3.3
Quality2.5
Difficulty31%
Would Retake129
Reviews31%
Would Retake
129
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
129 total ratings5
38
4
39
3
18
2
11
1
23
What Students Say
“He is very unclear in his assignments”
PSCI3600 - 1.0 rating“Funny at first, until the second day”
PSCI1200 - 1.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
60%
Textbook Required
72%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-1.49 avg changeRatings by Course
3444
5.0
(1)PSCI
5.0
(1)PSCI3000
5.0
(1)PSI1201
5.0
(1)HISTARABISACIV
5.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
ANTHOLOGY
4.0
POLYSCI
4.0
POLSC3600
4.0
POLSI1
4.0
POLI1122
4.0
Reviews (128)
DO NOT TAKE HIS CLASS. You will end up buying books you won't use at all and spend the entire semester trying to decipher his accent. He discusses things that will not be on any test, and he brags about his accomplishments and plugs his book(s).
He is very knowledgable and loves to argue. Probably the funniest professor ever. Looks like Sideshow Bob.
Good to take if you like to discuss topics. Some learning possible, but don't expect him to admit he could be wrong or misinformed. Apparently he holds grudges because he lost my final paper and then he blew me off when I went to resubmit.
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My experiences with Dr. Abukhalil's classes were that he is partial to lively class discussions. Don't try to turn in BS on papers and expect him to just accept it. He's open to differing views, but you have to be able to defend them.
First off he does look like sideshow bob. He is a funny teacher, but does get annoying after awhile. He never graded any of our test, his aides do everything for him.
As'ad is an awsome teacher. he makes his class very interesting and has a fun personality.
Good professor, very knowledgable and funny, although a bit scatterbrained at times.
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Very knowledgeable
He's ok.
As`ad is a good guy and a good professor. He is very excited by the subjects and prefers engaging class discussions. His classes are fun and you will learn more than you expect.
I absolutely adore Asad! He's funny, and nice, and willing to help his student if they need clarification. He jokes and tries to make sure his lectures are interesting and memorable. ^__^ Great professor, I would recommend him to anyone!
Great teacher! A very funny man that teaches very well. Take any class with him :)
He's ok...He doesn't grade any of your test or papers his T.A's do everything. so make sure you check your answers when you get your stuff back. Other than that he's always trying to make people laugh. And loves class discussions!!!Once again he's OK
As'ad is one of the best professors I've ever had. His classes are ALWAYS valuable and interesting. He is very knowledgeable, informed about current events (unlike other teachers) and is always intellectually challenging. I would recommend this class for anyone interested in the "Middle East."
Most peculiar man. Class not very demanding. Can be frustrating to squeeze out clear intructions on assignments. Interesting class. Strange, strange man...
I loved the class. Dr AbuKhalil is an interesting professor and I'd take him again definitely
As'ad is brilliant and funny. This class will definitely make you think. It's not particularly difficult and the assignments are few and far between. Show up and you will know everything on the final.
Hmm... As'ad.Interesting subject matter of which he is extremely knowledgeable and well published.Very witty and a sacastic sense of humor-so classes are anything but boring. Other then that dont expect much outside of class as he is consumed with his research/writing/blog.A visit to his office is a must if youve never been-You'll see what I mean.
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As'ad has been by far my favorite professor at CSUS so far. I would highly recommend taking a class with him!
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Good professor. Class is mostly discussion. Class is almost too easy.
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Doesn't waste time with ****. Knows his stuff; communicates well.
As`ad is HOTT!
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Definently Liberal although he tries to be neutral. but a very easy class and the lectures are like a 3 hr stand-up comedy act. tests are essay and choose 2 out of 5 and since it's politics its basicly knowing what it is and stating you're opinion.
I just hate how he uses the language
Class is fun. He makes u think what the reality is and how it is hidden. I have some conflicting issues regarding the religion but overall a good class. just write an essay read books and u r good.
Good choice for winter term class. As long as you can put up with long class debates, the class is easy.
took american government with him in the winter it was soooooooooooo easy the only reason i got an a- is cus i missed a quiz
fairly simple, didn't do much.
this guy is by far my favorite teacher. i took his feminism class which was cool but didnt really catch my attention too much. if your interested in politics try to take one of those with him. this class was kindof boring with a lot of papers tho :(. he is a really great guy and easy class. im gonna miss him for sure.
funny and enjoyable teacher even when discussing very serious topics. doesn't take himself too seriously. interested in your reactions to the readings and class discussions. would recommend the courses he teaches.
Amazing teacher. He knows what he is talking about, but has a lot of fun teaching it. I love his class!
Cool teacher took him over winter take notes, study and be prepared didn't really use the book as much. Did an outline of an essay, but not really write one, just kind of a rough draft of what you would have written if you had really written an esay for him. Some quizzes, tests pretty easy if you know your stuff.
This was an easy class,he has TA's grade most of his work but..for being an easy teacher he screws u over on ur final grade! i got A's and B's on the 4 assignments he gave throughout the semester and he still gave me a bad grade. He based everything on the 1 sentace quizzez we had. this was the case for most of my classmates. complaints were filed.
By far one of the most interesting and fun class I've taken. Great professor, great class, great guy. I recommend to anyone who wants to take American Gov't and wants an easy way to take care of some GE requirements
I took him for American government, and did not like him. I expected the class to be about reading text books and memorazing definitions. I took him for PSCI 2000, and I liked him. I knew what to expect and I participated more in class. He is a good professor. Tells people what books they should read if their into PSCI.
As'ad is still one of my favorite Political Science teacher, even now that I have transferred and expereiences quite a few others. His class is engaging if you are willing to talk about current issues and is good at knowing his students by name. VERY smart and witty guy. Loves smoothies. I took him for International Relations and Intro to Poli Sci.
Great teacher. I had little political background, and he really made the class interesting. Thanks to As'ad, I am much more interested in politics.
REALLY enjoyed As'ad. I love hearing others' points of view, and playing devil's advocate, and this was a great class to do that in. Just make sure you don't miss any quizzes-- can't make them up.
this is THE teacher for Polisci, whether you're a major or not. He is an excellent teacher, who neve reveals his bias or forces his views on you. He knows both sides of every issue, and you will never be afraid to voice your opinion in his class. He is also EXTREMELY funny!
AWESOME dude.super easy.only midterm and final (consisted of answering 2 of 3 [midterm] and 2 of 4 questions [final]).homework is very easy and minimal.NO REGULAR TESTS.quizzes are super easy (1 question only; i.e. define patriotism in one sentence).HILARIOUS.doesn't inject his personal opinions in class and makes his students do the same.TAKE HIM!
A really awesome professor.
Attendance is mandatory in his class. The test/quizes come off his lectures. He only have essay exam, no multiple choice. Through out the whole semester I only looked at the book once. It's a waste of money don't buy it! He doesn't grade any paper. His T.A's grade it. he is not really clear on his grading scale or assignments.
He is a wonderful teacher who plays devils advocate on all issues. He asks very broad, vague questions on his final, so they are easy...but be aware that you can't pass unless you attend class and hear his lectures. Don't bother buying the books either! Just go to class and engage in the debates.
If you take this class your are expected to read a lot. His books are usually intersting anyways. Class time we would usually talk about what we read. Personally im not a big fan of reading i just read anough to write my essay and got a B+ in the class.
Very funny, but do not expect to engage him outside of class.
I was a bit nervous about him but found out that his class was very interesting. I went to class basically to hear other students debate and found it pretty laid back. Got a B+ in the class and I rarely did any reading. Final is pretty basic with a question that was broad. Easy in my opinion and im not the most intelligent nerd out there.
This class was amazing. You read every book he assigns and even meet the author of one of them. Go to class, engage in discussion and you will get an A.
I would not take him for a second class course.
poor instructor!
Great teacher. Explains topics thoroughly, takes care of his classroom, nice, approachable. Has an accident sometimes hard to understand- but he fully acknowledges this and will clarify when asked and when he thinks it needs to be done. Oh, and very funny.
the entire semester I only learned about the negative information involved in USA Gov. Seems as if he dislikes this country. It is a easy class but his grading is horrible. I had an A before the final got a B+ on the final and my grade went down to B. Ridiculous!!
Not helpful, does not explain any of the assignments due, I got a bad grade on the outline because he does not explain it. His TA's do everything which is a pet peeve of mine...he is funny though. but has a lot of negative things to say about AMERICA! DOn't like that!
Easy A for me. Didn't really explain the outline project at all. It seemed like the entire class got poor grades on it but that's because the TAs felt the need to abuse their powers a bit. They graded as if we knew exactly what to do on it, when no instructions were given at all. Other then than, class was more entertaining than others. Also easy.
He is great. Period. He was humorous, helpful and clear in what he expected. Going to class is a must because there are pop quizzes based on lectures. There wasn't exams, but an outline as a mid-term and the final consisted of writing two essays. He has an accent but he isn't that difficult to understand. He's just amazing. I highly recommend him.
I enjoyed taking his class. You do need to attend class though. I would not recommend buying the text book because you will never use it! He is really funny and keeps the class interesting!
Great professor! Makes a point to learn names which is awesome when there are over 100 students in his class. Midterm and final are really all you have to worry about - essay. Based on lectures. Doesn't explain the outline, but I still did well in the class. He keeps the class interesting. He has strong opinions about everything. No book required.
Awesome! He is very helpful as well as his TA's. Need to attend to class since there are very easy pop quizzes from previous lecture. Only one mid-term and a final. Highly recommend taking him as a American Government professor.
Interesting class! Even though the assignments are not so clear, if you listen you can do well. Pop-quizzes are often, so worth to attend every class!
Very easy class. Don't need any of the books. Just make sure to attend every class because he has random pop quizzes (which are easy)and take notes. Graded on pop quizes, midterm, Outline paper, and the Final.
Super amazing teacher. I loved his sense of humor. He keeps the class engaged so much. You need to take him. It's an easy class, though you have to attend since he gives unexpected quizzes. I would love to take another class with him.
He's is hysterical!! If you don't take him your missing out! Easy class, must attend because of pop quizzes!
He is honestly one of my favorite professors. He has a great sense of humor so it doesn't make the class boring. He encourages everyone to be involved in the class. Attendance is not mandatory, however, he gives many pop quizzes throughout the semester. You never use your book. All quizzes & 1 exam are based off of in class lectures. TAKE HIM!!
Go to class and write down EVERYTHING he writes on the board because when he writes on the board it means it's important. Weekly quizzes are super easy, like 1 sentence answers. The reading of textbook is not mandatory, you can pass without ever opening that book. Super amazing professor to have. REally funny too :)
Such an amazing class. That class always flew by. He plays devils advocate to create discussion in class, and it works. He opens your mind to different opinions and perspectives. He gives random quizzes since there's no role. His TA's do all the work but teach. Great teacher and I recommend him for everyone! Tip: get into the class discussions.
Very easy, write everything he emphasizes a lot in class. Easy pop quizzes, midterm, final, and 1 paper. Didn't use the book at all. Fun professor, but can be a bit of a boring class at times.
He is one of the smartest Americans alive. Take his class because it is an Ivy League education for the price of Cal State tuition. He is critically intelligent and always fair.
He's a very rude and irresponsible professor. He would always go off topic and shut people off. You don't know your grade until the end of the semester. He wouldn't take forever to return papers and wasn't specific on his grading. He's very knowledgable and nice when he wants to. DON'T take Him
His lectures are fun and he is seriously brilliant and easy to listen to. However his grading and quizzes were super inconsistent. Sometimes planned, others were pop quiz, some were scantron, others were short answer off the top of his head. His grading is also tough and inconsistent as well. Overall a good class but tough tests and not an easy A
Great! Only 2 tests & few pop quizzes (easy peasy if you take notes) & 1 assignment. Attendance not mandatory, but pop quizzes make it hard to skip. Take notes! If it's on the board, it's probably gonna be a pop quiz soon after. Very unbiased and funny, knows his stuff, but the TAs do all the work. Random days off, interesting stories from his past
He is not a very good teacher to be honest. He is a taught grader and inconsiderate. Although his class goes by pretty fast and his lectures are not hard to follow, the tests are a bit too much. OH and if you miss a pop quiz it will bring your grade down and he will not let you make up even if you were sick that day.
The class is all just a big group discussion. Show up and participate. If you take the quizzes they are only out of 5 questions, miss 1 and they affect your grade heavy so just take them well and its an easy A. If he says to purchase the Nixon book, don't! haven't even opened it once.
american government class was great. Easy A class, brushes up a lot of stuff you've learned in high school history courses. He is a great teacher, funny sense of humor. He really helps and gives you examples instead of just making you solely readmemorize the book. i would say you don't REALLY need the book, but its there so use it! I recommend him
It's a really fun and interesting class, but you must show up everyday in order to stay on track. The are 5 question quizzes like every 2 weeks or so, and they are random! Only a midterm and a final. Pretty easy questions, many are from the quizzes. Study, read, takes notes, and you'll be good!
His lectures go on all class but they are interesting and relatable, a lot of students engage into his lectures so it is not that bad, no slide show lectures either. He gives super easy quizzes, you'll know if it is going to be on a quiz because he repeats it in class numerous times. He also has a midterm and a final that you should study for.
Nice guy. Lectures are very inclusive. Class goes a lot better if there's a handful of people who participate often. No powerpoints or anything, just him talking about whatever the subject is that day. Very easy pop quizzes every 2 weeks or so. 1 midterm and 1 final. The book isn't very useful though because he goes over everything in class.
He is very unclear in his assignments. In the class he is so rude no one participates and he talks a lot about Middle Eastern politics in all of his classes. Wish the college had more International Relations professors. Best of luck
This was not a difficult class, but if you miss even one quiz it ruins your grade due to the fact that they are worth 100 points and are only 5 questions. You never know when the quizzes are going to be. There are only 2 tests and they are fairly easy if you take good notes and study them well. He makes you feel stupid when you email him questions
took this class in the summer. had 3 exams (short answer): 1 per week, and a final (cumulative). he posts lectures on youtube (mostly 30 minutes long), you must incorporate lectures and reading in exam responses. makes you feel kind of dumb when you ask questions through email. not a tough grader. expected to read 4 chapters per week.
As'ad is honestly extremely intelligent. I have taken several classes with him and they all have been extremely fun because of the interesting discussions taking place in class. The only negative part is the fact that he is not clear on what he wants. it can be frustrating at times because your left assuming what is going to be on the exams.
As far as the work load in this class, it's pretty light. Only 1 midterm, 1 final and numerous pop quizzes. All of the questions he asks in each exam are pretty straightforward; so as long as you show up to class you're sure to pass. My only issue was his attitude. He can be really rude at times, and he yells at the class as if we were children.
Funny at first, until the second day. Lectures were boring; debates the entire semester without hitting much points. However, quizzes and tests are based off this nonsense. Take notes on definitions-- (book isn't helpful cause it doesn't seem like he even read it) chapter outlines on PowerPoint often mismatched topics from previous chapters.
He had multiple pop quizzes and there was a midterm and a final. As long as you pay attention in class and do the reading then you should be fine. His class was mostly dedicated to discussions. His tests were a bit tough and the quizzes were about 5 questions, but worth a lot of points.
Weekly posts, grade is mainly based off semester research project (ask him for feedback and revise your paper based on his suggestions), and participation. Yes, it's online but he expects you to do more than the weekly discussions, must be proactive with posting about current events. Can be unclear so ask questions! Awesome guy, learned a lot!
Professor Abukhalil is an amazing lecturer when it comes to PoliSci. The class is more of a discussion lecture class where anyone can say their opinions and he wants students to join in on the topics he talks about. He does give surprise quizzes so always be ready for it and always have scantrons on you. Highly recommend him for the requirement!
I really enjoyed political science with As'ad! No homework, based on pop quizzes, a midterm, and a final. Bought the book, but had no use for it because his lectures provided all of the knowledge needed for the quizzes. Go to class every day, quizzes are worth 100 points and can really mess up your grade if you miss one. Funny guy, good class.
Very knowledgeable about the Middle East and Islamic history but makes ver offensive off-the-cuff statements that are anti-LGBTQ, anti-Jewish, anti-woman, etc. Very backwards mentality
Does not belong at a progressive, public university. Very ugly comments about minorities, women, etc. Yuck
A bit of a tough grader, but seems like a really honest guy. The more you participate and the more the class participates the more you get out of the class. Only big negative is that there is a LOT of reading. My number one tip is don't be afraid to be critical in ur reviews!
People either love As'ad or hate him. There doesn't seem to be much in between. I did not enjoy his class. It was an introductory class, with 95% of us never having taken a gender course, and he would constantly criticize us for not already knowing things we were there to learn. I skipped almost all classes, but did the reading and passed.
His class was not too bad but his pop quizzes are the ones that can really mess up your grade. The quizzes are based on his lectures but his midterm and final are a completely different thing! You really need to read through the book in order to pass his midterm and final because they have nothing to do with what he talks about in his lectures.
Intimidating at first, but you get used to his antics. He implores you to understand political science from both sides and does a good job presenting each side. He is lecture heavy. He uploads his notes but without context from the discussion that day, it will leave you confused. Participation recommended. Attendence recommended for pop quizzes.
His pop quizzes are easy to pass since theyre based on lecture, but his midterm and final have nothing to do with his lecture or what he talks about in class. He is also rude and disrespectful. Stay away
His pop quizzes are short and simple along with the midterm and final just pay attention during his lectures. Readings of the textbook are assigned but you can pass just as easily without reading the material. My best advice just pay attention and take notes.
Dr. Abukhalil is very intimidating at first, but he is funny and passionate. Your grade is based on pop quizzes 40%, midterm 20%, and final 40%. Surprisingly I really enjoyed his class. He only takes attendance on the fist day of class, but he does love giving out pop quizzes and if absent it can affect your grade. Pop quizzes are based on lectures
One of the best teachers I've had so far! I don't understand why some students don't like him based on his review b/c in our class he' pretty awesome. His pop quizzes are easy, his midterms are easy as long as you remember the lectures which are not hard. he's funny and gives great examples 1. flaw,rushes out of class so need to meet at office hrs
Very knowledgable, but tends to get side-tracked in lessons. Can be rude at times. Only had a midterm, final, and paper. Fail one, you fail the class. He doesn't make things very clear. He doesn't seem to care if you fail his class, either. Can't talk to him after class because he runs out before the students are even out of their seats.
Spring 2020 I took my first online class with this professor and he makes it sooo esay. No access code needed,all is on blackboard. All his lectures feel as if they were actually in person. Differently recommend this professor for online courses.
he doesn't tell us when we have a quiz (which is half your grade) and expects us to do it without any notification or agenda. He's rude when you try to explain yourself in email. Don't take his online class if you wanna pass! At the very most, just take his face-to-face lectures or better yet go to another professor.
Good lecturer and knowledgeable about his subject. HOWEVER, your grade rests solely on VERY few pop quizzes. No assignments, no participation credit, no extra credit. Pop quizzes filled with questions that are too vague or too specific. Uncooperative. Very difficult to get an A, no matter how hard you study. Try a different professor.
one of the worse teachers almost 20 people fail this class he is a crazy teacher. he expect his student to be on Blackboard 24/7 he gives surprise quizzes and exam which you won't be aware of and even if you open the quiz or exam you only have 5 minutes to complete 20 questions I would never prefer him to anyone he is a racist teacher
He has so much knowledge but its all word vomit. You have to figure out what he wants you to learn. He is not straightforward which leaves quizzes confusing. Even if you read the books, write notes for the lectures, you'll still be confused. He is very well informed but doesn't have the gift of teaching. You have to squeeze it out of him to do well
Strange teaching style. 0/5. Pops quizzes on people without advance notice, unhelpful during class discussions, inconsiderate about COVID19 related-issues. He is clearly bigoted & anti-MENA minorities as well, someone as biased as him shouldn't be teaching complex, nuanced subjects. Avoid! Take this with another, actually professional professor!
pop quizzes are extremely broad. even if you use the book to answer it you still won't get 100% on it (which is weird since he requires us to read the book to answer the quizzes), the final paper is difficult because he wants specific sources only. wish stan state had more instructors teaching international relations. good luck taking his class
Straight forward teacher who graded fairly. Lots of quizzes and tests which are easy if you follow the lectures. Textbook wasnt really necessary.
Takes vacations during the middle of the semester. Online, synchronous course through zoom, however, he does not lecture whatsoever. He has "pop" quizzes and that is the only assignment besides the midterm or final. The quizzes WILL fail you, the "readings" or "videos" do not relate to the quizzes. Professor is absent when students need help. RUN.
Do not take this professor!!! Grade is based only on quizzes. He won't give you enough time to answer each question. If there's 8 questions on a quiz he will give you 6 minutes to do. Midterm is 20 questions and only 15 minutes long. He never talks about the lectures posted. He is unfair and needs a new teaching method.
Without a doubt, this has been the worst class I've taken in college. Grades are based on quizzes, midterm, and final, that's it! All of them are timed, and there's not even one minute per question. There's not time to double check or rethink your answers. He makes no effort to understand student's needs or take suggestions into consideration.
Worst professor I've ever had.
Professor Abukhalil has a very dry sense of humor. I rather enjoyed his personality. However, I'm not a fan of American Government - I felt like I was back in high school again learning about topics that I don't personally care about. I passed and that's all that mattered to me. I'm glad I took it during the summer so it was over quickly
This class is horrendous. Each week theirs a mandatory zoom meeting on current world politics. NOT ONCE DOES HE ACTUALLY GO OVER THE MATERIAL NEEDED FOR QUIZZES. So really theirs no point in coming to the lectures because it won't help you AT ALL on the quizzes. Which by the way are pretty much your entire grade and on top of that are spontaneous.
Grade only based on quizzes, midterm, and a final. He would curve some quizzes. No extra credit or other assignments. You may do bad on one quiz/test and it could drop your grade significantly. His lecture videos are good to study for quizzes but too long. I suggest finding a different professor for this course.
I suggest taking another professor for this class. The assignments were 5 quizzes and 1 exam. Each quiz gives you 7 minutes for 8 questions so you do not get enough time to think really think about each question. Doing bad on one quiz brings your grade down by a lot, making it easy to get a low grade in the class. I would NOT take him again.
This class consists of pop quizzes with a very short amount of time to complete them. His Zoom classes are not beneficial at all, the prerecorded videos on Canvas are lengthy and don't help much on the quizzes.
DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS! I understood the matieral being taught but the class was so easy to fail. He does pop quizzes but they are around 5-8 questions but the quiz is 100 points and so each question is worth a lot of points. My grade dropped from 100% to a F because of one quiz. The quizzes are super unpredictable and worded weirdly. DON'T TAKE IT
The professor has a unique teaching style that takes some getting used to. The surprise quizzes can be challenging, but using study tools like unstuck ai can help you prepare. Overall, it's a manageable class if you stay on top of the material.
Stay away from this class. The professor can't teach, the taped lectures are too long and irrelevant, and the weekly quizzes are unfair with too little time. No makeups allowed, even for good reasons. Meetings are irrelevant and unproductive. Overall, unorganized and frustrating. Don't take this class.
DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS!! He uploads long lectures to Canvas but never discusses any of them during the synchronous Zoom meetings. His quizzes are so vague and hard. They are usually 8 questions with only 6 minutes to complete them and 100 points each! He also expects us not to use books or lectures to help us with the quizzes.
Very knowledgeable and approachable. No-nonsense attitude. Biweekly Zoom meetings are optional. Grade consists of one-question, written response timed biweekly quizzes, a similarly formatted midterm & (2-question) final, and a research paper on a topic of your choice. Recorded lectures are hilarious at times. Responds quickly to email. Recommended.
Class Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
60%
Textbook Required
72%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-1.49 avg changeRatings by Course
3444
5.0
(1)PSCI
5.0
(1)PSCI3000
5.0
(1)PSI1201
5.0
(1)HISTARABISACIV
5.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
ANTHOLOGY
4.0
POLYSCI
4.0
POLSC3600
4.0
POLSI1
4.0
POLI1122
4.0