Gary Goertz - University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ

Professor: Gary Goertz

Department: Political Science

College: University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: POL462
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Decent course. The professor is good. You have to take notes since he does not use slides. Exams are not that tough. If you put in the work, you should receive at least a B.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: POL202
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Badass all around! Good class

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: POL204
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Goertz is great! You HAVE to go to his lectures though, or else you will not get good grades on the tests. He is funny and super interesting. Loved this class.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: POL202
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

One of the best professors I've had. His lectures were interesting and his real-life examples rlly helped put the concepts learned in class in perspective. Definitely do not miss the lectures, they're important for the exams. Also, be sure to go to the discussions on Fridays. Exams aren't easy, but if you attend class regularly, you should be good.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: POL202
• 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:

One of my favorite classes on campus so far! Fantastic Professor, he had real life examples for all of his topics and made the concepts very clear. Short essay test format, difficult for some...I thought it was easy though. Great TA's, try to get Kirssa for your Discussion if you can!

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: POL202
• 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:

Go to every single class and discussion section. Section is key to doing well. The TAs know their stuff and are very helpful. Some of the material is tough and the exams are essay. He explains things well, but he'll ask very difficult questions. You have to know the concepts and apply them to different ideas and events.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: POL202
• 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:

TA's are the key to this course. Know them well and ask questions. Attend all Fri review sessions and day-before test study sessions TA's host. Topic on 8-10pg paper is VERY flexible; don't worry but write it well. Everything is curved. He may blather a lot; expect him to rush through material to catch up. 1-2 bold book terms per 8 question test.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: POL202
• 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:

Tests are hard and going to class is key to doing well on tests due to emphasis on key terms from lectures. Should also read book because he throws in a couple questions from the readings. Definitely not an easy 200 level class

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: POL202
• 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:

This professor is great. His teaching style is just standing in front of the class and talking, but it's like a conversation- not boring at all. 4 tests at 20% each and an 8-10 page paper due at last day of the class. Also, grades are curved. I had no interest in this class and it's turned out to be one of my favorites out of any classes I've taken

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: POL202
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Class is a really interesting one. Must go to class about 90% of what is one the tests are during lecture and not just out of the book. Take notes doesn't post any notes online. 1 of the 8 questions out of the tests are not in lecture but are concepts pulled from the book-look for bolded terms in the book thats usually what it is.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: POL202
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Goertz was my favorite professor of the semester! He's very engaging and I loved the class. I highly recommend it! Make sure to read the text, he has at least one text question on the tests. If you go to lecture and the discussions regularly you should do well.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: POL202
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

This was my favorite class of the semester. He's a really interesting guy. His tests are sometimes hard to understand(8 short essay questions). He sometimes pulls bold words from the book for tests, so be prepared for that. The class is basically 4 tests and an 8-10 page paper. Attendance isn't mandatory, but you have to go for good test grades.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: POL202
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Also, grades (including 4 tests & paper) are curved. Attendance not mandatory for lecture, but it contributes 5% to your grade based upon discussion section. It's either 0 or 5%. Not much work required for the class. Your TA makes a HUGE difference. Michael S. was nice but I hear the other two women were much more helpful.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: POL202
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Goertz is a nice guy. Interesting lectures most of the time, but he tends to repeat himself a LOT! Liberal for sure. 4 tests including the final, short answer, 20% each, not that bad if you study. Book is awful....only read the bolded parts (usually 1-2 questions from the book/test). One paper, 8-10 pages due on the last day of class. Take it

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: POL202
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

it was tough for me because even though i would know the information, my answers will still be wrong because of the key words he would be looking for. plus i was expecting to learn international infos more with southeast asia but he focused mainly between America and Europe: ain't "international" completely.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: POL202
• 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:

no help on tests whatsoever, always interjecting his political opinions and thinks he is very funny. his slides are on an overhead with minimum information, basically just broad ambiguous titles. hope for a good TA, but even having one isnt that helpful.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: POL310
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

This prof taught at University of Toronto in Canada in 1995. The class was useless! He complained about leaving the US because American kids were dumb. Then, we heard about his forthcoming book all semester. I didn't learn a thing. Total waste of time.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: POL202
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

You have to take this course to take anything interesting in Political Science, so you just have to get through it. His teaching method can be ridiculously boring at times, but you have to show up to lectures because the tests are ONLY spitting back word for word what he said in lecture, with the possible book question.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: POL455
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Boring. Slow. Painful.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: POL202
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

If you are conservative this guy is not for you.