If this proffessor were teaching upper level calculus classes i'd take it simply because of how he teaches! very clear, helpful, unbiased, simple, and just plain fun. He is what teaching international politics is all about. Definitely take this class!

AWESOME! So very helpful, he goes out of his way to help you in ANY WAY he can! Seriously, he's one of the best teachers ever! His class is interesting cuz he combines lecturing and cool vids. His tests are so easy! Man, I wish EVERY professor in college was this easy, friendly, and helpful. :)

His class is so easy. I barely went and got a B anyone who went would most likely get an A. A definite GPA booster.

Great Professor! You learn a lot and he doesn't make it painful! Highly recommended!

Take this class if you are personally interested in taking a different view of international relations. He comes from a "political psychology" background - with strong russo influences. Class is pretty easy. But don't waste a seat if you're not going to listen - because lectures are worth the time.

best prof. ever, minimal work and class attendance gaurantee an A, take as many classes with him as possible, and 15 min. open note time on exams....what more could you ask for?

Shiraev is THE BEST professor at Mason. Without a doubt, he has the best way of dealing with students, and he gives you a 15 minute open-test notes? Hey guys I don's know about the Geeks that participate or write here, but I know that I learn more from him than any other hard grading ****!

wow! what a scholar. well prepared notes, comprehensive lectures, practical reading and straight to the point in what he wants you to know!

Loved the class, I always learn a lot in his classes. He's extremly nice. He prepares you for the tests by giving you the outlines. He's extremly smart too. Only problem: no class discussion. Def. recommended.

Prof. Shiraev is the absolute best. You does not bore you with this lectures. All lectures are interesting and to the point. Well worth taking his class.

Dr. Shiraev is the best--great lectures, tells you what he wants you to know, and he never leaves you in the dark. Not only that, he's a good person, too. Thanks so much, Professor!!!

Nice guy, semi-boring lectures, but e-mails great notes, fairly easy tests. Recommended.

AMAZING! this is the 2nd time im rating him bc i dont think ppl understand how amazing a professor he is! the lectures are interesting, great videos (we watched SNL once), great tests with no surprises, 12 min open notes, and a very smart guy! i would take advanced calculus for no reason at all if he taught it-great GPA booster:)

awesome teacher

This professor is really nice. He explains exactly whay you need to know for the exam. Some of the exams are open book and he explains everything before the exams so there is no way you can fail. I HIGHLY recommend this professor!

GREAT TEACHER! He is fun to listen to and fair. Tests are easy as long as you glance at the book and show up to class every once in a while.

This professor is very nice and easy. He is also fair and does whatever he can to make sure that everyone has a chance to do exceptionally well in his class. I highly recommend him, particularly if you are not a Government major.

This professor was easy and yes i have to admit that this was just an A served on a silver platter! The only thing that was bad about this class was there were too many cheaters!

Great professor and class was very easy. Just take notes and read them and your good to go. I am not a government major and have never studied it before and got an A in the class. I was very surprised how easy it was. Highly recommend

Shiraev is a gem in the GMU staff, everything he says is intelligent and aimed at giving you a bigger understanding of the topic. 132 was all multiple choice tests that came mostly from lectures.

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Makes class interesting with videos and up to date examples of politics in the media. Even showed Da Ali G show! Open book on all quizzes, and easy final make this class a must. you learn a lot!

Very easy. Take notes in class and you will ace the tests. LOVE the open sources period during tests! He is a really nice, intelligent guy, wants to help you succeed in class and later career. Can be hard to understand his speech, but take him anyway!

By far the best professor I ever had at Mason! I highly recommend him. He's such a nice guy and always cares about his students. Always has time. Test are easy as long as you study. His topics are interesting and so are the videos which you see every class. I'm taking two classes with him this semester, at the 300 and 400 levels and will continue.

Professor Shiraev is by far the best professor I have had at Mason. You don't worry about note-taking and exams (only 5, open book) but actually understand what is going on. SO helpful, very lenient, doesn't take attendance either..he actually treats you like a college student. LOVED HIM!!!!

yay for Shiraev!! One of The Few teacher at mason who clearly knows his stuff and is an expert at what he teaches. Only thing is you need to be motivated to listen and take notes during lectures.

WOW! one of the nicest people you'll ever meet in your life. He is a great professor, understanding, helfpul and whole lot of good stuff. You'll learn alot in his class, I hope he keeps teaching so other people will have the privilge to be in his class. Hooray for profesor Shiraev.

Professor Shireav is THE BEST professor at the GMU. No other professor I have had has gone out of his way to help his students like professor Shiraev. One of the most down to earth people you will meet and you can talk with him about anything. Whether you are a government major or not taking one of Shiraev's classes will only help you.

awesome teacher. really knows his stuff and is helpfull. he has a review sesion before every test.

This is the best class ever. Prof. Shiraev is really helpful. The book that he is uding for this class is also great. You can actually understand what it is saying. He is really passionate about international relations. Overall take this class if youw ant an easy A.

The best Teacher On campus, he would do what it takes to make u pass. I didnt do that much and i got an A, just work hard and study. He wont let u down, hes the best.

He was AWSOME! He is extreamly nice, just talk to him if you need help and he'll do his best to help you out! No wonder his classes gets filled so fast during registration! He make the class so intersting too, during exams I was surprised how much i remembered from his lecture.

HE IS THE COOLEST TEACHER EVER YOU GUYS! HIS CLASSES HAVE BEEN THE EASIEST SO FAR!

I rarely went to class, way too early, i got Bs and Cs on the exams. I had to make up the second exam. I could have sworn i was going to get a C what a dissapointment, BUT I got a B for the class. Great teacher, very fair, always emails you back promptly, I highly recommend him.

Awesome Professor- Slight accent, very entertaining, really knows this international politics. Final is open notes, and in his upper level class, so are the test. Take him if you get the chance, he knows his stuff!!

Best Prof. I've had so far, period. Makes class very interesting and stays involved. You can clearly see he cares about what he's teaching.

The equivalent of high school government, I came to class four times and got an A. If you get a B in this class you're lazy, a C in this class means you are retarded. T&F/multiple choice tests (2 takes homes), extra credit. Incredibly great guy, but worthless class (Too easy to not take again though)

I have had Prof. Shiraev for at least one course every year, and have sometimes even taken two of his courses in one semester. He is hands down one of my favorite professors, the classes aren't difficult, the lectures and material study is always interesting and the Russian accent is ADORABLE! He's an amazing professor and I highly recommend him!

EASY A!!! if you have an issue (like accidentally missing an exam) make sure you email him promptly and he'll definitely work with you. a very nice and helpful professor. and did i mention-- easy A!

best professor in the world! and so cute!

Fantastic professor and very enjoyable class. He is such a nice guy, too! Incorporates media viewings into his lectures and exams are very conducive to student success. I absolutely recommend him. He kind of looks like George Stehanopoulus' brother, which means that he is cute!

Shiraev is so cool! He mixes his lectures up w/ notes, photos & videos. There are 5 tests, mostly multiple choice and one short paper. He posts notes but not the videos. Tests are about 50/50 lecture & text so come to class & read the book and your sure to get an A.

Awesome!

EASY A just read the book before each exam and u r guarenteed a B easy easy class and fairly interesting... the problem is he never stop talkin he just goes on and on and on and on but he is funny which makes up for it. good guy!

Professor Shiraev is one of those teachers who isan't out to prove anything to you he just wants you to know the material. Extremely helpful great class his main point though is to make sure that you learn something from him.

Excellent Prof, funny and experienced too. Read the book, do the study guides, and go 2 class = almost guaranteed A grade. Much better than Prof Tadie.

I just Loved the class, I learned a lot in his classes. He's extremely i mean extremely nice. He prepares you for the tests. He's very smart. I mean it, take him You will love me forever.

if you're a govt major and you haven't heard of shiraev, there's something wrong. i'm on my FOURTH class with him and he's an awesome professor. my recommendation, ace the 5 (basically open note) tests and forget the paper, it's only worth 10 pts, anyway. i only ever went on exam days and still got an A. offers extra credit too. highly recommended.

Professor Shiraev is great! I got behind in my work due to personal problems and he was EXTREMELY understanding. He outlines exactly what you will be tested on and posts his notes online. Reading posted material = good grade. He really knows his stuff and despite the class being "easy", you can learn a lot if you choose to do so. Taking him again!

Prof Shiraev is a great teacher. You definitely have to study and work for a good grade, but he is so helpful. He informs you of everything that will be on tests and gives a study guide. Go to class and you really won't need the book

This is the best prof I have ever had. The man is funny, engaging and really interesting. He gives you open notes in the middle of tests and he is more then willing to give you advice about anything you want to know, not just his class. I would recommend you try to take him, even if you aren't a government major or need his class.

Decent professor and really smart.

Sorry, I meant to say he was really helpful. I screwed up on the ranking.

No need to go to class. Even if you miss a video, just ask before the exam, and he'll tell you about it. 5 tests, with Q & A before each one. Listen to his answers, they are almost verbatum to the answer on the test. Everything is online, and the book helps. Easy A. All multiple choice. No papers, except as extra credit.

Most amazing prof. at Mason. Really helpful. 5 tests, with Q&A before all the tests. He basically gives you the answers. If you fail this class..you're clearly doing something wrong. I def. will take all of his classes if I can!

Dr. Shiraev is insightful, kind, and will go out of his way to help students. His class is not too challenging; just do his study guides and you?ll ace the 5 tests. Talk to him personally and he'll provide a ton of useful information (and even fringe benefits). Patient, witty, and brilliant, Dr. Shiraev is a must have for any government major.

Great teacher!! He just wants students to learn. not out to watch people fail. will help you before and during the test if you need it. take him

He started out the first day of class by giving lots of helpful internship and job advice for the future. He's so nice and really cares about his students. He gives nearly all the questions on the tests ahead of time so you can study. The easiest A ever!

Excellent professor. He teaches with many tools (lecture, a little of discussion, videos, and picture). Tests are straightforward and easy as long as you read the book and attend to the lectures. He has a slight accent, but he's understandable. He's always willing to help and answers questions.

A scholar and a funny person, he had publish many books. I hate government period!! but he make the learning easier. After the first test, I had stop going to the class. Show up only the test date. just study the notes and the reveiw sheet questions. he'll answer almost every single questions on review sheet right before the test.

Great Professor! Very nice person who looks out for his students. He gives open note/book tests, offers extra credit, and we had just one term paper that he graded pretty easily. Definitely take this class!

Great Professor! Very interesting. By far, my favorite lecturer at GMU. He is flexible and will work with students who need the extra attention. I highly suggest this professor.

BEST PROFESSOR AT GMU!!! he is very helpful, nice, and intelligent!

you can't afford not to take this professor. he makes things easy to understand, and he knows his stuff

One of the best government teachers mason has to offer. If you don't take some of his classes you are simply just don't understand.

Professor Shiraev is fantastic. If you can take him... do it now! Really considerate of students and willing to help out at anytime. Very unbiased, and just really great. Seriously, sign up for his class.

He is a awesome teacher. You have 4 Exams in the class but he lets you have 15 minutes of open source which helps a lot! He also gives you plenty of chances to do extra credit. He is a great teacher! Definitely take his class!

He is a great teacher! I really enjoy his class and he is always very clear! He really knows what he is talking about- take one of his classes if you haven't yet. Amazing professor!

This teacher was awesome! I usually dont rate teachers but he deserved his. I am taking another one of his classes next semester, its hard to find qaulity teachers such as Prof Shiraev. It is recommended to do some reading and read his notes he gives you but overall the class is not too hard but is VERY informative. Highly Recommended

Dr. Shiraev has a really interesting class. An easy A as well because he allows 15 minutes of open sources on exams. A great class. A must for government majors.

I had him for govt132, and 322 is even better! He's a lot of fun. Class is not mandatory but why would you skip it? He posts notes and sample questions online, gives 15 minutes of open notes, and plenty of extra credit opportunities! I'm going to take 2 more classes w/ him and I'm not even a government major! The best!

Such an amazing teacher. He is extremely helpful and gives lots of opportunities for his students to succeed in his class with extra credit. I wish he taught all the classes at George Mason! He is one of Mason's true jewels! TAKE HIM.

Very nice guy and very knowledgeable about the subject. His class is easy as the notes are already typed up, he gives study guides with many of the questions on the test and gives plenty of extra credit opportunities. I do not feel like I learned a lot though because the topics are very basic, especially if you are already familiar with politics.

Very smart. Knows the subject. Explains well. Tests are open book and he is very helpful and considerate of students. A little blunt when students ask stupid questions and points it out, You can pretty much pass if you use his study guides. Definitely an easy A!!!!

Dr. Shiraev always has good classes. I learned a lot about the Middle East in this class. Highly recommended!

Dr. Shiraev's Public Opinion/Foreign Policy class is really interesting. We examined about the past 80 or so years of history through public opinion and foreign policy. Definitely an interesting course. Tests are a little bit tricky, but that's why there's extra credit. Take this class. Definitely worth the money!

Best professor at Mason! funny guy, very informative, nice movies, easy exams. what more can you ask? 4 multiple choice exams, 50 questions each. Most sample questions appear on exam so do them. Ask questions you don't know during the discussions before exam. During exams, 15 min of open sources,Google is your best friend. Browse fast to do good.

Take Him! He knows his stuff and is very helpful. Offers a lot of extra credit to boost your grade at the end. 4 exams and 1 paper. I'd recommend going to every class because the notes are important. Read the book too.

He is a really nice guy. He tries very hard to make the class intersting with lots of examples and videos. There are 4 easy exams and a paper. Go to class and you will do well.

Easy A so you learn awesome things without worrying about grade, made me want to work harder. Extra credit. I go out of my way to take him. Awesome person, so kind. Take him!!!!!

He's an increidbly nice guy. Tries to make the class interesting. Exams and paper are really easy. Come to class and you'll learn a lot.

Very good professor. Questions from study guides are on the tests. Study guides cover just about everything. 10 minutes of open sources on tests.

One of many classes I've had with him and he is still funny, engaging, and interesting. The book is very useful during the open-note part of the exams! He could slow down while going through his power point slides during the lectures, even if they're later posted online...

Gives 15 mins of open note for every test, but you still want to make sure to read the material before because those 15 mins fly by! As long as you go to class, take notes, and skim the readings you'll do great.

I have had Dr. Shiraev three times now, Governmnents 132, 322, and 338. I have recived an A+ in every class. He is phenomenal, funny, easy, extremely flexible, and enlightening. Honestly, if you are a Government, Conflict, Global Affairs, or Humanities major in general and don't take him, you are a fool. My absolute favorite professor at Mason!

Dr. Shiraev is a kind and understanding person who is also a very knowledgeable person when it comes to international relations and psychology. He's always willing to go out of his way for his students. Attendance isn't mandatory and even if you miss a good chunk of the semester, you can still do well by intensely studying his online notes.

Hands down, one of the best government professors Mason has to offer. He knows a lot about what he's teaching and is passionate about it. I had no interest in international relations until I took his class because he presented it in a way that was easy to learn. I am definitely going to take another government class with him in the near future.

I dont know what to say to describe this professor but he is awesome. gives extra credit if you do independent assignment and gives study guide for his four exams that meke up your grade as long as you study youll get an A (I got an A+)

Honestly one of my favorite professors at Mason. He gives study guides that actually help on the tests, you have open book time for 10 minutes during the test, and he gives extra credit. He is extremely knowledgeable about the topics discussed in class. Also, he writes great recommendations.

Professor Shiraev brings a lot of material into the class. If you like history and current events, this is the class for you! Tests were difficult at first but the open book helps make up for that. You can also earn credits for attending events

Awesome professor! I was worried about this class at first but then I learned if you just study the slides he posts on BB, you'll be fine! Pay attention to every detail on the slides including what books everyone wrote - there will be a question about them! Gives extra credit and is very helpful. I'm taking him again for Govt 132 in the spring.

He's actually a really funny guy who can sometimes make class awesome. Other times it is really boring, but he is wicked smart so ask him anything. The slides were the exams so just study those and his study guides and you'll get an A. He also does easy extra credit so take advantage of that. Great experience.

I've taken two of his classes and if you want a GPA booster take his class! He is very nice and willing to help but I must admit that the lectures were a bit too straight from the slides therefore eliminating the need to attend class. He's very smart and would be the perfect professor to host a study abroad trip.

Professor Shiraev is an angel on earth! He is the best professor at Mason hands down. I took every single course offered that he teaches. The material is difficult, but Shiraev makes it very easy to grasp. He is extremely understanding and wants all of his students to be successful. Take his courses!

He's very nice and smart. My only criticism is that the class was not very deep but it's a freshman/100 level class and he certainly hits the basics. But if you already know a lot about politics/government then it's barely worth it to even go to class or read the books. Check the study guides & lecture slides & do the extra credit & it's an easy A.

Pay attention, study the slides, and do one of the extra credit assignments. At the end of the semester you'll be sitting pretty on an 'A', enjoying your holiday and opening presents with a fat grin. If you don't pass with an A or B, you should consider dropping out of college. Does'nt get any easier.

He is the best teacher I ever had at GMU. He is very knowledgeable .study the power point and study guide and do the extra credit and A is in your way. GMU should have more of this people teaching its classes. He is very kind and polite comparing with all my science teachers.

I was surprised at the difficulty level of the class. Other reviews make it sound like a breeze, when in reality, you do need to do the readings in order to get an A on the tests. Complete the study guides. Study the slides. It's actually quite a bit more work than other comments say... I also found his Russian accent hard to understand at times.

he gives really interesting lectures and he gives all the material to you online you need to study. so its not hard but you do need to study, all tests were multiple choice but they were not necessarily easy. he did give opportunities for extra credit which helped me get a high grade.

Dr. Shiraev is an AWESOME professor!!! First, attendance is not mandatory. About 60% of the class was missing for most of the lectures & showed up only for the exams. Dr. Shiraev uploads all the PP slides & study guides on Blackboard. DO THE EXTRA CREDIT! Also, study for the exams! Book not necessary, though helpful. Solid professor. #SIMPLYAWESOME

Dr. Shiraev certainly knows Cross Cultural psychology & it's far reaching implications...he literally wrote the book on it. Lectures are a bit frustrating as they move SO slow & I eventually stopped going. Just read the book (VERY easy read), do the practice questions, & seriously DO THE EXTRA CREDIT. 5% increase in grade for a fun assignment!

Good professor; kind of hard to pay attention to if you're not interested in the subject. He definitely knows the topic well though! Let us have a few minutes of open notes during exams, which helped immensely as long as you study enough to know basics.

A very well informed professor. He has done a lot in the world and had so much to talk about that sometimes his lectures were beyond what was necessary to grasp the concepts of the class. I enjoyed his class and would take a class with him as the professor again.

Such a great professor! I'm sad there are some bad reviews for him. Ok sometimes he's a little hard to understand but that's why you need to listen to him in class and actually I love his accent and he is so interesting. His tests are easy if you read the chapters and he also lets us keep the book open for 15 minutes. Take him!

He is the BEST!

I seriously love Dr. Shiraev. Hands down, one of my favorite professors at GMU. I took him for GOVT 132 last semester & again this semester for 322. Honestly, he is THE epitome of AWESOME. If he taught more GOVT classes, I would take him for sure. He gives you opportunitities to succeed in class & is supportive in every possible way. #BESTPROFEVER!

Basically, he is the best teacher. I've never had a teacher who cares so intently about the material he teaches, and does his job so well. I listened to a friend when she told me to take him for my class, and I don't regret it one bit! Love him!!!!!

Great course. Shiraev is a very interesting guy. Lectures are usually interesting even though they cover the same material as the textbook. There's four tests, all multiple choice. Study guides before the test tell you exactly what to study so it's easy to get an A, and there's extra credit. Fun class, good professor, pretty easy. Take it!

This professor is the best! Such a sweet and genuine man who is obviously very interested in the subject he teaches and he makes the class exciting. I highly recommend him!

He is great!! Do not buy the book, use only power points and study guides he provides. Lots of extra credit opportunities. Attendance not important, can not get any better. Take him, you will never regret!

He is super easy. Many extra credit opportunities. The book was not really but if you enjoy reading some of the readings were interesting. Study guides are provided and are right on when it's time for exams. Best professor ever, take him.

Wonderful professor! wonderful class. would take his classes again in a heartbeat

BEST PROF. HANDS DOWN!!! He's literally an angel on earth! 4 exams all multiple choice with 15 mins open notes and book.

Class wasn't too stressful. I put very minimal effort into the class and got a B. Honestly it was more the guy TA who helped people out more than anything.

Easiest class I took so far at Mason. All the exam questions were online on the practice question link he put on the syllabus. And it was open book (20min) for EVERY single test including the final. And no homework. And sooo many extra credit. Went to a special guest lecture and he added 4pts to final grade. It goes on.

I skipped more than 60% of the lectures yet still managed to get an A. Shiraev is an excellent professor and one of the best teachers I have had in my entire life. If you don't get at least B in his class you are doing something wrong. Just complete his review guides, and read the powerpoints and attend the reviews by his TA and you will succeed.

One of the best political science professor you will ever take. Very insightful, especially about Russia and Eurasian. Discusses current events in terms relevant to class. Even though I could skip class, no problem, I enjoyed attending. Provides study guides for tests. Moderate efforts guarantees A.

I have had Dr.Shiraev for 132, 322 and finally 412. I will miss not having a class with him because he is quite simply the best professor in this school. If you get anything lower than an A with him and you are a politics major, consider changing majors. You learn a lot from him and have the opportunity of making contacts with important people.

Got a decent grade, would have gotten better if I actually tried. But very good professor, highly recommend him! Read and study book and study guides. Do the extra credit that he provides. Very helpful if you have questions/concerns. He also let us use our books during exams for 20 minutes. If you have the opportunity to take his class please do!

EXCELLENT PROFESSOR AT GMU! HE IS EXTREMELY HELPFUL AND CARING.. I DIDNT REALLY TRY AND GOT A B-! HIS LECTURES ARE BASED OFF OF THE TEST! DEF RECOMMEND.. GREATTTT PROFESSOR.. :)

Do not need to read the book. Powerpoints are completely based off of it. Buy the book though because he will let you use it on exams which is extremely helpful. Also, do the online quizzes and exams because that is where he gets like 80% of the exam questions. Easy to pass. Lots of extra credit!

Easiest class I've taken at GMU. Shiraev offers 10% extra credit you can add to your grade. Exams are easy if you study the website on the study guide. He co-authored the textbook and it is very clear and interesting

Yes. Take him. He couldn't be more crystal clear on what you need to know for the exams. They're literally exact. If you study the study guide you will do great. Class is interesting and he's funny.

Hands down the best professor I have taken in 4 semesters at GMU. Provides a thorough study guide for each exam and is truly passionate about his work. You can tell he genuinely cares about the future of his students and would be willing to go out of his way to help you in your career path.

Do whatever you can to get this professor! He breaks down the material to the simplest possible point so everyone can understand. He genuinely cares about the future of his students and is more than willing to give extra help if you ask. Also his exams are open book for 20 minutes. If you take his class you won't be disappointed :)

Extra Credit pretty much guarantees that you get boosted a letter grade at the end of the semester. 4 tests and that's it. The tests can be a little difficult and you do need the book but hes a great guy and I enjoyed the class.

Really knowledgeable and ACTUALLY cares about is students! First professor at GMU so far that cares. He isn't a robot professor. Ask, and he will tell :) I will definitely be taking him again! Moderate work guarantees an A. I got a B due to other classes getting in the way. Take him! He is really good at teaching.

This class is very easy. Show up and you will be fine. I highly recommend it. Prof. Shiraev is nice and he wants you to succeed. If you don't it's your own fault because it's not hard.

He is one of my all time favorite professors. He can be a little boring sometimes, but only because he goes into detail and gives a lot of personal input. He is EXTREMELY helpful and does not look down upon you what so ever if you ask for help. His exams are open book, and are pretty much from the slides. TAKE HIM!

Great professor. It's really unfortunate that he only teaches one psyc course. He really has an in-depth knowledge of psychology much more than most professors at GMU. His class is difficult, but if you put in the effort you can get an A. I enjoyed taking him and have no regrets at all. Very helpful, understanding, and overall an outstanding prof.

Shiraev is a great professor but test 2 in this class kicks everyone's butt so be prepared to study hard and still get a C on test 2. the essay is pointless because almost everyone receives the same grade. he is mostly willing to help students with issues and questions. he sometimes gets off track in lectures

Excellent professor, definitely taking him if he teaches something else I like. Highly recommended

Great professor. Lectures are clear and PPT are on BB. He tells you what to study for and what to write about in papers clearly. Easy A. Would take him again.

He is there for students, he cares A LOT about students and tries to help them all the time. Study materials are provided and he tells what to study for the exam. Excellent professor, his lectures are very organized and easy to follow. He knows his stuff and can answer any question. EXTRA CREIDTS :)

Cool guy. He does care about his students, and only have us four, 50 question tests all semester. As long as you attend class, or read the chapters, you're in the clear.

Awesome professor! Very funny with interesting lectures. This guy actually went to school with most of the high up Russian officials we learn about, which you just can't find anywhere else. Very knowledgeable about everything he speaks about. Take this class.

He is very helpful and will respond to his emails fairly fast. His test might be tough but all you have to do is study the book's website,key terms and look over the power points (You'll surely get an A or -A. One problem is that he is very hard to understand because he has a bit of an accent but it is still comprehensible. I would take him again.

This class was easy. Don't need to show up to pass. Lecture slides (posted online) are from the reading and his four tests are mostly from practice questions (also posted online). Really great professor- he's smart and really cares about his students. He's always up for convo after class and during office hours.

I went to class and never got anything less than a 96. As long as you read the textbook or go to class (don't have to do both) you should get at least a B on every test.

Incredibly knowledgeable about international politics, both present and past, however classes are very boring, long lectures. I went to every class, though it's a waste of time really. As long as you know when the exams are and look at the online example testsquizzesflash cards the night before, you can easily get an A no problem.

Dr. Shiraev is very knowledgeable in his field and tries to impart his enthusiasm for his field onto his students. His accent can be hard to understand at times. He's a hard person to contact, but I'm assuming it's due to his schedule. Fun class. Worth taking with him.

Dr. Shiraev is amazing. That said, his lectures come directly out of the book. So coming to class isn't a necessity if you know what's in the chapters. However, do get the chance to know him! He sounds like a robot in lecture, but he's incredibly knowledgeable and has a good sense of humor as well.

Amazing professor !!! Clear about what he wants . knows what he is talking about . gives extra credit , there for his students :D just amazing nice professor love him and I would defnately take him again. You don't really need the text book or attend classes however you need to attend for the reviews in those he tells us what will be on it.

Barely showed up to class and still passed, as long as you go over his power-points and do the online practice quizzes/exams you'll be good

This is such an easy class. You don't need to attend class, except for exams. His lecture and powerpoint are straight from the textbook, which is written by him. He also lets you use your textbook and notes for a 20 minute period during exams.

Very thoughtful and sweet professor. You can tell he's clearly knowledgable in his field and truly loves what he teaches. Can be monotoned sometimes but tries to be as interesting as possible. Attendance not mandatory to get an A. Make sure to read the slides and do the practice exams on his website, he gives you an A on a golden plate :)

Professor Shiraev is great! He has so many stories about places he has visited and people he has met. He is very passionate about International Politics and loves hearing student's views on the Int'l world. For our class, every test there was a 20 min. period of open sources. I would 100% take him again.

Really nice guy. Was in a lecture hall so I hardly went and still came out with a good grade. Most of the grade comes from four tests. Tests are open book/note/powerpoint. Greatest thing ever. He's a bit difficult to understand sometimes but he definitely knows his stuff.

Smart guy, but too much discussion. Do the study guides!!

Super nice guy. Goes off topic a lot and lectures can get fairly dull, but he's got some interesting stories every now and then. Tests are open note and open book. I ended skipping several classes in the second half of the semester and still got an A.

Professor Shiraev is amazing! His tests are very easy as long as you do the study guide which has half of the test in it. Reading the textbook chapters will enhance your knowledge of the curriculum and will help with completing the study guides. Throughout the semester he assigns four tests, each worth 25% of your final grade. Would take him again!

Don't need to attend class. Dr. Shiraev is a great guy and incredibly knowledgeable. Open book tests that are very easy provided you fill out the study guide. Time consuming but relatively easy paper, and loads of extra credit. Take him, you won't regret it. Easy A!

Prof. Shiraev is very knowledgeable of the subject he teaches and lecture is interesting if you're into the subject. 4 tests but they are open notes and fairly straight forward. He wants you to do well and learn.

I love Professor Shiraev!!! He is very kind and makes sure everyone understands before moving on. There's 4 tests, the 4th test is the final but he treats it like any ordinary test. An alternative he gives instead of taking the 4th test is writing an essay at home. His tests are all open note for 25 minutes. His lectures are long but interesting.

Professor Shiraev is a great man. He is my good friend and my great counselor. He is the author of 12 books. He inspires you to learn and is there always to help you. Only you need to do is talk to him and get his feedback. This class has 4 exams and they are all open source. *hint: understand the context and do not only focus on short answers

Read the chapters and go over notes on Blackboard and you will pass. Grade consists of 4 exams (multiple choice), all of which you are allowed 30 minutes of open book/notes. Provides study guides for each exam and posts powerpoints on BB. Can be hard to understand/hear sometimes but clear enough to get the point. Would take again.

A solid professor. Knows his stuff and teaches clearly. Has a subtle sense of humor that not many of the class will laugh at, it is okay to laugh. Easy tests if you prepare for ahead of time. Has an accent but it isn't that strong. Would take again.

Love Professor Shiraev. He is an amazing person, also very intelligent. He knows his stuff! I enjoyed his class, his lectures were very interesting. There are 4 Test total, study and attend class. Almost everything he says in class is on the test. Take notes and read the book + the notes before a test. Easy A if you study! Take him, his amazing!

Great Teacher. Long Lectures but open source test.

Tests are open notes, book, etc. One paper assignment. Lots of extra credit opportunities. Very nice, funny professor. I didn't put any effort into this class and got a B (I didn't need this class for my major).

Four tests and one essay. The tests are a mix of short answer and multiple choice. As long as you look at the slides and do some of the study guide, then you will find the tests easy. The paper is long but easy. Tons of extra credit, so as long as you do decently on the tests, you will guarantee yourself an A. Take him.

Mr. Shiraev is awesome. He is helpful and it's clear that he wants his students to do well in his class. He is a master of Russian studies, he wrote the book on it! The tests are fairly easy,he provides a study guide but don't expect an A unless you read the book or show up to class, he gives a lot of answers in his lectures. 10/10 would take again

Class was easy and the professor was very helpful. He knows how to communicate with his students and is always willing to help them understand or study for his tests. A+ teacher who made a boring class fun.

Best professor Ive ever had !!!! Book wasn't needed at all.

Great guy and even better professor. Knows what he's talking about and loves the subject. Pay attention and you'll pass. Also do the study guides.

Great personality! Uses textbook he wrote himself. His book covers everything in his lectures so attendance not mandatory, but he offers extra credit if you attend classes. Allows you to reference the textbook briefly on tests, so keep up with reading - you won't have time to look up all the answers during the narrow window.

Absolutely love Shiraev!! You can tell that he really cares about what he is teaching. His tests are open note/open book and are very easy if you do the study guide. I took him last year and just had to take him again this year because he was that amazing!! 11/10 recommend BEST professor ever

Amazing professor. Very intelligent and experienced in the field, teaching for 20+ years and adding on to the course as significant political events occur. Grading criteria is clear and as long as you understand the study guides, you will do great on the exams.

Love this dude! Class is interesting and an easy A! 4 exams that have 15 minutes of open notes. No midterm or final and extra credit is offered. He is incredibly smart in his field and loves teaching. His accent can be hard to understand and he says "uh, um" a lot which can be a little tough but overall take him for International Relations!!

This professor really loves the subject! So the lectures are really interesting! He is a really nice teacher too and gives LOTS of extra credit opportunities. The tests are really straightforward! He also gives open note time for the tests. I strongly recommend him because he isn't trying to trick you or make the tests hard.

If you have to take GOVT 132 I 100% would recommend Shiraev. Final grade is based on 4 exams which are partially open book (sidenote: he wrote the book). Complete the study guide as the questions are very similar if not identical and you should do well! Only negative was that he was sometimes difficult to understand. I plan to have him again!

Take him for sure!!! Sometimes its hard to understand his accent and he kind of talks a lot about nothing but he gives study guides for his tests which are all open notes (and you can use your laptop for notes)

He's a good professor. Lectures are boring, but he did cover a lot of important info. I never took Govt132 and I did fine. Slideshows are online so you don't have to go to class. We were graded on 4 exams and 1 paper. The exams are open notes and easy as long as you do the study guide. Paper is 2,500 words long but it isn't hard to get an A on it.

He is great ! take him and you won't regret. Tests are easy but you have to read to know it even it open book exam but it very details just read and know what page is what to make it easy for a test. He is nice but please don't take it for granted and be respectful to him. He is my favorite so far!

Take his classes, he is a very good person. If you miss a class on exam day or not agree with your grade talk to him about your difficulties, he give you makeup exam. He is knowledgeable person and help his students too. There are 4 exams 1 paper and extra credits. There is not confusing reading or textbooks. Open book exams.

Shiraev has much to offer and is brilliant in his field, but he doesn't expect much (and can be dry). I think that's unfortunate, but it makes a fairly easy A. If you fill out the study guide, you can still do well if you don't come to class often or read the text. The paper is no joke, though. I enjoyed it and learned a lot, but it's challenging.

Professor Shiraev is one of the best professors I've had at Mason. He's extremely knowledgeable about the subject he teaches and is very approachable when it comes to asking questions. His online resource material for the course is invaluable and it helps you get prepared for the session exams! Amazing professor and would take again!

TAKE THIS CLASS!! He is a very nice person. The textbook is written by him so you don't even need to show up. easy A

Professor Shiraev is so knowledgeable and respected in his field. However, his lecture style was really hard for me to follow and his tests focused on tiny details instead of important concepts and facts. The final was open note and that made all the difference.

He is the BEST !!!!!!

Dr. Shiraev is a phenomenal professor. His class for IR Theory is made up of 4 tests, non-cumulative and 1 term paper that varies between 2200 to 3000 words. His tests are open book, open note, and you can have your laptop out at the same time. So needless to say you can get an A no problem. Dr. Shiraev himself is very wise, so please take him!

His class is very fair. Read the book and do the study guide and you should do well. Extra credit is great

If you have the chance to take any class by Professor Shiraev do it. Open book exams and there isn't attendance taken. There is also an extra credit paper worth 5%. If you get anything less than a B in this class then you really shouldn't be in school, plus the syllabus is clear and concise

JUST TAKE HIM IF YOU CAN AWESOME PROFESSOR TESTS ARE TAKE HOME AND HES JUST SO SWEET AND CARING! BEST PROFESSOR FROM MY FOUR YEARS IN MASON

Great professor, Russian accent is easy to understand. Very smart, funny, caring. He offers a global view and has lots of jokes and practical examples. Works with you,offers an extra credit paper. Read book (he wrote it) and take notes for open book exams. You need to go to class, he has class examples that aren't in the book. Class is fun! Go!

Very nice guy. Everything is in the textbook, you just have to find it. The tests are open book and easy, you just need to have the review done and you'll be able to get a good grade on the tests.

this guy is awesome! he gave 4 tests that were super easy--literally just questions from the study guide-- and most of the time they were take-home. he really listens to what the students want and cares for them on top of being HILARIOUS. love love love him!!!!

The grade comes from 4 open note tests. Usually there are a couple of questions on the test about his lectures, but everything else you can learn from reading the book. There's also an option to do an extra credit paper, you just can't use it to get from an A to an A+. He's very friendly and likes to tell jokes, he'll also talk about careers.

Class is only open book classes. Sometimes the questions on the test werent in the book but overall it was a v easy class. He spends most of his lectures humblebragging

Literally this is an EASY A!!! I did not show up most of the class, just read the book and his power-point.

This class was almost too easy for me. He is a nice professor and talks alot but its good. The exams were open book but may not always be that way. Everything is in the textbook or online too. The last two were take home exams which makes it even easier. Maybe the class can be more challenging but people will still not care so everyone is happy.

He is so sweet and truly cares about his students! He doesn't believe in traditional memorization so he allows open note exams (hint, use his powerpoints from class and skim the textbook beforehand so you know where everything is in the chapters). 100% recommend!!

Easy A. Four exams for your grade. All open note and most are take home. Lectures are a little bland and some questions on the exams aren't in the book or slides. It is open note though so they are still very easy. Would recommend. Easy A.

EASY A! Four exams and one paper. ALL EXAMS ARE TAKE HOME. Need book though because they are kind of hard. If you read the book and try on the take home exams everyone should get an A. Very nice guy also and SUPER understanding.

All tests were take home but otherwise would be open book/note during class. The textbook is the basis of all the questions so just search the index. He's very nice and understanding. A little all over the place, but otherwise an easy A. Still very knowledgeable about Russian foreign policy though! One paper and extra credit too!

Nice professor and easy class. Our tests ended up all being take home so they were easy As, answers word for word in the textbook. Final paper only 10% of grade, showing up to class wasn't super necessary either. All PPTs online and he provides study guides for tests. Easiest 300 level class I've taken in a while.

Real awesome

Amazing class

Easy A

He's very knowledgeable and his class is super easy. Everything is available on Blackboard for review and all of the tests were open-note. Highly recommend.

I enjoyed his first few comments in the beginning of each class. He seems to care about students beyond just a G number and in the classroom. 4 tests total and all were open book. No final, the 4th test was considered the final and it was on the last few chapters not comprehensive. He offered two opportunities for extra credit.

There are 4 multiple choice tests in the class, no final, and an extra credit opportunity. The tests are all open book and open notes (including your computer notes). Not everything is on the lecture slides, so it's helpful to read the textbook. A lot of the questions on the tests use phrasing from the textbook.

Hes a great guy that pushes for everyone to pass! Tests are open notes so its not that difficult. Only problem is sometimes he loses track and will end up talking about random things for a really long time but besides that great teacher

He makes you buy his textbook, but he also writes the tests directly from that textbook so its a mixed bag. He seemed more focused on anything but what he was teaching but that also made it super easy to pass if you just read the textbooks so no real complaints.

Fun class

Shiraev is a great teacher. He makes you use his textbook and his quizzes/tests are word for word in his textbook so theyre all super easy. His lectures gets boring sometimes but overall, hes very kind. His TAs are super helpful in terms of writing papers so talk to them!!!

Gov 132 with Shriaev was pretty solid. There is a quiz each week, then 3 tests (4 including final), and 2 papers. USE THE TEXTBOOK because so much of the quizzes/ tests come straight out of them. Slides are super helpful too. Extra credit opp for 5 points due with the final. Not SUPER easy because mc questions can be tricky, but overall fair.

I loved govt 132 with him. All his tests and quizzes are word for word from his book. He would respond to my emails quickly which was really nice. His lectures can get a little boring sometimes, but I still recommend attending them. I highly recommend him for govt 132!

Shiraev is a good professor. Do the work. Read the book. You'll be fine.

Professor Shiraev is a great professor! He's very knowledgeable in the topic of international Relations and cares for his students. The content was super easy and so were the assignments.

A great guy who is extremely knowledgeable! However when it comes to lectures be sure to grab a coffee and be sure to sit in the front of class. He is very soft spoken and sometimes hard to follow. Other than that his quizzes are fairly easy as most of the answers are in the textbook.

Good professor, very smart and knows his material. Just read his book and you'll do fine. DON'T BE LATE ON ASSIGNMENTS.

Weekly quizzes and four exams all of which are multiple choice and open note/powerpoint/book. If it's not in the PP, it is most likely in the book. Only catch is they are timed, but I finished quickly. Two papers, a policy brief and an op-ed. They were intimidating for a 100s course but ultimately easy. Would definitely recommend Dr. Shiraev.

Strongly recommend! He gives good lectures, uses a good textbooks for classes that lines up with the material, and cares about students. He also gives out internships if you work hard in his class and have a good LinkedIn profile. There's no reason to not take him if he's an option to be your professor.

Very straightforward class with weekly quizzes, 4 exams and 2 papers.

His helpful power points and his engaging lectures would single handedly make me remember the required material. Some questions came from lectures, but other than that, all test and quiz questions are word for word out of the textbook so I would recommend having it!!

Dr. Shiraev is a great lecturer and his class is extremely easy. Weekly quizzes/4 exams (all open book) and 2 very simple papers. There is a 5 point optional extra credit paper. He is clearly very experienced and knowledgable, and offers great career advice. Overall a very laid back class, if you put in basic effort you'll get an A.

Prof. Shiraev is the best! Govt 132,322,338 have 10 quizzes & 4 exams plus 2 papers for govt 132 & just 1 for Govt 322/338. Everything is open book/notes. Extra credit is offered. For Govt 132/338 answers can be found in the book/PP slides word for word but for Govt 322 most can also be found in the book/PP slides but not all! Take him if you can!

Great professor. You will have to buy the textbook, though. Great lectures! Attendance is optional, but you don't want to miss his class because he's so great. Grading is easy, weekly quizzes, 4 tests, 2 papers. Easy class, highly recommend.

Shiraev is probably one of the best professors to take, though it depends on what you want to get out of the class. Lectures are funny and honest about career opportunities in IR, but you don't need to attend them to pass. GET THE TEXTBOOK ONLINE, quizzes and exams are open note and verbatim from the book. Easy A if you do the routine assignments.

Professor Shiraev gives awesome lectures and is very knowledgeable. There are weekly quizzes and the textbook will help with that. By far one of the best classes because you'll breeze through it.

While the actual covering of material can be somewhat shoddy, easily one of the best professors in political science, easy work with a highly intelligent professor. He will ramble often but he means well,

This class was pretty interesting and Professor Shiraev had interesting lectures. The tests and quizzes are directly from the textbook, and everything was open note. There were 2 papers, an Op-ed and Policy Brief. This class was not difficult and very easy to take.

Professor Shiraev is so kind and so funny. His 132 class is easy as long as you pay attention to his hilarious lectures. An easy class, that I would take again.

Such a fun class to listen to because of the motivational and funny lectures. Most of the coursework was weekly quizzes (posted on Thursday and due by Saturday at 10 p.m.) or class exams, which you were permitted to take at home or anywhere you wanted to take them. Both had time limits and had a specific time they had to be due, but they were easy.

This class was very easy. There was very clear grading criteria and attendance was not mandatory at all. Honestly, the lectures were a waste of time because everything comes straight from the textbook. If you read the textbook, you'll get an A.

Professor Shiraev is a brilliant individual and valuable relationship to have in the world of politics and international relations. His class was easy to digest and very practical -- he wrote his own textbook so the quizzes and exams are verbatim. His lectures are very engaging but not required -- attended only a handful of classes and got an A+.

I would highly recommend taking Prof. Shiraev's class. All quizzes and tests were open notes, and could be taken outside of class. His lectures were also very interesting, and were taught very well. Attendance is not mandatory, but you would benefit going to his class as he also provides students with unique opportunities throughout the course.

prof shiraev is a nice guy. his lectures can be sort of disjointed. my class was in a room with a ton of people and he rarely used the microphone so i could barely hear him most of the time. weekly quizzes, 4 exams, 2 papers. everything is open note so pretty easy course but i didn't learn much.

Eric Shiraev is a very good professor. Class is not mandatory but highly recommended as he does summarize a lot of the textbook in his lecture. If he doesn't talk about something in class, take notes on it. There is only one extra credit opportunity but the immense worth of the opportunity makes up for the lack of extra credit opportunities.

This man is slightly off his rocker, but it doesn't matter because the class is such an easy A! Slides are posted online there is one quiz a week. All exams and quizzes are open note, no lockdown browser required, and asynch. There are two papers for the semester, both easily graded, as well as an extra credit essay (5% boost). Take this class!

Easy class, clear grading requirements, huge lecture hall style class

REALLY easy course. his lectures are funny but since all his quizzes are open-note and the answers can be found directly from the textbook, i wouldn't waste time attending class.

This marks my third course with Professor Shiraev, whose expertise and knowledge are truly remarkable. He consistently prepares his students for success. Expect weekly quizzes (based off given readings and lecture materials) along with a final paper in all his classes. If you're a gov major looking to breeze through, take Professor Shiraev!

Professor Shiraev's GOV132 class is a breeze. The lectures are engaging and the quizzes/exams are open-note, making it an easy A. While attendance is mandatory, it's worth going as he provides unique opportunities. I found unstuckstudy ai super helpful for quiz prep alongside the textbook.

Answers to open note quizzes are in the textbook. He's a little condescending but would recommend taking this class. Pretty easy.

Prof. Shiraev is one of the best professors at Mason! His lectures, especially the one on international law, were extremely interesting and engaging. We only had two short papers, and one was an op-ed, which I actually enjoyed writing. The class was not difficult. I feel I learned a lot.

Very knowledgeable prof, he talks about his life experience a lot that makes lectures interesting, but he does tend to ramble. Easy quiz every week. Long term paper at the end but you can start on it early. Attendance is not required. If you are really busy, take his classes because it takes off a lot of stress.

His class is easy. I'm taking online international politics class. The entire class is based on quizzes and exams so that is a big portion of the grade. They are easy multiple choice questions and it is open note. Easy class and good professor would recommend. We had guest lecturers from the VOA to attend class.