Branislav Slantchev - University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA

Professor: Branislav Slantchev

Department: Political Science

College: University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: 142J
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

The tests were a lot of mindless memorization and the paper prompt for a 10 page policy memo was incredibly unclear. Everyone did so poorly that they had to curve the paper. CURVE. A. PAPER.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: POLI142J
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Slantchev is a great professor, and his lectures are really interesting, but this class difficult nonetheless. Grade is based on a midterm, a paper, and a final. And those three are not easy assignments. I would recommend this class if you are really interested in IR; But if you are just looking for a poli class, go elsewhere.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: POLI142M
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Pretty entertaining and easy-going lecturer. He could go on for days about the material and it's clear that he enjoys teaching students. The reading isn't too bad and he does post class notes ahead of time. Killer essay assignment though...

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: POLI142J
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Slantchev is GREAT. One of the best teachers I ever had, I wish he could teach me every class. He is funny and clear. Classes are 50 minutes long and he makes you pay attention the whole 50 minutes. There are A LOT of readings and you MUST do them if you want to pass, but is worth it. The exam is not difficult if you went to classes.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: 143A
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Absolutely love this professor! He is extremely passionate about his subject. He occasionally talks way to fast (if you are a foreign exchange student with limited English, this may not be the teacher for you). As long as you can stay focused this professor is GREAT. Absolutely hilarious. This class completely changed the way I view history / war.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: POLI142J
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

His class was the best poli class I've taken at UCSD so far! He makes it super interesting and has a very close background to the material. Even though I skipped class a lot and the beginning half of the class scared me (it was all game theory), and I barely skimmed the readings, I ended up with A's on everything!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: POLI142J
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The course was interesting and he is fascinating but hard to understand because of his accent and he talks a million miles per hour. The course was a lot more math than expected for a poli sci class but worth taking if you're up for the challenge

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: POLI142J
• 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:

Not an easy class to learn, not an easy subject to teach. Great content and rigorous reading load, which is made clear from the start. A must-take class for anyone interested in international politics, nuclear power, war, and the Cold War. A historical approach with modern application. A great professor.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: POLI142J
• 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:

Not an easy class, but amazing professor!!! The class is overall very interesting! Would definitely recommend.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: 142J
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This class was super hard, went to his office hours and that was no help. If he falls within your hours, look at another class fist.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: NSSPOLI
• 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:

Best professor I've ever had. I learned more from Slantchev in one quarter than from all my other professors combined. Take this class!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: POLI142J
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

One of the best classes I've taken at UCSD. National Security Strategy itself is something that I find incredibly interesting. The lectures are posted on his website... but be wary that the lecture notes online = like reading a book. it is better to just go to class. i have never put so much effort / time into a class, but it is SO rewarding!

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: POLI142J
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Worst professor I've ever had. The reading load was more than all of my other classes combined. Teaches in a way that is hard to understand, with him scribbling on the chalkboard. First half of the course is about useless, pseudo-mathematical Game Theory. Do not take this class.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: POLI142J
• 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:

Amazing lecturer, very interesting material, the grade will be reflective of the effort put in, make sure you know his lecture notes that he puts online, do not refer to the sample midterm for anything more than format similarity and focus on what was covered in class, as that is what will be on the exams. I would give him my highest recommendation

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: POLI142J
• 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 class requires a lot of reading. If you fall behind, good luck catching up. DO the readings and stay on course with the course website schedule of readings. He is a very clear in his lectures and is a great professor. Got to earn that A though! Midterm, 10pg. Paper, Final.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: POLI142J
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This class requires A LOT of reading, but it is a great class nonetheless......not an easy grade... cool teacher with a lot of info...great poli sci class........DO THE READINGS.....DO NOT FALL BEHIND...one week without reading and it is pretty tough to catch up.....

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: POLI142J
• 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:

I never expect to have a political science professor as good as Dr. Slantchev ever again, and very few professors as good in any other field. He is one of the most effective lecturers I've ever seen, and the amount of helpful resources and notes available on his course websites is ridiculous and probably saved my grade in the class. Incredible!

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: POLI142J
• 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:

Very interesting class, covers alot of material in 10 weeks. VERY large reading load so be prepared. Puts extensive notes online (200+ pages) but if you want a good grade you have to go to class. Sometimes hard to understand. Midterm, final and 10pg paper.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: POLI142J
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

BRANISLAV SLANTCHEV IS THE MAN! I learned sooooo much from this class. It was by far my favorite class at UCSD. I have never enjoyed learning as much as I did with him. He was funny, engaging, and made GAME THEORY fun!

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: POLI142J
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Slantchev is very intelligent and a great professor. I highly recommend taking his class. He is one of the only unbiased professors I have had at this school (fact based lectures, not theory). However, he is extremely challenging. Do all the reading and refer to his lecture notes online.Be prepared to work, but you will learn a lot.