Great guy and over all a great teacher. I honestly don't know what these other students are talking about. There is no attendence policy & kids take advantage and only show up for the final. He's a political correspondent and really knows what he's talking about. Pretty much a hilarous german guy that spoon feeds the info to his students, thumbs up

Great Professor. very generous grader! got a lot out of this class. Dr Kaussler clearly is very enthusiastic about politics. great sense of humor. Highly recommend this class

awesome professor. very approachable and helpful. All lectures are powerpoints so no need to take notes. easy tests.

Really a cool guy. He knows a lot about the topic. Sometimes the lectures are hard to follow because he goes through them quickly, but it's an upper-level course, so that's understandable. If you approach him, he's really helpful. Interesting class

Great teacher! Lectures could be hard to follow, a lot of material covered, but honestly wants students to do well. Even curved a few tests. Attendance is not mandatory. Overall earned a B with not too much effort.

He's a really nice guy, and is genuinely interested in the topic. I really enjoyed his lectures even though they weren't mandatory. There is A LOT of reading, but only some of it ends up on the exams. Overall i really enjoed the class. Plus his accent is hot. =)

Great teacher! He always seemed to know what he was talking about, and he curved the tests!

Fabulous teacher, knew what he was teaching us and taught interesting material. There is alot, i repeat, alot of reading but if you do the study guides/reading you should do relatively well on the tests, plus his accent is HOTT

He is such a nice guy who really cares about politics and spreading enthusiasm about it to the students. He has a charming accent and is quite nice to look at during class. The books are boring and you do have to read, but it taught me a lot!

A very good teacher who expects a lot from his students, which is not a bad thing. This class really causes you to look at world politics in a new light. A good amount of reading, nothing too extreme, which provides helpful in his tests, quizzes and class discussions. Always available for help and willing.

Fantastic course with tons of interesting info. Really knows his stuff

Dr. Kaussler knows his subject. Very intelligent man. From Germany, schooled in Britain: very cute accent. A few group powerpoints, very easy. A couple mid-terms and a final, all multiple choice. Read the material, the tests are difficult. Put effort into this class and you'll get a B. Learn a lot about the world and its institutions.

Kaussler is super smart..and expects everyone else to know as much as he does. I didn't read very much and still scraped by with a B, but I went to class everyday and took a ton of notes. He was a little too openly liberal but most of the time he was amusing. I wouldn't take this class unless you are actually interested in foreign policy!

Excellent professor. Cute but understandable accent and all the material on the test comes directly from the ppts and readings. If you're not willing to actually do the work the course could be considered challenging, but by reading and looking over the ppts I got an A despite coming to class only once every week or so.

confusing course. Mainly because you might not know whether to focus on history or current affairs. Both are important. most lectures won't even tie in with the readings he assigns, but Bernie is the man. Hope my kids turn out to be like him. He does expect you to keep on the current world politics though to participate in discussions

Dr. K is a good professor who enjoys challenging his students. He expects his students to keep up with the readings, and tests can be challenging. Put in some effort and come out with a B.

Very difficult class. I personally don't like it because political science is not my thing, but I really like Kaussler. He's really funny. YOU HAVE TO LIKE READING FOR THIS CLASS. There is so much reading. It almost seems too much for me. Tests are pretty hard, but if you read you should be fine.

Yes, Kaussler makes you work for your grade, but, he's a great professor. He expects no less than what he knows his students are capable of, whether that be for readings or for the tests. And yes, he is German, but he could be understood perfectly during lecture, and if not, just ask! He's ridiculously friendly and has an amazing sense of humor.

He is a great guy and knows a lot about his subject. His lectures were confusing but insightful. Lots of group projects. Heavy reading load-- don't even try to take notes on it. Only one quiz in class, but a couple of tests. The tests were kind of hit or miss. It's really important to review the lecture notes and the textbook.

Professor Kaussler is a tough teacher but he knows his stuff! He is also super helpful during office hours; even if he seems intimidating in class. I would not recommend taking this class "just for fun" or to fill a GenEd. It is a tough class meant for people who love politics.

Extremely funny, if you know anything about politics and history you will catch all his satire in class. He is German, so occasionally his accent will confuse you, but it's not incomprehensible. His quizes are easy, but his tests are often quite hard. If you have any background knowledge in global issues, you should be able to pull a C or above.

He is the best teacher I have had here so far. Really personal guy and funny jokes in class. His class is very, very hard and I have a good background in international politics. But I learned so much it was worth all the hard work. Tests are really hard. But I would do it again.

He is a great professor and extremely knowledgeable and passionate about the subject. The tests are quite difficult but he has two essays that help boost the grade. Class is hard but I'm really glad I took it. A great GEN-edd

One of the most interesting teachers you will ever have. I've taken two courses with Kaussler, and both semesters he has challenged me and the class to really get involved with the learning material. 430 was one of my favorite courses at JMU. Love his class, love him, love his simulations.

Kaussler is awesome. His Senior Seminar involves a lot of reading. But as long as you generally keep up (You can fall behind time and again as long as you catch up) then it is awesome and the discussions are useful and interesting.

Dr. Kaussler is awesome! His class is difficult for a GenEd but it is totally worth it. If you read and show interest you will be fine. I hope to take more of his classes in coming years!

Very good prof, had him twice. You need to read over every PP beforehand and make sure you know it, and do ALL the readings. He isn't a tough grader as long as he sees effort and you have something to say. Helpful in office hours. Especially recommend for upper level classes, know he's tough for gen-eds for non POSC/IR majors.

Very interesting class and I learned a lot. I dislike the political sciences and never do well in them, but he helped me out. Would recommend. He's also pretty funny.

Dr. Kaussler's lectures are interesting and he's funny. He's passionate about political science & is helpful if you go to him. Don't skip the readings they're essential if you want to pass. He doesn't have an attendance policy but most of the times he tells you in class that there is going to be a quiz. Take him! Not the easiest class but worth it

Kaussler is a tough professor, but it's college so no one should complain about a tough academic environment. I've really loved having him as a professor as now that I'm nearing the end of the semester I've begun to realize how much I've really learned. Force yourself to put in the required work and take his class, you won't regret it.

This class is definitely difficult if you do not have very much background knowledge on Global Politics; however, I learned a lot. He seems intimidating at first, but go to his office hours and he will always be willing to help. Definitely keep up with your readings, and print out the lectures before class so you can keep up because he goes fast.

Bernie is great! Work hard play hard is the motto for this class. Not many assignments, but the few you have are challenging. Lectures are fun with lots of laughs. Be ready to work, but also to have a good time. Would definitely take again! Learned so much about international relations!

He is my favorite teacher at JMU. My major is not political science because of him right now I'm thinking to take minor in International affairs. You will learn a lot from him. I

Probably the best class I've taken at JMU. Kaussler himself is hilarious and very knowledgable, and he makes the course fun. Lectures go through a lot at once, so you definitely need to be taking notes on what he says, and there is a lot of reading outside of class, but the simulations are fun, the exams are easy if you study, and the paper is easy

Really cool and smart guy. Makes pretty boring information interesting and funny. Two quizzes, two midterms, a final, and two book reports. All lectures are posted on canvas but going to class and reading the assigned material is recommended.

He is a really nice guy and hilarious but overall doesnt know how to properly teach a class. Open to help you but never gives you a direct answer. He has 2 book reports, 3 exams (that are almost impossible), and 2-3 pop quizzes. Overall LOTS of reading (2 textbooks) and not clear on what youre being tested on for the exams:( LOVE him, not the class

Dr. Kaussler is an extremely intelligent man. Beware, he moves though a lot of complicated material rather quickly. Print out the outline of the lectures from ppt. There are 2 book reports that help the grades, two very simple pop quizzes, and 2 tests which are all straight from the textbook, which you HAVE to read if you want to do well. READ!

Absolutly love Bernie and the way he conducts himself. Very professional and makes somewhat boring information very funny. You NEED to go to class. Skims through powerpoint pretty quickly. His exams are hard while the book reports are relatively easy. Pop quizzes are not a challenge either. Bernie makes you work for it but he is a great guy.

Bernie has changed my life and has more experiences than all of your grandparents combined. Yes, his lectures are super unhelpful and the reading is insane, however, he is incredible. This man knows more about the Middle East than the NSC. Side Note: the hottest professor I've ever had.

Here's the deal - Bernie is the MAN. He has experienced some of the coolest things ever and the stories he has to tell reflect that. Yes, the lectures are a little confusing and there is a TON of reading but POSC is a reading-heavy major. I would take any/every class Dr. Kaussler teaches. He is also a smoke show and has an accent.

Bernie Kausaler is without a doubt one of my favorite professors at JMU. After 4 years with countless professors, TA's, GA's, it's without a doubt that he is at another level. Though obviously that makes you question how difficult his class can be? Well it is, but it's fun! Especially for a senior seminar, be ready to challenge yourself and others!

Easy decision, very knowledgable and funny. Don't buy all of the textbooks, just try to get the ones that you can get for free through the library catalog online. Knows a lot about the Middle East and has cool stories. Does something special at the end of the seminar at his house. 30 page seminar paper, and you should read before class.

Great professor! He definitly makes you work for your grade but makes the material super interesting. His test are really difficult as he expects you to memorize all the readings and lectures from over 3 months. Just keeps notes during the readings and you'll do fine!

Dr. Kaussler was a great teacher, but he talks quickly. With the class being online, we really only had to read for 2 exams which were take-home. Attendance isn't mandatory but definitely helps. He had us do 4 debates for participation and write a 4000-word paper. He graded us leniently, but in person, this class would probably be very challenging.

As an online class, the professor is very lenient w grading and light work load. The class was easy & manageable. There weren't any tests. Instead, we had take-home papers/essays (not a lot). We could also use our textbooks for those (reference sources). Participation is important, especially during our "debates," which were easy/informal.

Wonderfull guy, so funny. However his class is on another level. He has no business lecturing because his lectures are all over the place and goes through things at lightning speed. His exams cover 1% of all the things you read. Not to mention there are so many readings. If you think something will be on the exam chances are it won't. Biggest mess.

I like Kaussler as a person however it was a tough class. His lectures are super fast but we almost always got out a few minutes early. LOTS of reading. Two tests, one paper, and participation from debates and simulation. Tests are hard but he is a lenient grader. Impossible to know what will be on the test or not. Nice guy with lots of movie recs

This class will be difficult. You are graded on participating in three debates, 2 exams, and a paper. There are multiple textbooks that you have to read or you will not pass the exams. That being said, if you enjoy following U.S. Foreign Policy, it will be worth it to take the class. Bernie is a great guy and I enjoyed going to class!

Really useful class! Very reading heavy, and you NEED to read in order to do well on exams. This class gives you the opportunity to debate and run simulations as a particular country. Very unique class and really helped me gain a better overview of foreign policy, and what influences decision making! You get what you put in! Highly recommend!!