Fair tests,great intro class,uses same texts as in upper levels w/more explained

outstandingly fabulous!

a really nice guy, tries hard to do his job well. nice to look at for 50 minutes, and even if his jokes aren't always funny, the attempt is amusing

I dont know who the above took, grades kinda tough, but his intro class is probably more for intended majors, and I think he's hilarious (c'mon, he uses simpsons quotes as asides) VERY smart, knows his stuff

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One of the most intelligent Professors I know. Interesting, funny, and engaging. Very high expectations, difficult tests, and loads of reading...but if you don't like that, why are you at MWC?

Wow - he is hot! very funny, perfect combination of grading on participation, paper and tests. was able to make a class i thought i would hate really interesting.

Smart but you know he had to work at it just like most people. VERY helpful, gives you all the time you need outside of class to understand.Never makes you feel stupid. Very fair grader, but wants you to challenge yourself.Looks at your improvment too.

AWESOME prof.!!! Very intelligent,funny, lectures are organized and very clear. Challenges students to think critically.You will work for your A, but you'll also grow,learn new ways of thinking/analysis. Don't take anyone else for PoliSci 101 or 102!

Makes his students work, but rewards hard work. His classes are interesting and fun. Conducts class the way it should be done.

Great professor. His classes are a lot of work, but he's very fair and despite popular belief he's not arrogant if you just talk to him. He expects people to back up anything they say, like a poli sci prof should do. Take him for any psci class.

Demanding, yet excellent and fun professor.

Ok i don't know what these other people are smoking. davidson is the best poli sci prof at this school. he is not biased and i still don't know if he is a democrat or a republican! he knows his stuff oh and he is hot

Davidson is a great professor, and I'd take his class again. Watch out - he does favor students. The exams are deadly. Not extremely helpful during office hours. The assigned reading takes some of the partinship out of his lectures..

very cool, hot guy

very informative- i loved his class! Definately a tough grader but you'll learn a lot. I didnt find him biased at all and his lectures are very clear.

Took him last semester; took him again. His 102 is easier than his 101. Awesome professor, really engaged with students, encourages class discussion. The more classes you take, the more you'll like him - so sad he isn't teaching my next PSCI class.

He's really excited about what he teaches. Young with lots of energy. Loves to play devil's advocate so you never really know what side he's on, which is VERY important for a political science professor.

Tough guy, tough class, but he's rewarding if you do well. And impossible if you don't. Take your chances

reminded me of michael j. fox. really funny with his corny jokes. good teacher. exams weren't as deadly as expected. speak up in class though.

yeah hes a liberal, but find me a professor who isnt. Very fast and engaging class. Hes always around for help and tries to make the class as exciting as possible. Big on class participation.

The exams are tricky, but he is a great professor. Very clear, knows his stuff, personable, and extremely funny. Wouldn't mind having him again.

He is an excellent professor, one of the very few that doesn't throw out his personal opinion on lots of issues, quite helpful in office hours, if you do the reading and go to class an A is attainable...this is a fun class and Davidson's a funny guy...take it!!

He's an awesome professor and teaches really well. Clear and concise with the lecture. Do the readings and show up, you'll be fine. fun class

very interesting class, not easy thoguh. you have to study for the tests. he is funny and presents things very fairly. i recommend it.

Fairly good teacher, lectures AND reading are on the tests here. 3 tests and one paper for the year comprise his class. Tests are KILLER in my opinion, class average ~78 or so. All multiple choice. If interested in political science, he's intelligent, but definitely teaches the liberal slant.

I feel he could have done a better job with the political philosophy and theory part of the course. Once we moved on to studying government structure and various governments, he did a great job. He has a simple outline for studying a country. You do need to study for the tests.

Davidson is great. He may seem intimidating because he knows his stuff and knows what he wants, but tests aren't that bad. Go to class, pay attention, study hard and you'll do fine. He's funny too, and not hard on the eyes. ;)

Be sure to do the readings and show up, otherwise great class.

This class was very interesting. He really knew his stuff and always had the class discuss what their opinions on the topics were, so it wasn't always just lecture. He was also really funny and loved to crack jokes. He is not the easiest teacher, but it is not impossible to get good grades.

Likes discussions during class.Very organized and easy to follow.Tests are challenging.Intense reading but you learn.Take notes and read the material,do not skip class(doesn't take attendance).Has opinions,he isn't subtle about it.Likes to joke and class is enjoyable.Study for those tests!

Great teacher, go to class, and do the readings and his tests come right off that. 3 tests and 1 project with a 1 page paper, you dont have a lot of assignments but they aren't unbearable, and he gives extra credit if you participate a lot. Loved the class, made it very interesting!

Davidson is amazing. I took him for both intro classes and for Comparative Gov, and he's my advisor. Encourages thoughtful discussions and always explains the material in a clear, thorough manner. He's a tough grader, but once you figure out what he wants, then its not so bad.

Gotta love Davidson. Funny, brilliant, engaging, supportive. You have to work for good grades, but they're possible. Class material is current event-related, v. little history. You'll learn from him- excellently organized lecturer. Made me a Poly Sci major!

Very bright, young energetic professor. Gives the most clear and interesting lectures I've ever heard. Very fair grader -- expects you to show up to class and do the reading. Tremendous asset to Poli Sci dept. -- this man needs tenure before some other school snags him!! Take ANY of his classes -- HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

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JD's classes are always very tough and demanding, but they make you smart, and JD is a really nice, modest guy. You must participate vocally and he hates tardiness and cell phones ringing. He appreciates humor from his students, so clever jokes are generally welcome (don't get carried away). If you're very shy or lazy, JD is probably not for you.

I found Dr. Davidson to be a pretty demanding professor, but, considering the amount of effort he puts into his lectures, how much he goes out of his way for his students, and how much you actually learn, he can afford to expect a lot back. That said, if your aim is to get an A/B without expending much effort, look elsewhere.

He knows his stuff. Tests are very hard (1st test class avg 68) but alot of grade is participation and attendance. Class is interesting, energetic, straightforword. Davidson isreally smart and doesn't show the politics that you might expectfrom a Cal Berkley grad... he is above that which is key. I look forward to more of his classes

he is a very demanding prof, but willing to clarify and spend time helping you understand concepts. you can tell he loves what he teaches, and the amount of time he puts into his lectures is obvious. very knowledgable. only major complaint: a 3 hour political action assignment in an intro lvl course!

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Awesome professor. He's brilliant and funny and gives clear, organized lectures. Also, I'm pretty sure I'm in love with him...which provides an incentive to go to class--important for his strict attendance policy.

awesome professor. the material is fascinating and his lectures are never boring. very accomodating. make sure you participate in class to get participation points which really boosts your grade.

I enjoyed this class, but it was difficult. He's interesting and very funny. Make sure you keep up with the reading. He's a fair grader, but make sure you actually know the material. Also...he reminds me a little bit like Eric from That 70's Show.

Dude's so awesome!. His tests are KILLERS. I studied 14 hours and I managed a B (he curved our grades). However, his classes are so much fun and I learned so much, he truly knows what he's doing. Should teach at Georgetown at the very least. study a lot though. Not an easy A at all. Offers lots of extra credit. PARTICIPATE!

Great Professor!! Very Knowledgeable. Keep up with the reading & definitely go to class and you'll do well. Tests are manageable. He gives several opportunities for extra credit. he's super attractive! :) nice to look at during lecture and stylish- incentive to go to class - though class is almost always engaging and interesting, too!

Great professor, manages to turn the boring concepts into interesting lectures and discussions. Davidson really knows his stuff and will go out of his way to help you understand. Tough grader, but he does curve. He's pretty out of touch with pop culture, but still jokes around once in a while. Definitely try to get in his classes.

Excellent Professor!! One of the best profs at mary wash! He is thought provoking and good looking! :) As long as you go to class [most test questions taken from class notes] and participate occasionally, you will do well. intro to IR was def one of my favorite classes.

Fairly hard for an intro, but not too much so. Test questions come from class, so take really good notes and study them really hard. Do the readings and participate, he loves participation, and do the extra credit too. Follow the paper guidelines and you should do well.

He's a really great teacher, really knows and loves his stuff. The 2 papers aren't bad, just follow his rules strictly. The midterm and final are just 50 M/C, but you need to study like crazy from both the readings and the lectures. But he curves a ton, and if you talk in class and/or do blackboard posts you can get major extra credit.

AMAZING! Davidson always manages to make lectures interesting, especially with his sense of humor, and he always makes sure that people understand. It is very important to do the reading - very heavy, but big part of the exam - and go to class.

One of the best Professors UMW has to offer. Though I only got a C+ it was because I didn't do to well on the midterm. Loves people who participate and if you go to his office hours and ask for help or how you can do better he will. Know's his stuff and is funny. Do the reading, its important on midterms , papers and final. Easy on the eyes as well

Davidson is an amazing professor. Extremely intelligent and an excellent lecturer. Assignments are particularly difficult but manageable. Study hard for his tests, he pulls equally from lecture and readings. Participate and you can get a much needed grade boost. Highly recommended.

Davidson is a great professor. By no means is this a GPA boost but if you do the reading, go to class, etc, you should do fine.

I took into to IR. Davidson is really funny and an awesome professor. He's also very nice to look at. Make sure you read the book. His tests are real easy if you do. The papers for this class are really short and easy to write. Take the class for sure!

Prof. Davidson is a great professor. He grades fair, and his lectures are interesting. He got me interested in poli sci. Random funny choice given in multiple choice Q's made me crack up in the middle of test:) Loved the class. TAKE HIM!!

really great, brilliant, professor, and i love his class. that being said, it's a ton of work and very hard for an intro IR class. the reading takes a long time, and he asks specific questions on the exams. he does give lots of opportunity for extra credit though, and explains EXACTLY what he wants on essays. i recommended him, but not easy at all.

Davidson rules. His class is the perfect balance between difficult and too difficult, creating a good challenge without being frustrating. He's got a great sense of humor and a strong interest in helping students who want help. Strongly recommend to anyone with an interest in Poli Sci or IA.

I don't know what these people are talking about, I find Davidson to be charmingly nerdy, not biased or arrogant, and very intelligent. He actually got annoyed with the students who talk too much in my class, so you don't need to be a kiss-ass to do well. Just go to class and do the readings! Tough but rewarding

I really liked this class. Professor Davidson is really nice and explains everything very well. Tests are tough, but not insanely so. Great class, great professor!

Very interesting subject and he teaches it very well. ATTENDANCE IS MANDATORY!!! Also, the reading is NOT hard but helps SO much. There are very few grades so each test and paper counts. Participation is very important, it will help you understand the material so much better. Definitely recommend him!

Professor Davidson genuinely cares about his students and wants them to do well. He does grade harshly on papers but if you participate in class and do extra credit, he will give you a higher grade at the end of the semester. Do not take his class if you are going to skip. Some test questions come straight from class. Awesome class overall!

Davidson is a pretty good professor. His class is rather interesting, and he's very clear about what is expected in the class. He's quite odd about people coming late; if you're more than ten minutes late don't come at all. He's Tough but very fair grader and the class was pretty great overall.

A lot of reading for this class, not necessary to read prior to each lecture but definitely necessary to read for midterms and final. There are two exams and two written essays, fair grader on the essays and tests are hard if you don't open the book or study your notes. He can be arrogant at times, but alright overall.

Davidson is a tough grader but his directions are so specific and he gives you plenty of time so it isn't impossible. Pay attention to the lectures, do the readings and STUDY the textbook for his tests. He gives some throw away questions but he's meticulous.

The class is all lectures, but Professor Davidson sets them up well. Follow all of his rules and you'll be a good student. His tests are hard, so study for them. I liked the class and would consider taking another class with him in the future.

Great Teacher

Professor Davidson is great. Your only grades are the midterm, the final, and two papers. He jokes around a lot and he is funny. You will have to work for your grade, but it easily manageable. He doesn't give extra points for participation, but it is recommended that you do, and he give ample opportunity for participation.

This class was a lot of work but Davidson is a great professor. He really knows what hes talking about and his lectures were always interesting. He assigns a ton of reading and is a strict grader but if you are willing to put in the work PSCI387 is a great class.

I took this class a gened and want very interested in the subject, but he actually made it applicable and interesting. There are very few grades: two writing assignments, a midterm, and the final. The exams were hard. You will need to read the books, read the articles, and take detailed lecture notes to succeed on the exams. He is funny & engaging

The midterm and final were basically the entire grade. If you show up to class and pay attention, you'll probably be fine. He grades on a curve as well, which helps. He is a good lecturer. if you show up more than 10 minutes late to class, he'll kick you out.

Attendance is not graded, but you need to attend class and participate otherwise you will fail. Reading is not graded, but is really helpful to read. Good lectures, tells you exactly what you need to know. Encourages class participation.

I really enjoyed Davidsons class this semester. Showing up is not mandatory but it helps a lot with the papers. The papers are really difficult and graded harshly, but he grades on a curve which is really nice. His lectures are both engaging and simple to understand. I have no interest in politics but he made it quite fun. I totally recommend!!

Great professor, attendance is important to exams as specific things are said in class. There is a participation grade so at least try participating 3 time a month. Papers are a little difficult but not hard to understand as he spends a class telling you what he wants to see on it. Good class for an intro to poli sci/int. relations!

I will not lie, I have heard horror stories about Dr. Davidson's classes but he quickly became one of my favorite professors. He lists clear instructions for his assignments and expects that students follow all of those instructions. Do the readings and participate in class. His lectures are interesting and he has a lot of experience in the field.

Note you can expect random points off with no negative comment feedback often. Mostly clear grading criteria but not the best.

Davidson is funny but also snarky. Show up and do the readings, and he won't be snarky to you. You will not be able to get a 100 on most assignments. Provides feedback but also fails to provide it for other areas. Be clear in your writing. Participation matters, and he takes points off if you do not speak in every class. Cool guy overall!

Professor Davidson is an engaging lecturer. Participation is key, but be wary of his grading - he can be harsh on assignments. Use ChatGPT and Unstuck AI to prep, and you'll do well in this manageable intro course.

Readings from textbook before class. Discussion leading and a presentation and exam. Just read, take notes, speak a few times and you will pass.

Read, take notes, and participate you will pass. A presentation, simulation, paper, and exam.