Very interesting and thought provoking class. Attendence is optional, but best to be there. Great personality!!

She gives a study guide for the tests, which are long, but good because you can miss more and still get an A. As long as you are there everyday, you can at least get a B on the tests, I studied in the morning and still got B's. Just go to class! *Summer

I loved Jodi! She knows so much about politics and has a really fun way of sharing it with the class. She demands a lot of class participation and really makes the students think. She is also very helpful and approachable.

Very easy if you complete the study guide. Everything on test is on the study guide. She doesn't take roll so you don't even need to show up. Some of lecture is on test so show up sometimes! Can do easy extra credit. Take Poli with Jodi!

Difficult class, but I really enjoyed the professor. She was fair and direct. High expectations of her students.

Very helpful, gives studyguides for exams all questions from the exam come from studyguide. Quizzes are easy and yes all the answers are on the book! The people that say it's a hard class probably never showed up to class.

Gives study guide w/every answer you'll need for the test. Unlimited extra credit. What more do you want? Quiz every day, attendence vital. Class is what YOU make of it. She's cooperative, it's the subject that's boring.

100 class is difficult, exams are 100 qs mc, couple quizzes. Likes her job, humorous & helpful. You will need to study hard.

good teacher

The class is difficult but if you put the time in and study the study guides exactly you will do fine on the tests. After recieving a D on the first test I study the study guide for the 2nd &3rd test and got an A and a B. I earned a B in the class.

good, nice teacher, great summer school teacher

I loved this class. This teacher is intresting and smart. Not to mention funny. She tells intresting parts about laws and history. You must go to class to take the quiz every class. It makes you go. Worth taking.

Very clear expectations. Great teacher.

A very straightforward class. Very short 5 Q MC exams every day from reading. You can do EC that will make up for bad quiz scores. Tests are MC and are just a little bit tricky sometimes. She's cool though, pretty funny and class wasn't boring or anything. She won't be teaching in Spring 05 though.

Very relazed and laid back teacher. Quizes everday are lame but you can make up for the bad scores with MASSIVE extra credit options. 3 mand. papers are easy. Do well on tests; not too bad, just study. Overall, it's a good class

She brags of class failing rate 1ST DAY!!Told me I'd probably get by w D on final(I studied2&got Bs)I am a B student and when I got a C as final grade she has Very LOW expectations of her students+FYI:I wasn't inspired to join politics after course. Reads off book as lecture. PLS DON'T TAKE BALMA!

Gave out study guides. Class was a lot of work, but if you could answer study guide questions, easily make a B in the class. Really nice, very funny, willing to help you.

This class is easy and fun! People who say this class is difficult are obviously lazy and refuse to open their books and *gasp* READ! This is an intro class, I mean come on it's not that hard, i was in 10th grade when I took this class, now i'm at a UC school, and there are more difficult classes!!

I don't think she was bragging about the drop rate. I felt like she was warning us not to think it was an easy A. If half the students fail the class it's because they don't care. She's really clear about what's on the test -- all the questions come from the study guide!!

Great teacher. Not an easy A, but if you read and study you'll do well.

Great teacher. Makes the class interesting. 4 exams - fair grader. 1 paper - interesting subject.

Sat in on her first day speech in Fall 2005. She did not even mention the class drop rate or failure ratel

She's so excited about the class and really willing to help you succeed. Her expectations are fair and the class is not overly difficult. What more are you looking for? Take Balma

Really interesting class. Read the book though, midterm comes from that. I loved this prof, it opened my mind. A must take.

If you do not do well in her class then you didn't even try! Incredibly Knowledgeable! Doesn't skew the class to her beliefs! If you care then she will care, if you don't....then she won't! DUH! Take Jodi for every poly sci class you need that she offers!

If you fail this class, it's only because you're lazy! She doesn't make it eas to get an A but it's not impossible. She gives study guides and tells you what she expects of you with clarity. Lectures are interesting-

She teaches directly to the work book and tests come verbateum from there as well. She doesnt take roll, will help enormously and actually wants you to succeed! (not a common trait among teachers these days) You don't have to read the text, just find the answers for the workbook. you dont have to read the quiz book, just figure out the title and anything that sticks out (she loves lists). Extra credit is easily and theres a lot of opportunities. Great class! I'd reccommend her for any class you need!

jodi is the ****. just write down everything she puts on the board, do the supplemental reading for the quizes, and you're golden.

she's AWESOME! teaches very well, verbateum to her workbook, once you fill that it u dont even need the text, not at all boring, very intelligent...i highly recoommend her.

Great proffessor, could be a stand up comedian in her spare time. Never thought I'd care about political science, but she made it fun and worth the time. If you don't care about taking this required course, take it with her, it will be fun.

The class is a trip to Sacramento for a legislative seminar. I learned more in 4 days at the capitl than I've ever learned in a classroom. I't s so much fun. The class meets for 5 weeks before the trip, you go on the trip, and you write a paper - that's it for 3 units. Awesome!!!!

Jodi is one of the most wonderful teachers I've ever had. Lectures are funny and thought-provoking and she genuinely cares about her students' success. Grade is based on 4 tests, a few quizzes, 1 paper, and the final. For a good overall grade you have to perform well on all tests and assignments, but she does offer extra credit. Great class!!

She has been one of my best teachers EVER. Has an amazing memory and is very eloquent. She is very smart and so are her jokes. You can cearly see she loves her subject and that she's willing to help you. She will answer every question and e-mail right away. Make sure you do all the reading!. BEST POSC TEACHER EVER TAKE HER NOW!!!!

I took the online class, and for me she was awesome. She records her lectures so you could hear them as many times as needed. She also has unlimited practice quizzes which are very helpful in the exam.

Great on-line class! Study guide is a must-have for the tests. She posts the lectures to go with study guide which are interesting. She's so encouraging in providing feedback on assignments. She loves her subject and wants you to enjoy it as much as she does. If you take the practice tests, you'll do great on the tests.

The tests were really hard, but at the end you will know a lot about American Government. Jodi was the most organized teacher I've had in Fullerton College. Whenever I send her an email, she'd respond within 5 minutes, even at 11pm! She was very helpful and she really wanted her students to learn the subject.

Online class. Really tough tests but she does give a study guide. She is quick to answer questions and she is very nice. She makes you feel good about your participation in discussions. If you are confused by anything in her lectures just ask about it, she will clear it up and give you answers that are sure to be on the tests.

a really fun teacher. she presents the material well. very time consuming class. must read and fill out the outlines or else you're screwed. it was such a hard class but interesting and inspiring.

Excellent Politics teacher, starightforward, honest and organized. Jody clearly has a lot of passion for her subject, and passes it on to her students. It is by no means hard if you put in the effort.She treats her students like adults, she gives you what you need to pass, and expects you to do it, she doesn't play babysitter. Wasn't bias.

She is a very good teacher. Interesting lectures. Not an easy class though. You need to take notes and read the book. Your grade is based on quizzes, 3 tests, 1 paper, and a final.

Class was very difficult in the beginning partly because I didn't know anything about our Government b4 the class, and partly becuz I'm really bad w/ history (The beginning ch.'s deal w/ American Hx). But I studied hard and took EXTENSIVE notes and I got an A. Her lectures are so interesting and by the end of the class you learn so much about Gov!

Jodi is a great teacher, and is very helpful. The condensed class really does require a lot of work. Be prepared, pay attention to detail, and you'll do just fine. Fall behind on reading and lectures, and you'll fail.

Best online class ever. Easy to follow. Quick responses regarding questions. Great lectures, very thorough.

Took her class during fall and it was extremely boring so i had to drop. Then took her class online and it was very easy. Overall shes not bad.

Not a difficult teacher but not an easy one. Notes are required in this class or you will fall behind. Class can be challenging, but if i can pass, anyone can (I had to get 93% on the final just to get a B. Good thing i studied)

I took her online class and it was pretty hard. But mostly, it has to do with the subject itself. The tests are based off the study guide, so be sure to always do the study guide and read the text of course.

Jodi was a great teacher. She was always able to explain any questions that anyone had. She also had a separate book that she wrote as a study guide, which made studying for the tests a breeze. 3 Tests total, one of which being the final, 100 questions each. Tons of extra credit opportunity! Take her!

She wants you to leave the class as an educated citizen who can objectively evaluate what is really going on in politics and not just be one of the ignorant sheep that votes on a whim. Her class takes work, though. You have to take notes, read, study, and participate. I got an A, but I worked for it.

Amazing class! She makes the lectures very engaging and seeks to relate the topics to current events. Easy class as long as you pay attention/take notes in class and do the readings. E.C. makes getting anything below a C hard to do. Her reading guides also makes the readings very manageable and help you understand the important parts of the reading

Really great teacher, study guide is very helpful. She is also very helpful and quite funny. She make learning the information interesting. You need to do the study guide and prepare. She does give XC that goes toward quiz score only. Go to class, do study guide and prepare for tests. Great teacher! Take her!

I took the in class, my cousin took the online. Online seemed easier b/c you can look at the notes. Tests are a little tricky reading the book helps and you have to do the note packet test ? are straight from it. Does give extra credit so you will end up with a perfect score on the quizes! I would take her again. This class is like a 200 level

Amazing teacher. All notes in an packet you can buy or she can give you for free via PDF. Notes follows the book/tests perfectly. I got an A without buying the textbook. Makes the topic interesting by adding humor and insights. Best Political Science teacher ever!

I took the online summer class. The class is pretty basic. Four easy discussions, 3 exams. The tests are okay, study and you'll do fine. The only part I disliked was listening to lecture (audio files). They were helpful, but some went on too long. Overall, class was easy, I recommend it. You have to do the work to get the A. I did. :)

I was taking her online course. It was not an easy at all, but I passed this course. Comparing with other online courses, hers is the best with well organized material.

grade based on 4 exams and 4 Discussions. All exam questions come from her workbook so fill that out and you're good, also she has mp3 lectures (you can speed them up in media player)

I had no interest at all in politics untill i took this class.She is very funny.Attendance is not mandatory, you can make up your quiz grade with easy extracredit, and her tests are extremely easy. The answers are really obvious. Posc 100 is a hard class but Jodi makes it soo easy to pass!

Balma is a very passionate professor. She loves political science and knows how to present it. Print out her notes to fill in the areas she gives in-class. Some of the notes also require reading the textbook. I wouldn't say the exam answers are obvious, but she doesn't try to make it tricky. Fill in and study the notes a little and you'll do fine!

she is really nice, and extremely helpful

super into what shes talking about and makes her lectures kinda funny BUT this ladie class is three hours it drove me crazy to have to listen to her talk for three. hours.......straight. I need to do something with my hands not just sit there!! some notes maybe? AND her tests are extremely diffcult.

I took this within a year after graduating high school and my knowledge was still fresh on the subject. I didn't even have to buy her study guide, she sent it to me for free. She is awesome, and very into her lectures.

Super easy if you use the study guide. Your grade comes straight from the tests and tests come straight from the study guide. Lectures are interesting but in trying to relate the material to students' interests she often lectures about topics that won't be on the tests. Attendence isn't mandatory except for test days

She is extremely helpful and everything she lectures is on the tests. You don't have to buy the study guide, she has it online available to you. She makes the lectures interesting. This is an easy class as long as you study.

honestly the best teacher ever. she loves her job, so it makes class interesting. She gives reading guides which help is an exact replica of the tests. take her

One of the best professors on campus. Professor Balma knows her stuff and is extremely willing to help students. Just make sure to do the study guides and you'll do fine in class.

Professor Balma makes this class very interesting. I had no interest in politics prior to the class and will not be much more involved. Her lectures and notes are very helpfull for the test. Love her notebook to fill in.

By far one of the best most organized online classes I have ever taken. Its hard to feel part of a real class while on a computer but her lectures helped me so much! Her passion for her subject is evident and made me want to learn at 2am (when I was able to study due to late shifts). Highly recommend!!!! Aced all her test by filling in the notebook

I really enjoyed taking the Capital Field Trip with Mrs. Balma. She is such a knowledgable teacher and she respects people's political views, which I greatly appreciate. Be prepared to dedicate time to this class & her POSC 100 class, and be ready to learn A LOT! If you do the reading and fill out the study guide, then you will pass for sure.

Took her POSC100 online & it was a very good class. All instructions are very clear & she responds to emails quickly. As long as you listen to lectures & fill in the book the class is an easy A!

Ms. Balma is a great teacher! She is funny and makes Poli Sci interesting!! I was not looking for to this class but she is awesome! She presents the material clearly and has a wonderful study guide. If you show up, pay attention and study a little... you can get an A for sure.

Definitely a good professor. The two things you must do in order to pass this class is write in the handbook and do the reading. I didn't put too much studying into this class nor did I find the paper to be difficult. Not an easy A, but not hard to get one ...if that makes any sense. Take her!

I took her for honors and she's a really great professor. She is always willing to help and really good about returning emails. Her class does require quite a lot of effort though. great professor!!!

I was really not looking forward to this class because Government stuff is so hard to understand. But she has a really good method of telling the information. She makes history into a story and she is sarcastic but not in a nasty way. I would recommend this class in a heart beat. The test is kinda hard but fill in the study book and read

also use course book (school specific)

Hands down the best professor I have had. She honestly is amazing. Jodi makes political science actually easy and somewhat entertaining. There is a guide that you have to do which helps you with the exams. Study that a lot and you are good for exams. Most of all, I love Jodi's passion for wanting everyone to exceed. She honestly cares about you!!

If you aren't taking this course for a Political Science Degree. This is the teacher to take. You must do the work to pass. But you don't have to spend a ridiculous amount of time memorizing dates. I took another teachers course and received an F. I got a B in this teachers course.

I truly hate politics I dont even vote or pay attention to what really goes on when it comes to politics but I loved this class and Mrs. Balma was so helpful in everything and was always able to help answer any questions I had I strongly recommand taking Mrs. Balma to who ever is looking to take POSC 110

Best Poly Sci teacher at FJC most definitely! She is very smart and is enthusiastic which really helps since this class is 3 hours long! She basically gives you full credit for the HW/guest speaker assignments and the quizzes are open note from the study guides she gives so it's basically a freebie. I love this class and would recommend it!

An excellent teacher, very ethuastic and helpful. Homeworks are super easy, and quizzes are open notes/book. Final is just an essay prompt based on the textbook youll be reading. Easy A, even if you are lazy. Attendence is necessary.

Jodi makes me want to switch my major. She is an amazing person and very intelligent. If you love politics, you will LOVE her course, she makes the subject even more interesting/entertaining with the way she teaches. Couple things: She does NOT make you public speak (awesome)and you absolutely NEED to study the workbook. LOVED her!

Balma is a wonderful teacher and makes me actually enjoy learning about government, which i can care less about. If you take notes in the notebook that she requires and study from IT you will get a good grade on the tests. I encourage taking her for polc100.

She is such an amazing professor. She plan out everything for the class. All you have to do is take notes and follow the book and you should be fine. She is extremely helpful and wants to help her students succeed! She is absolutely amazing! Take her!

the online class is super easy, but there is a good amount of work that you have to do. you have to listen to lectures online that can be 45 minutes long and take notes from the lectures. you also have to take notes from the book. the good thing is that the packet that she gives you is very helpful. the material in the packet is what is in the test

This teacher's lectures are wonderful - she is very knowledgible and animated! I learned a lot and laughed a lot at the same time. I liked this class so much that I took her Contemporary American Politics class also.

AWESOME Professor. I took professor twice at FCC for POSC 100H and POSC 110 she is one of the most caring teachers on the campus and makes all of her classes enjoyable. Her lectures are clear, if you read and pay attention you should have no problem getting an A. Everyone in FCC goes through Balma some how, shes awesome don't hesitate.

Do the study guides and the homework and you will easily get an A in her class #bestclassever

She is so wonderful. I loved her and going to her class. She is hilarious and so knowledgeable and helpful. I highly recommend her as a professor. Just do the work--fill out the study guide and go to class. She will keep you entertained and spark your interest for political science.

i was not excited to take this class lol but Balma made is so enjoyable i considered the major. BEWARE the first test is SO BORING but not her fault. i was just not interested in 'the foundation of our country' blah blah so it was hard to learn lol but the rest of the semester was a blast. enjoyable and interesting and i wanted to know more.

I wasn't interested in taking this class as I disliked it in high school. The first few weeks I dreaded the class & disliked having to hear pre-recorded lectures. As with any online course, you MUST read on your own. However, I did find her helpful & actually ended up learning although resistant & ended up appreciating the pre-recorded lectures.

Professor Balma ROCKS! She is organized, articulate, fair & passionate about Poli Sci. I am not a fan of politics but she makes the class interesting. While her class is not easy, it’s not very difficult either. Unfortunately, I don’t carry a thermometer around so I don’t know how hot she is. I really don’t see the relevance of the question though.

I had my guard way up about her bc these reviews of her seem too good to be true. She genuinely is so nice though!! Her lectures are interesting (even though the class is 3 hrs long) and she finds a way to keep everyone engaged in the class. Read the TUTBU book bc she might ask random questions about it and chances are no one else is reading it

I took her POSC 100 course online during Fall 2014 and it wasn't so bad. Yes, there is audio lectures you have to listen to and take notes from but if you're not a slacker, you'll do fine. Her audio lectures are very clear and understandable. Note: The Course Materials Packet or Booklet and the required textbook is essential to passing the class!

I would highly recommend her to any student.

7 two page papers, one 5 page final paper, weekly quizzes, guest speakers, numerous documentaries, several debates and write-ups. Jodi is very good at being non-biased in lectures. She is very funny and keeps class entertaining and is always willing to help and offers extra credit opportunities.

Definitely need the course materials & the book to do well in her class. Gives a few quizzes but offers extra credit opportunities for them; you cannot take quiz if you're late. Very witty prof. & very informative. Her lectures are interesting & does her best to keep the class entertained. Three tests which are each 100 MCQ. One research paper.

Professor Balma gives you the real college experience. She cares for her students and she advised us to ditch her class near the end of the semester to handle harder classes. Lectures are engaging.

She's a really good teacher and she's passionate about what she does. There was never hw there was one paper and four tests. Really a great class

She is interactive and animated. She made my most dreaded class into a breeze. A classroom as large as her stays filled the whole semester and everyone shows up. It's an awesome course, lead by an amazing woman. I am so glad I took someone's advice and took her class!

Participation matters, and you need to read!!! But if you work for it and want to pass it's not rocket science. Just read, listen to her lectures, and use her course materials packet and you'll be fine. Great professor! Thanks!!!

Wonderful professor! Her exams are difficult but if you complete your workbook and study it you are sure to pass! She ONLY pulls questions for her exams from the reading and lecture guides in the workbook she's compiled which is extremely helpful when studying! She gives quizzes and plenty of opportunity for extra credit.

Hands down the best class i've had at Fullertonl. I went into it kicking and screaming as I hate Govt courses. She made it fascinating. I was really empowered to get more involved and i learned a TON!!! The book was very short, CLEAR, easy read and cheap on my Kindle. She gives you study guide, MUST read if your gonna pass the tests.

By far the best teacher I could have taken. I have always been uninterested in politics, although I know they are important. She gave me the initiative to feel involved in what is currently going on in politics. I want to take another class with her during the 2016 election!!!

She is very clear in the lectures and makes the class interesting. The calendar is followed as she described since the begining and I could plan my time in the best way for me. I strongly recomend this professor

Wonderful professor and human being. I hate politics but she knows it's not everyone's thing and makes the course very enjoyable. Her exams are cake. Go to her if you need help with anything school/life/work related she is so helpful and genuinely loves her job. She is here for the students for sure. One of my favorite people at FC.

Jodi Balma has been one the best professors I've taken at FC so far. Amazing lectures, inspirational, hilarious at some point, and very passionate with politics. This class is really simple if you read the assign readings and attend lecture. Exams are based off both reading and lecture so its a mixture but highly recommended. Study are your set.

She gives you all the resources you need to pass.

Prof. Balma's class was easily the best online class I have ever taken. She actually records lectures for you to play back, rather than just giving you powerpoints to view without context. Assignments were thoughtful and engaging.

I wasn't expecting rainbows and kittens, but the topics are pretty depressing. Americans are hungry. The US military backed the overthrow of governments and killing innocent civilians. Doctors being targeted and killed for helping women. And now universities covering up rape. I keep hoping there's a happy ending...

Ms. Balma is such a great teacher. She is so passionate about teaching, and has a great sense of humor. The course packet she has is pretty much the most important thing you will need for her class. The test and quizzes come straight from the course pack she created her self. If she ever ran for president I would definitely vote for her.

I like the way this class was set up. Weekly quizzes and few discussions. For me, the best part of this online class was that I could finish it almost 4 weeks ahead. And now I can concentrate on other classes and finals.

I took her online class& as long as u do the work you'll have no problem passing. Your course packet will be ur best friend. Read & listen to the lectures & fill out the packet along the way & you'll have all the quiz answers right in ur hand. Theres 1 quiz a week and 4 discussions AND THATS IT. Its easy but interesting. I learned a lot from her!

I can see why the difficulty level in her class is a 2.8. At the beginning I was getting low C's on all my tests and was about to drop her class. but then I went to all the tutor sessions and got A's on the rest of my tests. Russell is a good tutor and made my online class super easy! At the end I got a 96 in her class. At the end I learned a lot!

I highly recommend this professor! She's passionate about politics and definitely changed her student's minds about politics. Each class is interesting and the exams are exactly like the questions in the study guide!

First of all, Jodi is HILARIOUS. She was able to make a three hour class on a subject I had no interest actually relevant, and now I am a bit more intrigued in politics than I was before. It's an easy A as long as you read the book (the chapters are not that long), and take notes on the documentaries.

Absolutely outstanding professor. Her classes are excellent. Far more than just an instructor that shows up and lectures, Jodi Balma puts in tremendous work on additional programs for students that amount to great opportunities. I cannot recommend her highly enough.

Professor Balma is great! Super passionate about politics and gives great lectures. She has three tests and quizzes in between. The number of quizzes depends on the classes participation. She also allows extra credit towards your quizzes. Lectures are really important. Tests are half lecture notes and half reading from the book. There is a lot of reading but she provides a reading guide so you know exactly what you are looking for. Overall great class. Very funny. She's very honest about the pros and cons and issues surrounding American Government.

Ms. Balma is great. Buy her notespacket, as it is used every day for lecture + has key info that is on the test. We have weekly book quizzes (which are easy As bc she lets us use the reading guide) and 3 exams + 2 big essays. It's important to come to lecture because it is only once a week. Over all, I have nothing bad to say about this instructor.

I took this online and it was easy. Just follow the syllabus and you know what will be due for that week. For this class you have to listen to her pre-recorded lectures and fill in her course materials packet, then read the chapter and answer the questions in the packet. You also have some discussions. Quizzes are what primarily make up your grade.

Took her online class.. not too hard! Just read the chapter and fill in the questions in the notes packet and you are good to go. Quizzes are timed but not hard, make sure to read the chapter. Other than that there is nothing else due besides discussion questions here and there.

I loved this class it wasn't hard at all. Do the work & you'll do great lots of reading but I learned a lot. I would take this class all over again.

She was a teacher worth taking. Her lectures are a lot to take in but everything in the lecture and her book help when it comes to tests and pop quizzes

Balma is super wonderful, she's clear and straight up on what she needs & you need to go to class to have answers to questions on test & you also need to do the workbook to pass. She is super funny and makes you understand both sides to political situations. I would enroll with her again!

Took her online class and it was a relief that not only was she a great professor and gave great feedback but it wasn't over challenging at all. Use the textbook it helps for the quizzes. Also offers some extra credit which helps even more. TAKE TAKE TAKE ONLINE!!!!!!!

Where do I start, Balma is just.. wow an amazing professor. Her class is an EASY A. and she is so kind and her sense of humor definitely keeps the class interested. tests are exactly like her course materials packet which is where the reading guides and lecture notes are taken. 3, 100 question tests exactly like the notes and reading guide. perfect

Seriously the best professor I've had at Fullerton college so far. I had her for political science and her lectures were so interesting and she talked about current events! I felt like the lectures were fun but strayed from the actual notes for the test so make sure you fill out all the reading guides as this is what will help pass the class

Jodi Balma is an amazing professor. She is sharp, hilarious, and understanding. Her contemporary Poly Sci class was a breeze- if you read the book and fill out the packets, you can use them for weekly quizzes and ace them. I honestly do not see a reason why you shouldn't get an A in this class. We have two class debates and a big presentation.

Class was online. Class is split into 10 units, with exactly one book chapter and one audio lecture for each, then a quiz. Your grade is mostly those 10 quizzes, plus a small part for discussion posts. She lets you work as far ahead as you want. If you read the book, you can knock all 10 sections out in a weekend if you want.

Don't even think twice, just TAKE HER!! She is a very understanding professor as long as you communicate to her about your issues. Her lectures are hilarious and will kept you entertained. She has you fill in the notes and just study those notes and you'll do fine on the exam. Also, she gives out a ton of extra credit, so take advantage of it :)

Her study guides are exactly what you'll see on the tests, along with her lecture notes in the packet. Extremely funny and very knowledgeable on the subject. Great teacher; definitely recommend.

Professor Balma is awesome. She conducts a very enjoyable class. Just keep up on your study packet and you should do just fine on exams. Also, she's HILARIOUS. Take her! No regrets!

JODI IS THE BEST PROF EVER. Even if you're not interested in POSC, it's worth it just to have her. She is super sweet and will do anything to help you. She's super funny. One quiz a week based off of one chapter of a normal book, not a real textbook. A few papers here and there, easy midterm. Nothing unexpected. TAKE HER! You won't regret. Easy A.

Professor Balma slides into my list of favorite professors at Fullerton College due to her wit, knowledge, and charisma as a teacher. Do the study guide with your book to get A's on your quizzes (open book), take notes during presentations and movies, and do your analysis papers on time and you'll do great.

3 hours is a VERY long time to be sitting in any class, but she made the lectures easy to understand and worth paying attention to. She is very well-informed. Buy the note packet because the notes are outlined for you. Provides extra credit. Weekly quizzes (open note) and tests are easy if you do the reading.

Super easy class. There are three tests and 2 or 3 quizzes. DO THE COURSE PACKET and you will be fine. Course packet answers are from textbook and lectures. Lots of extra credit options, but if you just do the packet you won't need it. She tries to remain objective, and she's there to help if you need it. I would not take anyone else for POSC.

11 quizzes & 3 discussion assignments. Follow her powerpoints and lectures the quizzes will be easy. The book is just there to further your knowledge. There's a 20 point extra credit quiz that can really help. You can pass the class if you try.

Balma is absolutely incredible! Her classes are lecture heavy but her tests are taken straight from the lecture, which makes them quite easy. She is also hilarious which makes the lectures more entertaining She offers some extra credit and gives great feedback on essay drafts! DEFINITELY TAKE HER CLASS!!!! 100/10 RECOMMEND

I took this class online during the summer and Professor Balma made this class very enjoyable! I really liked her audio lectures, it helped me learn the material easily and she was super funny! She also gives great feedback! I would also definitely recommend buying the course materials book at the bookstore as that is the key to getting an A!

This class is mostly made up of tests but the study guides are 100% true to them. The discussion boards can be tough, you have to make a post and reply to someone else before the due date. But every little thing is opened on the first day so you can go at your own pace. The textbook is an absolute must, but you can get it for less than $20!

This was a good online class. You can work ahead and get done with all your work early. Nothing too hard. If you email asking questions, she doesn't go into too much detail which was a bummer.

She's funny and gives great lectures. Provides extra credit, 3 exams total, 4 discussion boards(but trust me they are not hard). Study enough and you pass.

Her online class was 11 quizzes and 3 discussion posts. All of this is doable, you just need to put the effort to do well in this class. Because you aren't graded on many things, you need to be prepared by reading the textbook, listening to lectures, and taking notes -- all three help, as her quizzes are based off of those three.

Excellent class, and informative. Balma is very organized, and the syllabus is straight forward. There are reading notes and lecture notes, which can be purchased as a book, or printed out from canvas. Both notes are covered in the 11 quizzes. The professor did her fair share, so whatever grade you receive is really up to your own performance.

Honestly one of the easiest classes I've taken but learned a lot in! She gives you study guides for the quizzes and the readings were pretty straightforward and easy. Her class is an easy A and you learn a lot!!

Her online class is not as bad as I was expecting. It is a lot of reading if you try to do it last minute. Her lectures are awesome, and shes a great professor. Very accessible outside of class

Honestly the best and the most encouraging, understanding, humane and empathetic Professor! Take her! I had her during the Corona Pandemic and she encouraged our whole class, send encouraging emails every day and just simply the the best human being and Professor! You will not regret! Thank you Professor! <3

The mom of the PoliSci Dept! Absolutely love her. She is a powerhouse that cares deeply about students and the go-to person for what's happening on campus. She is dedicated to the success of every student and will challenge you consistently with leadership roles. I wish I had taken her before my last semester! Take her. No matter your major, do it!

She was great and caring! We didn't have a great textbook but we had a book that we read throughout the semester. During COVID-19 she was understanding and adjusted her coursework accordingly! It was heavy on the essays (easy ones though), but I also took her honors course.

Professor Balma is solid. She is great at lecturing and is very lively and energetic with a good sense of humor. You can tell that she is passionate about her discipline and cares about her students. She adjusted very well to the pandemic and gave ample opportunities for extra credit. If you are not successful in her class then you are not trying.

I loved Jodi's Honors class! She's really caring & understanding. Once the pandemic hit, she lessened our course workload so we'd have time to focus on other classes & family impacted by covid19. Her assignments include class discussions on canvas, online quizzes based on a book, 1 pg summaries on guest speakers, and writing assignments. Easy A!

I am glad I took Jodi Balma's class this past spring. She is very caring towards her students and her lectures grab your attention. Plus, she gives you a course guidebook on things to look out for in the textbook to study for upcoming tests.

100% online for spring 2020. Had to buy the textbook and a course workbook. Ended up not needing the workbook because the material was already on canvas. A lot of work to just take a weekly quiz but the work will make the quiz easy. Without my personal negative comments, the class was manageable, organized and easy to follow along.

Professor Balma is awesome! took her class Spring 2020 and had to witch to remote learning with her. She was so understanding and caring of her class. Her door is always open to ask questions or just talk. She made POSC enjoyable and fun, a little sassy, but definitely funny. Tests are very hard if you DON'T study! Pay attention in class!

Jodi was definitely one of the most inspirational professors I have ever had. Totally changed my view on GE classes. The atmosphere of her class is just great. She has great lectures and prepares you before each exams. One of the highlight was our class discussions, and I think Jodi did a great job on keeping the tradition even after we went online

Very informed and very willing to help. Best lecturer Ive had.

Priority registration & still had to waitlist. Completely understand why! Great professor! 1 chapter/week but gives a study guide which highlights the answers for the test! Gave thorough update of COVID events almost every day. Truly caring!! Easy class. Do the work and youll pass. Only textbook required, never needed workbook which I didnt buy.

I have taken four of Professor Balma's classes - POSC 100H, 110H, 150, and 299- and I can guarantee you that you will love her classes! She is organized and the course load is manageable. She is understanding and accessible so if you have any concerns related to her class or any other, you can ask her for help.

I loved getting to take a class with Professor Balma. She's so engaging and knowledgeable. The Zoom format (Fall 2020) took a little bit of getting used to, but the class was engaging and easier on the workload and time commitment. I would love to take a class with her again in the future!

All government classes should be taught with a practical focus on how "we the people" can actually make changes and improve our communities. We watched city council meetings, reviewed Exit Polls for the presidential election, analyzed public opinion polls, and chose our favorite presidential campaign ads from the last 60 years. I learned so much.

Her class is more work than the other Political Science professors (I had to drop two of their classes), but you really learn the material. Lots of discussions and scavenger hunts where you have to go find data and report back on what you found. Weekly quizzes on the lectures and readings. The others are just exams - no writing, no learning.

This class was one of my favorites. Discussing contemporary issues, the importance of political participation, reading books about the reality of modern politics, and getting direct engagement with politics on the ground level was an unparalleled experience. It gets you out of theory and into practical and real politics. community project fire!

i took prof. balma this summer and she was amazing! although it was a summer course & asynchronous, i could tell the she really cares and wants you to learn the material. i enjoyed her class so much that i'm taking her class again during the fall! she was easily available outside of class and gives great feedback on homework. i definitely recommend

It was so great to be back on campus and Professor Balma made the classroom safe and was flexible about missing class for illness. Class discussions are so much better in person and I loved the books we read. There was a guest speaker almost every week and we got to meet people making decisions in our community which helped with research projects.

I learn better on campus and Balma is lit. The classes were interesting and I learned a lot. Good class discussions and it was really fun.

Professor Balma was an amazing professor, her course was designed for you to easily pass which is awesome but honestly take this class to understand the American government since it actually has a practical use after college. Professor Balma is a caring trustworthy professor and would take her again and again.

I love the assignments for this class. I know that sounds weird, but they're relevant and interesting. The scavenger hunts teach you how to find information for yourself to become informed about your community and politics. I just applied to be on a commission for parks and recreation after realizing our town doesn't have a skate park - we should!

I was fortunate enough to take a field trip class with Prof Balma to our state's capitol. She is an incredible mentor who really teaches you California politics and wants people to care. I continue to use my knowledge from her class, even 8 months after I took it. Civic engagement is so important. She teaches that. Grades pretty easily. Take her!

Her commitment to the subject and institution are insane. She is a force in herself. Not only are her lectures engaging and chock full of knowledge, your time is spent accumulating knowledge without realizing it. Truly one of the best lecturers I have ever met. If you have the chance of taking one of her classes don't miss up on the opportunity.

her classes r just lectures but not the super boring annoying kind. shes super funny entertaining and is an easy A. she posted all her lectures online too but not sure if its gonna stay like this since covid is going away. I probably only showed up 6 days out of the whole semester and ended with a B. HW is just one online quiz a week

Professor Balma is patient, kind, understanding, and puts a lot of effort into making her course enjoyable. She is funny and lets her personality show while she lectures which is awesome. She has a quiz each week and some notes to take, and the work is consistent. She gave a fair workload and was very easy to communicate with.

Great teacher and cares about her students. As long as you do the work in class you will be fine. She is accessible outside of class. If you are taking her honors American gov class, the forget quizzes are easy but can be tedious with very specific questions. All quizzes are online.

Very expressive, funny, and friendly in class and tries to not let her views get the better of her. Also accessible to ask her on any platform for any questions (IRL, Zoom, Canvas). She will assign a semester-long research project so be ready to plan ahead of things even on the most low-scale of ideas. Quizzes are easy so it could be low priority.

The field trip is fun and Jodi is very nice in person. The class is very quiz heavy itself, with two big papers at the end.

This class is very simple, no major exams and everything is evenly spread throughout. For the quizzes and homework, fill out her Reading Guides and you will have the answers. She is not trying to confuse you and is a solid professor.

She's the best! I was on the waitlist so I emailed her and she told me she lets the whole waitlist in!! (10 people). This class is easy if you do the study guides. I recommend to print them out and write in the answers since that helped me a lot. The textbook is a need!. Graded by 20q quizzes, discussions, and scavenger hunts. Easy peasy.

She's the best, but do your work! Do your work, she's understanding, but do your work. Luckily, I learned a lesson I had to learn, but she's incredible and so willing to help students who want to get involved and do things. Supportive to the Nth degree. I cannot say enough good things about her, do your work.

All modules are open, so you can work ahead of yourselves. If your grade is an A even with getting 0 on the rest of the assignments, Professor grades the rest of the assignment and gives you an A right away. You don't have to invest more time unless you are interested in learning more from this class.

She is a great professor. It is clear that she cares about her students and what she is teaching about. Definitely would take her class again. Do the assignments and you should be more than okay.

At first, I was so nervous about taking this class; it has been challenging, but now, in the end, it makes me sad that it's over. She made us feel comfortable and the class enjoyable. She's really focused on empowering students to know how to be a part of our government. Being in her class was a pleasure; she is an excellent teacher.

Really good and easy prof, esp for an online class. quizzes are the hw, but all the answers can be found if you do the study guides and speed thru the lectures. would def recc if this class if just for your GE reqs

Contemporary Issues was my favorite class. You read interesting books and discuss them every week. You watch documentaries and learn how to find political data for scavenger hunts that are really interesting. Balma brings in guest speakers who talk about politics - local elected officials who you've read about. It's such a great class.

She provided guidance and support throughout this accelerated course. she put into preparing engaging lectures, facilitating thought-provoking discussions, and providing valuable feedback on assignments. Her dedication to our academic growth has been evident, and I am grateful for the knowledge and skills I have gained under her mentorship.

I'm taking the late start online class. She's very organized and I've suffered through online classes that weren't so I really appreciate that. The whole class is available so we can work ahead which I like. The lectures are really interesting. She really encourages us to get involved on campus and offers opportunities to meet with her at events.

Very easy class and she genuinely enjoys teaching. Her lectures are fun and easy to follow. Textbook is very cheap, you can easily find one for less than $10 online. Weekly quizzes on Canvas that are based on the reading & lecture guide. Few fairly simple assignments. Midterm and final are in order of the study guide, with no tricky questions.

Easy class and still learned a lot. Professor Balma is very passionate about what she teaches which makes the class more interesting, this is coming from somebody who has no interest in learning about American government. Easy to get a good grade if you do the reading, discussions, and study for exams.

Jodi was an amazing political science teacher. It was an extremely long class of straight lectures, but she teaches directly to her students. There were two exams and they weren't too difficult as long as you paid attention! We had one book to read throughout the semester with discussions and one essay. She is very understanding and cares about you

After taking so many FC classes online, this was "just right" So many of the others were confusing, unpredictable, and super hard as a result. Others felt like only a week of material spread over a semester. I really appreciated how this class was organized. Really interesting assignments that made me want to be more involved in voting.

She is knowledgeable in her field of study. Lectures can get a little dull, but maybe that's because I am not much of a political science fan. Anyway, I still often caught myself getting interested. She does great at giving you examples of how things work in the real world and even uses current world events. Recommend 10/10.

POSC 135 Campaigns and Elections teaches you about local government and elections. You have to plan a campaign for city council or school board in your community for the class. There's a lot of research that I never do was available for the public. You design campaign signs, create a budget, and plan how you would win an election. Take the class.

If you want to pass class make sure to take good notes. Don't come late she starts lecture right on the dot. I really her teaching style. The only stressful time was mid term and final exam, when i say take good notes...i mean it. She does speak a little quick, aside from that she was a great prof.

Professor Balma makes this class engaging. With open-book quizzes and simple assignments, it's an easy A. For extra study help, I used Unstuck ai alongside the textbook.

Professor Balma is so charismatic and makes three hours fly by. This is the most amount of assignments I've had to do for an honors course, but it was still doable. The most stressful times are during the midterm and final, but just fill out the study guides she provides and you'll do great. Also, do the reading guides!!

i honestly didn't pay attention so much in this class because it wasn't part of my major, her lectures are long and she talks too fast but she's super chill if you have any concerns about anything. what I hated was exams because it was around 100 questions that was stressing me and my friend out. she's not awful, just show up and participate.

The best POSC teacher on campus. Take her class!

I really thought political science was boring, but Professor Balma changed my view on looking at the political world. She gives a lot of real world examples to support her lectures, she has a lot of political charisma that will keep you glued to her lectures and I like how she engages others to think politically in the middle. 10/10 Professor!

I had no knowledge of political science before taking this class, however, I ended the class with a 97%. I put no effort in this semester, so if you want an A in this course, take Jodi Balma!

I learned a lot about local government and got involved in campaigns because of this class. I learned a lot about how things actually work. She knows a lot and tries to make it a fun class. It's still college so you have to come to class, pay attention, and study for the exams.

You have to watch the lectures for each quiz. There's a lot of graded quizzes to study for the Midtermnd Final so that helped. There's a lot of writing assignments, but they're based on really interesting things. The discord lit up after the first grades so I guess a lot of people tried to use AI and got caught.

Jodi is very funny and an easy honors class to take. She loves to talk about political science and is very funny. The exams are super easy and the final paper is just a presentation which is simple since some honors classes are more difficult. Love her and 100% recommend to take if you want to take an honors class or political science.

She emails you early about the textbooks and schedule. She opens the online Canvas a week early which reduced my anxiety so much. Everything is organized and clear. I've taken so many online classes that don't open until the last minute and every Sunday I have anxiety about what the week's assignments are even going to be.

This professor has a very organized Canvas. I took her summer course. Discussions were easy peasy and you'll always easily find the quiz answers in her lectures. I only got a B because I didn't study much (not that it requires that much in the first place).i'm just lazy

Study guides are amazing and only amount to about 2-3 hours of work per week. Seriously. Read the short chapters she outlines (1 hour max) and then watch the short lectures (2 hours max), answering study guide as you go. Couldn't ask for a more painless and streamlined online class. Please take her, she is very charismatic and makes politics fun!