Carolyn Johnson - University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS

Professor: Carolyn Johnson

Department: Political Science

College: University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: POLS611
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

One of the most intelligent people to ever exist. However, her class is brutal. You have to read every night and brief every case if you want to pass. She cold calls and if you can't answer you lose attendance for the day. It's super difficult and grading can be kind of random on the tests. Literally everyone technically fails before the curve.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: POLS610611
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Mrs. J's Con Law classes are by far the most difficult classes I have taken at KU, but have also been the most rewarding. In order to do well in this class, you need to read every day, and brief each case to be prepared to discuss. She sometimes calls on people randomly, which seems intimidating, but will always help you if you go to office hours.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: POLS611
• Grade Received: C-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Professor Johnson is a great professor whose classes are extremely difficult. Her ConLaw classes are meant to weed out people who only think they want to go to law school by being as difficult as an actual law school class. She is very sarcastic and will shame you if you haven't read. And you HAVE to read - a lot.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: POLS610
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

By far the best professor and classes I have ever had at KU. Her courses are incredibly difficult, but if you put in the work the reward is so worth it. I cannot recommend enough.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: POLS611
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

One of the best class I've had in KU. English is not my mother tongue, which makes her class just got harder. My first 2 exams are just barely above the average, but she will help you if you ask for one

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: 611
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

She is an exceptional teacher. But the class is incredibly demanding. You must show up to class and read. Her tests are very challenging and short answeressay formatted.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: POLS610
• 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:

Her class is tough, and she has very high expectations, but you will learn a lot about constitutional law. If you have some interest in going to law school, this course can help you determine if you should continue on that path or give it up. I plan on taking as many classes as I can with her. Great teacher, hard class.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: POLS611N
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This won't be a course you coast through, but it was the best class I've ever taken. There is a lot of reading and she expects it to be done, but she explains it wonderfully in class. She wants you to succeed but she'll call you out if you try to bluff your way around the material. Best professor.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: POLS610
• 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:

I took CJ for POLS 611 and even though I barely passed the class with a C, I came back for more with the POLS 610. If you're into ConLaw, you will LOVE this class. She knows what she's talking about but she doesn't talk at you. She engages you and you learn so much. It is almost impossible to do well grade wise but you will learn so much anyway.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: POLS610
• 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:

I took this class in '06, but thought I'd be of assistance. She grades on a steep bell curve. Close to 30 kids in my class, 3 got As about 10 got Bs 12 got Cs and the rest got Ds or Fs. She's great because she teaches the Socratic method, which is what is used by most law school profs. Possibly the hardest class I took during my time at KU.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: POLS610
• 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:

Professor has high standards, but is an exceptional teacher. Her courses cover a lot of ground so reading and attendance are required to do well. Her lectures are thourough and she will meet outside of class for clarificatioin.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: POLS610
• 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:

Overall, a great teacher. Learned a lot. However, there was a grad student in the class that incessantly stroked his own ego...unless she was stroking it for him. It became a distraction and made many of us feel like a secondary consideration. Great teacher, but she has her favorites and isn't shy about showing it in class.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: POLS610
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This isn't a blow off class, so if you're not willing to do a ton of reading each week don't enroll. If you do put in the work, you will get an amazing education. She is tough but it pushed me to learn more than I have in any other class I've taken at KU. Definitely take this course if you're thinking about law school.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: POLS610
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Very difficult class, but wonderful!!!! Be prepared to think in a completely new way, but stick it out. I learned more in this class than any other, and I can't recommend it high enough! Also, her husband PJ is amazing. Fabulous couple!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: POLS611
• 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:

She is an amazing teacher and really challenges you to think about the material. Lots of reading and test take a good deal of studying, you cannot cram for her tests and must understand all of the material. But totally worth it, if you are interested in the law.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: POLS610
• 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:

This is the only class in my collegiate career that I haven't done well in. Carolyn is a good instructor, unfortunately I just didn't have enough time to commit to this class. If you're interested in law take the class but make sure to have plenty of time to study.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: POLS611
• 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:

Solid style. She's no pushover, but you'll adapt. Competent and explanatory. Exams are fair.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: POLS610
• 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:

She's good, but her tests are hard. It's not a blow-off class.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: POLS610611
• 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:

Mrs. J is tough but a really good teacher. I've learned more in her class than any other POLS class. Definitely take her con law classes if you have any interest in the law.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: POLS610
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

One can't praise Mrs. Johnson highly enough. An incredible woman and an A+ professor.