Jonathan Strand - University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV

Professor: Jonathan Strand

Department: Political Science

College: University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PSC231
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Take this class if you're passionate about international relations and are willing to study hard. This class is geared towards students who pay attention and succeed in lectures. The tests are a combo of multiple choice, short answer, and essay. He's a funny professor and really wants you to understand the material.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PSC231
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

If you are into politics, definitely take this to satisfy your international requirement - it is fascinating. Strand is an amazing professor! You will learn so much about the world from someone who has gone to countries most can't find on a map w/ funny witty jokes. 3 slightly difficult tests (has study guides), few quizzes. On track to get an A-!

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PSC231
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Strand raises the academic bar in the sense that he expects quality work from his students. He wants you to study the material that he exposes you to. It's a lot material, and cramming is a recipe for disaster, unless you happen to be exceptionally gifted in osmosis. As long as you're prepared you will be fine, since he changes the format of exams.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PSC231
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Strand is knowledgeable but goes off tangent way too much. His lectures are all power points, and the study guides don't really help either. The exams do not have any material from the study guide and it is a little redundant. I would avoid him if possible.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PSC405M
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

His teaching is lecture based and reading assigned texts is essential to do well on the exams. There are many assigned readings. Two tests, one research project, and quizzes count towards your final grade as well. This class requires a lot of discipline. However, I find Dr. Strand to be a very fair grader and always open to answer questions.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PSC405M
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He's a really nice, funny professor. However, this class was very mediocre at best. He grades really tough and marks you down a lot for small things. The exams were pretty easy - just the study guide was extensive. Make sure to read and take notes of everything he says. I used my laptop which helped because he goes on rants.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PSC231
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr Strand is very knowledgeable in his field of work. I took this class as a non-political science major and found it interesting. There is a lot of new content to learn and so much to know for the exams. His lectures are great and he is very humorous. The class is graded on pop quizzes and exams which are graded quite harshly. Best of luck to you.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PSC231
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Strand is an amazing professor and teaches incredibly well. Exams are difficult in that there's a lot to cover and he expects it all to be there, but he provides feedback that shows all the point deductions are reasonable. If you're prepared to read and put in effort it's worth taking him. If not, try someone else. Honestly my favorite class.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PSC231
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Strand is a very intelligent man. That being said he expects his students to give college level answers on tests (duh). People confuse this with "hard" but really he is setting the academic bar. He gives very long study guides but they are all useful. He is very funny and overall a must take if you are willing to WORK for an "A"and learn ALOT.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PSC231
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Strand is extremely sarcastic (it's hilarious) and can come off as somewhat arrogant but really isn't. He is probably one of the smartest people I've ever met and knows so much about political science. Exams are a breeze if you're good at writing essays and know the material. Whenever someone asks a question he answers them very quickly and well.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PSC302
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Strand's a really smart guy, but not the clearest communicator. He's always available to answer questions, but will the answers augment your understanding? Do the readings and you should be fine

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PSC407
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

It Lewis Black taught political science I imagine it would be a lot like Dr. Strand's class. Helpful if you seek him out and he gives the exam questions out ahead of time. some of his policies are odd but if you are serious you will learn alot. Not easy, but worth it if you are a poli sci major.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PSC405M
• 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:

A great professor who is genuinely trying to teach.Took two of his classes and learned a lot at his class.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PSC231
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I took this online and I can't believe how many people complain about it being too hard. I read the book and listened to the lectures and got Bs and As on all exams. He drops the lowest quiz and the exams have free points. I thought his exams were hard but if you prepare you will do fine. If you dont want to work take something else

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PSC231
• 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:

Didn't care for the class. As others mentioned, his tests, while online and open book, ask extremely specific questions. Somehow I pulled off a B, but I'm still unclear how I did it.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: PSC231
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I took his online international relations course and his lectures and slides in no way prepared me for the exams he gave. Unless you are able to memorize every single word from the text and by some miricle become an professional expert in international relations you will barely scrape by with a C or D average. Thanks for lowering my gpa!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: PSC213
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I took his online course which was international relations or world politics it was over the semester and I advice you DO NOT TAKE IT it's a lot of work and very difficult. Just go to his class and don't do his online course it's too much work and he asks very SPECIFIC questions like What year did Nigeria conquer this country and who was their allies? That type so AVOID at all costs his online course!

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: PSC407
• 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:

Awesome professor, really cares about his students. However his class and consequently his exams are very tough. Hardest B I ever earned.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PSC231
• 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:

Took this class online during the summer. Hard class but he is fair. He makes every test with extra questions so that you get extra credit and then also drops the lowest quiz. You use ONLY the powerpoints for the quizzes and you'll need the book and powerpoints for the test. Tests are hard, but doable. Won't take him for anything unless its online.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PSC231
• 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:

Tons of work! In addition to the text reading, lecture notes are usually 50 plus pages for each chapter AND podcasts and talkcasts from the text authors. Info from all sources will be on tests so you have to take great notes and be prepared. There are also articles to read and a few discussions. Took online.