Andrew Mertha - Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO

Professor: Andrew Mertha

Department: Political Science

College: Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: POLSC3361
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I had Mertha for both the Int'l Politics and Chinese Politics class and really enjoyed him. His humor is lacking at times but at least he tries. His stories are really good and help w/ the material. It's a shame that WU denied him tenure, as he is one of the most intelligent and knowledgeable China and Int'l Relations scholars.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: POL3361
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Incredible teacher and a wealth of knowledge in his field. The decision of the university to deny him tenure is confusing beyond belief. Class is thoroughly enjoyable and you're guaranteed at least one anecdote per day. When you forget the dates and names, you'll still remember the stories, and they're far more useful than you might think.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: POLSC3361
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

WashU has decided to make a wonderfully stupid decision by getting rid of this brilliant individual. Professor Mertha taught one of the best classes I've taken my entire college career; if you but go to his class and do the readings, you can expect to get an A on his tests, and the material is made even more interesting by his personal experiences.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PSCI3361
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Re: China Under Rev- Professor Mertha is a subject matter expert, period. This was by far one of the most enjoyable classes I have ever taken and I strongly recommend him as a professor. He has lived the material he teaches, his personal anecdotes add context to an area and a topic that is murky by nature and he is much funnier than he admits.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: CHINA3363
• 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:

Not the best teacher. Mertha tends to ramble and jump from topic to topic--making him hard to follow at times. However, he knows very well China and is very helpful and he looks after his students. Too bad he's leaving.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: INTP103
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Actually quite clear and interesting, considering its a 8:30 am class. Lots of movies, some worth it and engaging, others less so. He tries to be fun and make jokes, which lighten the mood.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: CB1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

The class itself was not terribly enjoyable but I do feel, in retrospect that I learned a lot. As a teacher he is very understanding and incredibly willing to work with students in and outside of the classroom. I found the material being taught in the course (though presented in a strange way) to be very useful in retrospect.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: POLI103
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Made a class that I had absolutely no interest in engaging and interesting! While definitely a challenging professor, he is always more than willing to take the extra time out of class to help you through material that you find difficult. I highly recommend taking any class with him!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: CB1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Mertha was a fantastic teacher. I chose the class at the last minute, and I'm so glad I did. He's so interesting, and I actually loved the anecdotes. Class was always enjoyable and challenging. I wish I could take it again =)

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: INT202
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

very nice guy, helpful to students. but, his crossing borders class doesn't make any sense. even he doesn't know what the class is about. so boring...

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: INTPOLITICS
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

horrible. stupid anecdotes, no teaching, bad tests with no right answers. Huge waste of time. Managed to make my favorite subject unbearable.

Rating # 12

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

great teacher, engaging, but also hard grader. learned a lot though. great guy too.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: CB1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

uh...i dont know what you guys are talking about...mertha seemed like a **** and i dropped the class after 2 days

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: CHINA3361
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

By far, by far the best course I've taken at WashU. This guy should set the standard for teaching because he's incredibily knowledgeable, very enthusiastic, extremely funny, and nice, not at all pretentious like so many professors here.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: CHINA3361
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

The best class I have taken. Absolutely fantastic professor -- knows the subject matter backwards and forwards, and never fails to make class interesting, funny, and a lot of fun. Looked forward to every class and was sad when the semester ended.

Rating # 16

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

knows subject material very well...lots of work for class but keeps class interesting/relevant by discussing current events in respect to readings...very welcoming in office hours...very nice guy

Rating # 17

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Loved the class! He's really interested in getting to you outside of class. And by always telling anecdotes, he keeps the class interesting. Definitely a tough grader, but don't be scared away by that.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: CHINA3361
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Passionate, funny, brilliant. In short, entertaining and informative--even does a decent job wading through the heavy bureaucratic system. Needs to be in a movie-he could do for political science what Indiana Jones did for archaeology.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: POLSC3361
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Outstanding, definitely not anecdotally challenged. Sometimes too anecdotally-adept. Helpful and committed to making students learn the material.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: L97IS336
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Passionate about his subject, knows his material. Great guy and very understanding. Tells humorous antedotes. Class only consist of take home essay tests. Will remember you out of class!