EXTREMELY unrealistic grading expectations. For exams, rather than test on core concepts, hyper focuses on the most minuscule details briefly mentioned in class, either terms or exact quotes, and asks that you cite sources practically verbatim in in-person written exams. Average grades on exams are failing. Setting students up for failure!!!

Very funny guy, good lecturer but get ready to read, he is also a tough grader but his class was so interesting. If you want an easy A don't take the class. Overall I think he was a good teacher, good sense of humor and willing to help but doesn't really reply to emails.

If you go to lectures and sections you can get a B in this class without having to do much outside work. A lot of people say the reading is too much but as long as you get the main point you’ll be fine. Midterm was in person short answer and you did have to memorize author’s names and arguments but it wasn’t that bad. Final was online

Strathman isn’t as bad as everyone says. I took 126 in person and got an A- without drowning in work. As long as you get the main point from each reading you’re good. You have to do three strategy briefs which are short but challenging. No midterm, take home final (but it was two ten page essays) but straight forward prompts.

Strathman gets flack bcuz people aren’t ready to dig in and rly learn the material. His lectures are really engaging and focuses hard on authors bcuz it forces you to learn the theories, you won’t get away with surface level effort. 142 is the best class I’ve taken so far, it was a difficult but worked hard and earned my grade & you can too

The worst poli-sci professor that UCSB has to offer, doesn't offer any real insight about international relations, and focuses heavily on mundane regurgitation of author names and articles as opposed to actual analysis of the material were supposed to learning, it seems like he revels in having his class average for tests be below passing. AVOID.

This was definitely the hardest class I've taken BUT I found it pretty interesting. Strathman was a really good lecturer and I enjoyed going to his class but there were 4-8 hours of readings every weak and he graded the 2 Op-Eds, midterm, and final so hard like he wanted you to fail. If you do all readings and go to class you'll be fine

He has enthusiasm for the material he teaches, I'll give him that, but he never responded to any of my emails and didn't curve the midterm, the average for which was like 50%, which resulted in me getting a C since I did ok on all the others.

Awful class NEVER TAKE IT AGAIN. I took it in person for fall 2021 and I regret every moment. Completely unrealistic expectations and a stupid amount of work for a Political Science class.

Legitimately the worst professor I have ever taken in my entire academic career, lectures are super dense, 100-200 pages of readings a week, expected to memorize every single author and concept they suggest, docked on exams for unknown reasons... Stay away

The hardest that I have ever worked to get a c in a class. The tests he gives question you about things that he barely went over in lecture and that werent really even mentioned in the readings. He is also extremely arrogant and views his students as inferior, constantly insulting their intelligence. Avoid the wrath of strath!!

We started with 180 people in a class in an impacted department, we have ended with maybe 150, probably everybody who's a non major has gone with the pass no pass option. The quality of this class is horrendous, and Strathman simply doesn't know how to teach. Assigns the most reading of any prof ive ever taken, and expects you to cite it verbatim.

The professor gives you no guidance in terms of preparing you for the final as well as the midterm, the questions are incredibly vague and they focus one topics that are barely covered in lecture or reading. Only one or two students got an A on the midterm and final, the class average for both was around a 58, one of the worst teachers at ucsb!!

Reading is everything in this class--if you don't do the readings you will not pass. He expects a lot from the midterm and final on top of 2 papers. Although he is tough, he is very clear about what he is looking for on the exams. He recommended splitting readings with a group. You can succeed if you just read and take good notes.

One of the worst polisci professors that I have ever taken, avoid this guy at all costs. On his tests he expects very specific writers to be introduced, and even if you get the concept on the test correct and introduce a reading that relates to that concept you will still loose point because you didn't introduce the reading he arbitrarily chose.

Good luck with the vague questions and onslaught of reading unlike any professor in the UCSB polisci department that you've taken before. There are other professors in the Polisci department, do yourself a favor and avoid this guy.

The class is set up so that students fail, he expects over 120 pages of reading a week and expects you to be able to remember most of it for the midterm which comes 6 weeks in, he also will have you memorize every author and expects you to connect them to your answers while taking his tests which are already daunting, AVOID AT ALL COSTS.

Quite possibly the worst prof in the Polisci department at UCSB, the average on the midterm was 67. Also very arrogant towards students. He expects memorization of least25 authors on each test and more than that for the final, he also is looking for very specific authors and doesn't give a study guide,final grade not reflective of what you learned.

He really is an amazing professor. I actually learned so much from his class. The work is hard but doable, go see him or your TA's they help so much! It also helps to work with a group on the readings so that you are able to get the most through notes.

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

Best IR prof at UCSB. Took 121 126 & 127 in person. His lectures are dense but v thorough and give you a comprehensive undergrad level understanding of IR. For exams+papers, be prepared to cite authors & reference key concepts that he mentions in lecture without notes. Grades based on critical thinking+applying concepts, not just effort. Great guy

Despite the number of readings assigned by Professor Strathman, hes an awesome professor. I have taken 4 classes with him, and he never fails to make me feel passionate about my field of study. He is TOUGH but in a good challenging way. If you do poorly on an exam hes usually willing to help you out if you have improved over the quarter. Great guy!

Will spend a whole lecture defining/ talking about how to use a concept to fix a problem, only to say in the last minute that this strategy is stupid and doesnt work. Then give you a final asking the right way to fix the problem when the only way you have learned about how to approach it is wrong. Never replied to my emails a/b mental health :))

Kind of wants you to read his mind. Lectures are interesting but only a quarter of the actual work is required to do well. He grades based on whether he thinks you have improved, and tests are insanely difficult.