4.2

Dean Mathiowetz

Political Science - University of California Santa Cruz

4.2
Quality
3.7
Difficulty
79%
Would Retake
129
Reviews
4.2
Quality
3.7
Difficulty
4.2
Helpful
4.1
Clarity

79%

Would Retake

129

Reviews

Rating Distribution
Official

5

71

4

37

3

10

2

7

1

4

What Students Say

A "sink or swim" class for sure

POL115 - 5.0 rating

While the text are old, Dean's approach is not

POLI105A - 5.0 rating
Class Info

Online Classes

100%

Attendance Mandatory

65%

Textbook Required

67%

Grade Predictor

Your expected effort level

LowHigh

Predicted Grade

B+

95% confidence
Based on 28 grades
Most common grades:
A- (10)
A (7)
B (3)
Grade Distribution
A(9)B(4)C(1)D(0)F(1)A-/B+(13)
Based on 31 reported grades
A-: 10
A: 7
B: 3
B+: 3
Common Tags
Get ready to read (20)
Amazing lectures (8)
Respected (7)
Graded by few things (6)
Inspirational (5)
Lecture heavy (5)
Amazing lectures (5)
Tough Grader (3)
Rating Trend

Improving

+0.35 avg change
Jun
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
Last 6 months
Ratings by Course

POLI40

5.0

(1)

POL004

5.0

(2)

POLITICSCA

5.0

(1)

POLICA

5.0

(1)

LEGALSUDIES125

5.0

(1)
+30 more courses
Difficulty by Course

POLIT115

5.0

POLI190D

5.0

POL04

4.5

POLI190Y

4.3

LGST105A

4.3

Reviews (129)
5.0
4.0
POLI105A
Dec 15, 2003

Excellent lecturer, very friendly, very knowledgeable and full of energy... One problem for slackers: if you do not do the reading, you will be horribly lost in lecture.

2.0
3.0
POLI105A
Feb 10, 2004

Hot and passionate about what he teaches, though I did get lost a lot of times wondering what he was jabbering about. Really hot though! Oh, and did I say great body?

4.0
1.0
POLI004
Feb 24, 2004

since this is a lower division class it is really easy, and he manages to get a large class involved in lectures which is rare. it is also rare to find a professor so damn sexy!

5.0
3.0
105A
Apr 19, 2004

Excellent professor, excellent class lectures. I felt really engaged and motivated to come to class (like I used to with Euben's classes). My only complaint was that I would get distracted wondering what Dean looked like w/o clothes on. :)

3.0
5.0
190Y
May 28, 2004

Mathiowetz: interesting prof, always full of spunk to the point he would be bubbling with flamboyance and this is odd considering the material (theory regarding every particular political application of "interest") He has huge methodological pro

4.0
4.0
POLI4
Jun 29, 2004

totally engaged and energetic professor, who wants students to understand and will back up to explain any question, people who get lost in lecture are probably paying attention to the wrong thing (see below)?

5.0
4.0
POLI190Y
Jul 6, 2004

super nice guy, always made himself available in office hours to help on my paper and suggest ideas. cares a lot about students getting the material and having something to say

4.0
4.0
POLI190Y
Jul 10, 2004

best, most thorough, most useful written comments on my work i have ever gotten. he actually read and thought about my draft. also a nice guy.

5.0
4.0
POL105A
Jul 27, 2004

Smart, young and full of energy! I realy enjoyed Dean's class and plan to focus on theory next year. Looks like the Politics Dept. if bringing new, strong blood back into the program. Also, Dean is a totally sexy - to the point of distraction.

4.0
4.0
POLI4
Aug 10, 2004

I loved this class! Really interesting readings and the lecture discussions helped me understand them. And Dean also cares what students think about the reading. He's even patient with dumb questions. That can be good or bad! ;)

5.0
3.0
POLITICS4
Sep 16, 2004

energetic lecture, and probably the hottest male proff on campus

4.0
4.0
POLI105A
Sep 17, 2004

Excellent lecturer, very friendly, very knowledgeable and full of energy... One problem for slackers: if you do not do the reading, you will be horribly lost in lecture.

4.0
3.0
POL4
Oct 28, 2004

just an amazing prof, obviously puts together curriculum/lectures very thoughtfully. very engaging

5.0
3.0
190Y
Oct 29, 2004

I wish I could have taken one of Dean's lecture courses because everything he said in my seminar course was interesting smart and well-articulated. He's very helpful and kept a lame senior seminar class fun. He's intelligent and extremely good looking.

4.0
3.0
POLI4
Nov 4, 2004

he's really really really goodlooking. cool guy too. he takes a while to get to the point in his lectures, and if you don't do the reading (like me) you'll be horribly lost. However, he's always available to answer questions. oh, and did i mention that he's incredibly sexy??

5.0
3.0
POLITICS4
Nov 8, 2004

He genuinely cares about what students think and spends a large part of lecture listening to comments and questions, trying to make readings clearer/easier for us. Has extensive notes on what to talk about it sometimes outline that is well organized. Reading can be tough but must do them. Hes sexy 2

5.0
3.0
POLI4
Nov 8, 2004

really good class! he makes a huge lecture seem like a small discussion class. also, good motivation to go to class is so you can see him, because he is damn sexy! i had a hard time concentrating and stop fantasising.

5.0
2.0
POLI40
Nov 10, 2004

He's hot! He's nice! He's really easy to understand and has a wonderful sense of humor! If it weren't for the quality of his class I might have given up on college. He's excellent.

4.0
2.0
POLY4
Nov 13, 2004

Mathiowetz is generally engaging, but never ceases to dance around a point he is trying to make. For the most part, the reading/assignments can be done without lecture.

5.0
3.0
POL4
Nov 28, 2004

He is a great teacher, i had a great TA too. He is ****en Hot.... i wish he was gay. You will learn alot he got me interested in Ancient Political thought.....He is the Reason why i am a Politics Major

4.0
1.0
POL4
Dec 2, 2004

he is so energetic that it is engaging, but i wish he would not take so many comments from the students during lecture time because most of what they say is useless and distracts mathiowetz from his interesting points. it makes it hard to learn and stay focused.

3.0
5.0
POL04
Dec 6, 2004

I got tricked into taking this class, a better title would be "Ancient political theory" wierd winter quater he is teaching the same class!! I HATE THIS CLASS.

4.0
2.0
POLI105A
Dec 9, 2004

He is a great professor, his lectures are clear and undertandable. There was a fair amount of work, about 2 papers and a section presentation plus a final test. Overall, he was one of the best professors I've had.

5.0
3.0
POL4
Dec 10, 2004

this was the best intro class i have had at ucsc. even if some students comments weren't great he had to let people talk since the theme of the class was participation! and he made you think. he's also super nice. good prof.

5.0
2.0
POL004
Dec 13, 2004

Great professor, really enjoyed the class.

5.0
3.0
POLITICSCA
Dec 17, 2004

GREAT TEACHER

4.0
3.0
POLI004
Jan 4, 2005

always made the class interesting. never a dull moment. chicks dig him.

4.0
3.0
POLITICS105A
Jan 11, 2005

I've only seen three lectures and one section and have already learned more than some classes an entire quarter. Also a very attractive man. Teaches a section which is rare -- he must like teaching.

5.0
5.0
POLI04
Jan 14, 2005

awesome professor, really made me love the class though I wasnt that interested when i first signed up for it, lots of energy

2.0
3.0
POLISCI4
Jan 18, 2005

I hate this class. Dean takes way too many comments from the idiots in the class, and he expects you to read what is seriously the most boring junk ever written. The final and essays were a joke, very easy if you study for a couple hours, I got As on the essays doing them the night before. Bad class

5.0
3.0
POLI105A
Jan 24, 2005

Had him for Poli 4 also;very concientious; never inserts personal opinion; Even if you have a tendency to space out, he will never be unclear. Easy to take notes; the reading is heavy but he explains it very well;very friendly and helpful during office hours; VERY handsome.

5.0
3.0
POLI4
Jan 31, 2005

Great lecturer, gets students talking and allows for a dialogue while somehow staying on track with his lecture notes. Good selection of readings, a fair (not easy) grading scale. Funny guy.

2.0
4.0
POL4
Feb 23, 2005

Not a good teacher. People who liked him didn't have the right perspective. His lectures weren't the most boring I've ever had, but he didn't come close to tapping the potential of an intro. to Political Theory class. Readings were TERRIBLE. BOO.

5.0
3.0
POLICA
Feb 24, 2005

Hot! Nice! Helpful! Fun! I highly recommend this class for people trying to get GE's out of the way and majors of political science alike. The reading could drag, but when he explained it I wanted to read them again because of how interesting he made them... hot! hot! hot! Take his class!!!!

5.0
4.0
CITANDACTION
Feb 28, 2005

Best class I have ever taken. Class is challenging, and there is a lot of reading but Dean is kind, funny and very intelligent. Comical obsession with T.V. and Halo 2. Eager to help students and very approachable. Able to turn large lectures into group discussion. Very highly reccomended

5.0
4.0
POLITICS105A
Mar 7, 2005

Ancient Pol Theory is a very demanding class! Huge reading load. If you don't do it you will have no idea what is going on! Strict deadlines. But really worth it. Lectures were awesome, sometimes gripping, sometimes inspirational. Plus he's super hot. And nice! Good class.

5.0
5.0
POLI190Y
Grade: Fail
Mar 10, 2005

I LOVED this professor

5.0
5.0
POLI190Y
Mar 12, 2005

this professor is very funny, extremely engaging, and very helpful to students both inside and outside of class. He really cares about his students, and works very hard to make difficult material accessible. Coaxes the best out of every student. Really loves teaching and his students.

4.0
2.0
POL105A
Mar 19, 2005

This class was amazing-covers important, interesting information pertaining to society & life. Lectures were really easy to understand & almost always thought provoking. Mathiowetz communicates really well w/students & he's funny which can makes class interesting. He makes learning less stressful.

5.0
1.0
POLITICS105A
Mar 21, 2005

Mathiowetz seems to be a nice guy, and he is an interesting lecturer. That being said, I didn't really enjoy the class. Mathiowetz seemed to making his argument about the texts, which is okay, it is something Vanita Seth carries off quite well, but with Mathiowetz I felt something was lost.

4.0
4.0
POLI105A
Mar 23, 2005

He's a great professor that's very thorough w/ his notes. If he's doing a section, TAKE IT. He's very approachable and his work is challenging. He crams a whole lot of material in and it can be overwhelming but just go to class every day and you'll be fine. And yes, he's very HAWT.

4.0
5.0
LGST105A
Mar 29, 2005

No Comments

5.0
2.0
105AANCIENTPOL
Grade: A
May 10, 2005

Great professor. Has a lot of enthusiasm in lectures and makes dry material very relevant and interesting. Two 8-10 page papers and an ungraded final.

5.0
3.0
105A
May 22, 2005

challenging class, but this is by far the best politics teacher in the department

5.0
4.0
LEGALSUDIES125
Grade: B
Aug 24, 2005

Great teacher, extreemly smart, well organized. His reading choices were frustrating to me, but he did a great job overall. Kinda hard, but great teacher if you will apply yourself.

4.0
3.0
POLITICS4
Aug 31, 2005

This guy is cool.

5.0
1.0
CITIZNSHIPACTN
Sep 1, 2005

great teacher!! very clear and very smart....with one hell of a cute ass to stare at ladies!!!!!!!!!!!!

5.0
4.0
105A
Grade: A-
Sep 10, 2005

No Comments

5.0
4.0
LGST105A
Sep 26, 2005

This class was AMAZING! dean puts so much passion into his work that it's hard not to get really into the class. warning, it's A LOT of work, but so worth it. plus, he's hot with about ten thousand t's.

4.0
3.0
LGST105B
Sep 29, 2005

he's hot, he's on top of his****, and he's hot.

5.0
4.0
POLITICS04
Grade: F
Oct 10, 2005

Very nice teacher, with a good manner. He was very helpful when I went to visit him in office hours and gives a good lecture!

3.0
4.0
POLI4
Nov 7, 2005

He's very nice and inviting to talk to, but the class consists of students talking and him commenting on what they say. Not very helpful for understanding the material.

5.0
3.0
004105B
Grade: B
Nov 10, 2005

He doesn't have excesxxive amounts of work and he is very approachable outside of class. He seems genuinly interested in getting to know his students and helping them work through the material.

3.0
3.0
POLI4
Nov 10, 2005

He's a pretty good professor.he's very engaging and welcomes input from the students, which is great. The only thing is that his lectures can be unclear sometimes----That being said, he's HOT! And i'm talking the jaw dropping-drool-from-mouth-stare-at-him-constantly-hot-for-teacher kind of hot. I want him. Badly. Thank god for anonymity!

5.0
4.0
POLI105A
Nov 14, 2005

take any class by mathiowetz, it's worthwhile

5.0
4.0
POLI4105A
Nov 15, 2005

mathiowetz gives informative clear and stimulating lectures. and makes the material relevant. he also is a nice guy and maybe the most intelligent person i have ever met. only problem (?) is its easy to get distracted by how ultra fine he is....

3.0
4.0
CITANDACTION
Nov 17, 2005

This class was unbelievably boring. Especially towards the end of the quarter, I could barely even sit throught the lectures without falling asleep. He's a nice guy and tries really hard, but most the time he is unclear and dull.

2.0
5.0
POLITICS4
Dec 2, 2005

The class would have been more interesting if the readings weren't so hard and he explained them a little more clearly. As a person he is a very nice guy and hes really hot. he like you to give your imput and he trys really hard to learn his students names. if you take this class just be prepared for confusing and frusturated reading!!

4.0
3.0
CITANDACTION
Grade: A
Dec 2, 2005

lectures were interesting, he's very passionate about the material. class consists of one short paper, 4page midterm paper, and two public meeting assignments, final is 2 random essay questions.

5.0
5.0
POLI105
Dec 7, 2005

Very good lecturer, clear and concise. Class is hard. Makes material interesting.

5.0
4.0
LGST105A
Dec 25, 2005

Material and reading was difficult, but he did a great job of analyzing the reading. Lectures were very organized and easy to understand and he made himself very approachable for harder concepts both after class and in office hours. It is a very challenging course, but he did a great job of making political texts accessible to students!

4.0
4.0
CITACTION
Jan 6, 2006

he's a passionate professor and very humorous, but focuses too much on hearing the students' opinions and not enough on lecturing. the readings were hard to understand.

4.0
4.0
POLITICS4
Feb 27, 2006

let students talk to much and go off on tangets. an obscure subject to begin with, but did a great job and clarifying the readings during lecture

3.0
3.0
POLI04
Mar 7, 2006

Overall, I enjoyed the class. During Mathiowetz's lectures, he let the students talk too much, and therefore it was hard to receive the main points. The class is very theoretical, so be prepared and keep that in mind before you decide to take the class.

4.0
4.0
POLI04
May 10, 2006

Mathiowetz is very fun and enthusiastic, however he packs a lot of dense information into a short period of time.

4.0
3.0
POLI4
Jun 3, 2006

Interesting professor, like others said, he lets his students talk a lot. So be prepared for a section discussion with tangents in a lecture setting, a little awkward for that reason. Keep up with the reading and actually use office hours and optional section times to familiarize yourself with the texts.

4.0
4.0
POLI4
Jun 6, 2006

Mathiowetz is a good guy, gives organized lectures, relevant assignments. Lectures are almost entirely driven by student discussion so if you get some overly opinionated people it gets old quick. There were like 300 kids in Poli 4 but he knew the names of everyone that spoke. TA was a joke, Marco Mojica--complete dumbass

5.0
3.0
POLI4
Nov 14, 2006

I took this class as a freshman during my first quarter, and now in retrospect I can see that this professor is one of a kind! He was very easy to understand and tried his best to make his lectures interesting. He also genuinely cares about his students and doesn't see them as a lump of useless undergraduates, as some other professors do.

2.0
4.0
POLI115
Mar 7, 2007

Horrible teacher. Ridiculous expectations, favors some students over others. Totally unapproachable. Boring as all hell. Requiring attendance for upper division courses is pretentious.

5.0
4.0
POLI105A
Mar 18, 2007

Lectures are super organized and clear tries to give cues to let you know he is transitioning extra points for impeccable dress and Hotness!! though I was not interested in subject at first Dean makes ancient political theory interesting and very rich. So much info in a few short weeks but well worth it. should have taken this class in beginning.

5.0
4.0
POLI4
May 14, 2007

Awesome teacher. Funny, attractive, organized, brilliant. Very dense reading, but his leactures clear a lot up. Essays are pretty hard, and TA's are instructed to grade pretty rough as well. Reasonable expectations. I definitle reccomend him.

3.0
5.0
POLI4
Jun 11, 2007

Very well dressed, and good looking, but somewhat difficult to understand the concepts. Readings are very dense, and TA is very difficult and critical of our answers. Extremely tough on grading our papers, and hard to keep up with the lectures due to too much info covered in so little time.

5.0
4.0
POLI4
Jun 14, 2007

Awesome class !! Mathiowetz is organized and cares about the students. Really made me think in some new ways. Very well-dressed which I think says he cares about teaching and takes students seriously. Always very respectful. And, yes, super hot.

1.0
4.0
POL4
Jun 23, 2007

I learned very little from his lectures. I expected something interesting and focused around the issues described in the course description, such as Citizenship, and Gay marriage. The readings were rediculose to understand. He called on students to guide lecture. I did not know who to believe, the students or him.

5.0
2.0
POLI115
Aug 14, 2007

Mathiowetz is a very promising young scholar. Very clear and a pleasure to listen to. I highly recommend taking a class or two from him. You won't be disappointed.

3.0
3.0
POLI04
Mar 14, 2008

Mathiowetz is very enthusiastic about his subject but I fell asleep after an hour of his lecture each time. Perhaps this is my fault but I'm not usually a sleeper. The lectures got repetative and dull after a while. The work load was light though which was nice. Overall I wasted my time with this class

1.0
5.0
POLIT115
Oct 22, 2008

Very self centered. Wanted you to feel sorry for him because of his student loans and not having tenure and how difficult that is (according to him). if you like the subject and get on his good side, its for you, but if you are a normal person this guy really isn't for you. dismissive, thinks average students ideas are not as good.

5.0
3.0
POLI105A
Dec 8, 2008

They shouldn't let men this attractive teach politics, it throws poli students off. Fine specimine of 'anthropos'. This class was tough, and very boring near the beginning. The sexual tension in the room will keep you awake, but his lectures on Ancient Philosophy and the Peloponesian War, despite his best efforts, are really sleep inducing.

3.0
4.0
POLI2403
Dec 13, 2008

Seemed passionate about the subject but was still boring. Would launch into his lectures like he was racing the clock, and I still had trouble staying awake. His rapid lectures made note taking difficult and I often felt like he was trying to cover too much material. I was interested in the subject but he killed it for me. Will skip his classes.

5.0
4.0
POLI105A
Mar 4, 2009

Great professor who made an otherwise tortuous subject (ancient political thought) interesting. His class was hard, with grades based 1/3 on section participation and 2/3 on two 8-10 page papers. You have plenty of time to work on the papers though (2 weeks) so its not too bad. He expects a high level of work, but you won't end up hating him.

4.0
3.0
POLI105A
Nov 29, 2009

The TAs were not useless. I deserved the grade I got. You are probably just bitter.

4.0
5.0
POLI190Y
Apr 1, 2010

Mathiowetz is a good teacher and he makes a boring subject (Political Theory of Luxury) bearable... He is a tough grader though...

4.0
4.0
POL105A
Nov 30, 2010

Great teacher.His lectures are witty and entertaining.He's smart, funny and such a good speaker.Makes the (boring) subject interesting. Be aware he can speak a mile a min and go off on tangents about his own interpretation on material.Prompts for paper are very creative.He is super approachable in person.UNBELIEVABLY HOT and too PERFECT to be true.

5.0
5.0
POLI190D
Mar 2, 2012

Dean's brilliance is infectious and his instruction is very personable and attentive. Far from easy, but a great learning and thinking experience. Highly recommended.

4.0
5.0
POLI105A
May 13, 2012

This class is far from easy, BUT hes very funny,and keeps lecture entertaining. He does talk really fast to cover lots of material but he is clearly very passionate about what he teaches and a fine scholar. When I say fine scholar I mean FINE scholar. He is SO unbelievably hot its hard to concentrate. Perfect 'Anthropos' if ya learned anything ;)

4.0
4.0
POLI105A
May 22, 2012

super passionate and engaging lectures. seems like a good guy who cares about students. reading load is heavy, this is not an easy class. also can be hard to focus on lecture sometimes because YES he is excruciatingly hot. his office hours are packed haha.

5.0
2.0
POLI105
Jun 21, 2012

first off, fantastic beard. The girls sit in the front row just to get a better look. It's obvious he really loves teaching his subject and puts an, maybe excessive, effort into his lectures.he can't be much older than 30 so using Simpsons and iphone metaphors really helps students relate and get a clearer understanding. fun class, not an easy A

5.0
4.0
POLI105A
Jul 19, 2012

this man is hottttt !! ummm yah his lec on the greek body is not to be missed. energetic professor and humorous. friendly but impossible to get into his office hours they're all booked. reading load is insane but TA sections help.

5.0
5.0
POL105A
Dec 8, 2012

This class just concluded today, and I have to say it was honestly the best class I've ever taken. Surprising, seeing as I've tried to tackle some of the texts before and lost interest. Prof. Mathiowetz reframed everything in a way that changed my perspective. He is a great lecturer, and I left class every day with a renewed sense of inspiration.

5.0
4.0
POLI105A
Dec 14, 2012

While the text are old, Dean's approach is not. This class is challenging, but he breaks down difficult passages clearly. His lectures are outlined & on the board as soon as you walk in, so you know exactly what will be covered. Yes, he's attractive, but he is also so knowledgable. Make sure to visit office hours. Really cares about his students :)

4.0
5.0
POLITICS105A
Feb 28, 2013

SO SMART OH MY GOD. On top of being personable and gorgeous he is seriously one of the most amazing professors at UCSC. I adore him.

5.0
4.0
POL115
Jul 10, 2013

Mathiowetz's themes are interesting and creative but not basic, this is not an introductory course. He is an incredibly tough and almost mean grader on essays sort of at odds with his friendly demeanor. But his comments were super useful and so I did better on my final which boosted my grade. A "sink or swim" class for sure

5.0
5.0
POLI115
Grade: B-
Sep 15, 2013

If you like being challenged and engaged in a class, this is the professor for you. He's extremely tough; when I had my work graded he provided pages of notes as to why he graded the way he did and extensive tips for improving my writing for the next assignment. He was also quick to respond to emails, but office hours were always packed.

4.0
4.0
POLI105A
Grade: A-
Oct 23, 2014

Taking a class with Mathiowetz can be intense. Lectures are energizing with creative interpretations of texts. Paper prompts are tough but clearly defined; reading load is over the top. He's friendly and helpful in office hours. If you are attracted to the male physique, this adds another layer of intensity because, uhm, yeah. :-)

5.0
3.0
POLI115
Dec 4, 2014

His enthusiasm is contagious. A personable, energetic lecturer willing to discuss the material until you really understand it. He's completely transparent about some readings being hard to chew through but makes them all excitingclear in lecture. If you do the reading, show up to lecture & really pay attention you shouldn't have trouble passing. !

5.0
3.0
POLI4
Mar 3, 2015

Professor Mathiowetz is very motivated and enthusiastic when teaching the subject. If a student has a concern he will address it at the best of his ability. He is a great professor, just do the readings and go to lecture.

2.0
2.0
POLI4
Grade: A-
May 21, 2015

Lectures are long, unclear, and don't have an organized feel. The readings were really confusing, but his lectures did not clarify, in fact sometimes just made everything more confusing. I stopped going to class about halfway through the quarter, but I did the readings and did well on the papersfinal. The class is totally doable, just not great

4.0
5.0
POLI105A
Nov 23, 2015

Probably the most demanding class I've taken in POLI or anywhere at UCSC for that matter. Intellectually challenging / provocative interpretations of classic texts---this is not stuff you pick up casually. Paper prompts are complex and he directs his TAs to be strict graders. Fortunately worth it -- my brain explodes with insight after every class

5.0
4.0
POLI190B
Dec 15, 2015

Dean is the best professor at UCSC. I was in 190B because my other seminar was cancelled, and have no regrets. It was also the most difficult class that I've ever taken. He's a tough grader: 8-10 pg papers (with no prompts), but is there for you 100% & he improved my writing a lot. You'll work hard & you'll grow as a person, not just academically.

4.0
4.0
POLI105A
Feb 18, 2016

Very enthusiastic about topic and funny sometimes which made lectures tolerable considering I had zero interest in the class. Essays were toughly graded. Sections were not helpful at all but they are mandatory

5.0
4.0
POL04
Mar 31, 2016

Most engaging lecturer I've ever ha .

5.0
4.0
POLI04
Grade: A
Jun 8, 2016
Would take again

Dean is AMAZING. He makes sense of the most complex readings and completely changes how you view politics and the world. He chooses brilliant works and fosters an open atmosphere where students can make any connections they wish. His main goal in this class is to get students politically active through learning political theory, and it works.

4.0
4.0
POLI4
Jan 26, 2017
Would take again

Brilliantly deconstructs very difficult texts. Very charismatic and engaging. My only critique is that he makes no effort to hide his own political views/affiliations, which is a bit unprofessional. Overall an amazing professor

Get ready to read
Amazing lectures
5.0
4.0
POL004
Grade: B+
Mar 7, 2017
Would take again

Mathiowetz is a seriously amazing prof. Lectures are clear and thought-provoking. Some readings are complex but he breaks them down. Assignments are tough, grading guidelines are clear, a lot depends on your TA though. He's personally friendly, and cares about student perspectives. (and has a great beard). Take and you won't regret.

Inspirational
SO MANY PAPERS
Amazing lectures
5.0
4.0
POLI04
Grade: A-
Mar 7, 2017
Would take again

Mathiowetz is incredible. He's one of the most intelligent people and he genuinely cares about his students even in a lecture of 250+. You definitely need to read the material and attend lecture. For this class section was mandatory which really helped you break down the material. Super enlightening class and I would highly recommend it.

Get ready to read
Amazing lectures
LECTURE HEAVY
2.0
4.0
POL4
Mar 20, 2017
Wouldn't take again

The lectures very often would go off on tangents of his ideas and theories behind the readings instead of staying on topic. The lectures always tried to pack in more information than was possible in the time given. The readings themselves are long and hard to understand so take up a lot of time to read. the class has two midterm papers and final.

Tough Grader
Get ready to read
GRADED BY FEW THINGS
4.0
5.0
POL04
Mar 22, 2017
Wouldn't take again

great prof. very tough gradings, if you are looking for a easy class, dont be in his. get ready to spend hours and hours every week just to pass.

Tough Grader
Respected
Get ready to read
5.0
4.0
POL04
Mar 24, 2017
Would take again

Great lecturer. The class was fair and reasonable in its workload. Grading was fair. Lectures were always interesting and stimulating. This class really helped me to improve as a human being. Dean is skilled intellectually, answers complex questions expertly, and comes across as a compassionate guy. I would certainly take his class again.

Respected
Inspirational
Amazing lectures
1.0
5.0
POLI4
Grade: C
Mar 29, 2017
Wouldn't take again

For a Poli major, this class might be cool. However, I was looking for an easy TA, and this class sucked. I didn't care for the readings, they were too dense, and too long. The writing was ridiculous and took me hours on hours, and only barely passed. This class will fly over your head if you have no motivation, and can become very stressful.

Tough Grader
GRADED BY FEW THINGS
4.0
3.0
POLI04
Grade: B+
Apr 2, 2017
Wouldn't take again

Very funny and and tries to explain to the best of his abilities. Some of the reading are hard but he explains them so its easier to understand. Good-looking guy as well:)

ACCESSIBLE OUTSIDE CLASS
Hilarious
Amazing lectures
5.0
4.0
105A
Mar 8, 2018
Would take again

InCREDible professor! This class pushes me every day but I leave each class just so full of insight. Mathiowetz's lectures are clear and interesting and dynamic. Good sense of humor and ultra handsome (for real) and nice guy who cares about students.

Get ready to read
GRADED BY FEW THINGS
Amazing lectures
5.0
4.0
105A
Grade: A-
May 2, 2018
Would take again

Good class, really interesting but can be a bit bland because of how dry the subject is. A lot of reading, can get through without doing it but will be much harder to write his essays.

Respected
Get ready to read
SO MANY PAPERS
5.0
5.0
105A
Grade: Not sure yet
Nov 7, 2019
Would take again

Do yourself a favor, do your health a favor, do your soul a favor. Take a class taught by Dean. By far the most engaging lecturer I have ever had in my entire life. 105A had me considering my entire existence. I'll be honest, the class is a lot of work. You have to do a ton of reading and even more internal contemplating. But it's so worth it.

Get ready to read
Hilarious
Amazing lectures
5.0
4.0
POLI115
Grade: A
Nov 9, 2019
Would take again

Mathiowetz is easily my favorite professor at UCSC. He is brilliant, passionate, and truly hilarious. If you complete the majority of the readings and pay attention during lecture, you'll do fine and you'll learn a lot. I highly recommend Mathiowetz to anyone interested in politics or theory. I don't usually care for theory but I love his classes.

Respected
Get ready to read
Amazing lectures
5.0
4.0
POLI115
Grade: Not sure yet
Dec 1, 2022
Would take again

I think Mathiowetz may be my favorite politics professor at UCSC. You can tell just how passionate he is about teaching and how much he loves learning from his students. It's essential to participate regularly for a good grade, but it's worth it. I don't think I've taken as much as I've learned here to different classrooms ever before

Get ready to read
Participation matters
Gives good feedback
5.0
3.0
105AANCIENTPOL
Grade: A-
Jun 22, 2023
Would take again

TOOK POLI 100! Professor Mathiowetz is one of the best professors I have had at UCSC, he is kind and understanding and is incredibly passionate about his work. His office hours were very helpful and he made an effort to understand my point of view. The Republic was difficult but he made it way easier to understand the material.

Get ready to read
Respected
Lecture heavy
5.0
3.0
105A
Grade: A
Jul 17, 2023
Would take again

Brace yourselves for Professor Mathiowetz, he possesses a unique ability to transform even the driest philosophical concepts into uproarious tales. The way he recounts Socrates' witty comebacks or Cicero's political escapades will have you rolling in the aisles with laughter. Who knew political theory could be this entertaining?

Get ready to read
Amazing lectures
Inspirational
5.0
4.0
105AANCIENTPOL
Grade: B+
Mar 12, 2024
Would take again

Dean is a great professor, but this class was so hard. There were only two assignments (a midterm paper and a final paper) and they were TOUGH. The prompts are extremely difficult and don't make much sense and the papers are VERY LONG. The readings are also extremely difficult and are super hard to comprehend.

Get ready to read
Lecture heavy
Graded by few things
4.0
4.0
105AANCIENTPOL
Grade: B
Mar 17, 2024

3.6/5. He gives great lectures, but this class has too much reading. It's not manageable if you have a job outside of school. He bans laptops and tablets. He also makes you buy physical copies of all the books even though you never use them in class. Don't buy the books. There are only two papers the entire quarter and they are 60% of your grade.

Get ready to read
Amazing lectures
Graded by few things
5.0
4.0
105A
Grade: A+
Jun 3, 2024
Would take again

I absolutely loved taking this class. The professor explained these ancient thinkers so well and left me thinking many times about the texts, he invited us to challenge and think these thinkers. He as also really accessible outside of class. This class is only graded by a two papers, but you'll do fine if you attend lectures.

Get ready to read
Amazing lectures
Graded by few things
5.0
5.0
105A
Grade: A
Dec 10, 2024
Would take again

This course is not for everyone. The readings are absolutely ridiculous; they are dense, complex, and time-consuming. However, if you have any interest in classics, ancient Athens, or political theory, then this class will be one of the most rewarding things you have ever done. It's not for everyone, but truly a beautiful course. Thank you Prof. M.

Get ready to read
Lecture heavy
Graded by few things
3.0
5.0
105A
Dec 12, 2024
Would take again

Prof is amazing. But If you have to work while in school, do NOT take this class. I took the final, and the amount of reading and engagement with the material required is completely unrealistic unless you are deeply passionate about ancient political thought. Be ready to sit down and focus for upwards of 20 hours a week to engage sufficiently. Hard

Get ready to read
Lots of homework
Lecture heavy
4.0
5.0
105A
Dec 13, 2024
Would take again

Fantastic Lectures, class was always a treat as Prof Mathiowetz took us through ancient times in a very engaging way. BUT I have to say, I just took the final and it was incredibly difficult. As someone who took detailed notes and went to lecture it was still too hard. I studied for 2 days and maybe got half the questions correct.

5.0
4.0
105A
Grade: A-
Dec 16, 2024
Would take again

Mathiowetz brings ancient philosophy to life with his captivating lectures. The workload is heavy, but engaging with the material is incredibly rewarding. I found unstuckstudy to be a helpful study tool alongside the course textbook.

5.0
5.0
105AANCIENTPOL
Grade: A-
Dec 19, 2024
Would take again

Mathiowetz was amazing! His lectures were the most engaging I've witnessed when it came to Ancient Greece, however, you absolutely cannot miss a lecture. They aren't mandatory, but they help you pass the exam as well as help you understand the content way more. The class is also based off of 4 things, midterm, two finals, and participation.

Get ready to read
Amazing lectures
Inspirational
5.0
4.0
105AANCIENTPOL
Grade: A+
Jan 10, 2025
Would take again

This was the best class I have taken in my entire life. It's a bit of reading, but participating in section is useful in understanding the material and prepares you for the papers, which are the most vital to your grade. Working a job up to 30 hours a week is doable if you are a fast reader and attend every lecture. I loved this class so much.

Get ready to read
Amazing lectures
Graded by few things
1.0
5.0
105A
Grade: A-
Feb 19, 2025

Dean is nice but the final was so unrealistic that the highest score in the class was a B (which was an outlier). The course is insanely reading-heavy and you can't get away with reading the bare minimum. If you're a full time student and employed don't take this class. His lectures were hard to follow. He has a fanbase but I don't recommend.

Get ready to read
Lecture heavy
Graded by few things
5.0
4.0
105A
Grade: A
Mar 7, 2025
Would take again

This class was the highlight of my academic career at UCSC. I always went to class excited to hear what he would say about them. I was often left touched and transformed by his comments, which were exploding with insights and would drive me right back into the next day's readings. Great class.

Get ready to read
Inspirational
Respected
5.0
3.0
POLI190Y
Grade: A-
Apr 5, 2025
Would take again

Dean did a fantastic job facilitating small group discussions, where we got to know each other and had a chance to talk through our discussion questions, which made me feel engaged. I loved ALL the texts we read (a first in any course!) and hearing what other students and Dean had to say; I learned to see race and America in a whole new way.

Gives good feedback
Caring
Respected
Class Info

Online Classes

100%

Attendance Mandatory

65%

Textbook Required

67%

Grade Predictor

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Predicted Grade

B+

95% confidence
Based on 28 grades
Most common grades:
A- (10)
A (7)
B (3)
Grade Distribution
A(9)B(4)C(1)D(0)F(1)A-/B+(13)
Based on 31 reported grades
A-: 10
A: 7
B: 3
B+: 3
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