Jonathan Kirshner - Cornell University

Professor: Jonathan Kirshner

Department: TBD

College: Cornell University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: GOVT3809
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Kirshner is a fun guy who clearly cares about the topics. However, he seemed to assume a lot of background knowledge, required a lot of reading, and the exams were nearly impossible. The 2nd exam covered 1,096 pages of reading and asked questions about specific sentences within one article. Don't expect your grade to reflect your knowledge.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: GOVT1817
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He's hilarious and a great lecturer. Readings are not necessary always. Pay attention in lecture and you'll get an A.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: 1817
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I sincerely admire this professor and had a great time in his class. Although I didn't get the grade I wanted, I would definitely retake this class again. Kirshner is witty and knows exactly what he's talking about. He also gives a unique realist perspective that's difficult to find otherwise. TAKE THIS CLASS

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: GOVT1817
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Kirshner is cool, but god I hated this class. I'm not a gov major, so I just took this as a liberal studies elective. The readings are like 300 pages a week, which is insane. In order to be prepared for the exams you literally have to write down his entire hour long monologue verbatim in class. Unless you are a gov major, don't take this.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: GOV1817
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He is a very good teacher, his lectures are extremely interesting. He is clever with his jokes and witty with his remarks. Highly recommended.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: GOVT1817
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He dose not believe in blackboard, and lectures the whole period. There was a minimum off 300 pages reading per week, with only 2 exams. It was also unclear where the focus should be when studying for exams.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: GOVT1817
• 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:

This class was amazing. It is a ton of work, but it is all worthwhile. A lot of people complain this class is too hard. Just don't be an idiot about it. DO the readings carefully, take notes and pay attention in lecture, be active in section, and make use of your TA's office ours. Take the class. A must.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: INTROIR
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Kirshner's a really smart guy and is an exciting lecturer. The first part of this class is awesome..talking about war and diplomacy, and it's all good stuff. But the second half is all about international economics and is boring. if you don't have a background in economics, good luck..it'll go right over your head, he doesn't go over the basics.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: GOVT1817
• 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:

Kirshner is brilliant. Granted, he speaks quickly so sometimes it's difficult to take down everything he says. Pay attention and make sure to get the important things, not every detail. His quirky additions like the "Richard Doctrine" that "Talk is Cheap" help you study/remember important elements of theory. A lot of reading. Get to know your TA.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: GOV1817
• 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:

Kirshner is truly the foremost expert on IPE. His lectures are interesting but the workload and exams are oppressive. Even the TAs joke that they wouldn't want to take his tests. He gives out 12-15 As in a class of 300 so get ready to study.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: GOVT181
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Kirshner makes me question whether I want to be a poli-sci major. His teaching style is boring and he isn't very helpful to students. I guess he is just focusing on his own career...but a professor should also want to see his students succeed. Unfortunately not so with this one...

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: GOVT1817
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

One of the best lecturers at Cornell. He makes understanding theory very easy and works in humor/pop culture to keep you from falling asleep. The tests were easy if you went to lecture and can write well, only one major paper which is not hard if you do the reading.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: GOVT480
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

lousy course. kirshner lives in his own world. really doesn't care about students. acrimonius character

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: GOVT1817
• 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:

I'm getting a C in the class, there's no Take Note, and all you need to know is written on the Blackboard so you basically have to go to class. I do more work for this class than my 300/400 level classes but he makes IR so interesting I'd say he's the best prof I've had so far and he makes the 840 worth it!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: GOVT1817
• 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:

Kirshner's an excellent lecturer - very able to convey key, overarching points about what he wants you to understand, while at the same time managing to be very entertaining and funny-great if you like pop culture. However, he grades the class extremely hard. Class was fascinating - if you have any interest, highly recommended. Lots of reading.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: GOVT1817
• 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:

Funniest Professor ever. Loves Bob Dylan. Sometimes speaks a little too quickly, but in general very knowledgeable and funny. Readings are necessary. Not an easy class, but well worth it for people who likes International Relations. Not too much work except for reading

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: GOVT1817
• 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:

Very funny and keeps the class interesting. Puts a lot of emphasis on theory, so don't get bogged down in the history. His Intro International Relations course has a lot of economics but you only need to know the politics behind it.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: GOVT181
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

lectures and material covered were interesting...and Kirshner was funny...but my TA was horribly arbitrary in grading (all grades are essay/short answer based, naturally) and the class has a fairly rigid "challenge" policy. take the class but use good judgment in picking a TA (go for the head TA or anyone not named Maria) english as 1st lang...(?)

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: GOVT181
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Excellent lectures... no background is needed in the subject, he gives you everything you need... Readings tie in well with the lectures... A great, challenging class!

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: GOVT181
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I cannot understand how someone can think badly of this guy as a lecturer or teacher. He has a clear way of communicating and a good humour. Though he does move quickly, it is because he covers a lot of material. I still recommend the class, but be prepared to sit and read for a few hours per week.