John Owen - University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA

Professor: John Owen

Department: Political Science

College: University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PLIR3400
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I personally love Prof. Owen and his class. He is a great guy and very approachable in office hours. Unlike others, I found his lectures to be organized and fairly easy to follow; there was definitely a central and fairly obvious theme to each day's class. It is because of this course and Prof. Owen that I decided to major in the field of IR.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PLIR3400
• 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:

Owen is a friendly and approachable professor, but his lectures and especially the Collab readings tend to be dry. Though he is very knowledgeable, often times he will start a new line of thought mid-sentence, which makes him seem scatter-brained. It's not necessary to have perfect attendance in lecture, but always go to section!

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PLIR3400
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I respect him as a scholar, enjoy his writing, and for the most part like the readings assigned. However, his lectures are hands down the worst. They're disorganized, have no central theme, and contribute little to the course overall. I've gone everyday just to make sure I wasn't missing anything but 9 weeks in they've proved to be worthless.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PLIR3400
• 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:

so he rambles during lectures.. impossible to take notes during lectures ended up doodling for most of the time. it's still a good class though because it covers a broad range of theories (realism, national values, etc.) interesting stuff. some readings are just WAY TOO LONG.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PLIR3400
• 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:

Owen is an INCREDIBLE professor! I've never had a professor with such clarity and makes a somewhat theoretical subject completely applicable. An absolute must-take class.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PLIR340
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Owen's lecture were somewhat interesting. Readings were boring and long. Two tests and 10 page paper so wasn't horrible. Really depends on your TA

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PLIR101
• 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:

not that interesting.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PLIR101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

A wide breadth of material is covered in this class. Owen also has the tendency to ramble during lectures. Overall though, a pretty good class.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PLIR101
• 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:

Take this class! Even if you think you don't have an interest in IR, it's worth it. You learn info relevant to today's events and he's an all-around good guy.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PLIRPLIR
• 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:

AMAZING!! He is my fave professor thus far!!! I came into this class thinking "this is going to decide whether or not IR is something I want to pursue" - now I'm going to major in it! He is a great lecturer, modest, and very approachable. He has a true passion for IR. He is a great professor and SO nice!

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PLIRPLIR
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Spare yourself. The lectures are sometimes interesting but often boring and he rambles. Sure he makes jokes but that doesn't help anyone learn IR. TA does all the grading and grades tough but discussion sections can be very helpful.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PLIR101
• 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:

LOVE HIM! LOVE HIM! LOVE HIM! my favorite professor so far. very smart, humble, funny, and approachable. he's kinda cute too! interesting lectures, make the crowd laugh hard. tries to have direct discussions in classes even though it is big. grade depends on TA. two 1000 words papers, midterm and final. take it and you will love it

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PLIR340
• 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:

nice guy. lectures not the best but didnt put me to sleep either. very clear and concise; assumes no prior IR knowledge. 340 but went over most IR101 material (made it easier for me). grade really depends on TA. readings boring; i did practically none of them (just key quotes for papers) but still got an A-. take home MT, 10 pg. paper, final- take.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PLIR101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Very basic, easy level class, although suprisingly, the readings were quite interesting. Owen is very knowledgeable and tries his best to give students a useful way to interpret world events both in text books and on the news

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PLIR340
• 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:

great lecturer, but the class seemed gearing towards students who know very little about american foreign policy-- too much emphasis on basics, not enough on critical analysis

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: PLIR101
• 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:

Great teacher, awesome lectures, horrible section and boring readings. If you are interested in politics take the course, he is by far top two in FA professors I've had. The papers are graded hard, and the TA made the hour a giant waste of time. But it is tolerable considering the lectures are great.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: PLIR101
• 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:

I loved this class. The readings were very dry and I ended up not reading them (which harmed my grade - learn from my mistake) but I still enjoyed this class. Prof. Owen is very easy to understand (and "Southern") and the class just seemed to fly by when he lectured. If you want to take PLIR101, make sure you wait to take it with Prof. Owen!

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: PLIR101
• 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: Mandatory

Comment:

Well organized and pretty interesting lectures, if you go to the lectures and do the readings, you'll be fine, but the papers were graded hard.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PLIR101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Owen is clear, direct, and Southern, and he holds your attention, and he repeats key phrases. I thought this course was great, subject matter was very interesting (strategic elements of WWI and WWII, globalization, theories of IR, etc.).

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PLIR101
• 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:

interesting lectures and sections are quite helpful. good starter class to take.