Best professor Ive had at UCSB. Classes are very challenging but he is so knowledgable and effectively educates students. After each class I leave genuinely thinking about the lecture material because its so interesting. The classes effectively incorporate history and opposing views too, making it unbiased and enjoyable to learn. Highly recommend!

super well respected, very reading heavy but you'll learn more in a 10 week Strathman class that you'll learn in a year with anyone else. do not take if you're wanting a light quarter. also everyone falls in love with him by finals week

Strathman is the old-school breed of professor, you didn't read, you didn't take notes, then here is your well-deserved F. But he isn't a stick in the mud, the material and lectures are interesting and engaging, and if you put in your dues, you'll do good. Also, he curves now, so don't get discouraged if you get a grade lower than you expected.

Literal love of my life. Lectures are so interesting & he's so passionate about the material. I am genuinely excited to go to class bc I know I'm gonna learn a lot from the lecture. Lots of reading & it sometimes gets boring or confusing, but then you go to lecture & it all makes sense. Exams aren't too bad as long as you do the readings. Love him.

Strathman is easily the best professor in the department. Do the readings and go to lecture. His classes can be difficult, even the brightest don't get As. But that's fine - enter lectures with an open mind and think for yourself. Usually a couple small essays and mid term plus final. Go to his office hours and just talk, best advice I can give.

Amazing lecturer! Speaks somewhat fast at times, but you can ask him to slow down. His lectures are never dull despite the subject. He's a very outgoing professor and extremely knowledgeable. However, there is a ton of reading involved which is the worst.

Best professor I've had at UCSB! His lectures are fast-paced but are extremely interesting and will give you lots to think about afterwards. This class is amazing because he has you making your own foreign policy strategies for a grade rather than just regurgitating information on tests. You'll learn a lot, but it's difficult to get an A!

YOU ***MUST DO THE READINGS*** Tests require you tie the readings directly into the answers. Prof is helpful and tries to make the lecture as interesting as possible for everyone.

Amazing professor. Gives great lectures and is so approachable outside of class.

Strathman is my favorite professor in the department. I genuinely enjoy his lecturing style and the slides/concepts are straightforward. There is a lot of reading but knowing the gist of it is enough for exams. Not super easy, but I learned a lot and he made it fun. Excellent at presenting many diverse opinions and theories. Highly recommended

Strathman's class is really reading intensive and challenging. It's definitely not the hardest class in the world, but if you don't read the readings he posts online (I wouldn't get the lafeber and cohen books) you'll probably get a C or maybe a B. Midterm and final are all on really fair topics, but you have to be thorough in your explanations.

He is a very enthusiastic lecturer and one of the best PS professors I've had. He post slides online and they are easy to understand. He doesn't make you buy a textbook so all the readings are online. Half of your section grade is playing a fun simulation and his papers are short op-eds. You do have to do the readings to do well though.

Take this professor when you can, I have taken both 126 and 127 with him. He might assign a ton of reading, but its definitely doable and meeting with him clarifies so much. He doesn't mind if you take notes in office hours, and is quite happy to just talk about political events or what you want to do following college.

Strathman has been one of my favorite Political Science professors at UCSB. It takes a couple of classes to get used to his style of lecturing, but once you are, lectures fly by. He assigns a lot of reading, but if you're remotely interested in the class then it won't be bad. Also go to office hours - he'll sit there and help you for a while.

He is a very passionate, friendly, approachable, and optimistic professor. He puts all the slides online and the lectures are organized and easy to understand.

A lot of reading but his lectures are straightforward, passionate, and engaging.

Nice guy, smart guy, very professional. However, his lectures are agonizing. His syntax is not conducive for learning- he overdramatizes his movements and voice fluctuations, speaks too quickly and excitedly, and seems more concerned with his dramatic delivery than effectively reaching students. Not a bad person, just should alter his lecturing.

Extremely difficult class. His lectures are prrtty unorganized. Doesn't give study guides for the midterm or final. On both the midterm and final you have to quote readings and authors so make sure when you're taking notes you memorize who wrote what.

Strathman is by far one of my favorite polisci professors at UCSB thus far. His lectures are engaging and the material provided is very interesting. He understands students and is very approachable. Class is overall very easy if you attend lecture and go over the basics within the the slides. Loved his class!

He is super passionate about what he's teaching and he makes lectures fun and interesting. You can clearly see he really wants students to understand the material. His grade breakdown is very straightforward: 20% midterm, 20% section, 30% final, 30% paper- he just assigns a LOT of reading; but I'd highly recommend taking a class with him!

Brent is my favorite polisci professor! He is very prepared, gives GREAT lectures, and is very friendly and accessible. I've never given a review of a professor before but I enjoyed his class so much that I think every political science student should take one of his classes before graduating