Kent Bolton - California State University San Marcos

Professor: Kent Bolton

Department: Political Science

College: California State University San Marcos

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PSCI355
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Graded by reading quizzes, midterm paper, paper presentation, and final paper. Both papers are done on demand in class but he gives the prompt ahead of time. Tough class for non PSCI majors and wouldn't suggest taking if it's just to fill an upper GE. Interesting class especially if you're into political science.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PSCI350
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

GREAT PROFESSOR! Easy going class, the quizzes are not hard. He definitely knows what he's talking about.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PSCI455
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Bolton is a great professor and a generous person. He's more than happy to answer any questions you may have. He's not a tough grader, but make sure you read before class, and I guarantee you will pass the class. Dr. Bolton genuinely cares about his students, and I'm glad I had the chance to study under his guidance.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PSCI350
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Professor Bolton gives you no busy work. It's just a midterm/final and paper/presentation (which could be in bullet point form, so it's really lax). I put mine vaguely together the night before and got an 85%. A good amount of his "quizzes" are attendance, so showing up gives you an automatic 10 points. Take notes in class & you'll get an A.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PSCI358
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Great Professor! Make sure you do the readings and your fine. His exams are worded a little weird, but he's an easy grader when it comes to papers (the lowest he'd give you is a 70%, at least for the first one). He gives quizzes once a week, but there's a 40% chance that it's just a sign in sheet, so free points. He always lets you out early.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PSCI350
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Bolton was actually a pretty good professor. There's going to be a lot of reading but his review days help. He tells you what to look out for on the tests. He tries to make it as easy as possible but you need to read! Attendance is a must but his classes only last 30 mins. The essay was pretty simple. Use the text book and NYT and you're good.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: POLYSCI350
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Must read/memorize the textbook he wrote. Midterm+Final textbook, lectures, NYT. Paper guidelines and grading criteria is really vague. Even if you ask for clarity during office hours, don't expect any clarity. Nice as a person. What makes it hard to get a good grade is the vague expectations. Participation makes/breaks you. Pop quizzes (12ish)

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PSCI355
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

If you enjoy rambling about the CIA and other trivial things about government agencies then go ahead and take this class. Syllabus was not needed for that class as it was changed several times. If you don't mind not any any sense of structure here is the professor for you.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PSCI3905
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

This class is a waste of time, you read two books that aren't by academics class attendance isn't needed show up once a week and you'll be fine.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PSCI455
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Bolton is an intelligent, bold, passionate, & attractive professor. He made me love PSCI again! I have so much respect for this man. Most students see him as the toughest PSCI prof. but those are the lazies. Do the reading, show up to class, visit office hours and you're golden . 2 exams & occasional 10pt. quizzes. You get what you put in.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PSCI355
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He does a good job at getting the class interested considering how dry the required concepts for understanding this type of PSCI are. Its too easy to fail to get a concept from getting to caught up in interesting details that you won't be tested on.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PSCI350
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This guy obviously knows his political science. No doubt about that. However, he is very boring to sit and listen to. He usually takes up half the class just to talk about the New York Times instead of the material.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PSCI355
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Bolton's classes are such a SNOOZE-FEST. Dr. Bolton is cool and quite witty, but the material is not as interesting. The only reason I would go to class was to take the 10pt. pop quizzes that are based on the NY Times. Other than being boring, his class was chill. No homework or papers, just lots of reading... and a midterm and a final.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PSCI350
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Bolton is an EXCELLENT professor. Very knowledgeable about politics and history, and very passionate about his work as well. He's NOT an easy teacher by any means. You WILL have to work for an A, but he's fair and straight forward. Those who rated him low were probably expecting this class to be easy, but put in the work and you will be fine!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PSCI350
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Boring. Annoying. Unclear of what he wants in terms of papers. Talks for more than half the class about the New York Times. Hard midterm. Hard paper.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: PSCI469
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Bolton is a smart man. He doesn't assume he knows everything. He is not bias, as he points out flaws from both political parties. He is funny, in a dry way... I really like his class it is very interesting! Take him, but show up to his classes! He gives out easy quizzes randomly and it may affect your grade... Only 2 tests (written) and 1 essay

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: PSCI350
• 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:

If you fail to see why spending time on the newspaper and relating to IR theories is a waste of time, then you should change degrees. Do not talk to him like you know everything, as no one does. Neither does he, which is why he asks for students opinions. Do the reading and back it up. I disagreed a number of times in class and papers, got A.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: PSCI350
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Ugghh... Where to start. I passed to say the least but he wasn't easy. Confusing and no real concept of what your tests are about. Steer clear of this one.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PSCI350
• 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:

he means well and wants to teach the material but really wastes time in class and rushes through the material. We used his manuscript instead of a book, he never gave a syllabus or was clear on the req. of the class. One big paper, midterm and final. Quizzes every week randomly on New york times. You have to go to class in order to do well!

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PSCI469
• 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:

You will have to read anywhere from 3-5 books and you actually have to read them because his lectures are worthless- he waste at least 45 minutes on the news and then goes on a tangent about religion or alcohol. I learned a lot from the books but nothing from him. Will not be taking him again. He literally only gives out 5 As.