher! Lectures are really interesting and he is very engaging and definitely knows what he is talking about. You should attend every lecture but readings aren't that necessary as long as you look up a summary online. Try to get Mario as a TA if possible because he give you summaries of all the chapters and online readers!

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: POLSC12
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

I love Bimber! He's a great lecturer. Even if your not into poli sci this class is good. The lectures are very clear and the text book isnt that bad. I recommend going to all lectures as there usually pretty important. Also you have to study a good amount for the midterm and final in order to do good. Try to get Mario as your TA, Hes GREAT!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PS12
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Bimbers an amazing speaker and gives great lectures but the class is extremely difficult. He focuses mostly on the readings which are extensive. The tests are very difficult because there are three right answers for every multiple choice question. Don't take class unless you're into political science.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: POLS12
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

BOOORING most of the time, and lectures are too condensed to get everything down. Tests dont even cover half of what he says. Class is pretty difficult, and I'm a poli-sci major. The tests are there to trick you- best possible answer out of a bunch of correct answers. RAWRRR Bimber, but a really nice guy.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: POLS12
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

This class wasn't that bad. I'm not a Pol Sci major, so I just took for gen ed requirement. Bimber is a good lecturer, but the class focuses too much on the reading. Doesn't talk too much about current events, more history. Take section with MARIO! I would've been so lost without him.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: POLS12
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Very good lecturer and speaker, recommend taking a laptop to his class as he has lots to say; just listen carefully and you should do fine. Tests are based on the reading; I got lucky and didn't do too much of it and got a B. 10 page paper, however, may throw you off but it's a lot of room to express your analysis of political science.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: POLI12
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

cool guy but requires a lot of work. dont take unless you are truly interested in political science...class is really boring and there isnt much notes to take. if you like politics then you will like this class. mid/final were manageable but def not easy.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: POLS12
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Bimber is very intelligent! and i highly recommend taking his class. His tests are very straightforward. As long as you attend class, and do the reading you should be fine... I also recommend mario as a TA i heard he has his own website and gives his students test notes and term paper tips...

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: POL12
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

This was a really challenging class, but it was incredibly interesting and helpful! Prof Bimber is very intelligent and willing to help if needed. He doesn't rely on lecture notes so attendance is important (along with reading) but if you put in the effort you will get a good grade. Take this class!!!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: POLS12
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Bimber is freaking amazing. I love this class. DO NOT take Kathleen for a TA. She's mean to some students and she's not really all that smart. She's useless and complains a lot.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: POLISCI12
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

The material was very difficult and the tests are quite stressful, but you learn a lot in this class. The material was dry at times, but the professor did a great job.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: POL12
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Good lecturer, but talks really fast so hard to take notes. There is a LOT of reading in this class. Midterm and Final was HARD! I would not take this class unless you want to have your head in a book all the time. There is a lot of information and only asked for a little of it on the exam. Everything on the test is short answer. He grades hard.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: POLS12
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

One of the best Political Science courses I have ever taken. He knows what he is talking about and is very approachable, the paper is long, but doable, there is enough info to get it done. I recommend taking this class.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: POLISCI12
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Bimber is a good speaker and the course material is interesting to learn about. However, the class is pretty challenging. There is a lot of reading that you will be accountable for on the tests. Also, the tests ask very specific questions that are in short answer format (you must answer them all). This made the class a lot less enjoyable.