Good professor, law background helps

Dirk's da man!

One of the best professors in the Political Science department.

Go to class! He is so great to listen to.. but has a quiz once a week! really and interesting guy, hes done everything!

learn a lot but picky, tough grade

Challenges you to think and expand your thoughts

Very interesting class that provokes a lot of thought. Not very hard if you pay attention to his notes. Really nice guy with a lot of knowledge about politics and law.

He's tough but you learn so much about Politics, Law, and how to succeed in classes. Great stories, great guy- glad he's in the dept!

Great class.

I honestly think he is a genious! He is so intelligent and I truly learned a lot from him. He rocks!!

Very smart teacher, probably my favorite at Iowa State. I took 215 with Hutter and failed. Took with Deam and got an A-. Goes to show what a difference the teacher can make. I hated Hutter and loved going to Deam's class.

This guy is the smartest teacher I've had. He cares about his students and makes the class interesting. He doesn't lecture, he debates, and it makes everything more fun. My favorite prof. I've had yet. Just go to class and come ready to think and you'll have a lot of fun.

Interprets everything into lawyerese... Very informative, but difficult to take notes and prepare for an exam.

Extremely good prof. Best in the department, and I have taken almost all of them. His classes are always my best class of the semester, and 361 will be my best class of the year. Very informative group discussions are the keys to Deam classes. If you take his class, be prepared to talk a bit.

I go out of my way to get Deam if I can for Political Science classes, he expects a lot and you aren't assured a good grade (though if you are trying, he notices), but you are assured of learning a lot about the topic as well as vasting improving your ability to convey thoughts and ideas to others.

One of the best classes I've taken as a political science majors, and by far my favorite professor. Incredibly helpful, always willing to meet with students and discuss anything they want. Take any class you can with him.

Pros: Great class, brilliant professor. Teaches with the Socratic method, so expect to be challenged, questioned, and provoked. With his methods, you'll learn something about the topic and about yourself. Con: If you're an overachiever, don't expect an A-triple-plus.

GREAT teacher. Best ive had at ISU. Incredible intelligence and rhetorical skills. If you think you know everything, he will prove in short order that you do not, and that is my favorite thing about him!

Incredibly intelligent. Don't expect an A+, but do expect a great class that will both interest and challenge you.

Very interesting classes, cool guy. My favorite prof at ISU by far. Papers are easy if you can write, which, if you are a Pol. S. major and you can't write you should be shot. TAKE HIS CLASSES, YOU WON'T REGRET IT.

Pros: You'll learn a lot about argumentation, law, and yourself with his Socratic dialogue of teaching. Cons: He has a TA that won't comment more than ten words on your paper, so good luck figuring out what you can improve on for next time.

dirk. dirk deam. politics. public space.

Can I just say...I LOVE DIRK DEAM! His classes are intense and it's hard to take notes, but you walk out of his classes 10 times smarter than when you walked in. He is one of the most brilliant men that I know and iowa State is lucky to have him.

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I have loved every class I have taken with him!

Dirk is the only reason I made it to class when I did show up at 9AM. He's insanely intelligent, normal, and fun to listen to.

Was probably the smartest man I will ever encounter in my life, and he knew it.

Honestly, an amazingly intellectual individual. Completely compelling and enthrawling. I love to hear his mind work and I'm not even a poli sci major

Dirk Deam has all the qualities of an excellent professor. He not only teaches his students the subject at hand but also introduces them to an entirely new way of absoring information. I would highly recommend any Deam class but only if you're seriously interested in the subject matter.

Be ready to argue with him, and against your own opinion if possible. 2 essay assignments/sem. 420 is more challenging than 319. Read the cases very well. Need 2 blue books for each test. Great professor!

Great prof, but class takes a lot of reading. Everyone I know who has taken a Deam course has received a B in it. Also, be ready to argue! Socratic method. Good course- I learned a lot.

Deam's class is thoroughly enjoyable to the student who is interested in law. Deam has a thorough understanding of the material, and though his teaching method is sometimes frustrating, you leave the class with an idea of what law school is like. He plays favorites, but it didn't really bother me too much.

wow, awesome teacher.teaches by asking questions and makes you defend those answers.makes a dry class pretty interesting. assigned seats and picks a row during class and calls on you to answer questions on the reading, READ THE READINGS!!!!if you don't, be ready to look like a idiot when u try to explain concepts out of the book. good class....

Very intelligent. Class scared me at first before I figured out what he was all about but its awesome! Cares about his students. Easy to talk to and funny. Arguments in lecture are awesome. Don't expect to get an easy A from him though. You will have to work your butt off, but yet it will be fun, Keep up on the readings.

Prof. Deam is a MUST HAVE professor at ISU. He is smart, sharp and committed to very productive/efficient class time. Prof. Deam helped prepare me for success at DePaul Law School, and wrote a fine recommendation to wit. A wonderful teacher who deserves to be a Professor rather than a Lecturer.

Pretty much the best professor ever! He makes class enjoyable and interesting. He's one of the smartest people I have ever met and he is an amazing speaker! Highly recommend him!

Dirk is an amazing teacher! I had fun going to class everyday, and I would recommend him to anyone! I will say that the reading is a must. If you don't do the readings, you will be really lost. His class is all discussion, so you have to come prepared and you can say whatever you want, as long as you can back it up with good thought.

He's the best teacher ever. Lectures, texts, and films are great. He's also my dad. He's a great dad, too.

One of the best teachers within the department, if not the best. If you're a major, you should go out of your way to take his classes. If you're a nonmajor just taking 215 and lower-levels... um you'll want him too! If you want a stellar grade: Participate and read (Pretty much the same advice for every other class you'll ever take though

AMAZING teacher. Its a tough class because you HAVE to read and participate and there are only 5 quizzes, the final, and participation as a grade. But, Dirk is here to teach and you can tell he loves to do it. He teachers something like 8 classes I think, so he isnt one of those professors that is here to do research and just has to teach some.

I love him!!!!

AMAZING, best professor i have ever had, if you have the chance take this professor. it's definitely not easy, read, participate, and take notes and you will do great MUST HAVE TEACHER

easily the best teacher I have had in all of my years of going to school. you will learn even if you don't want to and he makes it fun, I would encourage everybody to take a Deam class

Easily best prof I've ever had, he single-handedly inspired me to change my major to poly sci and pursue a law degree, I also had 215 and 235 with him, teaches using the Socratic method and does it well, very smart, read the material and come prepared to class, even if you don't read, bluff and argue a point like you did, you'll get the points

Dirk was a great teacher. I kept on hearing from people here and others that his class would be difficult, but it wasn't too bad. I tried my best and got an A in the class but then again, that's just me. You just have to show up to the class discussions and contribute once in a while. And be interested in the material.

Deam is a genuinely nice guy. Talks to you like an equal, and he has a great sense of humor. His test questions ARE difficult, and he does assign a lot of reading, but he is very approachable and makes class as tolerable/fun as he can given the subject matter.

He is the best professor I've had so far and really engaged me into the world of political science. and I liked his socratic method of teaching. His class was the only class during my first semester i ever looked forward to. my advice: take good notes and pay attention! his questions are difficult but they do a good job in provoking thought. :)

Very hard class. You can study the material and get all of the points to his essays (All quizes are essay) but yet still fail the quiz. If you miss one minor point you lose 3-4 out of the 5 points possible for that problem. He's flipping crazy! He knows what he's talking about but expects too much for a low level PolSci class.

Don't take this class with him if you are a conservative! He will attack your beliefs everyday. The guy was a bit of a jerk in teaching this class. The class could definitely be taught without being a jerk. Shook everyone's hand at the end of the semester, helped me to respect him a little bit more.

Probably the best professor I've ever had, although, I didn't really think so at the time. The class is challenging, but if you read, come to class, and participate it's not too bad. Do not take this class if you don't want to read. He knows his stuff and expects you to know what's in the readings. Overall not a bad class. Great professor.

Excellent teacher. Probably the smartest person I've ever met. Respects students, and their views. Does not shy from challenging students. You WILL feel like a deer in headlights at times in class when speaking (part of grade is for discussion). But class is very fun. You'll understand more if you keep up on your readings. take him at least once.

Excellent teacher. Probably the smartest person I've ever met. Respects students, and their views. Not afraid to challenge students. You WILL feel like a deer in headlights when speaking in class. Don't be afraid to speak up and argue though (it's actually required, and fun). Readings are helpful. Can be very funny at times. Take him at least once!

Awesome class! Lectures are fun. Just be prepared to defend you position. Do the readings or sparknotes them and it will help you follow along. Quizzes are hard but Final is open note, open book, and participation in class will help your grade.

The messiah of all political science professors and the smartest person you'll ever meet. It takes a few weeks to learn how to do well in this class. Do the readings, speak up, and study the cases for the quizzes. The quizzes are tough, but graded fairly. A+ professor, you're not getting your money's worth if you don't take a class with him.

I wish Deam was my dad.

One of the best teachers I have had at Iowa State. His class is in no way easy but he makes it interesting and engages students well.

This professor makes all the money in tuition worth it!

Dr Deam is hands down the best professor I've had at Iowa State, and Pol Sci 335 (space class) was the only class I've never even been tempted to skip. Great at using the Socratic method and great at getting solid arguments from students. Really made me see that not all lib arts classes are a waste of time and effort.

By far one of the best professors at ISU. He can relate to just about whatever your major is. Everyone should take a class with this guy. You can't just wing the in class discussions either, you have to do the reading to even have a chance at answering this guys questions. Do the reading, show up for class/quizes and you should be fine!

Happy to say Professor Deam is also my dad. Great professor, great dad. Do the readings, speak up in class and you'll realize his classes prepare you for more than the final.

I was interested in Political Science, but it wasn't until after I took this class that really decided to make it my major. Deam is a tough grader but very smart man. I learned a lot in lecture, and honestly wish that it was a requirement to take his class before being able to vote.

I absolutely love Dirk but I would have rather taken it with someone else. Make sure you go to class, participate and keep up on the news. My downfall was the current event questions. I never knew what he was looking for, so I didn't know what to remember. Don't take his class if you get scared easily. He loves to pick on people.

Greatest "senior lecturer" I have ever had. You will learn lots if you go to class and know your information. It's not hard if you follow along and becomes very fun once you get into it. Also he hates being called Deam. Call him Dirk. Seriously. Don't be afraid to speak up. Even if you're right he will try to shoot you down. Stick to your guns.

Dirk is my favorite professor I've had at ISU. You learn so much from each lecture, and they always go by fast. His tests are fine as long as you study what you talked about in class and really know the readings. He's the most intelligent man I've met, and he's so down-to-earth and thought-provoking during class.

Wonderful professor. It's not often that you can sit and have a real conversation with a professor.

genius

By far the greatest teacher I have ever had. Makes it so easy to get interested in Political Science. Uses the Socratic method so you must be prepared for class. His discussions are very interesting and fun. I would highly recommend his class even if its not related to your major.

Dirk Deam is by far the best professor I've had. He is incredibly knowledgable in his field as well as everything else...he is intimidating at first because he teaches using the socratic method, but if you do the readings you'll have a really enjoyable class! Always do the readings, you learn so much more if you can offer opinions in class.

It doesn't matter what class you take with him, but you MUST take one of his classes. There aren't many professors that actually make you think. I'm always excited for what the next lecture/discussion has to bring. Do your readings and you'll be fine.

Great professor! His use of the Socratic method will make you think more critically about the subject matter than any other political science class Iowa State offers. Having taken Deam's classes made my transition to law school much easier.

Its a matter of fact that he's the best professor in the department. Challenging and well worth it.

LOVE DIRK! I made the mistake of not taking his classes until my senior year- had I experienced the Dirk earlier, I would have taken him every semester. Dirk makes you think, he challenges you. I'm not a science person but love love love Space class. I can't say enough good stuff about Deam. TAKE HIM!

Easily one of the scariest men I've ever had the HONOUR of meeting. He kept class interesting, but don't dare go on your phone or do anything he doesn't tell you to do. All in all, he is an absolute genius. I don't think I could praise him enough.

amazing teacher,Intimidating but teaches you so much! Love him! do the readings and go to class.

Really sharp guy, definitely worth taking! He can be intimidating at first though. Be prepared to do lots of reading & take thorough notes or you will regret it at Finals! All quizzes and final are written essay style. Oral argumentation is worth 20%. He picks people randomly for this so be prepared! If you do the work you will do well and enjoy it

He is amazing. He really knows his stuff and the class dicussions are worth coming to even though he has a loose attendance policy. I loved this class. But beware, if you want to do well you MUST do the readings and take notes. The quizes are difficult.

Ask a POL S student about the faculty and Deam's name will come up. You need to take at least one course from him to see what you think - take 215 or 319 early on in your career to see if you want to move on to 420/421. Not as difficult as some people claim; a well-organized argument is all it takes on exams, you can go light on facts and figures.

Great class, love the proff.

Dirk is a god. This man is way too smart for his own good but he really keeps the material interesting. At the rate I am going I will be getting my minor in Dirk Deam... his classes are that interesting. Con Law is a doozy if you hate to read but worth it if you are heading to law school. Same goes for 421.

Dirk is a wickedly smart individual. His class was genuinely thought provoking and interesting. I bull*hitted my way through most of the exams and never received a grade lower than 75%.

Best professor in the department. He can be very intimidating, but if you do the readings and come you class, you'll do fine. I loved that he used to Socratic method, it really pushed you to think, develop a position, and hold to it even as he tried to pick apart your argument. If you can write well, that will help a lot on quizzes.

Take a class with Deam before you graduate, you will not regret the decision. Brilliant professor who cares about what he teaches

Dirk Deam is by far my favorite professor at Iowa State. As an engineering major it is refreshing to learn from an individual who is interesting and happy to show up to class. Mr. Deam loves what he teaches and make you want to learn the material. Some of the connections he makes are really cool. You'll have to work hard, but its worth it.

This is my first semester taking one of his classes and I am definitely taking 235 next semester! Dirk is crazy smart and the class really makes you think. While attendance isn't mandatory, it's pretty much required because of class participation. Be prepared to read all the assigned material to pass. By far my favorite class this semester!

Easily the smartest man on campus. If you don't take a class with Dirk, I feel sorry for you. All I can really say, because this man will make you think in ways you never could have even imagined. It is not going to be easy, and you will have to work, but after a few lectures, you want to do the work, simply to participate well.

This class is a discussion based class. He expects you to participate (in fact it's part of your grade) so be ready to defend your argument based on evidence from the readings. I had to study a lot, but I learned so much from this class and came out way more educated about American politics, and a better student over all.

Attendance isn't mandatory but I wouldn't have done well on tests just from the readings, I have missed a couple lectures only this semester and usually just text a classmate and ask what the assigned readings are for the next class. A LOT of reading. Just make sure it's done before tests.

Dirk is by far the most inspirational professor I've ever had. He understands the idea of liberal education and embraces the socratic method. Doesn't use powerpoint, instead discusses with the students in the class and makes them figure it out. Instead of having it handed to you, you have to work for the information and figure it out for yourself.

One of the best, perhaps the best professor or teacher I have ever had in my academic career. The engineer-turned-lawyer-turned-political scientist is a wizard in the Socratic method and is extremely intelligent in all categories of politics and engineering, among many others. If you have to take any political science class, take Dirk Deam.

If you want to take one of the best classes ever in your life, you'll take a Dirk Deam course, no matter what your major is. If you're poly sci, any of his classes will be amazing, if not, his best course outside of poly sci is pol sci 335, the space class, its outstanding and you won't regret it.

Great professor and great class. Be prepared to read a lot in this class. If you are not interested in putting in a lot of work do not take it. However, if you do the readings and go to class you will finish with a good grade.

I didn't like the socratic method, which involves a lot of dialog between Dr. Deam and poorly prepared, often stupid students, eating up time when he could be sharing his wisdom. I get why he does it, and he himself is great. It's amazing how super-smart professors Pol S are (Deam, Tuckness, Urbatch) when the students are mostly so dumb.

He's brilliant don't get me wrong but wow is he tough. I was confused all semester long but walked out with an A. He forces participation which is scary and the readings can be a bit tough, but it's interesting to hear his stories

excellent professor. I've taken so many classes with him. Deam has a polarizing effect though, you'll either love him or hate him. If you want to learn something and really experience what a college level course should offer you, I'd recommend anything with Deam. the only reason why people don't like his classes is because they're challenging.

Dr. Deam is hands down my favorite professor at ISU. He teaches by Socratic method, which is sometimes frustrating but really helped me prepare for law school. He also gives great advice if you're planning on going to law school. Con law is a great class. 10/10 would recommend.

Professor Deam is the most intelligent educator I have ever met. If you take all of his classes you will have earned yourself a world class education in the art of Political Science. His classes are not hard if you attend lecture and pay attention.

Professor Deam is one of the most intelligent educators I have ever taken classes with! If you go to class, take good notes, READ THE ASSIGNED READINGS, and participate in the discussions you will do fine! Shakes your hand at the end of the semester after you finish your final, overall a super classy man and a respected professor.

Dirk is by far my favorite professor I've had at ISU. You really need to get it together to pass this class. Do your reading and take notes- you'll really need them. Go to class and actually speak up, 20% of your grade depends on it. He is absolutely brilliant, just ride it out and you'll be thankful.

Go to class and do the readings

Showing up to class and reading the assigned chapters is necessary if you want to be successful. If you do that and make an effort to participate theres no reason not to get a good grade. Always come to class prepared with questions to help your participation grade.

The Socratic manner in which Dirk has class discussions was definitely one of my favorite aspects of the class. It was very conducive to learning the class material, while also forcing students to defend their statements and practice critical thinking. If you get a chance to take a class with Dirk Deam you should absolutely do it; you won't regret.

Lots of reading that must be done in order to participate in class and do well on the quizzes. Great guy, definitely knows his stuff, and gives good feedback throughout class.

Dirk Deam is by far the best professor I have had in my entire college career. If you enjoy thinking deeply, and truly learning lessons then any one of his classes is the right class for you. Every class of his is eye opening and insightful, all he asks of you is that you attend classes and come prepared.

Dirk has been one of my favorite professors at ISU so far. He is pretty intimidating on the first day but a really great professor and very knowledgeable. Class is very heavy on reading so be prepared to read and participate in class. Class is graded on participation and 6 quizzes. Go to class, you will learn a lot. Highly recommend Dirk!

Dirk is the best professor I've had at Iowa State. He is an amazing lecturer and uses the Socratic method asking lots of questions. You also watch lots of movies. His classes are always interesting and insightful, but make sure you do the readings so you can participate in the discussions. If you get the chance, certainly take a Dirk class.

Dirk teaches with the socratic method, and class participation is 20% of the grade. There is a lot of reading for each class, but you know well in advance of when it's due. I learned a lot because he made us think and find the answers rather than just give them to us.

With amazing characteristic and special style of teaching. However the course Do require a lot of reading and he does care about peoples involvement.

Readings are due for every class and classes are discussion based about the readings. Very knowledgeable and an overall great class.

Dirk is great, and the class is very interesting. Watch out for the groupies that take every class with him, they're kind of annoying.

I studied for the final for, and I counted, 159 hours; but Dirk is still be best professor I've ever had. His class is very valuable for those looking to go to law school, but also rewarding for those who aren't.

Great instructor. Good luck.

Dirk is hands down the best professor in the political science department. He challenges you and makes you work for it. He genuinely wants everyone to understand what we discuss. If you don't participate, you won't get the full potential out of the class. He is intimidating only because he's so knowledgeable, but he's a great guy. 100% recommend

What is there to say, he's great. I feel like a better American citizen for taking his classes. He is what inspired me to become a teacher.

Wow. Dirk is by far the most profound thinker and lecturer at Iowa State. I cannot get enough of his classes. I learn and absorb information like a sponge due to his participation heavy Socratic method of teaching. I love the process, though I could see it not being for everyone. Nonetheless, for me, I am infatuated with Dirk and his courses.

I loved Dirk. The class was very thought provoking and one of my favorite classes at ISU to date. HIs class is very lecture heavy and he expects participation in discussions for a grade. If you do the readings, go to the lectures, and participate you are going to do well on the exams.

The BEST prof in the dept!! I took ALL his classes plus TA'd for him and learned SOOOO much from him! Take any class you can from him-he is SOOO intelligent!!

Con Law was probably the hardest class I've ever taken but also where I learned the most!! AMAAAAZING prof, reading, & class period!!

Dirk is the best professor I've ever had. His classes aren't hard if you pay attention, minimally participate, and keep up with the reading. Attendence is NOT mandatory, but encouraged. Every reading assignment, lecture topic, and quiz is laid out in his syllabus, & his finals are open-book and can be done in a few BB pages. Quality over Quantity!

Dirk is absolutely amazing. The readings are absolute beasts but you NEED to thoroughly understand them to do well in the class. Participation matters and if you come to class you should be ready to talk. But Dirk's style of questioning is nothing like I've ever seen and he pulls the answer out of you even if you don't realize you have it in you!

I took this class my very last semester at Iowa State and can confidently say I learned more and was more engaged than any other class I took. He has so much first hand knowledge of the material, you'll learn from the lectures more than you ever thought. The class is not easy, however. I HIGHLY recommend going to quiz reviews with the TA.

Dirk pushes his students to come to their own conclusions and to truly understand the material, rather than just reading it. The best way to describe it was that I felt like he was pushing me to think/learn more so than teaching. Do the readings or you will be lost. Also, the jazz lecture is funny lmao

I took this course as a required class for my poli sci major in the fall of my freshman year. This prof is by far the favorite I've had at ISU and made me feel like I'm expanding my mind every day and really learning. There are a lot of readings but they're necessary for most classes. Overall, I LOVE this prof and highly recommend him!

Dirk is one of my favorite professors I have ever had. From his choice of readings to his renowned lecturing style, all parts of the class have been interesting. I have to say he has inspired me to do and strive for excellence where I thought I could never reach before. Don't feel afraid to answer questions in his class either. Great Class.

90% of the traditional "lecturing" is done by the readings with only 10 to 20-minute explanations done by Dirk when he feels he needs to clear concepts up for the class. The rest is completely done by the Socratic method of teaching. His tests can be tough but that's just because he wants to see if you understand the concept not just memorizing.

Dirk is a really valuable professor that anyone should take advantage of learning from while they're here. He can be pretty intimidating but the content you learn from him is invaluable. He does cold call but if you do the readings and work through your thoughts you'll be fine. Ask him questions when you're confused but don't try to outsmart him.

Dr. Deam has TA's that do the grading due to volume of students, so it may take a bit to get your quizzes back, but he gives incredibly good feedback, is very approachable, and cares about students. No slides, he just asks questions to the class and it's actually very easy to absorb and 100x more interesting than any class I've ever taken here.

Lots of reading make sure you order your textbooks before the first day of class, you will need them day 1. great prof would 100% take his class again, try not to be intimidated by him, hes not mean i promise.

Uses socratic method in class so be ready to talk. Make sure to do the reading and have some thoughts on it. Take good notes during class discussion and use them on the quizzes and you should be okay. Dirk is an amazing teacher who would love to talk to you more about the class materials

A great class to take if you want to go to law school, if not I would not recommend it. You have to do a lot of reading of cases and really know the cases because he uses the socratic method to stimulate in class discussion. Great professor who is always willing to talk to you about class materials as well as law school prospects

Unique way of teaching through seminars, puts students in a position where they interact with the materials. References the readings a lot, so make sure to keep up with them, tests are also very close to readings.

Dirk is my favorite prof by far, Ive taken several of his classes and all of them have been an amazing experience. You definitely need to read the assignments because he will be asking you questions and challenging you. He is such an interesting person and cares about his students

You have to do the readings or else you will be so lost in class. He is by far my favorite prof I have ever had and I will continue to take his courses

Dirk is an amazing guy! The Socratic method he uses to teach his classes is very interesting and engaging. He is a very combative person with his students but in a good natured way and will only make you better. I plan on taking every class he teaches because of how good he is.

Dirk is one of the best professors at Iowa State. Would recommend his courses to anyone. His method allows for a complete understanding of the content of the course. The readings and films are great, and this course opens your mind to media and politics. Worth the take. Would take it again.

Professor Deam is by far one of my favorite professors on campus. His teaching style is unique, and I learned so much throughout this course. If you want to go to law school in the future, I recommend taking a class or two of his.

Dirk is absolutely the best professor at Iowa State, if you are looking for someone who will make you grow as a student and a person Dirk is the professor for you. He is the smartest person you will ever meet and if you are ready to challenge yourself then take his classes

Super smart charismatic professor with a high level of expertise in what he is teaching

Dirk is the best professor I've had at Iowa State. I am much more confident in speaking in front of class. You need to go to his classes, read the book, and participate in order to pass. You will learn more from his classes than you do from any other class. Don't let the first few days scare you away, it is a great class to prepare for law school.

Dirk is the most inspirational, talented, and kind professor I know. He has fundamentally expanded my intellectual spectrum and instilled within me an inquisitiveness that I didn't know I had. His classes are challenging, but how else would you learn? I promise that if you put in the effort, you will take away more than you can possibly imagine.

Dirk will call on you, he will challenge you, and he will make you think. Dirk is the professor you NEED in college and he is the best there is. 10/10 recommend all of his classes.

I was a little nervous at first because of his teaching style, but you learn A LOT. Get ready to be called on, and make sure you are up to date on the readings. Will definitely take classes with him again.

I could see why some people may not like Dirk, but I had a great experience with him. If you are thinking about law school, take a class with him! His classes are structured like law school courses. Lots of reading, but if you know your stuff when you come to class, he will like you and you'll do well. Have an opinion and be able to defend it.

He's pretty left leaning so if you're looking for a more centralist professor I would try to get Susan Laehn. Other than that he's extremely intelligent and the lectures are very engaging, they make you think. Lots of reading but it counts.

He's extremely intelligent and pretty intimidating but don't be afraid to speak your mind, just make sure you can back up what you say. He enjoys communicating with his students and will challenge you but you get credit for being able to speak up in class. Make sure you actually do the readings because it will count in the long run.

Dirk is a challenging but engaging professor. His Socratic method pushes you to think deeply. Readings are essential - try unstuck ai alongside the textbook for helpful prep.

Dirk is incredibly intelligent, which occasionally comes off as arrogant, but only for those who have not done the readings! If you do the readings and can contribute to class conversations regardless of your understanding, you will do just fine. Dirk wants you to thoroughly understand the material (NEED to for tests), hence the heavy reading.

I have met very few professors that are truly passionate about teaching. Dirk is by far the best professor I have ever had. He teaches in the Socratic tradition with makes for an amazing classroom experience. The literature is engaging and prescient.

All classes are 6 quizzes (drops lowest grade) and a final exam. Attendance not required but I would recommend. A lot of reading before class, and kind of lectures as a law school class. He is a really interesting guy and it is a pretty easy class. Just do the readings and understand it to a point and you will do really well

Dirk's socratic teaching style creates engaging lectures to keep you on your toes. He assigns a lot of background reading to make sure you come to class with knowledge of the topic he talks about. Most of the points come from unit tests that are easy as long as you come to class. Skipping this class makes it significantly harder to succeed.

I've loved every class I've taken with Dirk. He is super knowledgable and passionate and wants to help students see his perspective, but he can come off as arrogant because of that. His readings are interesting but dense, you'll need to read a lot to pass.

Dirk is an amazing professor. If you want to go to law school, take his classes as they are taught in the style that law school uses. He is intimidating at first, but once you get used to his style, it gets much easier.

Dirks Media class is amazing. It will change the way you think about the world around you. Attendance is not mandatory, but you must participate in class throughout the semester or you will not receive a good grade.

This class is cross-listed with Criminal Justice. I would recommend CJ students not to take this class as it is more designed for Pol Sci students. Compared to traditional CJ classes, this is much harder. It is an amazing class, and if you want to go to law school, I highly recommend taking it, as he teaches in the same style as law school.

Dirk is an awesome professor who makes class very enjoyable. One thing I will stress is to read and come with questions, they do not have to be complex questions. Dirk does teach socratically, so be ready to answer questions; he forces you to think with the questions he asks you. 15/10 professor

Great professor, but always make sure to do your reading. His Socratic method can be intimidating initially, but if you give a smart answer, he won't go after you. The class discussions are a great way of learning the more complex nature of the subject. The six quizzes were easy; for me, my lowest score was a 94%, otherwise it was all 98 or 100%.

Awesome class, it's a bit of a roller coaster, but you learn a lot about politics and partisanship!

Difficult class, but may have been due to harsh TAs. A lot of course content to get through, but it's mostly enjoyable and interesting. Definitely a must take if you're into political theory.

Dirk is a great professor, after a few lessons I had already begun to think more critically than before. His Socratic method style of teaching is super intimidating but if you are up to date on the reading you are usually fine. If you are looking for an easy class this is not it, but if you want to actually learn something take a class with him.