Not good! Not good at all! Good luck if you enroll in any of his classes like I did.

If you like IR and are actually willing to put in the work, then Strathman's classes are the best PS classes you could take at UCSB. His tests are very difficult and heavily focused on lectures, so make sure to know them like the back of your hand. Would definitely recommend going to office hours as well, he's a really cool guy

Strathman gives 100+ pgs to read, but only 30 min worth of lecture, (both per/wk), that don't fully address readings. We were graded harshly, expected to cite most scholars/authors on tests (not open note), and quizzes ( 6 per/wk) had trick/vague questions. Class structure doesn't represent work put in nor one's mastering of material.

Strathman assigns wayyy too many readings and quizzes. Expect to sit through 100-200 pages and 6-8 quizzes per week. The readings are dense, dry, and difficult to get trudge through and remember. He then expects you to perfectly cite them on essay questions in exams. He also grades quizzes unfairly and grades op-ed assignments too harshly.

He needs to stop having so many quizzes it is so annoying theres like 10 quizzes every single week based on every single reading and lecture. It is really hard to get a good grade in this class because he grades really harshly on essays, and the only way to boost up your grade is quizzes.. which are also impossible.

I've had classes with most professors in the poli sci department and Strathman is by far the worst. He uploaded VERY short lectures that weren't much help so I basically had to teach myself the course material. We also had to complete many quizzes every week which kinda sucked. He's also a very tough grader who didn't give any helpful feedback.

HOLY COW! He assigns the most reading than any prof ever at UCSB! There was around 300 pages a week of dense academic journals. I guess if you want to spend countless hours every week reading this would be the class for you. Very cool guy and interesting lectures but if you don't read you won't pass.

Very passionate professor and has amazing engaging lectures. He assigns more readings than any professor I've had before which he really cares about for the tests. He incorporates all the readings into the tests and really cares if you know the authors name, article name, subject. His tests are hard and if you do not study a lot you will not pass.

Strathman is a really nice guy both friendly and approachable. But the amount of reading given is ridiculous. I took two of his classes in one semester and I almost died lol. You MUST read to pass. You have to memorize the authors and article titles for exams except for PS 126 no test only strategy briefs which are short but very difficult.

Professor Strathman is a really great lecturer, but he talks REALLY fast y'all. He assigns a ton of reading, so be prepared. Although, he does cover some of the main points in lecture. Attendance is VERY important. Grading really depends on your TA, as usual, so be prepared. Participation, Midterm, Final, and 2 Op Eds make up the grade.

Professor Strathman is one of those teachers that makes you want to do well in his class. His lectures are engaging and he is extremely passionate about IR. His grading is fair and if you do the readings and attend lecture this class is very passable. Though it is not an easy A, I found his lecture actually insightful and useful towards my major.

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 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 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!

Worst professor I've experienced at UCSB and the only bad grade I've received. His 60 slide lectures lack significant detail, often using a single word for an obscure event, a good prof will create 20 detailed slides. All exams are handwritten blue book. The worst part is he genuinely seems like he wants students to fail. Did not earn my respect.

Prof. Strathman was the highlight of my UCSB PoliSci career. He's not the easiest professor, but he is a fantastic teacher. I've taken a number of his classes and would recommend anyone taking PoliSci who is looking to learn the subject to take Prof. Strathman for their IR focus. It won't be an easy road, but the lessons taught will stay with you.

tbh I wish he had more things within the class to be graded on cause I got messed up by the 2 exams... TBF I didn't do any of the readings lol (I learned my lesson) and thought I could get away with my skim and organize method. but also didn't really try. his lectures are good tho. the tests are pretty hard lots of connecting and things and whatnot

Beware of the wrath of Strath before taking this class. Professor Stratham excels at delivering engaging and informative lectures, providing a wealth of knowledge in. However, be prepared for strict grading, extensive reading, and a fast-paced course covering numerous concepts. It's a challenging but rewarding class that demands a lot from you.

Although his lecture style is engaging, I found that his material lacked nuance. For example, he taught the idea of "American Exceptionalism" (that the US has always fought for fair power balancing internationally), with no mention of settler colonial history. Political science needs more perspectives "from below", which he did not present.

Strathman is my favorite pols professor I've had so far. You need to go to class to take notes because he wants you to regurgitate what he says, which isn't really on the slides. Definitely split the readings with a friend. I'm in another class with him now and it's 100% possible to get an A if you put a ton of time and effort in.