Very knowledgable and passionate about his subject. Very clear, concise lectures.

Ernst is really full of himself, but he is a good teacher. I got a A in his class, and I actually learned some stuff, so besides the fact that he thinks he's the "World's Greatest", I would recommend this class. Check out his book on the Amazon

He is a fantastic teacher, and hes hot too!

Excellent teacher. Thorough knowledge of the subject and great enthusiasm and interest. Wants students to succeed and get something out of his class while they do so.

An awesome teacher to get. Only gives 2 midterm exams and then a final -- all are extremely easy as long as you take good notes and skim the readings. Yes, he is full of himself, but he is a pretty cool guy, and makes class very interesting despite boring material.

Great class! Interesting, thorough development of the topics at hand.

Pretty much you study what he believes is important in government. Class isnt that bad, very light work load (only HW is to read and even then you dont really have to do that) No quizzes, two tests, and a paper. Take good notes,study them, dont fall asleep, skim the readings.

don't even bother with the readings, just memorize who wrote what and take good notes in class. pay attention in current events discussions, too, because there will be questions about them on the tests.

Good Prof. Get him if you can. Knows his stuff, doesn't care much about grades, more about the material.

I really enjoyed his class and learned a lot. While I had to work hard for an A in the class (there weren't many), it was an advanced class and I was always engaged during his teaching. While the class isn't a free A, the work load was minimal and as long as you do good on tests you'll be ok.

Great class

he is going to air force for the next year so he will be back in fall 2007. nice guy...liberal, and he tends to pick on his students sometimes. his test are hard, but if you study you will be ok. only one paper, a 15 pager...i learned a ton in this class.

Great prof, very funny, starts the semester in unorthodox ways (explain poetry, examine artwork) but always makes it fit. Very adept at making complex issues easy to understand and very likeable. He is very good at coming up with counter arguements, and so he labeled liberal--I think he's one of the most balanced thinkers at USNA. tough but fair

Do whatever possible to get him for methods, otherwise you will absolutely hate the class and have to work your butt off.

outstanding. great teacher, very educated on topics. unlike other college professors he will NOT use his position to push his political views on you. get him

Awesome dude. Had current events every day, and watched videos of campaigning and such a lot. Tests have a few curveball questions, though.

Good professor. Very opinionated about most topics but still very open minded to discussion. Two tests, no quizzes, and one 12-15 page research paper.

Awesome teacher. Took government in high school, went over same material, but much more interesting this time around.

Very good teacher. Keeps you interested. If you study the notes you will do fine in class. Good man, open to the students opinion.

He has fun teaching and the students have fun learning. This is his world and all he wants to do is impart his love of all things political and governmental onto you. The classes are fun and energetic. Get him if you can.

hes the man get him if you can 2 tests no quizzes or hw and he is really chill guy who ,likes teach and keep the class interesting

The class was pointless, but he was a good teacher.

Keeps class interesting. Very different from your normal class.

I love Dr. Ernst!He is one of the best teachers I have ever had. Knows his stuff.

I looked forward to going to his class every day. No one sleeps in his class because he keeps everyone involved. I would not say it's an easy A, but you can get one. Take good notes for his two tests, participate in class discussions, put effort into his 10-15 page paper, and you'll have a shot.

Great professor. Really interesting classes. Just take organized notes, and participate in class and you will do fine. Read current events to discuss in class. Overall, awesome.

Great teacher, easy-going and very helpfull. If your interested in what he teaches you should defo pick his class.

He is a great teacher. He keeps students engaged, focuses on the big picture, and does his best to make class a good time while still covering important material.

Prof Ernst is an amazing guy. He is down to earth and cares about all of his students. He rarely has any homework besides readings. Sometimes the tests don't really correlate to what you are supposed to know, but he even gives the class some of the answers during the test.

Professor Ernst is an amazing teacher! His lectures are interesting, and I promise he does not waste your time. He does assign a 15-page paper due at the end of the semester, so START EARLY! He is the type to offer help, but you must be the one to ask for it. Be prepared to be tested on readings, even if he doesn't discuss them in class.

Awesome guy!

Ernst's lectures always make you see the bigger picture, and make it relevant. Not only that, but we can spend over half a class on relevant current events, the rest on the coursework, and we won't be behind or rushed. He's unconventional and hands-on. He does require a BIG paper at the end of the year though, so be ready to NOT procrastinate.

Good teacher, great guy. Class isn't too difficult but the work for tests and his final paper are pretty involved. The discussions make the class a step above the rest. Would take his class again for sure.

Prof Ernst is really easy to listen to and as long as you follow the syllabus to complete the readings, you will do well in the class.

Professor Ernst is a great professor to have. He is really funny but you have to be pretty open to his blunt and borderline offensive humor. He also really cares about the class, and makes it so that you have the opportunity to succeed, but will make you work for your grade. Definitely recommend.

Ernst is a great professor, you have hit the jackpot if you get him.

Very engaging and good teacher made learning government fun.

Great instructor. Has you read and discuss news articles at the beginning of class. Provides entertainment and knowledge.

Great Professor. Don't bother asking your friends who have other professors if they can help you with studying because Ernst teaches what Ernst wants to teach. You'll learn a lot, and you'll laugh a lot. Highly recommended!

Professor Ernst is a great political science instructor. He is engaging during lecture and clearly outlines his expectations for the class. If you pay attention and take good notes, this class will be enjoyable and you will succeed! Highly recommend!

Professor Ernst's gov class is very different than other gov classes. He teaches what he wants, but he teaches it effectively. Make sure you take good notes from lectures. Overall an entertaining and organized class.

Professor Ernst is an amazing professor. Class participation is huge and he makes sure that each student plays his/her part. By doing this, students are required to be involved and engaged in an active learning environment. He is very passionate about the material and you can tell that he believes it is his true duty to expand his students' minds.

Awesome prof. Wants everyone to learn as much as they can. Clear cut tests for 6 weeks and 12 weeks, plus 2 months for the paper, which can be on almsot any topic. Class is always interesting and theres probably no better way to start plebe year.

Very good instructor who is knowledgeable about the information. The whole class gets about the same participation grade so just chime in every once in a while and you're fine. Other than that the only grades are the 6 week, 12 week, final exam and the 10-15 page paper. He is very opinionated but what political science professor isn't?

Great teacher! Funny class

Ernst is a rare professor at USNA. He is pretty fun, and he definitely puts his own spin on plebe gov. Virtually no assignments in the class, just occasional readings. We never went over material in the textbook, but he would still test us on stuff from it so you'll have to do some reading on your own. Great class. Definitely recommend.

Professor is a great teacher if you participate. He is not your typical professor by any means. His lectures are hilarious. Just take good notes and you will be fine. Anyone can get a B with minimal effort.

Professor Ernst was a great professor. Lectures were entertaining and easy to follow, but make sure you are ready to participate if you take his class. Cares a lot about his students and wants them to succeed!

Ernst is a great professor, his lectures are fun and you will enjoy going to class every day. Just make sure to pay attention in class and take notes and you will do fine on the tests. I would recommend participating, it makes class more fun and you are also graded upon it. Also I said textbook reading but its not that much.

Ernst's lectures are very informative and easy to focus on. He makes the material enjoyable and relates it to modern-day culture and political climate to make it engaging and relevant to our world. I have never fallen asleep during his lectures because they are so engaging. There is homework, but there is not that much and is very manageable.

He's a really cool guy. He knows a lot of stuff. Stay informed on current events because that is a big topic in class. He rarely uses powerpoints so be sure to really listen and take fast notes. You may have to go to other classmates to get notes that you missed out on.

Dr. Ernst is for the boys. Period. Excellent teaching style, low workload, and the material is still taught effectively. The lectures are humorous and involve lots of discussion. Would not hesitate to take again.

Classes involve a lot of discussion which goes a long way to cementing the understanding of the material. Keeps the atmosphere of the class pretty light and humorous.

Environmental Security is now my most favorite class that I have taken at the Academy. The course requires you to read a lot, but the material is interesting. The discussions are always fun, and with Professor Ernst at the head of the class, true passion and love for the topics is present. I wish I could take another class with him!

BEST CLASS AT USNA. Professor Ernest really values participation and is willing to cater to the needs of the students. He works really hard to make sure students understand the material. He wants you to do succeed and asks for feed back and suggestions to make the class better frequently. If you do the readings you will have no problem doing well

Honestly, the most interesting class I have ever taken . Professor Ernst is a DAWG. He is willing to work with students and a very reasonable guy. He randomly calls on people but the essay and work load wasn't too bad. I would recommend to everyone.

Professor Ernst finds ways to make the class engaged even in an online environment. He communicates clearly with the class and has a very fair grading system. He is highly knowledgeable in this area of expertise which allowed me to trust that the information he was teaching was accurate and pertinent. Overall I would definitely recommend.

Amazing person and prof. Great class that makes u laugh and stay engaged. Highly recommend

Prof Ernst was really great. He taught our class fully online and was able to keep us all well engaged. He forces everyone to participate, so be prepared to talk or answer questions. Overall I would reccommend Prof Ernst

Possibly the best professor that I've ever had.

reading quizzes aren't bad, make a quizlet of vocab. Course isn't bad and he keeps it very interesting.

Made the material more interesting and requirement to participate helped me understand the material more. Very good at teaching this subject.

No work he gives is that hard. Just don't fall behind and you'll be completely fine.

Just follow his instructions on what you need to focus on for the class and you will get an A

Great teacher, with engaging discussions. No death by powerpoint, but be ready to discuss your thoughts.

Very unique and upbeat in lectures, lots of class participation, in depth but fair quizzes, enthusiastic

Professor Ernst is an amazing professor. Ive never been a fan of history classes by any means. However, his approach to the class, his enthusiasm each and everyday, and his ability to keep everyone invloved in an online learning environment was extremely remarkable

Amazing professor.

Best class I have taken so far at the Academy. I dreaded the class discussions at first because I am not so well versed in the subject but I was quickly able to learn with his teaching style. One of the few classes where I constantly remained alert and focused in class. Highly recommend.

Solid professor that is engaging and provides thought provoking discussions.

If you are a soft person this class might not be for you. Prof. Ernst is going to challenge your ideas and maybe even make fun of them. But he can also take a joke so the classroom environment is very interesting and engaging.

Very passionate about all things relating to the environment, he is an expert in his field. Brings enthusiasm to the classroom and breaks up the monotony of other classes here at usna. Discussion based course a great way to learn, never a dull moment with prof Ernst. fair, realistic, and straightforward prof

Prof Ernst is hilarious, cares about his students and the subjects he teaches. He gives extra credit if you ask for it. He is a man that goes with the flow. He loves keeping the students engaged and does so in comedic ways. Compared to all the other classes Ive taken here, this was the most entertaining and thought provoking class. Read for class.

The best professor I have had at the Academy. Fun class without too much work required, but come prepared for class.

Fire teacher. Better get him while you can. One of the best classes at USNA.

Awesome professor and even has his own TedTalk. Enjoyed coming to his class in the mornings. Went off on tangents during classes which were interesting. Had conversation-like lectures.

Professor Ernst's teaching style was always interesting. He made the class interesting and would never fail to make everyone fail. The lectures themselves were thorough and covered lots of information. 100% definitely would take this porfessor again

A gem. I have to say he will probably be one of the better professors I will ever have here. Engaging, relatable, experienced, and funny, his lectures keep me awake and involved. Grading heavily weighs on participation, so be aware of this. Also, if you don't do the readings, you will be called out.

Professor Ernst never uses slides to teach. He just lectures. But, they are the most entertaining and engaging lectures ever. He is hilarious. I always looked forward to going to his class. We had one big paper due at the end of the semester. Tests were not too bad. Just make sure to ask him what is going to be covered.

Professor Ernst encourages an open classroom where all students can share their views. Quizzes and tests are based mainly on class discussions so make sure to take notes.

Great professor, be engaged during class and you will get a lot out of the course. Don't worry he makes it easy to stay awake and pay attention.

Prof. Ernst is the greatest professor/teacher I have ever had, hands down.

Very hands on learning and student lead. Professor Ernst is extremely knowledgeable and a great professor.

Very engaging and wont let you fall asleep. Mostly a discussion-based class with limited reading. Come to class with an overview of the reading and you should be good. He's huge on extra credit and is readily accessible if you need extra help outside of class. Participation is huge and he values your input in a discussion and debate.

Solid professor I would love to have him again

It was always super fun to come to class with Prof. Ernst. If you did all the stuff he asked (not very much at all), and was focused, chances are you got an A.

Professor Ernst makes you actually enjoy coming to his class. Instead of strictly power points, he has constant conversations with us and keeps you engaged. All you need to do is come prepared and this class was fun with not a lot of heavy work.

Many discussions. Lost a bet about the government shutdown and we got cupcakes.

One of the best professors I've ever had. Professor Ernst is extremely charismatic and gives all of his energy into his lectures. He emphasizes the importance of class participation but also keeps the class engaged with jokes, videos, games, etc. The tests are easy if you payed any attention in class/took notes.

His lectures are discussion based and he expects you to know the material. Failure to do this will decrease your participation grade. Mr. Ernst will make you think. He's a great guy

Honestly one of the best professors I've had in my academic career. Professor Ernst makes sure that you enjoy coming to his class by keeping the lessons lively and active. The concepts in class are not difficult to grasp and if you take good notes during his lessons you will easily pass with a B. Just make sure you participate and don't fall asleep

You will not be bored during his classes and is a fair grader.

Professor Ernst is, without a doubt, one of the best teachers at the Naval Academy. I would argue the best. He genuinely cares about each student he teaches and brings energy every day. I disagree with a handful of his opinions on the environment, yet I would take his class again in a heartbeat. If you get the chance to take his course, take it!

He is an absolute chiller; a little irreverent but an amazing teacher who picks your brain.

He's a real one. Idk he cares about his students he knows the student perspective and has lots of experience. BUT that also means dedicating that to relevant government topics, so the class is still a class worth learning.

The class was always fun and engaging. He would tell jokes and rant about "random" stories for most of the classes but them tie them into the lecture. We had tons of discussions about modern events and on topics no other class would want to talk about. Most of the classes were us talking after he told us about a random life experience. 10/10

Professor Ernst's FP130 class is very lecture heavy. However, if you take notes, listen, know what he is talking about and study hard for the exams, you will probably get an A in the class. He tells you exactly what is on the exams. Prof. Ernst is also a really funny guy and his class has always cheered me up if I was having a bad day.

This is one of my favorite professors I have had my first semester at the academy. If you get this teacher, you should go get a lottery ticket. He makes it very clear what it takes to get an A in this course and it is very doable. I have never liked any of the government classes I have taken in the past, but this year gov was my favorite course.

Best teacher at the Academy

He does an amazing job of teaching his classes. His class is very engaging and he always explains why what you learn is important.

Professor Ernst is by far the best professor at the academy. Day one you will get a syllabus, you can throw that out on your way out of the first class. You wont be following it. Instead buckle up for a daily thought provoking discussion on current events that some how magically get tied into the daily content.

Really cool guy. Clearly cares about students and teaching poly sci.

Brings constant energy to class, respects his students and shares a genuine interest in the classes topics. Encourages participation and communication in class. Genuinely an awesome professor

Overall he is a great professor who is very passionate about what he is teaching. There is definitely a good amount of reading for this class and you have to make sure you get it done. Participate in class and you should do just fine.

You won the lottery. You will never be this lucky again for the rest of your life. Professor Ernst is, without a doubt, the greatest Professor on the yard. He takes immense pride in his job and role in developing mids, especially educating them about the real-world politics and government in America. Prof Ernst will be someone you write home about.

Professor Ernst's class is a blast - he keeps things engaging and makes you actually enjoy coming to lectures. Just stay focused, take good notes, and unstuck study can help with the rest. Easy A if you put in the work.

Makes going to class fun and is by far the best professor you'll get here

Very engaging class. Work was thought provoking and fun. Topics had real world application and the guest speakers/documentaries were great as well. Average work load. Would take again! Professor Ernst truly knows how to light up a classroom and keep students engaged.

Very Knowledgeable and Inspiring

Professor Ernst is deeply knowledgeable and cares about the source material. He is very funny, although crass at times. He tells it like he thinks it is, and is unafraid of controversy. That being said, he remains very fair in all praises and criticisms. Would definitely take again. Class is easy & fun. I also learned a great deal. 9/10.

Best professor at USNA. Highly recommend

Best professor I have had at USNA. Highly recommend his course to everyone.

You will do a lot of readings that he wrote. Be prepared to be picked on, but at the same time, it's all in good fun. One of the best professors to learn from. It's a learning environment unlike any other class I have ever taken. I hope other teachers can take some notes from this teaching style.

Lectures are very enjoyable and it is evident that much effort went into planning them. Any readings were insightful and there weren't too many. Course content was very interesting. Occasional, very light reading quizzes, a few graded class discussions, one large paper, and one final.

Easily the best teacher I've ever had. So funny and understanding.

W prof, super engaging and fun lectures 10/10 would recommend

He is extremely knowledgeable on government and Hilarious with his lectures, work is easy just pay attention.

Great professor! Classroom discussions were amazing and funny at all times.

Truly one of the best professors I've ever had. This is definitely not a classic class, there is a syllabus, can't really say it's followed. That being said, I feel as though I've done much more informational learning than I ever have, and feel everything we learned was truly meaningful. Feel lucky if you got him as a professor!

Great teacher, always made learning interesting

I encourage everyone to take this class, youll love it!

Good content and lectures

He focuses on class participation greatly. However, he makes it easy to learn. If he says to read something it's because you will talk about it in class and you need to read the material. He was great to have.

Super interactive class

best thing to do for your grade is participate

Professor Ernst was a super caring and funny professor who wanted the best for his students. He allowed everyone to discuss their different viewpoints and was an overall amazing teacher.

He is very good at starting group discussions and getting our participation in the class.

Professor Ernst makes the learning environment simply fun and enjoyable. He genuinely shows care for his students and their success. He is hilarious, but he makes sure you know your information and succeed in the course! 10/10 recommend!

Excellent Prof. 100% sure that anyone who takes this class will walk away with a new and better understanding of how the political world impacts your daily life and how government is structured.

Professor Ernst is very knowledgeable in his field. At the same time, he is very understanding of the Midshipmen life and is flexible with his out of class hours to help you with what you need. His lectures are absolutely hilarious as well as beneficial towards my learning and I always look forward to coming to class! 100% recommend Professor E.

Great teacher who genuinely cares about students and material

I loved Professor Ernst and FP130! He was a great professor and taught me a lot. 10/10 recommend :)

Professor Ernst has a unique way of teaching which makes the content exciting.

Awesome teacher with controversial yet entertaining lectures.

One of the goat professors at USNA, 10/10 would recommend. He challenged a lot of the views I had on politics and the broader American culture. He is also super funny, but like in a grandpa sort of way.