Mark Croatti - George Washington University, Washington, DC

Professor: Mark Croatti

Department: Political Science

College: George Washington University, Washington, DC

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PSC001
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

An engaging lecturer. Don't listen to the people who say the class is hard. Sure EC was on the lighter side last semester BUT you can get partial credit on the exams. Also if you focus on the political structure, electoral system, and GDP per capita of each country on the exam it's easy to get a good grade.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PSC1001
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Croatti is an amazing lecturer. Him being "a registered independent" gives you an open perspective when choosing an effective and efficient government system. Also, passing is pretty simple: read EVERYTHING and take rigorous notes. From the book, he doesn't focus much on the history of countries so don't waste your time. Focus on political regime.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PSC1001
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Great guy but difficult tests. Four tests a term and your grades are solely based on that. They cover lots of material (textbook, lectures and articles) but they are multiple choice. You only get three unexcused absences from lectures and anything more than that results in a grade drop. Clearly cares about his students and an interesting man.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PSC001
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The class isn't "littered" with embassy visits. There are two, and they're 5 ec points each. If you don't care too much about your GPA then take this class. You definitely learn a lot from this class, but you have to be a genius to end with a solid A in the class. Don't know why he cut out so much extra credit from the embassy visits this semester

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PSC1001
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He changed his extra credit policy so the extra credit you receive from attending embassy briefings doesn't do much anymore. Before it could make the world of a difference, now it doesn't. LOTS OF READING LIKE LOTS. I'll probably barely pass the class but the knowledge I received from this course is worthwhile. Just do the readings and you'll be ok

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PSC1001
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Croatti is one of the most engaging lecturers I have had the privilege of taking. He is incredibly knowledge and opinionated (be ready for controversial questions and topics!). The class is littered with embassy visits and guest speakers which make all of the reading take on a practical lens. All in all an absolute must take!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PSC1001
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Croatti is intimidating and smart. He knows what he's talking about and every class is super interesting. Reading is crucial and there is a lot of it, but it isn't unmanageable. There are 2 quizzes, 2 midterms, and a final-- all multiple choice. 2 embassy visits for extra credit which is such an amazing experience. I learned a lot.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PSC1001
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I had Professor Croatti for PSC 1001. At first I believed that Professor Croatti was a tough professor, but I soon realized that his class was challenging only because I had not done the readings. As I did them, the class became easier and I enjoyed the class, and the professor more!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PSC001
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Yeah he's inspirational and whatever, but it's hard to do well on his tests. He changed his ec policy this semester and now only offers a total of 10 extra credit points, which is nothing when there are 1,000 points in the class.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PSC1001
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

One of the most interesting professors Ive ever had. Lectures are actually worth getting up early for and even though his tests are difficult you have the opportunity to make it up with all the extra credit he offers, which are really cool and sometimes instead of class anyway. Would take this class again if I could.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PSC1001
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

WORST PROF EVER, SKIP HIM FOR BETTER GRADES, THE EXAMS ARE DIFFICULT AND TRICKY. Extra credits do not work that much, and you need to read numerous texts for exams.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PSC1001
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Croatti gives incredible, insightful and engaging lectures, I could listen to him talk all day. He organizes embassy briefings for students which are amazing opportunities to see class content applied in real life. However, outside of class Croatti is distant, hard to contact and is oddly stingy about missing class or tests.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PSC1001
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Worth getting up for! Love the class, even the wild stories! Attendance required but if you come to class, how the lectures relate to the readings becomes clear. After the history he wants you to know is covered (presidents BEFORE Washington, etc.), the pace picks up. He puts a great deal of reading material on Blackboard. (maybe too much?)

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PSC1001
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

LOTS of history for a poli sci class. He races through the centuries like a freight train. Waiting to get to present day! He says his tests are "equal" parts book, class and online but the verbal examples he uses are mostly in the lectures (lots of details). Theme: how Trump isn't following the "traditional" economic theories discussed in class.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PSC1001
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

This is probably the strangest class I've ever taken. You won't learn anything about comparative politics from him, he spends most of the time in class going on strange tangents. You'll learn a lot about his hatred for the "chemicals" in food nowadays, weird religious history, and the presidents before George Washington.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: PSC1001
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

You can get so much extra credit in this class that you can get 70's on all the tests and still get an A. The embassy visits are actually interesting and worth it. His lectures are engaging and his impressions of presidents are spot on!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: PSC1001
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I could listen to him talk about politics all day. Croatti knows how to keep you entertained, while teaching extremely valuable information at the same time. Despite him not knowing anyone's name, the material he covers and the way he teaches is a reason to take his class. Extra Credit abound, multiple choice tests... hard not to get an A!

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: PSC1001
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He gives the opportunity to get 100 points of extra credit just by going on cool embassy trips (can raise final grade by a full 10%). Does not make an effort to learn ANY students names despite only having 30 per class. The test are very easy as long as you read the textbook. His lectures often go off on random tangents but are super interesting.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PSC1001
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Croatti is an amazing theatrical lecturer. Extra credit embassy visits are a must. Tests are heavily based on lectures and CIA factbook info. Reading is heavy but you will learn to skim it. Material is very interesting overall. One complaint about him however is that he is unapproachable outside of class. Inconvenient office hours and curt emails.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PSC1001
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

AMAZING LECTURES! SO INSPIRING! EXTRA CREDIT! MULTIPLE CHOICE TESTS! NO PAPERS! NO HOMEWORK OTHER THAN READINGS! ALL ABOUT LEARNING AND NOT GRADES! That's literally all you need in a professor!