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The hardest, but one of the best, PoliSci profs at HC

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Excellent but demanding teacher. Course is a must for those seeking lib. educ.

best prof I've had at HC tho very tough. Clearly explained great books. And very helpful when I visited him in office.

excellent prof tho course material is hard

Excellent Prof. for anyone interested in getting a solid background in political philosophy and a well rounded liberal arts education. Studied under Leo Strauss and Allan Bloom.

Tough course but worth it. Many students probably not smart enough/motivated enough to handle his coursework. Great teacher.

Very articulate, incredible enthusiasm for subject, and more than willing to take time after class to help out a student. Knows subject thoroughly. I found his candor to be shockingly blunt at times, but also refreshing. Gave me a real interest in political philo, which is saying something...

Very Clear... that if you disagree with the man he will make you feel like an idiot. Very Clear in his lectures. Pushes his agenda, but you have to read so he makes you learn something. Just regurgatate his information, or have conservative appearance.

Great lectures, entertaining, will email any hour of the day with help on material. And the charge of his disliking women is simply not true! And his criticism on papers is exceedingly helpful; he should teach freshman English classes. Buy Strunk and White before taking course.

This professor is one of the greatest I have encountered at HC and I am not a consertive republican! I found him to be so brilliant and happy to engage with me on many ideas that I was not agreeing with him about. He is most helpful and even wrote me a stellar letter for grad school. This class is not for the average joe though, he makes you work.

Extremely tough grader, grades papers as if you were in a graduate-level course. Though I believe he elucidated the material well. Be warned, he is an unabashed conservative...absolutely despises Marxism. If you don't read the material prepare to get screwed. Even if you work hard don't expect an "A"/

Excellent prof. He made the material very understandable and the class entertaining. An extremely brilliant man, he can be mistaken for arrogant. He might not be the best "people person", but if you take the time to talk to him, you'll find out that he's a great guy who loves what he does. Very helpful once you feel comfortable approaching him.

I loved this class (American Political Thought II). Dr. Schaefer was very enlightening and also made it fun. There was a lot of reading but it wasn't as hard as in Intro Pol Philosophy. I strongly recommend the course and the instructor.

Great professor for those interested in political science. He knows what he's talking about and has plenty of opinions. Have to do the reading and work really hard, but it's worth it.

exciting and very informative class tho the work is hard and you have to attend class regularly. The prof also interlaces his complex lectures with humor. I loved this course.

he's nicer than people give him credit for, really.

Best kept secret at Holy Cross... I heard that he was super hard, but his lectures are hysterical and interesting, and as long as you do the work you get rewarded. I also learned a ton. He also answers all your questions quickly via email or in class, which is really helpful.

learned a ton from this guy. can be pretty funny too.

Wicked helpful, tests are basic stuff, and you don't really have to read if you don't want to. Just take good notes. Really, the people who say bad things about him probably don't know how to take notes or write a paper

gets a bad rap cause holy cross is a liberal campus. hes just in the minority as a conservative.

People make it sound like taking a class with him is like having Bill O'Reilly as your teacher. Completely not true. His political views are very rarely revealed. He is crystal clear in his explanations and always willing to slow down if students have questions. The papers and tests are very straightforward if you take good notes and pay attention.

Ignore what you hear. Took him for the second time and had a great experience (his intro class is not as fun). Crystal clear (and politically unbiased) explanations of difficult material. Less work than most POLS classes (readings are not necessary if you regularly attend class). Would repeat.

One of my favorites. The real deal.

I don't agree w/ his views BUT he's funny in the way he presents them.if you want him to be helpful in office hours you MUST be willing to show him you want to work..you prove that to him, he's very helpful/rewarding.the guy just wants to see you learn. i was terrified to take him and the class turned out to be my best grade in the major thus far

an inspiring professor

an inspiring professor

Good Professor really. People are too harsh on him. His political views are concealed for the entire class so don't believe worse reviews. The class is hard though so be prepared to work. He does not accept a one dimensional answer and needs to know your thinking on a multivariable scale.

Best professor at HC.

Probably one of the best teachers in the entire Political Science department. The man knows his stuff and if you try to fight him on it, you will feel like an idiot simply put. Since the papers are hard as hell, most of the grade depends on your final, which is a piece of cake compared to the assignments. Some dry lectures, but also invaluable.

Excellent professor, one of the best at Holy Cross. Very knowledgeable and helpful, and is a tough but fair grader.

I had him for both his intro and upper level course. Hes brilliant, and knows his philosophy through and through. Lectures can be very dry at times, but do your best to take good notes. Definitely talk to him about papers, since they are difficult, and require alot of thinking. He will help you though if you make the effort

Fantastic professor. I took him my freshman fall for Intro to Political Philosophy. Although I was told horror stories by upperclassmen and even one of my coaches, he is an outstanding teacher. He is not particularly easy, and he's not one to suffer fools, but I'd challenge you to find someone more knowledgeable about the subjects he teaches.

A very intelligent and challenging professor. He definitely knows his stuff, and I love how he connects the material he teaches with contemporary political issues. He's helpful in office hours, but you better know the material before you go. Liberals beware... He's very conservative. He makes some pretty funny jokes during his lectures.

Brilliant man. Knows exactly what he is talking about through and through. VERY LONG lectures with no breaks, but has very funny conservative jokes. Extremely hard grader, but his lectures are worth listening to.

I learned more from Prof Schaefer than from any other instructor in my 3 semesters at HC. He taught me how to carefully read and appreciate the continuing relevance of great philosophers like Plato, Aristotle, and Rousseau. An amazingly learned man/ cares deeply about his subject. Demanding teacher/ hard grader but will definitely take again.

Listen to what he says and regurgitate it on papers and mid-terms, or you won't do well. He grades papers harshly in terms of grammar, but content is easy enough if you take good notes. Can be intimidating in OH, but will ultimately help you out. Mid-term and final were fair. A good Prof., but not an easy one. Don't have to do the readings.

People who trash David Schaefer are mere haters. One of the most intelligent men I have ever met, David Schaefer takes pride in what he does, and is a true American! Love him. Anything he has said is true as well.

Prof. Schaefer is extremely knowledgeable. If you want to learn, take his class. His class is challenging, but if you take good notes and pay attention in class, you will learn a ton and you will receive a desirable grade. I will definitely be taking another class with him. If you aren't interested in the material the class is very difficult.

Difficult class, but the overall benefits will outweigh the struggles if you put a great deal of effort into the course.

People who hate on Prof. Schaefer usually hate him for his sardonic humor and caustic feedback on papers. His humor often targets liberal America (which is what I love about him); he is a true contrarian in an otherwise liberal POLS faculty. He is mean in his feedback on papers, but think of him as a football coach who pushes you to do your best.

One of the most intelligent Prof's and men I have encountered. Those who do not like him are usually unmotivated, unintelligent and uninterested. If you are a dedicated student who generally keeps up with readings, goes to class and enjoys to actually learn, take his class. Very rewarding.