He is an excellent teacher. He is new to SFCC. He just needs to add some more visual elements to his lectures to make them more interesting. He has never embarrassed anyone as far as I know,he would never point fingers or name names. He tries very hard.too many students take advantage of his kindness-very immature and disrespectful students!!

W/e man this guy is SO EASY. Yes, his lectures are HORRIBLE, but who cares, go to class, sleep, or dont go ot class, but like once a week, he never takes attendence. All the essays he will let you turn in early for a revision and he will always give you a chance to get a better grade. I wrote like, 6 2 page essays but thats it, no tests, TAKE HIM!

His class is super boring, but also super easy. Go to class occasionally, read the Alligator or something. All the grades are on essays that you really don't even have to turn in on time. Nice guy, obviously wants everyone to do well. Seriously, it's super super boring, but you'll get an A.

The whole class is essays. You don't even need to get a text book because he doesn't test on the material. Very harshly grades essays. I thought I understood the material very well but managed to get a B on almost all my essays. Lectures are boring, but he is a really nice guy and knows a lot. Injects his beliefs a lot in lecture.

Alright. When he tells you to voice your opinions, he really wants you to voice HIS opinions and he will correct them.

He's awesome. Very smart and well spoken. His only tests are through take home essays. You can bet that you'll get a good grade as long as you uinderstand the general concept and write well.

Professor Beck is a good teacher. He provides good argument on both sides of subjects. I agree, sometimes he is a little hard to follow in lectures. I found that by using mostly your notes on your exam (shows you were not zoning out with everyone else) and provide a debate on both sides of the subject, you'll get a good grade.

No, you don't have to share the same opinion. We didn't see eye to eye on a few things, but I still got an A. He just wants us to show that we understand the subject. Just do your reading and write a good essay and you'll get an A. I recommend this class for people that have already taken ENC1102. You may still do o.k. if you haven't.

All I can say is that you have to know how to write well. We are in COLLEGE! So this explains the prvious comment ;) It is not the point of view that he grades is your understanding, and how you convey the information back to him. He's GOOD!

Dr. Beck is a great teacher! You do NOT have to be on the same "side" as him at all! I am very right, and I still believe he is a wonderful teacher! He is not a harsh grader, but he does make sure you cover all points that he wants covered. He helps you in ever possible way and it more than awesome to argue politics with in class.

Takes teaching personally, don't be late/absent. Very easy, just know how to write an essay well. Read a little, it will help. And remeber this is not the most scintillating of subjects, so fight the boredom, go to class.

very liberal, but never judges if you dont think the same way he does. I am very conservative and him and i get along great. loves for u to email him too, it counts as class participation. can be monotoned sometimes but all around is a great guy!

Being a political class Beck's Liberalism became apparent, but no bias ever became apparent. He will often play devil's advocate in discussions which can result in him arguing a liberal view, but he only does this when the discussion falters between students. You don't need the text book, so save the money. All the work is essays and quizzes. Fun.

I hate history so i dreaded his class but he was really nice & very understanding. I loved the political debates we had. Just pay attention & read the book &the tests will be easy. The essays suck though, he likes to assign them 5 total. The first few I did okay but just cover all the points, also you can email them late with no real penalty.

Ok, he does have a weird elbow thing going on, but he is a great teacher. Essays are easy, most make a B or higher. Two tests, mid term and final. He is an odd guy, but when you get past that his class is informative and interesting. Requires weekly reading of the NY Times, and an easy news summary of 3 stories. Highly recommended.

Sometimes he rambles, but I had a good time in class. Just do the readings and pay attention and you will get a good grade.

Very good teacher. Tests are multiple choice. Little odd, but who isn't at Santa Fe. If you do the assigned reading, the class is a breeze.

I had Mr. Beck for a summer American National Government class, and I liked the class. I am not big on government or politics, but I had no trouble following along with what he was saying. If you're not a political science major, take the class in the summer - six weeks of long classes go by much faster than 16 weeks of long classes.

This class is easy. If you pay attention you pass. You have idiots who are not interested in the subject and take the class. He does a great job. His exams are not easy, but if you read the material you won't have a problem. Good Class. Great Teacher.

Great teacher. While he's difficult, I can appreciate it to keep retards out of the major. Expect to come to class to get a decent grade. His tests are difficult and he talks to students as if they are adults. If you're not ready to attend class regularly and have little interest in learning then you should bugger off to another major.

You need to show up and speak, first of all. He goes off topic, but it's all in good fun. Others have called it boring, but in which other class does the professor simply give the students the floor and let them duke it out? He's definitely a liberal, but plays devil's advocate for all intents and purposes. Take him- very passionate.

Dr. Beck is a very inteligent man. He is well informed and you will learn a lot. He is kind of loopy bc he is so smart but its cool and he is interesting. His power points are a little unclear. Not real easy, but you'll learn.

The trick to this class is to do the reading and attend class. He's the sponsor for the Santa Fe Dems but works very hard and does a good job of staying neutral. The class is entertaining and the professor is a good guy.

I LOVE THIS GUY! he IS 100% left wing but tries to not be too one sided in class. very smart guy, knows what hes talking about and is definitely up to date on politics. provokes debates/participation as often as he can. tests arent hard IF YOU DO THE READINGS! provides study guides for each exam

i absolutely hated this class, but Dr Beck is hilarious, and a great guy. He's definitely liberal, and doesnt deny it, but isnt critical of anyone who isnt. he's kind & takes good care of his students.

Dr. Beck makes you read. I finally nailed a quiz by reading the material until it sunk in. This will help me on the next test and has helped me in my other classes. His lectures are on his site and he offers the class full participation. Ask him a question and he will educate you. Take this class. Print his p-points and use them during lectures.

Alan knows what he's talking about. As long as you have a class that openly discusses the topics with him you should be fine, I've taken worse classes. At the beginning of the semester I thought for sure that I was going to drop this class, but I stuck through it and I'm glad I did. Plus he has a website with all of the powerpoint notes on it.

Beck's class was interesting. I didn't do too well on the tests but scored pretty high on the papers. He grades the papers pretty fairly as long as you dont hand him a pile of crap. His tests are hard so read the material. Nutshell: stay up on the chapters and get into the class. Dr. Beck is a smart dude and very easy to talk to.

Political theory was not an easy class. However, if you have problems, talk with Dr. Beck to try to resolve it. He is a really nice guy and super smart. If you ask him a question, you will always get a thoughtful answer. Really up to date politically. He's liberal but his class is not. I reccomend his Comparative Politics course.

Awesome teacher! He really cares about his students. All he wants to see in your essays is that you UNDERSTAND the concepts portrayed by the various philosophers...so listen in class and do research outside of class and you'll pass with an A++. Oh..STAPLE YOUR PAPERS!

One of the best prof. on campus! I he is so interesting and creates a great learning environment that is open for debate and discussion. though I must warn conservatives before entering his class, hes a really smart guy.

Great Guy. Read the book for quizzes - questions are usually not very general not too detailed - he'll answer your questions, sometimes more then you needed to know - very smart, very liberal, very helpful, easy class SUPER EASY if your already interested- grades liberal TAKE HIM

Good teacher, i think he grades a little harsh but it is possible to get an A on one of his essays. You also have to do reading and stay up to date with current events... if you just want an easy 'A' don't take him but if you don't care about your grade or work hard he's great.

Beck is a great guy, super liberal but he's very open to any opinions. Big debate class really. If you read the book and go to class to ask questions the 9 essays will be easy. Not a super tough grader, just wants to know that you've got a general understanding of the material. Staple your papers, participate in discussions, and it's a great class.

This guy's awesome. I really enjoyed his class a lot. If you pay any kind of attention at all during classtime, you'll come out with an A. I'm taking his class next semester because I enjoyed him so much.

He's awesome! I thought I would hate this class but I find it really interesting. You write a lot but it beats having to take tests. He's extremely intelligent and fun to talk to. I will be taking more of his classes in the future.

Great teacher. The way he taught this class may not be for everyone, but I liked it a lot: 9 essays and class participation; no other grades. The essays are all based on class discussion which is based on the book. He DOES have a liberal 'bias', though not blindly:he treats every argument with the same dignity and respect, regardless of your views.

Great professor! Plays a little fast and loose with his grading style, so if you participate in discussions, attend class, adhere to the syllabus, and are enthusiastic about learning political science, you will do well. Has a PHD in Pol Theory: bonus. Has a liberal bias, but he is incredibly fair in his arguments as long as you are respectful.

Be prepared to read most of the text book, the NY Times everyday(you WILL be quizzed), write 2-3 3pg papers, and to read a book outside of class and write a 5pg paper. It's a lot of work but he does encourage conversation in class which can be fun.

He is an interesting teach, quite the character. Class is interesting. Expect papers and critical grading. Currect events on the entire newspaper every other week. Textbook quizzes and readings, better read thoroughly. Get on his good side. The class is challenging but if you email/talk to him, he's understanding and helpful.

If you enjoy the subject the class is easy, if you don't it can be hard. Taken him three times and I've gotten B+ or A's every time with little to no studying. Few papers over the semester, but they are not that hard.

He is a solid teacher and if you ask him to review an essay and see if he will raise the grade he will.If a quiz has 6 questions you only need 5 right for a 100.I have seen the kids in the class before mine. Multiple were caught copying others work.Do your work.Study and ask questions.You will pass.

I really enjoyed Professor Beck's class. He is very liberal and can back up his stances. He knows his politics. He is a tough grader on papers and his tests are worded in a very confusing way. Despite this, I would take him again. His class was always interesting but perhaps this is because I enjoyed the subject matter.

Really good professor. But you must be willing to jump into class discussions on your own. He's a liberal, but welcomes dissenting opinions if you can support your thoughts critically. Dr. Beck is a bit quirky, but funny and easy to get along with. There is substantial reading in this course, but it is all gone over thoroughly in class.

Dr. Beck was intimidating at first but he makes his expectations very clear. HIS MAIN PRIORITY IS STUDENT PARTICIPATION. If you ask questions, participate in class discussion, email him when you have concerns, and HAVE AN OPEN MIND you will do well. I am VERY conservative but my curiosity to learn earned me an A. I learned a lot in his class.

Dr. Beck can go off on tangents at times, but it's because he wants his class to be engaged in the subject matter. If you have a talkative classmate, try to rein them in. That said:the book is your friend, the news is your friend; visit them often.

I liked Beck's class. It was informative and interesting. At first he seems kind of kooky, but he's a really smart guy despite the weird syllabus restrictions/guidelines he has. He was really helpful. He expects lots of effort, so use lots of citing in your papers. Stay informed on current events. Essays were easy, quizzes were easy. Don't stress.

Beck is passionate about what he teaches, which I find important in an instructor. He grades papers critically, though thoroughly. He genuinely wants his students to get the picture. His syllabus might be a little much, but he is understanding and fair. I enjoyed his class and I'd recommend it to anyone truly interested in political philosophy.

Beck is a great teacher. He's a bit quirky, but he always stays on topic. The essays can be difficult, but if you take notes on what he says, then it shouldn't be a problem. No tests or quizzes either only essays.

Pretty average professor for me. He is really passionate about political science but isn't too interesting if you're not into the subject. Can be forgetful at times which is a bit annoying. Wants you to succeed. He is liberal, but doesn't show too much bias. Textbook is necessary if you want to pass the weekly quizzes.

Doctor Beck knows what he is talking about, but to keep it short, he expects college level work from you. This is not a course you take to get an "easy A".

great class... took in summer A... well worth it.

If you are here you know what it's liked to get sacked my a teacher. This is one of those classes. After all the money and time you devote to school why come this far to chance losing your hard earned GPA to a basic subject? Very nice. Relaxed. Very approachable. Intelligent. Good speaker. Impossible grader. Do yourself a favor and keep looking.

Dr. Beck is your typical college professor. He loves the class that he teaches. Honestly this class was very easy as long as you complete your reading each week and take notes during class. As long as you listen during class and read the chapters (and take notes) then this class was easy.

You will learn the tools it takes to survive in society. He loves the New York Times. The sources cited need to come from NYT. DO NOT TEXT in his class. Most important, show him respect! You need this credit in order to graduate with any AA's and AS's... DO NOT WORRY, you will be fine..

Dr. Beck is very passionate about what he does. He's very knowledgable in his field of study and rewards students who pay attention and engage in educational debates in class. He gets off topic easily, he's VERY liberal, and most of your grades are from exams and papers. I would recommend Dr. Beck if you're passionate about political science.

Professor Beck is awesome and I thoroughly enjoyed the class. There were 3 papers/3 tests, no homework beyond that. Make sure you're active in class discussions, but it's not hard, as there are so many topics in politics we talk about. Beck is very liberal, shows in his lectures, I share the same opinions so I found it great and humorous.

I wish I had found Dr. Beck sooner! His lectures are matter of fact and he's very insightful. Expect quizzes on your reading, do research for your papers. If you do respectable work, you'll get a good grade. He absolutely recognizes student effort. I would absolutely recommend this professor if you're engaged, critical, and appreciate discussion.

A lot of reviews are complaining about Dr. Beck having a liberal bias. This is just untrue. If you actually bother to do the reading, and participate in class, you'll find that his lectures and discussions are all logical extensions of the course material. If you go to class unwilling to learn and challenge your views, you'll have a bad time

Professor Beck is great. This is my second time taking him (previous was Comparative Poli) and I was glad I did. There's usually a quiz once a week, either news or current events, 3 papers, 3 tests. Class is basically all lectures. Prof is glad to engage in conversation with students about the topic, allows everyone to have an opinion. Funny guy.

Dr. Beck is a tough professor if you don't pay attention or participate. Yes, he's liberal but I'm not. In my class there were tons of boys and he wanted girls to participate as well so it worked to my advantage. Just show up, do the readings, quizzes and make sure you pay attention to lectures because exams questions can often come from lecture.

Dr. Beck is a wonderful professor, he is very understanding and works with each and every student that he has. He does tailor his lectures around his political views, but he doesn't let that influence the actual graded work. Again, he is very understanding and will work with you as long as you DO YOUR READING! DO YOUR READING! DO YOUR READING! )

Quite possibly the most knowledgeable and easy to understand professor that I have ever head. Yes, his discussions on currents events lean left, but he teaches actual class objectively. He is readily available outside of class for students who have questions or just want to philosophize. Very nice and understanding. 7 essays, but they're not bad.

Alan is a good guy. Class discussions were always pretty interesting. Just do the readings and turn stuff in on time and you'll be fine. If you have to take this class take it with him.

Professor Beck is good at teaching and really likes to ask the class questions. If you're shy, you better get ready to break out of your shell. He explains the concepts pretty well and is usually non-biased, but you can tell he leans to the left in his politics. Overall a good professor, would take again.

Good teacher, nice guy with good intentions, pretty lenient with grading and not a lot of exams but a lot of weekly quizzes and assignments due online outside of class. Overall not very hard and overall a pretty manageable class.

I really enjoyed this class, Dr. Beck is very respectable and he is very informed on certain issues that are going on today. His political ideologies are a bit left but that is prevalent with almost any Political Science professor. He is a great person overall and I would recommend his CPO2001 class to any student interested in politics.

I took Beck for CPO, Theory, and an independent study class where we did Constitutional Law. Beck's biggest asset is he makes his students think critically, a skill the other Poli Sci professors do not have. Go to his office hours and participate and you will get a good grade. PS New kids- Beck is advisor for Model Senate. Forshee does Model UN.

Great professor. I don't understand people saying that the tests were hard on here. I have had him for two classes and the tests are literally the easiest of any class I have ever taken. I usually finish in about 10 minutes and get close to 100. Definitely liberal leaning, but is very open to other points of view if they are well formulated.

Hes a wonderful person and very knowledgeable in his field. His lectures are long and could be boring for those not interested in the subject. Overall, very easy going and for sure wants you to succeed.

Professor Beck is a pretty solid government professor. He does tend to ramble a little about the topic but it's more so giving examples of what the topic is so we can understand better. He is a caring professor and will help out if there is an issue with submission or possibly needing more time depending on situation. Overall, I enjoyed the class

10/10 AMAZING!! Best professor I've ever had. Sure he talks quite a bit in lectures, but that's because he's actually teaching. The more that students participate, the more interesting the class is. I genuinely felt heard and respected in his classroom.

Professor Beck is definitely an interesting man. His lectures are very long and he tends to get very caried away during his lectures. Lots of reading, 2-3 assignments every week. There are 2 essays that can be tricky. He is very kind, strong passion for what he does and is always there to help you do your best in the class, and communicates!!!!!!!!

Dr. Beck has authority on U.S. domestic policy and government. His lectures can sometimes become a bit sidetracked at times, but participation during lectures is definitely recommended! Dr. Beck is great with communication. If you email him he will definitely get back to you quickly. If you show initiative he will be more then willing to help.

At first, I was iffy about the class because it was very lecture heavy and sometimes hard to keep up, but Professor Beck was an angel. Someone close to me had passed away in the middle of the semester and he was extremely accommodating and caring, he honestly has been one of the BEST professor I have encountered so far. I highly recommend.

Essays follow: "What should the 28th Amendment be"? Don't recommend rushing these. He grades fairly and leaves great feedback. 5Q Quizzes are a lot of reading, but easy. Tests are 50Q+, Average Difficulty. Fine if you pay casual attention and have notes to study with prior. Left-leaning, but open-minded. Class is overtime by 5 mins max.

I enjoyed Professors Becks POS2041 class this semester, although it is lecture heavy. The quizzes throughout the course are relatively straightforward if you at least skim through the text. He also does give extra credit opportunities which were very beneficial.

He speaks a little slowly and he makes a lot of puns and dad-jokes, but he has a huge heart and is so open to hearing student perspectives. He does discuss the hard topics from our history, something others can be scared to do, but it's authentic and sincere. His educational background is in welfare/ reform. He cares, he's genuine. XC is 1/2 grade.

Dr. Beck is a great professor. He is very lecture and note taking heavy, but that is the best way I learn so I didn't mind. His assignments are not hard at all, but there are 3 essays to do during the semester. If you are ever going through something and can't get an essay in on time, he is super willing to work with you. I would highly recommend.

Professor Beck's American National Government course was very difficult. But he is a good teacher and enjoys having discussion/debates with students. He gives many extra credit opportunities and is very fair with his grading. He is very left leaning as far as politics go but is open to hearing other viewpoints. Classes are heavily lecture based.

Dr. Beck is a great professor, I had him for both CPO 2001 and POS 2042, and in both classes he was great. Do your reading and you'll be fine, if you're still having a rough time office hours and/or email should help a lot. Only cons are attendance is mandatory, and reading is a very large part of the class.

Dr. Beck is a very knowledgeable and approachable professor. The lectures are interesting, he asks very thought-provoking questions and has a good sense of humor. The PowerPoint presentations are useful. We learned a lot about the Constitution and the history of the American Government. Very interested in taking his Comparative Politics class next!

Cool guy. Is very left and will say it but never said anything disrespectful to those in class who disagreed. Lots of reading, be ready to skim chapters in order to get through it. Very winding sometimes off topic lectures but always pretty interesting.

most of the reviews are maga hat kids who cant face the reality of saying when someone is wrong. the teacher is very smart and educated, and sources his facts, whatever side youre on doesnt matter, he knows what he is saying, and what he is saying is fighting for the right of citizens, and if that makes him left leaning, who cares.

A great guy, and an even better professor.