POL SCI 139
Special Studies in International Relations
Description: Lecture, three or four hours; discussion, one hour (when scheduled). Requisites: two courses in Field II, or course 20 and one course in Field II. Designed for juniors/seniors. Intensive examination of one or more special problems appropriate to international relations. Sections offered on regular basis, with topics announced in preceding term. May be repeated for credit with topic change. P/NP or letter grading.
Units: 4.0
Units: 4.0
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Most Helpful Review
I had Professor Ayele last quarter for his Ralph Bunche class. I truly enjoyed this class and found the professor to be very knowledgeable and enthusiatic about the subject. It is clear that Professor Ayele holds Dr. Bunche in the highest regard. Our quarter long project was a UN simulation. The class broke into 6 groups of opposing countries and we had to conduct a mock UN session between these countries, 2 at a time. Although it was sometimes difficult to get everything organized because of scheduling conflicts, this turned out to be a really fun exercise. My group set up a googlegroup account and this worked well. In the end, I made some really great friends and we all learned alot. If you are a student who needs a lot of hand holding by the professor, this isn't the class for you. We had a good reader who helped as much as he could because the professor expects you to do everything on your own. He isn't very clear on what the exams will entail, just make sure you have studied your notes and kept up with the reading. The midterm and final were not difficult at all, and the readings are very good. Overall I thought Professor Ayele was excellent. He is a bit soft spoken, so sit close to the front.
I had Professor Ayele last quarter for his Ralph Bunche class. I truly enjoyed this class and found the professor to be very knowledgeable and enthusiatic about the subject. It is clear that Professor Ayele holds Dr. Bunche in the highest regard. Our quarter long project was a UN simulation. The class broke into 6 groups of opposing countries and we had to conduct a mock UN session between these countries, 2 at a time. Although it was sometimes difficult to get everything organized because of scheduling conflicts, this turned out to be a really fun exercise. My group set up a googlegroup account and this worked well. In the end, I made some really great friends and we all learned alot. If you are a student who needs a lot of hand holding by the professor, this isn't the class for you. We had a good reader who helped as much as he could because the professor expects you to do everything on your own. He isn't very clear on what the exams will entail, just make sure you have studied your notes and kept up with the reading. The midterm and final were not difficult at all, and the readings are very good. Overall I thought Professor Ayele was excellent. He is a bit soft spoken, so sit close to the front.
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Most Helpful Review
Fall 2018 - First upper div Polysci course iv taken. Honestly wasn't bad at all. Class consists a midterm a final and 4 quizzes. There is weekly reading but you can get by without doing them. He marks specific reading that the quizzes are going to be based on- which is super helpful. The quizzes are usually 5-9 questions online. So workload is pretty light. The midterm seems like its heavy- he gives study guide and there are alot of terms but you can definitely find them in your notes. You kinda have to go to class just because he doesn't post slides. He's actually a really good professor, he's very nice and understanding and lenient as well too. Hes not a hard ass at all, he really tries to give you as much information as he can for the midterm. I would definitely take this professor again. Combination of easy workload and great professor, definitely take again. Only problem I have is that im not sure if its the material or him, but the class gets a little boring and you start to doze off. but still 9/10 would recommend.
Fall 2018 - First upper div Polysci course iv taken. Honestly wasn't bad at all. Class consists a midterm a final and 4 quizzes. There is weekly reading but you can get by without doing them. He marks specific reading that the quizzes are going to be based on- which is super helpful. The quizzes are usually 5-9 questions online. So workload is pretty light. The midterm seems like its heavy- he gives study guide and there are alot of terms but you can definitely find them in your notes. You kinda have to go to class just because he doesn't post slides. He's actually a really good professor, he's very nice and understanding and lenient as well too. Hes not a hard ass at all, he really tries to give you as much information as he can for the midterm. I would definitely take this professor again. Combination of easy workload and great professor, definitely take again. Only problem I have is that im not sure if its the material or him, but the class gets a little boring and you start to doze off. but still 9/10 would recommend.
Most Helpful Review
Spring 2014 - BORDENKIRCHER IS THE WORST! Not only does he like to teach his class through youtube videos (making it an utter waste of time coming to class) he also unclear in in his organizations of the material and what he expects on exams and assignments. Not only that, he refused to answer any email after giving everyone the final. Maybe 3 or 4 students out of 60 received higher than a B. He is highly unprofessional, condescending to students who were unfamiliar with the subject matter, and just overall not what a UCLA professor should be. Avoid at all costs.
Spring 2014 - BORDENKIRCHER IS THE WORST! Not only does he like to teach his class through youtube videos (making it an utter waste of time coming to class) he also unclear in in his organizations of the material and what he expects on exams and assignments. Not only that, he refused to answer any email after giving everyone the final. Maybe 3 or 4 students out of 60 received higher than a B. He is highly unprofessional, condescending to students who were unfamiliar with the subject matter, and just overall not what a UCLA professor should be. Avoid at all costs.
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Most Helpful Review
I don't understand why people blame professors. This is not a community college. I think students who they really should blame is the TA's. Bruinwalk should have a TA section instead of a Professor one. They are the one's who grade our work, have their personal opinions and give us our grade. Yes Professors can be boring, but they don't grade papers nor are they to be judged completely. I took Prof Burgos for Glob 1 and it was the worst experience I ever had. The class is too broad, too much for a lower division class and if you have a stupid opiniated TA than your out of luck. Professor's lectures are very disorganized, but I can't say he's hard because he doesn't grade our exams, it's the TA's who do so. Overall, not recommended whatsoever unless the TA is nice and easy grader
I don't understand why people blame professors. This is not a community college. I think students who they really should blame is the TA's. Bruinwalk should have a TA section instead of a Professor one. They are the one's who grade our work, have their personal opinions and give us our grade. Yes Professors can be boring, but they don't grade papers nor are they to be judged completely. I took Prof Burgos for Glob 1 and it was the worst experience I ever had. The class is too broad, too much for a lower division class and if you have a stupid opiniated TA than your out of luck. Professor's lectures are very disorganized, but I can't say he's hard because he doesn't grade our exams, it's the TA's who do so. Overall, not recommended whatsoever unless the TA is nice and easy grader
Most Helpful Review
Spring 2016 - Professor Gurantz is a great professor. He is very straight-forward in his lecture style. No BS. I've taken two classes with him and learned much more than professors who try to complicate their class with absurd theories and terminology they came up with in their research that no one actually uses. Highly recommend Ron!
Spring 2016 - Professor Gurantz is a great professor. He is very straight-forward in his lecture style. No BS. I've taken two classes with him and learned much more than professors who try to complicate their class with absurd theories and terminology they came up with in their research that no one actually uses. Highly recommend Ron!
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