2.3
Quality3.6
Difficulty50%
Would Retake237
Reviews50%
Would Retake
237
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
29
4
35
3
41
2
47
1
85
What Students Say
“I understand why some would leave bad feedback, but it really wasn't an awful class”
A180 - 3.0 rating“Prof Arnold is very smart prof I've had”
PCSIA180 - 5.0 ratingClass Info
Attendance Mandatory
84%
Textbook Required
95%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
A-
Grade Distribution
Rating Trend
Stable
-0.02 avg changeRatings by Course
POLISC175
5.0
(1)POL110
5.0
(1)POLY180
5.0
(1)POLIT180
5.0
(1)PSCI180H
5.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
31010
5.0
POLYSC180
5.0
POLISCI100
5.0
PSCIENCE
5.0
UHHYEAH
5.0
Reviews (237)
Don't waste your time signing up for his class!!! He is so boring and reads out of the book. Even though his tests are open book, it's useless. His test questions are no where found in book.
DO NOT TAKE!!! Irrevelant lectures. Don't expect to hear about US Gov. INSANE amount of reading. Tests are HARD. Gave BS excuse as to why he lowered the grading scale. HINT:Cause everyone is failing. SOME questions based on personal opinion & not in text.
Long, random lectures. (3 hour class)Hardly talks about US gov. Spends way too much time talking about his life and friends in high places. WAY too much reading, and some test questions are HIS opinion, not historical fact.
He shows alot of enthusiasm about the course (when he IS talking about it). Its crazy this guy knows like, 20 languages and throws them in the lecture. Very entertaining*. TESTS are take-home/multiple choice. The essays are from IN-CLASS notes...
the teacher seemed interesting at first, but quickly removes that aspect of class. the test were primarily on his opinion. he literally had the majority of the questions saying: true or false, this statement agrees with the lecturers opinion.....
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This course will prepare you more than others for university level education. If you like floating by on C's by sleeping in class & skimming the textbook, this class is not for you. I read the books & listened in class and have an A. It's not too difficul
At first you might think you can hack it, which maybe you will, but he words the tests like a lawyer (with loop holes covered), which he is. I think his IQ must be about 180+, be prepared to be up there with him. You need lots of time for this class.
Great lecturer,extremely smart. His tests are overwhelming because they cover so much information.A lot of reading and you must take notes and stay organized.Tests are open note open book but time is very limited.if you don't fight it you can learn tons.
I did not like this teacher. Spoke way too fast and I hated when he started speaking in German. His test are open book but you only have so much time to take the test. I don't recommend him. Most of my class got a C.
i hated this class. i hated how he flaunted how he can speak 5 different languages fluently. his lectures made no sense and after awhile everyone was either asleep or playing games on their cell phones.
this course sucks.
Prof. Arnold is very intelligent and does speak five langueages (at least). However, it is sometimes very confusing when he starts talking in various foreign languages and does not explain what the hell he just said. You have to work hard to get an A.
he tends to stay talking too much on one part and ends up not covering all the notes. he's very intelligent as a person but i dont think he's a very good professor. its hard to know what things you should write down but you learn alot overall.
he tends to stray on the topics but he's nevertheless interesting. Just take the class for credit and you should be fine. I just wanted a C but I got a B--and did better than I expected. Not too bad.
Arnold is a very hard teacher but he really doesnt give bad grades if your in class and get in F on every test you will still get a C -take it, and dont worry he is intimidating but you will pass with a C no matter what
He is very confusing. He just talks the whole time and doesnt have any interaction with the class. Its very boring and hard to follow. When I tried to particitpate, he seemed bothered that I was taking away from his spot light.
Very boring teacher. If you want to learn the subject and enjoy the subject, DON'T take him. And yes, he does get very unclear in his lectures.
this guy was awesome, he rambles on about the most awesome stuff, anyone who fell asleep is a pussay
yes, it is hard to stay awake in his class, but he is so intelligent and knows the MOST about foreign affairs i have ever seen one human know. great for anyone who appreciates an intelligent professor. loved his class.
really boring, hard class
The most intelligent professor i have ever had, brillant man.Get him if you can, he has knowledge on almost every topic, you will walk away from each class thinking to yourself "wow hes smart"
Great class your bring your pillow and blanket to. Yes, he is intelligent, yet he doesn't give anyone a chance to speak thier mind with thier own opinions. Tests are hard, it's a mistake to take his class.
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One of the smartest people I've ever encountered. Knows EVERYTHING. Would win on Jeopardy. Talks A LOT, tends to get off topic and ramble at times. Pretty easy grading scale. Managing a B is extremely doable with minimal effort.
Too smart! If you dont take him while at occ then you are missing out.His tests are hard but his grading scale is awesome to where everbody w/effort pases. great professor!
knows almost everything and shares it all! you have to really pay attention to pass the class. Reading material is pretty heavy but the books are interesting so it makes the reading easier.
Genius who thinks everybody else should be a genius. I learned alot about him, not much about international relations.
Smart man. lots of reading but tests are open book. you will learn something. no particular political slant(hates all of them)
NOT!!!!! you should bring your pillow and blanket if u r gonna take this class...he talks in five languages, talks way too much about his cars, wife, and his vacation...no one cares...horrible teacher...should be fired...
He was not a very good teacher. He is not clear about what to study for and is not helpful if you do not understand his class.
He is a horrible teacher!! I didn't learn anything! He's is doesn't care about his students and speaks in different languages!! Don't take him!
Very boring. He is old school. Covers the basic requirements, doesn't interact with class at all. Wouldn't recommend him or take him again.
Very hard to understand. Talks in different languages sometimes for no reason.Test are hard but you'll pass the class with the curve. Out of 250 people, 3 people got B's and the rest of us got C's, no A's. Watch your GPA.
he should pick one language and stick wit it!! a lot of ready and his lectures trail off to diff places...
He won't return ur emails if you have questions.I can only understand English but he talks in like 6 languages..wtheck? U better pay attention to his notes,coz if u trail off&start zoning,he sounds like he's talking in like gibberish,u'll be lost! Talks very fast! Not recommended for ESL students!
If you know HOW to study and what to expect from a textbook, then you might find out the type of questions on Mr. Arnold's exams. An amazingly smart man--but don't let that fool you when it comes to (open-book) tests. He knows his sh!t...& he can prove it in 9 different languages; Have Respect.
If you are smart, take him and pay attention. If you aren't so smart, take the course as credit no credit and sleep in class. I would have to admit he is very smart, but he lacks the skill to teach; it's due to his lawyer side, or is it his engineering side? Whatever it is he shouldn't teach anymore
very detailed in everything he says because he was a lawyer! problem is he lectures in dim light, so you're likely to fall asleep. but he is loud when he speaks, and funny at times.
Ugh--that is pretty much all you can say about him. His test are extremely bias, to his opinion; he's smart...but sucks at passing on his wisdom. He is so smart he seems mediocre.
I dont know what everyone is talking about... but i thought his class was easy. I didnt pay a lot of attension to what he was saying... but I did the reading and read over his syllabus and got an "A".
This class was a breeze. This man is the smartest person I have ever met. Read the books and study the material and you'll do fine. I got an A.
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Worst professor ever. No part of the lecture covered U.S. gov. Instead he spent the time tring to impress the class with his ability to speak German & Spanish & his lawyer stories. If he is the brillant scholar he tells everyone he is why isn't he teaching at a major university. This guy's a joke
He is the most arrogant, self-righteous professor I've had. His lectures weren't at all relevent. I did learn some from the books we were required to read, but overall I hated the class and his unbelievable self-centeredness.
He is postivley the worst professor I ever had. About as interesting as chalk and unimformative. Spends too much time telling you how smart he is and not enough time helping you.
boring, mumbles, sucks
Fallin asleep during class will happen. Shoot me in the head!
He tends to ramble a bit on tangent stories that while interesting, aren't topical, but otherwise a very smart and witty man.
he is by far the most boring professor i have ever encountured. he has the tendency to mumble alot and speaks in various languages. the exams are completely worthless and meaningless.
unbelievly boring, even boring books.. hard to understand... difficult to concentrate... urgh...
Horrible...Overall disapointing. All he does is talk about himself. The lectures were ridiculous. The syllabus was poorly put together and hard to follow. His stories had nothing to do with political science. I think he just likes to hear himself talk...in embarassing accents for that matter.
class is super boring, mumbles a lot. lectures are pointless. can pass test w/ the power points w/o taking notes. open book test help a lil. overall, take this if u want to pass and not learn anything.
This professor is extremely arrogant that all he talks about is his own personal views about the government; all the while he is speaking in different languages. I didn't know if I was in a poli sci class or a language class. None of his lectures have anything to do with the exams. The only thing I learned was from reading the required textbooks
I took his class during the summer, and I just dropped it today,b/c it was pointless. He talks about him self, a bragger. Teaches an intro to U.S.Gov and is so ANTI U.S. Gov. He talks about different countries that have nothing to do with US Poli. By far the worse Poli Sci professor ever. DONT TAKE HIM, You will literally fall a sleep.
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This guy isn't as bad as everyone is making him out to be. If you are interested in the subject matter you will enjoy his class if not then it might be a touch on the boring side. You have to have a bit of an IQ to get his little jokes he throws into his lectures.
Although at first I labeled him a down-right braggart, I am starting to realize that his boasts of Royal ancestry, relations to Voltaire, memorization of foreign dialects, his many exotic travels, etc. are primarily and thus ultimately filler. It doesn't take a relation to (fill in historic figure) to realize Arnold has forever lost an audience
Strong speaking, very intelligent, well-traveled professor. He has strong opinions on nearly everything and made sure that we heard em. I had a good time, top grade in class somehow, but everyone hates em. Be prepared to study, but most tests are open book!
The dude must speak atleast 6 different languages, because that's all he does in class. All of his lectures is base on his travels around the world and his point of view about them , got nothing to do with the US. The class is so boring but don't let him catch you falling asleep because he will scream really loud at you and wake everyone up. haha
The guy is boring as hell and no one knows what the hell he is talking about, but he has open book tests and he doesnt care about attendance. I didnt study at all in his class and I passed it. Best Pol. Sci. teacher in OCC. That is if you want an easy good grade.
hated this class....so many books and he tests on like one of the paragraphs in one of the ten million books. Hated this class! My honors classes were way easier...and tons more fun! Take the honors class over taking this class!
I love poli sci but this class made me think again about my major. He is a smart guy but just keeps on talking about other things not related to the class.
WOW...what a hard teacher!! Man i hated that class, he knows how to put is class to sleep!! I don't know how i managed to get a B in his class but I did!!! Try to avoid his class if you can!!
one of the weirdest professors but entertaining. rambles about personal life occasionally. little bit cocky. overall teaches a lot of useful information. i suggest this class only for serious political science students.
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can be repetitive. he can say some things more than once. a little redundant.
So boring, slept through almost every class
I think he has a lot to say, and not all of us can take it in. He is not boring, if you keep up with what is going on in the world and are interested in how we got to today. He has jokes and he walks his space so you don't just sit there looking at someone speak the whole time. He shows passion in what he talks about. Take his class.
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I think this was quite possibly the worst class i have ever taken. All he DID was speak in all his different languages (we're so very impressed), tell inane stories, and lecture us based on HIS political views (which are all over the board). There is a lot of material to read and he asks loaded questions on maybe one sentence from an entire work that you were supposed to have read. His extra-credit book report is a joke. Only do it if you know what side of the fence he wants you to be on in writing it.
I dont get this class at all..I sit and read all of the assigned reading...I actually got an A on the test..and I still have no clue with what hes talking about, what the class is about or anything..he dulls me to sleep....and the class is confusing as all hell...
The worst teacher I've ever had. Mumbles more than my 2 year old! Speaks a ton of languages & NEVER translates it. His tests make no sence & we're required to read 5 books. Don't take this class unless you can speak German, French, Spanish & baby talk!
Eh. Long winded. Loves the sound of his own voice. Talks about his Korean wife. Test wasn't too bad. I got an A. Just read at home and doodle in class while he rambles on and you'll pass. Not much exercise for the brain though.
DONT TAKE THIS CLASS~~~~~~~!!!!!!!!!!!! I HATE THIS GUY... YOU WONT UNDERSTAND HIM...PLUS HIS TEST ARE SUPER HARD
I took this class back in fall of 2002 and I'm surprised to see that he's STILL a bad teacher. I got a B in his class back then but as for his teaching style, he's the worst teacher ever. If you ever wanted to learn somthing about political science then don't take him. I found the class difficult and was lucky to get a B.
I like him!! I think he's very interesting!
Only social science/history dept. faculty member who isn't a Communist, Facist, or Zionist. A true conservative, who is not afraid to speak his mind. Took his class back in 1998, when Clinton was in office and was not shy about his dislike of Clinton's socialist regime.
DO NOT TAKE HIS CLASS!!! Any other teacher would be better than him. I would give him zero's if I could! He wastes class time talking about his personal investments and other stuff no one is interested in. Then he tests you on the five books you are supposed to read out of class and other things that he NEVER discusses! He is a nightmare!
His knowlwdge on the subject is amazing! He gives OPEN BOOK & NOTES test which makes them very easy. He may be hard to follow at times but in the end he has so much to say and some of his stories are very cool. no one LIKES pol sci but you need it for your degree and Arnold was worth it.
Yeah, the class is pretty easy to do well in but he's incredibly convoluted and boring. He never seems to talk about anything relating to what we will be tested on and instead rants constantly about whatever his interests are that day. Unless you enjoy being droned at for an hour and a half, avoid.
Easy class, good professor. Take him if you want to boost your GPA. Open note/book tests. Intelligent professor who doesn't dumb down his lectures for the benefit of the stupider students (Which is why his rating is so bad!), although even minimal effort gets you an A. Plus, his 'crazy liberal' rep. is completely undeserved.
i agree with the last comment. arnold is very intelligent but sometimes his lectures just dont hold my interest or i found myself skipping class alot too because the lectures really dont affect your test. im sure poor attendance does...
Very unclear teacher. Speaks different languages during lecture. He is not mean. And he has a wealth of information, he is just very very very poor at relaying that info to the students. I had a 4.0 after 3 semesters and this class was VERY hard for me. I do not reccomend this class at all.
omigoodness. Should not be teaching! Having him helped me see why some people hate school. Rambling lectures, mounds of reading, and confusing tests i think he wrote while he was ****.
How can anyone say his class is difficult? He offers extra credit, open-book tests, AND grades on a curve. How much is easier can you get?
Brilliant man, but awful teacher! His lectures are unorganized (rambles on and on). He speaks in all different languages at times and makes stupid racial/religion jokes. His class book was not structured; therefore, confusing. Exams are open book but difficult. Did not enjoy attending this class. Do yourself a favor and do not take this professor.
He gave me a B, which was exactly what I deserved. He gave me extra credit for the book review. It was alot of work, but I learned alot, and he is an excellent teacher if you want to take a not boring Poly Sci class. He still stands out as a best teacher at OCC. He grades very fair, alot of work, which i don't mind, but veyr fair, so I respect that
Talks in a loud monotone voice while lecturing. Found myself struggling to stay awake after the first hour. He rambles on about any little subject usually about how he knows some high ranking official in a diff. country from the 80's. Very opinionative.
He encouranges people to learn on their own, on the first day of class. It should be taken literarly because he does an awful job covering material that we are getting tested on. He lectures in several different languages, goes into great detail on issues that he googled, overall, I could say I learned more about his personal life than pol sci.
Took it over the summer: very easy class but he has a somewhat intimidating personality. His lectures sometimes focus too much on his libertarian views. Bought a lot of books for the class and used only the main textbook. He has open book tests.
Arnold is a character. he tells some wacky and interesting stories. i suggest sitting closer to the front of the class when test time comes close.
Dude isn't that bad, he is actually kind of funny. Open-book tests and he grades fairly.
Always talks about his libertarian views and seems to be full of himself, but the class is very easy. There is no need to pay attention in class since everything is from the book.
frickin genius
Professor isn't that great. His tests are unclear and cover alot of material on a single test. He is very biased and it comes out in his lectures. Over all I would stay away from this professor.
He's very hard to follow because he'll go off on random stuff that doesnt matter and isnt interesting but shows off how smart he is. Take the class but dont listen to him, just sit and read the book.
class is meaningless. lecture has nothing to do with anything. just go to class. leave after they take role. go home and read on your own. youll get an A. hes hot too... and im a guy
A hard teacher. This is not a class for slackers. He knows so much stuff, and his tests really cover a lot, but if you read the books and at least sort of pay attention in class, you'll be ok. And he's sort of funny, too. Not the nightmare that some people on here have claimed. I doubt that there are many teachers that know as much as he does.
He is extremely knowledgable and a bit funny, class is very interesting in the first half then gets boring, make sure to study out of the book and familiarize yourself with text. Tests are open book/notes. Must study for B or A. Lectures don't pertain much to exams.
He is not bad like these other people are saying. He has interesting stories and if you pay attention and do the reading you can definately get an A. I admit you do have to put a lot of time into it, but I learned a lot and got an A. The tests are open book and notes, but you only get an hour for 60 questions.
THIS PROFESSOR IS BY FAR ONE OF THE WORST IVE HAD AT OCC. TREMENDOUS KNOWLEDGE HE HAS, BUT CAN HE GO A LECTURE W/OUT INVOLVING RACES OF PEOPLE AND SO ON... YEA ITS OPEN BOOK FOR TEST BUT 60 QUEST, 60 MINS!! IM A POL SCI MAJOR AND HE IS GIVING A DIFF PROSPECTIVE FOR MY MAJOR!! AVOID HIM!!
this guy is rediculous. boring class, his hour lectures have nothing to do with anything. he give you like 6 books and you have exams on them. 60 min 60questions. rediculous. upside. does grade on curve, and if you turn in a at least 3 page "well-developed" essay on a book of his choice, you MIGHT get a C like i did. do with this what you will.
I hate this class! I have a 3.75 gpa and because this class i think my gpa dropped. he knows too many languages and decides to lecture in different languages. the material on the test is not able to be found in the book nor in his lectures. Please, dont take this class, im sorry i did,
Avoid the class at all costs! Seriously, there is no point in taking the class, it just lowers your GPA. 70 questions for 70 minutes is just impossible, even with open book. You get nothing from attending the class. He teaches in mutliple languages. Try to avoid him while you can.
He's an extremely smart guy with extraordanary stories about his life. I was actually interested in his lectures, and i would like to take him again for poly sci. but, maybe thats because his viewpoints are nearly identitcal to my own.
I took this guy's crash course political science class this winter 08. He has been nearly 9 months pregnant. I was afraid he would go into labor at any moment. As for his class I did not bother studying at all after the first test. I base my success on luck. I didn't even crack open the books until the exams began. My final grade wasa B. go figure.
Dr. Arnold is a fun teacher with a plethora of knowledge about many things. He is a very interesting teacher to listen to . Don't be afraid to ask him his opinions on issues that he discusses. He has a unique and powerful intellect with a kind heart.
Dr.Arnold is a hard teacher to enjoy because its hard to focus on what he is talking about. The first half of the semester i couldn't help but sleep in his class. He IS very intelligent and interesting but his teaching skills lack something. He knows that the class is boring. He says it himself yet, fails to change. Take it only if you have to.
His class is actually not that bad. Yes, it is pretty hard to focus in class and you're basically on your own as far as exams go, but he gives lots of extra points on the test. He also has good insights. Take him if you really are in it to learn. I think that people who complained about him probably just wanted to cruise through college.
This guy is not asking much. If you read the book or stay awake in class, you don't have to do both, then you will pass easy. The guy likes what he does, but it's hard to get excited about poli sci
very smart man; AWFUL AWFUL class! if u care about ur grade, have a busy schedule, or don't want to read 4 txtbooks (front to back) for one class, WATCH OUT!! exams come from ANY txt, lectures r NOT from txts, very UNORGANIZED testing and teaching, throw the dice to see what questions from what ch. r on exams, 4 grades total, lets VERY FEW make A's
Easily one of the smartest people you'll ever meet. He's actually a decent guy too; he knows so much that he can relate to practically anybody. You pretty much have to read the entire textbook. The tests are hard and he knows this so there's no point complaining to him. I got a B and I barely studied. Do the extra credit.
WARNING: DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS!!!
He is super smart, but kind of boring. His tests are amazingly hard and I kept up with all the reading in the texts and syllabus. The exams are open-note and he grades on an amazing curve, so that helps you out. Don't take him if you are looking for an easy A.
his class is hard i don't understand what he is talking about... has nothing to do with the class!!!! don't take
DON'T TAKE THIS CLASS!!!!!!!!when i first read the ratings ,i seriouly thought that people were just lazy and that the class wasn't that hard...I WAS WRONG!!!I WISH I SHOULD NEVER TAKEN THIS CLASS!!!! LISENT TO ALL THESE WISE ADVICES!!!!!!DON'T DO IT!!!!!!!!
He wasn't that horrible. What he lectured about you will not remember so, just sign in and sneak out. Tests are open book and curved. He has two T/F test and 2 multiple choice. His grading is super easy too like 52% is a C. o_o I don't even know how you can fail.
first time taking poli sci and the guy is so interesting. ive never been interested in politics and dr. arnold is full of cool random facts. although he knows a ton of languages which is sick, he uses the biggest words ever, i would recommend blazing before class its the only way i survive it
I took this class during interession and it was definatly worth sitting through for 4 weeks instead of a semester. the teacher loves to talk and lectures for the entire class. there are 4 tests, 2 on lecture, 2 on text books. the class is extremely boreing but easily passed. if you want an A study for the tests and do the extra credit book review.
DO NOT EVEN consider taking this class!he rambles on, yes some of his ramblings are interesting but they have nothing to do w/the class.u're on ur own, seriously.maybe he has no one to listen to him at home so u get the brunt of the blow.he needs to retire far far away from students. I should've checked this site b4 taking class. so regretful.
The people who do well READ the BOOKS and pay attention in class. If you don't want to READ and LEARN then this class will be hard. I found it interesting how much he knew about the topics and he's extremely helpful with questions. If you organize the exams are easy - they're open book. He grades on a curve as well. It's not tough guys!
I took this class a few years ago. I'm now a PoliSci major at UCLA. I will say this - his intellectual knowledge is on the level of some of the tenured professors here at UCLA. Read the books, do the extra credit, and with his ridiculous curve, this class is an easy A. Class is not for students looking for an easy GE filler.
This man changes you. I'm sure he will be my favorite professor forever. This man is so incredibly educated and his ideas are so original and backed by an extensive knowledge of history and law. He will change the way you think and prove by example, the value of an extensive education. His confidence is really sexy. :) Tests hard, but worth it.
Hes truly a great teacher. He's nice and a has different sense of humor. Although the way he teaches&lectures is kind of difficult& hard to understand if you're not up-to-date about the now and then's about the world. His exams in my opinion were extremely hard. Even though you have the opportunity to use your books/ notes
Dr. Arnold's lectures are very boring to the sense where some of the things that he is talking about is irrelevant to the main topics of political science. However, the one perk about his class is the way he grades and the permission to use lecture material in his tests.
Dr. Arnold is serious about his profession. He is fair in his treatment of the class. If you fall asleep its not his problem. But, if you are serious about your education Dr. Arnold has lessons to teach. If you cant follow the lectures its because your not paying attention. Don't be afraid-be prepared
Herrick Arnold is BORING! however, the material he teaches is AWESOME! things you should know: according to my expereince, i got 1 lecture based essay take home exam, 1 book review based essay take home exam, 1 reading based T/F question based midterm, and 1 reading and lecture T/F based take home exam. he talks too much. 'nough sed.
By far the worst teacher of the semester. Very self absorbed, and talks very little on course material. The most boring class i have ever attended. I wish i would have dropped the class. For the sake of learning, dont take this useless class.
I would not recommend taking a class with this professor.His lectures are off-topic and incomprehensible.He promotes NO class discussion and expresses his political opinion as hard fact (which he will test you on).He gives factually inaccurate information,is very disorganized,and presents cultural stereotyping as a valid form of analysis.Stay away!
The worst professor I have ever had. His tests have nothing to do with anything that he is lecturing on. He is an extremely intelligent, knowledgeable man, however he is a terrible teacher. Do not take this class unless you want to learn random political facts about other countries, which is literally all he talks about.
Instead of attempting to do his horrendously written take home essay exam, I've decided to come on here to rant and to warn prospective students: STAY FAR AWAY. I'm not gonna lie, out of the class structure, Arnold is an amazing person with lots of interesting things to share, however, teaching the material no so interesting.
This professor is one of the few I have had that forces you to become a good student. You can't rely on him to regurgitate the material. Unfortunately, many students come to the class wanting to be entertained and given all test questions in advance. Good luck with that when you transfer!
i'm in the minority here, i acutally found dr. arnold fascinating, kind of blowhardy, but extremely knowledgeable about everything on the planet. the class was really interesting and i could listen to him talk all day. Homework is all reading, and alot of it. i studied really hard and got a B. if you want to learn, you will learn alot in this class
I have never came on rate my prof to leave a comment. Just having finished my first exam on the semester which was on 8 chapters of a text never discussed in class. I spent 50 hours studying this week reading all chapters and typing a 50 page outline into word so i could find words quickly. I also did all online practice exams and such. still forsu
I think Professor Herrick is awesome! He's a bit long-winded, but he's very intelligent and I really enjoyed his lectures and the text. I must note, however, that I share many of his corrosive views on politics and I can't expect everyone else to. Either way, best class ever. Great professor. Read the syllabus and the text and you'll be fine.
worst class ever. i had him in the forum and he yells the entire time. he goes on tangents that have nothing to do with what you need to know for the tests. the tests are really hard! he gives you notes and a 60 is a C in his class so that helps a bit
If you can, do not take him. He is monotone and will give a straight lecture of whatever he is saying meanwhile showing the same 10 lines of powerpoint for the WHOLE class. For atleast 2 days. However, two of the tests are open notes and the other two are online. Still, most I know failed this class or nearly. Try someone else with character.
Wed have tests on things we didn't learn then the next week he'd bring up the topics in lecture. He tries to be smarter than he is and it's easy to get lost in his ostentatious use of diction. XC is worth while, but you don't really have to read to do the essays. I read for one and got an 18/25, the other I bs'd using big words and got 18/25 anyway
This ?Professor? has major issues he doesn?t lecture he rants at the top of his lungs. Do yourself a favor and drop the class.
Only talks about current events and his political views instead of lecturing about how government works and what makes up government. His lectures pretain nothing about the book and his test cover 8 chapters.
seriously i have his class right now and i wish i didnt. i would drop it but then i wouldnt be a "full-time student". this is the worst class i have it's so boring n probably 1/4-1/3 of the class dropped him. he's really smart though imo but not a great teacher the stuffs he rant about doesnt even pertain to the exams. :(
I am currently attending this class and like others have said I wish I really didnt. I know this man is smart, but NONE of his lectures pertain to the test and to have a 70 question test over 8 chapters is really ridiculous. This class will more than likely lower my GPA and for that I say thanks Dr. Arnold. Don't take this class!Take someone else.
I am currently in his class. I read the reviews on him and decided to take the class anyway. biggest mistake ever. I never understand anything he is saying, and the first test had NOTHING to do with what he talked about it class!he is EXTREMELY hard to follow. do not take this class!
I took this guy 30 years ago. Then, his class always filled up quickly. If you're prepared, he's completely fair. If you're not, same thing. This class will be difficult - no question. But you'll be a better student and if you're a PoliSci major, you'll be even better prepared when you transfer. He was definitely one of my favorites. Great prof!
Prof. Arnold has tremendous knowledge of basically everything.... BUT, he is a horrible teacher. He lectures about topics that have nothing to do with the book not to mention in about 8 different languages... Yeah he'll start speaking French, German, Spanish, Arabic, you name it. Also, be prepared for a horribly written take home essay exam.
Really wish I hadn't taken this test he's very difficult to follow and his notes that he posts online don't follow the class lecture very well. A large percentage of the class failed the first test and the same will probably prove true for our next. He is smart however he needs to focus his lectures.
WARNINGG: DO NOT TAKE HIS CLASS!! It's really pointless to go to class because he talks the whole time on subjects that are completely irrelevant. You can't get away with just coming on test days because he takes roll. It was such a waste of time and felt like the longest class ever when it only met for an hour and a half two days a week. TRUST WHAT EVERYONE SAYS AND DO NOT TAKE HIS CLASS! I THOUGHT I COULD SUCK IT UP AND HANDLE HIS CLASS BUT BOY WAS I WRONG.
This guy seriously needs to get fired.save yourself the trouble and don't take the class. If you don't believe all the bad reviews just show up the first day of class so you can get a feel for how miserable this guy is about to make your life. totally uncalled for!
he needs to retireee...
oh my goodness! unbelievable. please read the reviews, and listen to them. DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS!! hope your reading this too doc. sorry, but it's time to take a class yourself, to learn how to teach a class. waste of time money, and sir, i don't care where you've been in your long and fruitful life. or how many languages you speak.
oh my goodness! please read the reviews, and listen to them. DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS!! hope your reading this too doc. sorry, but it's time to take a class yourself, to learn how to teach a class. waste of time money, and sir, i don't care where you've been in your long and fruitful life. or how many languages you speak. INTRO TO U.S. GOVERNMENT!!!!
Arnold shouldn't even be teaching, he is a very bias teacher, he mostly talks to the girls in the class, if you're a cute girl you'll probably get a good grade by writing very little, he's useless in providing any relevant study topic, he assigns a book but never talks about it nor does he lecture from it, overall if you take him you're dead...
Extremely boring teacher. He literally knows everything, except how to teach. Its actually pretty funny when he does voices and impersonations of who he's talking about, still doesn't make it easy to follow but funny. His tests are not too difficult, and he gives you the notes that have everything. Take Dr. Drew if you can, Arnold's not worth it.
Professor Herrick is one of the most qualified professors at OCC. You won't regret taking his class. He is a UCLA educated professor and has a doctorate. He is a practicing lawyer so he knows his stuff. This is a definitely a university level class and will really prepare you for your higher education. Each lecture is enlightening and if you really
trust me this class is not as bad as it seems on the first week of class. Do well on the 1st and 3rd exams because they are administered online with plenty of time to look everything up. Review the supplemental notes for the 2nd and 4th exam. You will do fine!
There is a TON of reading in this class but if you show up and pay attention and actually read the books you should have no problem getting an "A". With the extra credit available I received an A but I did all of the reading. For those that gave him bad reviews, all I can say is good luck with your education and welcome to college!
It seems that he knows a lot but he spends an awful lots of time to talk about gov't in other countries! This is INTRO TO US GOV'T. Other than that, the tests are pretty fair as long as you read the books.
Dr. Arnold is one of the most interesting and inspiring people I have ever met. He is a living resource of knowledge and common sense, and quite friendly. His class on the other hand can be difficult at times, but never boring- and that if you care about other things than just yourself :)
Arnold is a very interesting person and instructor. Although the class is US gov, he gives a lot of insight into world government that influences US government. All but the third and final exams are online and geared for the book so lots of reading. Third exam was on in class lectures but are open note and he provides the notes.
Very interesting and knowledgeable professor. I would love to pick his brain outside of class. He does tend to go off topic quite often (or so it seems), but 2 of the tests are purely on lecture so make sure to pay attention even if it seems irrelevant. Overall, great teacher. Also, tests are all open book/notes, but not easy. Take good notes.
Very smart teacher. It seems like he rambles a lot, but everything he lectures on is on the homework assignments, so take great notes. This class takes a lot of work, but you can learn a lot if you pay attention.
This class is Bull. His lectures RARELY have anything to do with U.S. Govt, and more about Mexico. He goes through 1 bullet point per class. He is also a liar. He claims he is a practicing lawyer. Complete bull. He is not registered with the CA bar, and never has been.The only reason he got this job is because he knows Pres of the Board, Patterson.
He's obviously incredibly smart. He does ramble but his tests are open note and open book. Even if it's 60 questions in 60 minutes, if you completely bomb it can't really put it on him! He isn't the best teacher at OCC but probably the smartest hands down. I think a lot of reviewers that are on here are just not used to college course work.
I'm contemplating just dropping his class because he talks about the most random things. He doesn't talk about anything we're even tested on. Ridiculous. If I'm paying to go to a class I want to at least LEARN something.
I recommend him. He is very smart and if you know how to print out notes on Blackboard and follow along, you will be fine. You also should know how to read and if you can read and have any brain cells at all then you will do just fine. I really enjoy his class and what he has to say Definitely someone you should check out.
If you are taking this class, be prepared to do a lot of reading and very little note taking. All the tests are either from the books or online course notes and are open book/note. He talks about interesting things but doesn't follow any logical order and I stopped taking notes after the first week. It is easy to get an A but boring...
I've been reading some comments on here and most of them are false. Arnold is a good professor. He knows what hes talking about. Just do your readings, you will get A. Keep in mind you are learning 2 things in this class. 1 is from in class lecture and the other is from reading. Don't mistake that his lectures and readings go hand in hand.
If you're looking for an easy A - this is not your course. That being said, Professor Arnold is absolutely brilliant. His course will give you a new perception of how the world is - not how you've been trained to see it. I highly recommend this course if you are looking for university level preparation and wish to pursue the major. Also...READ!
Professor Arnold is an interesting person, but he is a horrible teacher. The majority of the class is independent studies because he uses the lectures to benefit his personal political beliefs. He is extremely long winded, and his lectures are beyond boring.
Lectures are boring..have nothing to do with the tests. Gives points for attendance-locks the door when class starts. ALL tests are open book, open notes!!! 4 out of the 6 are ONLINE. Offers extra credit if you attend the test reviews..easy class if you're on time and use your book for the tests!
He is super monotone and just kinda rambles all class. You never really learn what he tests on from his lectures you have to read the book.
He is hard to understand but you can tell that he loves his job. He will work hard to help his students if they put that effort in as well. Its a great class to get your homework done in! Most people ended with a B on average...
His lectures are extremely boring. He does not refer to the books in the lectures, but his online tests are on the books. In-class tests are on his lectures. Attendance is mandatory and he will choose a random day to have a writing assignment. A terrible class but easy to pass.
His lectures are extrememly boring, unless you have prior interest in American Government. Attendance is mandatory. Some of the test material is in the powerpoints, but most is in the book. So make sure you carefully read the chapters. The tests are somewhat still difficult even if you study, soo your best!
This class is very do-able if you READ. There's a lot of crammed reading. About 3 chapters every 2 weeks, that's about 200 pages. Half the exams are based on reading purely. Other half are his lectures, which are side-tracked rambling. Your head will hurt, you won't know what the important notes are to take down. Take it if you have reading time.
He lectures are well, clear, concise, and unbias on politics. There needs to be more time for online exams. Easy to obtain a A if you want it. All you need to do is follow the syllabus, do some extra credit, meet Q&A, and book reviews.
Class is boring, but 4 out of the 6 tests are ONLINE/open book! The other 2 exams are in class but are also open book/open notes. Before every test he holds a study review which is extra credit. 1 in-class essay but it's also open book/open notes. If you are prepared there is no reason to not pass this class
This class is really hard. You have to attend every class and his lectures are boring and hard to follow. There are 6 tests 4 online and 2 inclass that all have 70 questions.
Great teacher if you want to learn. There are three text books, plus his lectures, all of which cover different materials. If you are trying to take an easy, no work class, like most of the other students, then you will be very disappointed. If you want to learn and are willing to work, you couldn't ask for a better, more interesting us gov class. Dr. Arnold is very accommodating, and you can have very interesting conversations in his office. Do the work, get an A, simple
very very hard! the exams are on line so basically open books and note but don't use them during the test because you will never find the answer in there!!! the lecture has nothing to do with the required material! don't take him
Lecture had no relation to the tests at all. grade is based on 6 tests. 3rd and 6th exams are in class and the rest are online. Buying the online book instead of hard copy is a lot easier to pass the tests because you can use the search bar to find certain parts of the book the question asks. Lectures were not interesting whatsoever.
worst teacher i have ever had. the class is based on 4 tests online then 2 inclass. i reccomend NOT taking him. He is boring, makes no sense, and is monotone.
DO NOT TAKE HIM!!! I am not a student who slacks, earn my A's, and I love the challenge of hard classes. However, he teaches you little about American Government, assigns way too much reading, and is NOT helpful and VERY rude when answering questions. Waste of my time and money. ANYONE BUT HIM
this prof. is the WORST. currently taking him and he give 6 exam in total 4 online (open book) and 2 in class. test are based only on the readings but lectures are irrelevant and boring. he teaches nothing about polsci. DONT take him his class is extremely hard.
Other that agreeing with most of the posted comments the unorganized state of his test and office hours is a joke you never know which announcement to belive or what time span you have or when his office hours are. Being a full time student and a full time worker this class was failed before I even registered.
I found his class easy sure he blabbers on about this and that but he lays out the schedule on the syllabus. All you have to do is follow that, period. 4 of the test are online, need i say more? Muster up a good grade in 1 of the other ones and you're good. & you get free points for attendance.
DONT TAKE HIM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!chances are you will fail. his class is confusing and tough and hes no help.
Terrible, Terrible class. I took him last semester and just figured I'd throw my 2 cents in. First off, he does NOT teach anything whatsoever in class. The exams are online and are based off the reading and are still extremely hard. Thank god for google or else I would have failed, but barely squeaked by with an A-. Definitely would not recommend!
This class is ridiculous. He just blabbers on about gun laws and the prohibition, nothing relevant to the class. Yes, 4 of the test are online (multiple choice) and 2 are in class (T/F). They are open text, open note (but no one takes notes). Achieving an A isn't impossible, but you'll be very dependent on the textbook. I dont recommend him.
HERRICK ARNOLD is not your average teacher not that many would ever have to luxury of finding out due to all the misleading commts below me. he is an extremely wise man with great lessons to teach if you are willing to listen. yes you must work for your grade in this class but does that make it a bad class and or teacher? absolutely NOT.I loved it
He was an AWFUL teacher! No one understood what he was talking about and no one took notes because he never said anything that had to do with what was going to be on the test. I showed a H.S gov teacher the tests and he didn't even understand the questions! DON'T TAKE THIS CLASS!
I did all the reading, stayed as awake as possible in class and received similar low scores as if I hadn't studied at all. The reading and what the professor has to say in class seem to have little to no relevancy to the tests. I feel very unprepared taking this course with him. I have to say that he definitely knows his world history though.
I took this class after listening to a referal. This Professor was amazing. He is an older man that has many years of world wisdom. I did not want to miss a class after hearing his intriguing thoughts. I worked very hard but all tests are open book. I went to extra study sessions and read the material. I learned more in this class than any other.
I don't know why the low ratings. Dr. Arnold is a brilliant man,& I thoroughly enjoyed and was fascinated in each lecture. There is a lot of reading, as 4 out of 6 exams are from text book. The 2 in class exams are based on lecture, and if you study you will easily get an A. This professor is 2 good 4 CC, he should be teaching in a university.
This professor is amazing. If you fall asleep in class and don't pay attention don't be surprised about your grade. He is very well read and knows what he's talking about. Definitely recommend if you want to learn something on the subject. Buy the books, Take notes, Show interest and be respectful. Too good for CC should be at a Uni.
This man is brilliant. Older, wiser, well read, well educated, world traveler. Listen carefully and you will learn from him. Probably wisest person on this campus. I got a B and it was hard work to study for these tests. He makes more money in finance on outside jobs but loves to do this still! Compelling.
the lectures have nothing to do with what is covered on the tests. Although most tests are online, with open book & open notes, they are only based off the book. I recommend this class if you want to learn your history on the holocaust, prohibition, and various world history subjects, not U.S. government.
very smart and knowledgable, you will learn a lot from his life experience and the stories he tells in class, but don't dream with a good grade! he is very tough! the tests are super hard, if you work real hard you will barely pass!
DON'T TAKE HIS CLASS. SUPER HARD! HIS LECTURES HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH HIS TESTS. HIS TESTS ARE SUPER HARD, YOU HAVE TO STUDY AND STILL GET A LOW GRADE. AT THE END OF THE SEMESTER ALL THE TESTS SEEM TO BE AT THE SAME TIME. DON'T TAKE
For those who dropped his class after the 1st week, i feel sorry for you guys. The lecture is interesting (at times), but he's surely knowledgable. 4 online tests, 1 in-class midterm and final. I didnt use any of the textbook. 1 in-class assignment, (luckily we didn't have to do it). He offers MASSIVE AMOUNT of EXTRA CREDIT!! Ended up with an A.
Dr. Arnold is literally the worst professor I ever had the displeasure of taking. Half the class walks out during his "lectures" while the other half of the class are on their phones, reading for another class, or sleeping. It is an hour and twenty-five minutes of my Mondays and Wednesdays that I will never get back.
Dr. Arnold is a lawyer; he speaks and talks as such. He has some interesting things to say, but can be tough to understand. I barely studied and got 5 A's & 1 C. Attend class as much as possible; it might seem like his lectures are unrelated, but in fact his final is HEAVILY based on his lectures, NOT the printed notes.
Taking this class need strategies, but if done right, it is not very hard. The 75 possible extra credit can turn you from a C to an A, and although his lecture is not very clear,the exams are easy to handle because it is OPEN book and notes. Good readers win at the end.Compare to other politics class, this class even don't need any essay writing.
He is an outstanding professor and I enjoyed every second of his class. He's an awesome lecturer and the insurmountable amount knowledge this man has the ability to articulate is mind-numbing. I learned a lot from this class. For the people saying it was a boring class or a hard class, try paying attention and applying yourself..
So I was reading these comments and I though he was going to be really tough. Prof.Arnold isn't that difficult at all. He has 6 exams for his class. 4 of the tests are online which is really easy. 2 of them are in class and the questions are true and false only. And gives a bunch of points for participation. I recommend him!
As mentioned before, Dr. Arnold talks like a lawyer. That makes it very hard to take notes on his lectures. There is no pause or emphasis in what he is saying that tells you it is important. His lectures are only for two tests (the ones in class) The other four are online are based entirely off the textbooks. I do not recommend taking him.
Prof Arnold is the SMARTEST prof I've had. I enjoyed attending every lectures. If you don't read newspaper or watch news then you won't know what he talks about. Online exams are a bit hard. You need to read the book and memorize the names and years. If you want A, attend every Q&A session and write a book review.Got A,English is my 2nd language.
Prof Arnold is very smart prof I've had. I enjoyed attending every lectures. If you don't read newspaper or watch news then you won't know what he talks about. Online exams are a bit hard. You need to read the book and memorize the names and years. If you want A, attend every Q&A session and write a book review.Got A,English is my 2nd language.
didnt even stay in this class for a week i was taking full schedule and out all of my classes the first day he was the most confusing! hes boring if your really not interested in politics you will fall asleep. like 4 required textbooks! if you want to be challenged i guess if you're going to slack off this isn't the class
Dr Arnold is a very smart guy but his classes are so confusing. He strats talking about his experiences in different countries, even though they are interesting but that is not what the class is about! He definitely talks like a lawyer!
Great professor! His stories are very interesting and this class is much fun with him. His test are kind of tough but just study hard go to all his lectures read all the books and do the extra credits and you should do fine
Doctor Arnold is a very smart man. I liked when he'd break down a point in Spanish or French, funny. His classes were refreshing because of his vivacious personality and the material he discusses. All exams are online through BB except 1. Attendance is pretty mandatory. Aid keeps track at start of class & right before it ends. Lots of reading.
I'm currently taking this class. Although he is very intelligent, I would never take any of his classes ever. tests are open book so that helps, but the tests are hard even with the books in your hands. Good readers will do well. He requires five essay responses as a test and they are not the easiest thing especially since he isn't very helpful.
Nothing he says is on any of the tests. Loves to go on tangents about himself and the life he has, most of his lectures are about %10 related to the topic at hand. Lectures are mostly about random things and people in history. Learned more about his life than I did about history. If you are trying to learn about American History I do not recommend
this is the worst class i have ever taken in my life! he failed 80 percent of the students in my class and i had no idea what he was talking about half the time because it was his personal life story! i wish i listened to the reviews of him on here before taking this class ! He also only has this job because he is bffs with the president of OCC!
Do not take this class unless you have no other choice! You will not learn a real thing about political science. Although an impressive speaker, his class lectures are nothing like his tests. All tests are open-note and it was still hard.
not helpful. never on topic. off class subject. losses train of thought. tests never really follow anything he "teaches". random speeches. terrible. zero text book use
I understand why some would leave bad feedback, but it really wasn't an awful class. He's smart and I actually liked him a lot as a person. I honestly slept through most lectures (I'm not proud of it) and still got an A. I printed off all his material, studied it for a few days, and organized it so I could find any answer I needed on the exams.
If you value your grade, do not take this class! You'd sit in a lecture where everything he says is completely irrelevant because it isn't on any test you will take. If you're used teaching yourself an entire course's worth of material, than you'd be fine. The tests based on lecture material are based on his opinions, not facts.
His final is nothing related to the subject.......... not a good professor
The worst class and professor I have ever had! I did not learn one thing about government! His tests are hard even with an open book. His lectures have nothing to do with the government. He loves to hear himself talk and share everything he has done in his life. I have never been so frustrated. Even if he is your only choice do not take.
By far the worst teacher i've ever taken, all he does is rant about his own opinions, he does not teach anything. His tests are not even on the books that he requires. I stuck it out in his lecture till the end and there was a handful of people left in a large lecture class since everyone dropped it. Do yourself a favor and DON'T TAKE HIS CLASS!
Lectures galore, and he goes off on a random, irrelevant tangent during most of them. Almost no student involvement, even when compared to other forum classes. I wanted to fall asleep in class, but my ADHD kept me awake. If you're a student who is known to have problems with paying attention, for the sake of your grade, pick another professor.
For his exams, you MUST have the textbooks, especially the Patterson text. If you read or at least know how to use an index, it's an easy A. If you don't read, you won't pass the class. He also goes off topic during his lectures, but his lectures, while important, are not as overwhelmingly necessary as reading the textbooks. 75% text, 25% lecture.
Professor Arnold is very intelligent & knows his stuff. He is very willing to answer any questions & sends reminders of his office hours. He doesn't hand-hold students. Students are expected to come to class prepared by reading class outlinenotes before class. Exams on the 3 textbooks are independent of lectures. Clear, detailed syllabus provided.
Just a class of the rants of how Arnold doesn't like government. I didn't even learn anything from his lectures but getting a nice grade is easy because the tests are online.
Listen. He will ramble his butt off. Only 2/5 tests (all online) are based on his lectures and they aren't that hard so don't fret if you can't keep up. 2 of the tests are based off an easy to dissect Poli Sci book. The last is based mostly off of California state gov. He's a nice guy. Old fashioned. Boring, yes. But the class is an easy grade.
He's a nice guy, has interesting stories, and knows a lot of phrases in different languages. Downside: you want to sleep every single lecture. The tests are all online. A few were all true and false and about the lecture itself--those were the ones that were difficult. In general, not so tough of a class, I'd say easy B.
He really knows his stuff and I'm interested in his lectures but he is so boring that I keep spacing out. He goes off on tangents a lot. BUT the tests are online (except for the final) AND he gives extra credit. If you don't show up to class he will drop you. I'm still in intersession so I don't have a grade but I got a 103% on the first exam.
Horrible. The class isn't impossible, but it's extremely unpleasant to sit through. It's just him lecturing and he can't seem to not talk about himself somehow. And not even in the interesting "i've experience a lot of history" way. I think i learned more about his family tree than I did about polisci. If you can take another professor, you should.
Don't take his PSCI180 class ! he is not even teaching , he is just talking some stories that not even relevant to the exams . Don't buy the books ! there is nothing in there can help you pass the online exam ( I spent over a $150 for 3 books that he requires ) . I slept in his lecture all the time bcs it is so boring , I dont recommend his class .
He talks a lot about his personal life which might be off putting to some students, however it does relate to the topics that are covered in class. The tests are based off the book, but it's still hard. Just pay attention to the small details and listen to the lecture as much as you can. Take advantage of the extra credit!
A very interesting man; but not a teacher you want to take if you want to learn something from him. He has no structure and jumps around; what he discusses in class is barely covered on his online tests. And get ready to read! All TEST are ONLINE. Gives a lot of extra credit points and is very funny. But not a educator you would want to emulate.
he Is a nice guy. the class is just....I barely got a B. But I did not study ever and never went to class. online tests are easy at first but suddenly get harder. essay final at the end. if you cant find anyone else then take him but come to class bc tests are based on him not book. never read the book. nice guy though- lectures dull and long
He's a great professor and lectures based on his experiences. I found his class interesting and I learned quite a bit from them. However the exams aren't based on his lectures mainly the handouts attached on blackboard and books. Don't bother to buy all three books just the blue one. Could have passed with a B but didn't do the extra credit
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