3.4
Quality2.4
Difficulty52%
Would Retake112
Reviews52%
Would Retake
112
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
33
4
31
3
28
2
6
1
14
What Students Say
“no, person, I have ever met”
PLSC493 - 4.0 rating“Professor Hoffman is one of the worst teachers I have had at Western”
PLSC261 - 1.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
12%
Textbook Required
67%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
A-
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.38 avg changeRatings by Course
PLSC
5.0
(1)POLSCI250
5.0
(1)PLSC417D
4.7
(3)PLSC493
4.6
(5)360
4.5
(2)Difficulty by Course
POLYSCI
4.0
POLSC250
4.0
PLSC361
4.0
101
3.3
261
3.0
Reviews (112)
Nice guy, and wants students to do well. Books are a little confusing. I got an A in the class.
Nice, but gets irritated alot with the class - always too hot. Good teacher & cares bout the students though. Recommended, definitely not a professor to avoid.
Despite some of the profs quirks, I really, really, really enjoyed this class. Despite some dry reading, class lecture makes it all understandable. He's really knowledgeable about the subject, and gives every opinion a fair hearing. Would definitely take another theory class from him.
The class was interesting and some of his lectures were OK, but it wasn't a class I was excited to go to every day. I can't figure out if he wears make-up or something, but it's kinda distracting.
No Comments
He is a good teacher and is very passionate about the subject. Easy tests (right off of lecture notes). But he gets flustered very easily and seems to take it out on the class. Other than that a great guy. Recommend the class.
He's not the best professor I've ever had. His notes are unorganized, but his tests are ridiculously easy. Very quirky -- easy to get distracted because of this. And I think he does wear makeup, and it is very distracting ...
Class was very easy. His tests are RIGHT off of the study guides, and he's pretty fair. He is a little ecentric (sp?) and gets off topic or heated often, but it can actually be entertaining. A friend of mine emailed him twice throughout the quarter and he never responded...
He is very entertaining. One of the easiest classes I've ever had. If you attend lecture there is no reason why you can't get an A. Thumbs up for Professor Hoffman!
This guy is a freak. Jumping around, yelling. I really really didn't enjoy a single class and didn't get anything out of lecture. Read the book and maybe you'll be okay. But he is useless. I really really don't recommend him.
No Comments
The class itself is dry, I always feel like I'm watching the clock until I can leave. He gets mad easy when no one can answer his questions and gives death glares to people I see who leave during class or come in late. Wears foundation makeup too shades too dark for his face. Rambles too much.
I absolutely loved the class. Tests were pretty easy if you pay attention, and the professor always emphasized the stuff you need to know. Also, I could tell he was truly passionate about the subject, and he really knew what he was talking about. I strongly recommend the class.
Hoffman's lectures are sometimes helpful but most of the time is taken from students who talk about irrelevant topics and it will drive a person nuts because all of these dorky ass people keep talking. But just read the book and memorize what the book says.
He is so emthusiastic about the subject material, encourages the class to think analytically, and is totally crazy. It's really amusing. Go to class, read the text, and and A will be yours.
He was an okay prof. If you go in during office hours he helps a lot. He wants you to do well if you want to do well. Lectures get a little our of hand and he does tend to get mad at the class if you dont know the info. And I concur with the comment about dumb people in class always talking.
His lectures are pretty disorganized. He'll get off topic, then realize that he has to fit in 5 more pages of notes in the last 5 minutes of class. His tests are pretty easy if you do the study guide he gives you. He does his best to make sure students understand him by answering questions, etc.
ALWAYS KEPT US LATE! No regard for anyone else's schedule, would stroll in 10 minutes late and then keep us after. Got heated and crabby and did not express himself clearly. Nice and clearly wanted you to do well, but just very volatile. Get really into theory or get out.
Hoffman is a great teacher who cares so much about his students. I wish all teachers were as caring.
Seems confused most of the time, yet he seems to have alot of knowledge. stresses out to the point where its funny. on the other hand the class was easy. tests are easy if you study. mixed feelings about talking after class about questions. one good experience and one bad.
he is very enthuastic and very well read in his field. His classes are not easy but they are very informative. I would take more classes with him if I had the chance
Cool guy, cool class.
I had Hoffman for two classes. He's great. He knows his stuff and honestly cares about his students. I highly recommend him. Relatively hard classes, but well worth it.
No Comments
Hoffman really knows his stuff and gets really INTO it, but in a good way. He seems to really care about his students to the poin where he learns people's names. I have never had a prof who learned names.
Really enthuastic, but did get off the topic alot. Very helpful during office hours.
nice guy, but really into his own personal, political too much, but tries not to show it! all in all, tests are easy if you follow the study guide
I thought that he did a good job of applying current events to the topics we covered in class. I only feel asleep once. And the tests are amazingly easy!
he is the absolute worst professor ever!.... comes to class everyday late, always unorganized, and his tests are just random multiple choice questions.... do whatever you can to avoid him..he is bad news!!
No Comments
Gets off topic a lot, random but easy test questions. Take Tambernino, you'll learn more from class, Hoffman doesn't cross apply theories. But ladies, he's really hot.
Hoffman is a brilliant theoretician, and I highly recommend taking a seminar class with him- he's much more up to date with the world of political theory than any other professors that I've had. He is very approachable and though easily flustered, (something we've all learned to appreciate) he is very helpful and willing to engage in conversation.l
No Comments
No Comments
Oh Prof Hoffman...what he lacks in organization skills he makes up for in innocent charm. He's basically held together by semi-fashionable clothes and a lust for de Tocqueville; without either, he'd blow away like a whisp of smoke. Godspeed. You probably shouldn't take him if you are kind of dumb, because you'll just get frustrated.
I wasn't sure about Hoffman at first; the class seemed a little disorganized in the first month. However, this class was my WP senior seminar, and I found Hoffman to be extremely helful as I was developing my paper. I think he brings the scholarship out of his students if you are willing to accept the fact that he will always be all over the plac
i enjoyed this class. yes hoffman can be disorganized, but i always felt like the information was interesting. if u study the study guide and go to the review sessions, u will do fine.
So everything that's been said bad is in some way true, i think. But I find myself realizing that it really wasn't that bad. Yeah he's unorganized and a little incomprehensible at times (and it's a major feat to actually drag yourself to class), but I actually think he was worth it. Tests are hard if you haven't done much work, but easy otherwise.
Lectures are really hard to follow, a lot of jumping around. Hoffman is very dedicated to teaching and always makes sure the material is clear.
As said before, yes he is a little unorganized but he really isn't that difficult. If you go to class, make a study guide, and ask him questions, its pretty easy. He tries his best to tell you whats going to be on the test without giving away free questions. He knows his stuff and hes funny from time to time. I'd reccomend him.
Definitely one of my favorite professors. He is extremely fair with grading, and a pretty approachable guy. His lectures can be disorganized at times, but he covers all of the stuff he wants to test you on pretty well so its not too big of an issue. I strongly recommend taking his classes
Absolutely the most deliberate & enthusiastic profressor I have had. He is quirky, whilst his class is engaging, highly informative & helps condition students to be more precise & to challenge their own beliefs and respective political system. I highly recommend taking a class with him, you won't regret it!
i neither like him nor dislike him as a person or professor. class is easy and the books are interesting. the material is easy to understand and tests are fair. worth taking if you have 2 or three hard classes and want a 3rd or fourth class that is fairly simple.
Hoffman is pretty darn easy. He practically gave us the answers to some of the quizzes. Tests aren't too bad either. Lectures can be a little dull, but I suppose if this is your major it's probably a little better. Make sure you attend his study sessions for the midterm and final as he gives you a good idea of what topics you'll have to write on.
Disorganized, muddled lectures. Shows up late and rarely finishes on time. Exam essays were vague and hard to answer succinctly. Prototypical self-important prof. Credit for interesting source material, but lectures were only good for figuring out what minutia he wanted you to focus on for the exams. Avoid if you care about your GPA or sanity.
Great lecturer, I've never had to use the textbook, I just attend lecture. Makes even the founding fathers seem interesting.
Hoffman is ready for the 6 o'clock news at all times, this man piles on the makeup like you wouldn't believe. Also I think that he might be a reptile because he is always hot and fanning himself with a folder. My friend thought he was cute I think he looks like a buccaneer.
Lectures were always unorganized, constantly flipping through random things making note taking very frustrating. He stumbles a lot through his words and could never seem to answer a question with a direct answer. His exams are too wordy. MUST READ BOOK, lectures aren't clear enough.
If you have no background in politcal science, this is a pretty difficult class but Hoffman is always very helpful if you take the time to ask. Interesting material. Plus ladies, he is super fine! Even if you dislike the class you will still enjoy going =).
Great professor! I found him to be insightful and funny. Yes it took him forever to set up in class, but the lectures were straight forward. Tests were not hard, and if they were there was a huge curve anyways. I suck at MC tests and got As. If you study the review sheet for an hour before class you'll get an A.
what an interesting quarter! Hoffman is a fine instructor, however he seems to get frustrated when someone asks him a question, also if you have a a question before class, forget about it! The class is not too difficult, and Hoffman seems to drive the point home, but if you need extra help go to office hours
I never opened the book, all of the notes are possted and i found them adequate for studying. I thought it was a good class.
awesome prof! his lectures can be difficult to follow sometimes because he'll jump around, so if you plan on texting through class or doodling you'll be lost the next time you decide to listen. very interesting, tests were fair if you studied. i'd recommend him!
He has kind eyes and wants people to understand his lectures.A bit ditracting because he moves around quite a bit readjusting his clothes and what not. Make a good impression on him in the beginning, otherwise do not take his class. He can be rude sometie because he already expects you to know the material by PLSC 250. I won't take him again.
Hoffman is awesome. He is very eccentric. He is a very fair grader. He is very generous intellectually and is very skilled at getting participants in the seminar to speak to one another
Good prof. Enjoyable to talk to in office hours and he stutters just enough to be able to take note at a reasonable pace. Wouldnt have it any other way.
This class will be difficult anybody, but if you have been following national politics in Congress and the Supreme Court then you MIGHT have an easier time. Watch out for the generation gap, because he will make quick reference to things that happened 14 years ago, which if you were 5 or 6, will go over your head, although, is still important.
I'll admit Hoffman has his shortcomings, but he's a pretty good professor. He has realistic expectations of students and his exams are taken straight from lecture.
At first I thought he was a total badass, but as the quarter went on I found him to be far too eccentric and annoying. He really loves the sound of his own voice. Yes, he's intelligent and I can respect him for that. I hear his class is much easier than some of the other profs. Overall, I was disappointed in the class. But a lot of people love him.
Hmm so it appears that posting honest opinions results in your post getting put under review. Wouldn't be suprised if prof hoff flagged it himself as he seems overly self conscious. Awful teacher - hard subject to make interesting but this guy failed miserably.
Guy's a bit of a spaz and class can be unbearable at times. Seems like he runs out of stuff to say but needs to use every second of class. That killed me. Very little reading, decently easy tests, and overall info that all Americans should no.
Charles Hoffman is the stereotypical political science professor. He's disorganized and wears awesome blazers with elbow patches. His lectures are intensive and enlightening and he is more than willing to help his students out. He seems like a really sweet guy and is a really great professor.
While very quirky, he knows a ton about the material and is a pretty good teacher. The class requires a good amount of reading but he's very good at explaining the readings in class. Classwide discussions were also great and thoughtful. Bit condescending towards first time Poly Sci students but you learn a lot and there are few assignments
Very interesting professor. Drinks coffee/energy drinks every day. Rarely on-time. That being said, the class is not too hard. He clearly states what will be on the test and the reviews help a lot. Clearly knowledgeable professor.
Hoffman seems to know what he is talking about but teaching is not the profession for him! He has extremely distracting manorisms, rarely shows up on time, and is never prepared for class. I don't recommend this professor, he's a bit spastic. With that said, I did like the material taught and did walk away from it a better student.
i took political science 250 and 261 with hoffman. he can be a bit of a spaz but he knows all his material and likes to use up every minute of his time by elaborating on the same topics. however, he CLEARLY states what is going to be on the tests and is very helpful if you have any questions about material. hes also not a hard grader which was good
I'd bet money that this guy has used coke within the last thirty days. But hey, who hasn't?
I took this class with little knowledge on the subject and did really well. Hoffman is a character, but his weirdness/passion will keep you focused on him during class (that doesn't necessarily mean you'll hear what he's saying). Print out the notes and add to them during class. Tests are straight forward, no homework (unless you do the reading).
Definitely crazy. He seems a bit cracked out during lectures (which are hard to follow) but is a good prof.
A great professor who is very helpful especially if you need extra clarification. Would highly recommend.
He loves political science and he tries to engage his students...he is very funny and he will take about random things sometimes. Very entertaining and a very easy class, you could definitely get by without the text book if you have access to the internet.
Hoffman's lectures are sporadic and hard to follow with frequent tangents, but eventually he will cover all the material he wants you to know. Never came to class on time. Wants students to be successful on exams, and usually did a review session before test. Tests were multiple choice and fair on material covered. Always had bonus questions
His lectures are very entertaining. Class was incredibly easy, discussion period (2 times throughout the quarter) is a free 25% of your grade. Tests were multiple choice and he always emphasized what was going to be on it. because he repeated himself so much i never took notes or read the text and had a pretty good grasp on the material.
I had the Hoffmeister for two classes last year and I really enjoyed both of them. Hoffman is an awesome dude and really cares about how his students do, I really enjoyed the content in both the classes he took and he is very passionate about teaching it, it is also nice that the tests are not super hard.
He was an awful teacher I have ever had, ever. Please save yourself the missery of being in this class. He was always 15 mins or more late to class, always spilled some drink or another all over him, and honestly he spend 75% of the class period talking about depressing aspects of his life. WORST CLASS.
If Johnny Depp played a professor, then Charles Hoffman would be that professor. He is awesome, and he knows his material back to front.
best prof ever
Professor Hoffman is undoubtedly the most interesting/johnydepp/free-spirit professor...no, person, I have ever met. Hoffman gives zero f's and goes to the beat of his own drum. Yeah, he may chug way too many 2 liters and throw up a few too many hand motions but he knows his stuff. If you study poli sci, take a class with the Hoff. He rules.
I've taken 3 other Poli Sci courses so far and Prof Hoffman has been the most interesting by far. If you have the ability to follow him on his bunny trails, then you ll learn a lot from his class. I'll be taking more from him at the Seminar level. Great professor.
Best professor ever.
He is the most wonderful professor ever of all time! If you don't have a sense of humor or if you are an extremely linear thinker then you probably hate him, but for those who care at all about the topic, he is amazing, wonderful, super passionate, and every other professor calls him BRILLIANT. He wants students to do well if they try at all.
He is definitely one of the most interesting professors.
Hoffman comes on strong and is quite the character in the classroom. He can jump from subject to subject, but he is very helpful and willing to answer any and all questions if you don't understand something. His antics are a bit crazy & the dude drinks WAY too much caffeine, but after a quarter with him you see he loves teaching theory.
He's a nice guy. He tries to make the subject interesting, which is nice. He gets a little flustered sometimes. The lectures can be hard to follow, and they aren't mandatory to pass. If you do the readings, you'll be fine.
While I love the man as a person, and know him to be incredibly intelligent, he is by far the worst lecturercommunicator I've ever had. Seriously. It's like talking to an over caffinated wall. He forgot to write a midterm, so he just cancelled it and our entire grade is now based on one take home final. Save yourself the money, take something else
Took this class as a GUR. LOVED it. Yes, he is often late to class (because he commutes from Seattle) but he is the first & only prof I've had that truly cares about his students & their success. He will help you with just about anything. Show up to lectures if you don't do the readings & you'll get an A.
If you are going to take this class as a GUR don't he teaches it as if you have a large understanding of politics, and a little bit of french. his lectures make zero sense and he will often have multiple power points and word documents going at the same time. Take literally any other humanities GUR unless you are a polisci major.
Hoffman is quite the character. If you go to class and pay attention, he actually is a pretty good educator. He is definitely pretty odd and very OCD, but I have learned to appreciate it and find it very entertaining. The test's aren't too hard if you read and listen in class, and he will usually help you raise your grade if you need it.
Quite the character. Find myself routinely cracking up in class, but not necessarily learning a whole lot. The class isn't too difficult if you put in a little effort, and Hoffman is definitely a teacher worth having at least once.... You'll know what I mean if you take him. But he doesn't ever post grades, which is a little frustrating
Hoffman is very quirky and HILARIOUS. He is one of the best professors I have had here at WWU and he looks out for the student's best interest with grades. His exams were fair, and he gave us review sessions before each one (one midterm and a final). Took as a GUR and loved it!!! Definitely recommend, not a lot of busy work.
Hoffman was a great professor, great guy, he is a little odd but he makes up for it with sheer intelligence. His lectures can sometimes be hard to follow but if you do the readings you will almost always understand. He also makes it a point to make it as easy on the students as possible. He is always willing to help so make sure to talk with him!
I have had Hoff for a few classes, and enjoy each one. He is an interesting professor with a unique teaching style, and truly cares about each student and their success. Hoff is incredibly passionate about theory and will teach you as much as you want to learn. He enjoys class participation and humor. Amazing man, amazing professor.
Hoffman is amazing! He is definitely a little different but hilarious and caring. He really wants to make sure students are tracking and understanding the material. Sometimes his lectures were confusing and he rambled a bit, but I had no problem getting an A in his class. I really felt like he cared about my success, would definitely take again!
The other ratings are wrong about Hoffman. I'm normally an active student, but his lectures are soooo dull, and he's against feedback and against students asking questions. He claims he wants to bring ancient characters 'back to life,' but manages to do the exact opposite. If you're interested in starting into political theory, avoid Hoffman.
Professor Hoffman is definitely one of the most unique but cool political science professors at Western Washington University. He can come off weird at first but you learn to love him. His lectures bored me at time and there was a lot of reading, but he is a very understanding teacher if you are falling behind. Study guides the exams.
Absolutely the worst professor I have ever had. He didnt show up at all the first day, usually shows up 5-10 minutes late. He talks super fast,jittery,&jumps all over the place, making it very hard to follow & pay attention. Classes are incredibly boring but the tests are easy. As long as you do the readings, you can skip class as much as you like
Professor Hoffman is one of the worst teachers I have had at Western. Nothing against him personally, but his lectures are rambling and give almost no insight into the material, and his use of class time is laughable. I did not even buy the textbook, but have 100% bc he basically gives you the answer to everything if you go to his review sessions.
Hoffman is definitely a quirky dude but he's a genius when it comes to political theory. Lectures are a little tough to follow because he's often all over the map but follow his study guides before tests and go to the review sessions and an A is easy to attain. He's a really effective professor and very interesting to listen to speak.
VERY talkative. He is passionate about his lecture; so try and look interested even if you are bored to tears. Chances are, if you do not show the same kind of enthusiasm he does, he will probabaly have a negative impression of you. He is very accessible outside of class and is flexible. Attendance is not necessary, but reading is.
A nice man, but a scatterbrained professor. Grade is based solely off one midterm, the final, and randomly taken attendance. He goes over the readings in class so you can probably get a decent grade without reading any of the books. If you do the study guides he gives, you'll get an A. He also has review sessions before each exam. An easy GUR.
Hoffman is a very polarizing figure. He truly cares more about student understanding and engagement than grades, so as long as you earnestly engage with him, you will earn a good grade. He is a brilliant political scientist and his insight changed my worldview. If you want to put in the effort to understand, Hoffman will do all he can to help you.
He talks a lot but a really good professor!
Here's the thing, I am convinced that there is a lot going on in Prof. Hoffman's head. He really does care about his students, but it is hard to tell. Not only is he chronically late to class (at least 10 mins), he goes on tangents and rambles. This is a GUR but is taught as if it is an upper-level course. He really tries, but I am not a fan.
Tbh He's very unprofessional. Like one of the comment, he is a scatterbrained professor. Day one, all he talked about was windows and the room temp. Day two, despite the fact that this is an INTRO to plsc, he talked about all these upper-level stuff and it was hard to follow. When frustrated, he swears and throws markers. I was just very upset.
Prof Hoffman is late to every single class. His lectures are chaotic and are rarely comprehensible. He goes off on random tangents and never stays on topic. His class is very poorly organized and complains about having to use Canvas.
If you come to class its very easy to space out since the professor tends to go on random tangents that don't make any sense. Grades are entirely dependent on midterm and final. There is no structure to the class, no notes that can be taken. Advise people to just read the material since you won't learn anything from Hoffman.
I took the class online and it was an easy class. Just watch his videos and you will pass the quizzes with an easy A. He repeats many of the same questions from quizzes on the midterm! I thought it would be course heavy but it's not; a quiz a week (so he says). Only thing is that he is MIA at times so there are weeks where we don't know what to do
By far my favorite instructor at WWU. His style might not be what some people want from their professor, but his lectures and course content will change your outlook on reality years after you've taken a course from him. Most underrated professor in the department in my opinion.
If you like structure do not take this professor!! He was never available, and I never knew when anything was due. There was less than 100 points available for the whole quarter so it was very stressful. I learned basically nothing. Avoid if you can.
I took Hoffmans class online and it was awful. No communication and I hardly learned anything. However there were only about 2 quizzes and a final the entire quarter and they were easy As. If you want to actually learn, I wouldnt suggest this class
I took many classes with Hoffman; years later, some of his classes I took only for credit are the ones I think about again and again. He's a unique kind of guy and he's not there to just give you top-down information. Participation matters. The theory he's exploring will help you understand the world in a new way. You get out what you put in.
I want to share my experience with Charles M. Hoffman for awareness. As an underclassman, I trusted him, a grad student. After drinks with him and a mutual friend, I became disoriented. I woke up undressed in his bed, confused. He drove me home, telling me not to tell anyone. Years later, I began having flashbacks after surgery.
Class Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
12%
Textbook Required
67%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
A-
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.38 avg changeRatings by Course
PLSC
5.0
(1)POLSCI250
5.0
(1)PLSC417D
4.7
(3)PLSC493
4.6
(5)360
4.5
(2)Difficulty by Course
POLYSCI
4.0
POLSC250
4.0
PLSC361
4.0
101
3.3
261
3.0