I really enjoyed this class. This lady knows everything about the Middle East and I learned so much. The class runs itself as it is a seminar. Everyone is responsible for some readings and Nash chimes in to clarify or ask a question. 10-12 page final on US FP due at the midterm time and an in class midterm taken at the end that is on the readings
Worst teacher ever, doesn't even help you when you come to her and ask for it. Very unclear on what she wants on the mid-term and final. Stay away, if you want to actually pass your classes.
Tons of reading and very picky grading. If you have enough background in history and politics of the Middle East, then this class is going to be an easy recap of what you already know. If you are not very familiar with the ME, then I don't recommend this course as the quantity of information may get quite overwhelming.
Very interesting material, lecture not so much so. Disorganized at times. You cal tell what kind of a lecture day it will be by how messed up her hair is. Doesn't give any indication of what's on the exams, just: "know it all." Tough grading, easy reading
very disorganized, hard to follow lecture, she gets off track a lot, doesn't particularily outline what you should and shouldn't know regarding her babbling, leaves you hanging for the midterm and final, no paper but does not specify what you should know
Teacher was ok, though she could be more organized... The course I took, however, did not have a feel of an upper-division course... It was too broad, and focused too much on history of the politics of middle east rather than on the current situation... Didn't learn a lot :-S
Took GPS 136 and GPS 140 seemed very simple read all the material some great books on theories nonviolence and socialization of war, a lot of stuff hippies love. Professor is very kind, based on 2 exams, she does grade hard, was interested to being with and in the end the course seemed too generalized and thus ended up losing interest.
Agenda. I've thoroughly studied this conflict from a variety of angles with some of the foremost on both sides. In Cairo, in Jerusalem, in Beirut. I speak Arabic. She misrepresents info, mistranslates Arabic text to make her arguments, blatantly selects reading material that supports her position without considering the larger alternative. BAD.
Nash is one of the best teachers I had at UCSB. There is absolultey NO bias at all in her teaching, although strongly opinionated people frequently accuse her of being pro-this or anti-that. She is helpful, engaging and a fantastic lecturer. She was more than willing to help me on my term paper on Iranian history. Brilliant instructor.
It's difficult to understand what she's saying sometimes (She has an accent). It's hard not to fall asleep. The subjects sound interesting, but she somehow manages to make the class boring. This would be fine if the class was easy in the end, but it isn't. Take the classes if you need to, but don't take them if you just want to for fun.
biased, disorganized, and plays favorites. She wants you to parrot her own conclusions, not form your own.
She is the most biased teacher I've had at UCSB. Very Pro Palestinian, anti Israel/America. She straight lies sometimes. The class looks hard b/c there is no structure and a lot of reading, but if you come into the class with a basic knowledge of Middle East politics and history you can get an A just by paying attention and selectively reading.
She is often disorganized and off-topic, but this woman is so charming that you hardly care.
Not for those who desire a structured environment. She does not spoon-feed material to students. It's more of a seminar where she expects everyone to participate. Lectures are interesting and thought-provoking but slanted to the left. Grading is mostly based on essay exams which ask for objective information and your opinion. Fair grader.
Prof Nash is a nice lady but I didn't like her lectures in that they seemed very unorganized and she didn't use any visual aids the whole quarter. I wished she has made a more clear cut organized lecture. It seemed like she was jsut throwing out random facts and statistics. Some subject matter was interesting
A brilliant lecturer. She does what too few teachers on the subject of Middle Eastern affairs do: places events in a regional in international context, rather than the over-used Israel vs. Arabs context. A hard, but fair marker with an exceptional and balanced knowledge of the region.
Nash is an expert regarding Middle Eastern politics. The problem is the TA, if you have Andrea BE CAREFUL. She is the pickiest grader I have ever had. Nash also has an accent, sometimes its hard to understand what shes saying and her lectures are pretty boring, doesnt use power point
She assigns WAY too much reading that it could never be done and you get way too far behind. Class is EXTREMELY boring and you watch every minute of the 3 hours go by. She is very, very smart but the class lacks any structure and is basically either her or a student rambling. She grades hard too!
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While she has some idea of what she's talking about, she comes in with a bias that is blatant to those who are informed and dangerous to those who are not. Some of her info is flat-out wrong, I say this after going through the top 5 books in the field. She grades with a bias as well.
Professor Nash is, in my opinion, the foremost expert regarding the many conflicts in the Middle East. She's very kind, and it's amazing how much she knows! Gives 1 midterm, 1 final. The readings she assigns are sometimes overbearing, but very interesting and easy if you're a history buff.
Professor Nash is fascinating and brilliant. My only complaint is that rather than using lectures to elaborate on the reading, she often merely summarizes. Still, she is amazing and definitely worth taking a class with.
She is an extremly brilliant women who knows what she is talking about. Her readings tend to be repetitive.
Interesting reading material, and lectures are very enlightening, but in my opinion, Professor Nash is not a very fair grader.