Michael Berkman - Pennsylvania State University,University Park, PA

Professor: Michael Berkman

Department: Political Science

College: Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PLSC001
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Berkman's lectures are some what long and usually contain a lot of random applications of the material from the book. I learned mostly by outlining the chapters and learning vocabulary. The clicker points are based on how many you get right everyday but the homework assignments are easy. He relied a lot on the TA but she was great.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PLSC001
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Berkman's class was not very difficult but at the same time was also a little work. A lot of reading is required for his quizzes. Gives a midterm and a final that's only on material covered after the midterm which is not that bad, however it's a lot of information over that time. Good class, good prof, would take again.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PLSC001
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

The tests are pretty much impossible and less you read every sentence in the book. Doesn't help that there are only two exams in the entirely class so you don't know what to expect for the midterm. His powerpoints don't help and usually just contain random quotes that are supposed to somehow help you learn the material for the test.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PLSC001
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

He is very boring and in the 75 minute class somehow still struggles to get his point across. The majority of kids in the class are there for the clicker points and can see them on their phones because everyone has given up on trying to understand him. Very tough.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PLSC001
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Probably the worse professor in the political science department. The content of the class is easy, however, he does a horrible job explaining it. Lecture are pointless with slides with little to no information. Office hours are less helpful than his unorganized slides. He made a topic I am interested in dull.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PLSC001
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This is a really boring class. He lectures for over an hour and accomplishes amazingly little. He posts his slides online, which is nice, but they have little to no information actually on them. I did well in the class by relying on prior knowledge because politics is my life. If you can't handle that, do yourself a favor, choose another professor.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PLSC001
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I really like Dr. Berkman. His lectures are interesting and he is very respectful of everyone's opinions and beliefs, and he does a good job humanizing both sides of the political spectrum and just has an overall appreciation for what he teaches. The only issue I have is his slides tend to be kind of all over the place. Generally, I would recommend

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PLSC001H
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Nice guy, he is intelligent and knows the subject matter. The exams are all essays and there's a lot of work requires. I would not recommend to anyone as a gen ed or if youre uninterested in the class.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PLSC197H
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

His class was always interesting and he is a genuinely nice man. Very understanding if you talk to him.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PLSC197H
• 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:

This was a special topics class, so it won't be offered again, but what I can tell you is that Dr. Berkman wants you to do well, but definitely makes your work for it. This class was a lot of writing, and he'll forgive some mistakes if you give it your best effort, but he also expects you to do the reading and try your best.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PLSC001
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I found this class not bad at all. Exams aren't impossible by any means unless you don't study which is your fault. Use the book website and memorize all the key terms. Complete all the extra credit and work hard on the new york times articles. All that equals A or B+ in the class. Not a hard class unless you make it on yourself

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PLSC001
• 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:

Professor Berkman is a good teacher. He isn't always the most approachable, but he really knows his stuff. Just study the chapters in the book and review the notes. I found that the website that goes with the book to be helpful as well.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PLSC001
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Professor Berkman made this class way harder than it needed to be. Just a heads up, he gives four essay questions on each test and 42 multiple choice questions (which are all impossible). On top of that, you have to regularly update and comment on a current events blog, do three new york times entries, read extremely long chapters in the textbook,

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PLSC001
• 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:

So I already knew the class would be a challenge but that is an understatement. I went to class everyday, did the readings. The Exams...did not match the material. He is too arrogant and only teaches to discuss not to inform. I had to drop the class, I had a 75 on the first exam then a 55...studied my tush off!Im taking it with another proff.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PLSC001
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Absolutely the worst PLSC professor I've had thus far. His lectures were nonsensical and his exams were ridiculously hard - and ALWAYS included things we never learned in lectures OR readings. What was supposed to be a simple introductory course was made into a nightmare. Take it with someone else, especially if you're taking it as a gen ed class.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: PLSC001
• 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:

His tests are impossible. And he is the most boring lecturer. He knows so much about the subject but cannot teach it to a group who aren't grad student.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: PLSCI001
• 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:

This man is the worst professor at penn state period. He does not teach at all!! Biggest waste of time Ive ever wasted was in his class. I absolutely despise this man and his class. The exams are impossible unless you are a political science major!