3.6
Quality3.1
Difficulty77%
Would Retake118
Reviews77%
Would Retake
118
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
46
4
29
3
15
2
13
1
15
What Students Say
“I know I didn't speak for 5 minutes, but I spoke longer than some people on my debate day”
PSC100 - 2.0 rating“His class consists of all lecture”
PSC100 - 4.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
28%
Textbook Required
20%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
A-
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Stable
+0.06 avg changeRatings by Course
PSC
5.0
(2)PSC355324
5.0
(1)SOCIALRES
5.0
(1)SEVERAL
5.0
(1)AMERGOVT
5.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
PSC3
5.0
PSC230
5.0
1THANKGOD
5.0
GVT
4.5
PSC101
4.3
Reviews (118)
Love his hair
No Comments
Ok, but needs work
count kenedy....not too bad but his tests are pretty hard....drinks a lot of water
He has a nice body, must be cause he swims, also I hear he's in a band
Dr. Kennedy is the man! Took him 3 times, would recomend him to anyone, especially people interested in Politics.
Worst professor I've ever had!!!
good teacher and a great guy!! took him twice..person below must have flunked the course..doesn't take himself too seriously but his tests can be tough..likes it when you tell him you saw him on tv.
No Comments
No Comments
i like him. tests are ok, but cover a lot of material. NEVER LETS OUT EARLY. hes a good teacher though.
Overall Kennedy is okay. Always late. Talks loud and opens windows in the winter. 3 test and a final. Each test covers a lot of material though so give yourself about 2days to study prior to exam. The panel discussion is fun to watch.
I think he's awesome! His test require a lot of writing but he gives you a review that has it all... all you have to do is study a little and you'll pass.. study an extra few minutes and you'll get an a
Dr. Kennedy is the greatest guy! He is always helpful and his classes are fun. Tests are not easy, but if you put in the time you can do very well. Highly recommend!!!
only 3 tests which are impossible.. he is incredibly full of himself and NEVER lets you out early. take this class with someone else
This was the hardest class i had. He wrote his own book and we had to buy it. He just threw in his books material days before the final. He will act like he will let you out early then go off on a tangent for 20 mins. Dont take him
hes da man... had him three times
he could do better than this place...so could i though
Could barely keep my eyes open during class. Has these tangents where he will talk and talk about nothing relevant. Promises to let out early...never does. Do yourself a favor and take the course with someone else
Easy class, really cool guy. One test in the beginning of semester, he gives review sheet that 100% the exsact test. After that you basically have about 9 hw assignments and 1 30 page paper. 30 page paper = 8 pages written, 22 pages of graphs = EASY!
Where do I begin? I am in the process of writing a letter of complaint to Dr. Loedel about Kennedy although I'm being told they're tight so I may not get too far. He is a horrible teacher! He comes in to the classroom not knowing how to properly use t
Professor Kennedy is an ok teacher. I find that some of the material is interesting and his tests are kind of easy. The only problem is he rambles on and does not seem to know the answers to students questions a lot of the time.
I understand he is not well liked among students because he can let his ego get in the way of teaching. Self-proclaimed Republican often criticizes students for their Democratic views and I have personally experienced that reflecting in his grading.
good guy,helped me find a good internship.higher level courses are easier and simulations are fun.person below saying that he is a Rep.,either you are a fool or a liar.everyone knows he is a DEMOCRAT.even had a Kerry sign in his window.maybe you failed because college isn't for you.try trade school.
He is hard as anything, if you care about your gpa and your not a political science major dont take this calss. You need to love the government and have prior knowledge to do well. He is not willing to give extra work to bump up your grade, he is not open minded its his way or the highway. Bad idea.
He's definitely not Republican to whoever listed that one... I definitely don't have his same beliefs but it hasn't shown in his grading... he's a very fair professor
This class was fun and fairly easy. Kennedy is hysterical. Good professor, def reccommend
No Comments
Its my first time having him and I don't really like the way he teaches. just so boring. he's a tough grader so dont expect to just slide. class isnt fun either. everyone keeps complaining about various things but no one has the guts to say something to him or to the dept. class puts me in bad mood
one of the best professors at WCU. very laid back but he is not easy. his tests are hard but you'll learn a lot about american govt. study hard and you'll be alright.
Ok..I'm in his class right now..Sooo BORING! I can give two figs about the US Constitution. There's reading about it when I want, then there's being forced to read it. Honestly, he sux the fun outta pol-sci. Gave me a 2-pg test outline and I'm on my 10TH page of my own..This weekend'll TOTALLY BLOW!
he's a prince..lost my textbook three weeks before the final and he gave me his own copy to use for the rest of the semester. thanks.
Well, after only one class, I just don't like him. I think the feeling was mutual, however, I resent him for not giving me a fair chance in completing missed work. I know he was much kinder to others, maybe I'm not pretty enough? It hurt my feelings at the end, not a fair game! No even rules!
he's ok. debates are fun to watch.
Good teacher. He loves to talk so when you go to class be ready for story time. Tests are taken right from the study guide that he gives you a week before the test. I wish all my classes were this easy.
best class I had freshman year
What an ****! Full of himself. I believe he treats his students without any respect. His office hrs aren't true either. I tried to catch him several times during his office hrs and each time he wasn't there. Sloppy responses to my emails, he wrote things like "ok" and "talk to me after class" as the only body text of his emails to me.
good class, he's a nice guy, though some students tried to take advanteage of him
He gives really long essay exams and only give you a few days, he's nice and interesting though.
Kennedy is a fabulous teacher and is one of the most intelligent people I have ever met. His classes are not easy but you learn a lot. He is always willing to help with anything if you just approach him, I definately recommend taking one of his classes.
hes a nice guy, but im so bored in his classes. he knows alot about politics, but half of the time he discusses issues not realated to the readings.i sit there and read the text instead of paying attention to him
No Comments
hes a nice guy...but class is def boring...you could just read the book and get bye, but he checks attendence randomly
Lectures were boring at times but overall, the course was good. Learned almost every square inch of the political system. Definitely NOT hot.
Took many classes with Dr. Kennedy. Probably my favorite professor ever. If you really like politics, taking one of his courses is an incredible experience. Steer clear if you're just looking for an easy grade.
No Comments
Easy to follow and class was sometimes boring, but if you take notes and go to class... you can do good. Plus, he gives you study guides and everything on the test is taken from the study guides..would deffinitly reccomend this professor.
Kennedy's class is quite boring. Grades consist of 3 tests and a debate. Your debate grade is based on his opinion rather than on how well you present the idea. Also his book, Pennsylvania Elections is the most dry piece of work i've ever laid eyes on. Make sure you sit in the back because you get a good view out the window at the free people.
Ok, Dr. Kennedy has the wrong attitude and the wrong approach. He is excruciatingly boring every lecture, and is a very disorganized teacher. I love government and politics, but dreaded coming to class. The debate is a joke. You only do well if he likes you and you drone on about pointless facts from history. Overall, needs to stop teaching!!
i liked the class but the exams are tough. don't expect an easy grade
This class is extremely boring, it is all lecture. He always comes in at least 5 minutes late. He loses his thoughts often in the middle of a sentence. Don't take this teacher. I relied on the book not his lectures.
his senior seminar class was the best, especially the field trip
I hope Dr. Loedel is reading this because he really should/must know how much most of us dislike Kennedy. Can't he just get rid of him already? When you compare the two professors its like heaven and hell. Loedel is engaging and witty, Kennedy on the other hand can bore you to tears and lacks in all of the qualities of a skilled pedagog. Dissapoint
overall recommended. as several have mentioned some of his lectures can be boring. but the simulation is fun and he is a nice guy
No Comments
He is so completely boring and we haven't learned anything yet for our exam because he's too busy talking about how Pennsylvania is going to determine the Presidential election. I hate to break it to him, but PA isn't that important in the scheme of things.
Kennedy is a great teacher! I have had many class with him and would recommend him to anyone interested in political science. His classes revolve around lectures but if you listen and take some notes than the test are easy. He is extremely smart and knows a ton about PA politics. Take any of his classes if you want to learn about the government.
i liked him alot but hes definately old school. chalk and talk.
If you're interested in Pennsylvania politics, he's the man!
This is a good gen ed class. it might be difficult if your not into politics but...Prof Kennedy LOVES this class and is very enthusiastic. I would recommend it to anyone who has an interest in poly sci but maybe not enough that its your major
one of the worst professors i've EVER taken, he is bias and does not care what his students has to say. Not welcoming to questions and very unhelpful...save yourself a headache do not take his class!
Dr. Kennedy teaches great classes. If you are interested especially in PA politics he is your go to man. Very knowledgeable man, class is not that hard as long as you stay on top of the workload.
great if you like discussing elections. the simulations were also fun
Boring. His class consists of all lecture. He give a review sheet before each test that has EVERYTHING that is on the test on it. Know the review sheet well and ace the tests. There were 3 tests and 1 debate. You can get an A if you study hard for his tests and read the text.
This professor is the worst. I had him this past semester. I went to every class fell asleep every time. He talks for the entire class and rambles on about nonsense. His study guides are very long and half of the information he puts on the study guide is not on the test and half the test is n0t on the study guide. DO NOT TAKE HIM.
This guy is the man. He gives you a study guide before each test with everything on it. Write down the important stuff he talks about in class. He knows everything about politics and keeps it interesting(if your into politics). You will have 3 tests and a debate. If you study really well for them(they are pretty hard) you should get an A.
Kennedy will scream out of nowhere about things like the constitution....it freaks me out...he kind of reminds me of kevin spacey a little bit
I enjoyed the class a lot but I'm a political science major. You better be interested in american government when you sign up.
take him if you are interested in elections
Dr. Kennedy's teachings are a bit scattered, but it's a fun class, if you are a political science major. At times I felt I was one of about 5 or 6 interested people, which was kinda pathetic but expected. One paper, and a couple of tests (two essays on one, Mult. choice/essay on other). Easy class. However, he doesn't present everything clearly.
Kennedy is all over the place when he lectures. Quite a character but you won't learn that much from him unless you really read the textbook. Tests are pretty tough as well.....I don't think I'd take him again! (But he's definitely easy on the eyes)
I took him for amrican govt and didn't think that I would like it. No films, powerpoint, just lecture, but he really is a great speaker. Nice guy also. Highly recommend.
Difficult for an intro class. Grades you on 4 or 5 tests plus one debate. All tests are multiple choice, most people failed majority of them (he ended up just giving us points sometimes) but he claims he's remaking them next year.
Dr. Kennedy's thoughts are all over the place, but he eventually gets his messages across. He knows what he's talking about and he's a great guy. Very big on elections, got off topic talking about them for about 5 classes in a row. Grades based on a few tests and a debate, which are easy if you take a day or two to review notes and the book.
I loved him! Gave lots of extra credits on the last test and I ended up with a 120% in the class. Tests are kinda hard if you don't study on before hand, but if you use the study guide and your common sense you'll be fine. Kennedy is the man!
Very easy to talk to, he was able to mold the course around current events and keep things interested while still covering the material necessary to the course. If you show up and contribute to discussions, you'll do fine.
He's a nice guy, overall okay prof. Grade is based off of only a few big tests and a debate which was an easy A. Ass long as you study for the tests this class is passable, but have to work for it.
The lectures sort of drag on sometimes, and sometimes he has a hard time articulating his thoughts but it never really affects the overall class. Goes on tangents only when asked an irrelevant question, so don't ask stupid questions. I recommend at least skimming the book to study for tests along with notes because not all terms are said in class.
Kennedy is extremely into politics and the government, if you don't really even know the basics of the gov't this class will be extremely hard. The only grades received are tests, and the tests are based off of the textbook, but a lot of the question aren't from the textbook. Google was my teacher for this course. I did learn a lot, however.
I LOVE PROFESSOR KENNEDY!! He is the sweetest professor I have had so far and I really enjoyed his class. We were only graded on exams and some of his lectures got kind of boring but he truly cares about his students and what he is teaching! Take his class!
Dr. Kennedy is such a sweet guy and a really easy teacher. All you need to do is show up to class and actually listen to the lecture. Take notes but he outlines his tests so you know exactly what's gonna be on it. All tests have a curve too so it's really easy to get an A in the class. Just show up.
Attendance not necessary. I google the topics of each test the weekend before. If you don't read the book, don't come to class because you wont take anything away from it. Only chance for grades are four tests throughout the semester. He knows his material really well but is not a great teacher of said material
Dr. Kennedy is a nice guy but his class is a little tough, I'm horrible at PSC but passed. You don't need to go to class because he doesn't take attendance but you need to go to class to take the notes he lectures. You're graded based off 4 exams that are a little tough. If you take good notes and study you'll pass, never used the textbook.
Wouldn't take this class again. He only grades you on four tests and four tests only. No homework or quizzes and he never takes attendance. If you do bad on one or two of the tests you will end up doing bad in the class. Not very helpful at office hours.
I really enjoyed class with Dr. Kennedy. I think he is insightful and passionate about political science. I enjoyed the format of the class which was discussion based about current topics, elections, and Pennsylvania history. He is a good person and a fair grader. All papers. If you're a political science major he's the guy for you.
If you are thinking of taking this 100 level class as an easy GPA booster, I would advise you to think twice about it. Dr. Kennedy is a real cool dude and he really knows his stuff but if you aren't really passionate about political science then you wont do well by studying just the 2-3 days before exams. You need at least a week to study.
Love Dr. Kennedy, he's a great guy who loves political science. He does only grade on four tests but as long as you go through the study guide, use google and his book you'll be fine! Attendance isn't mandatory and don't really need to go if you read the book. He gives extra credit and helps you in office hours if you need it.
His passion for politics exude through the classroom. Although he is boring at times, this class is easy to pass and connects local politics with national politics. He's awesome and very nice too!
Great guy, but the class wasn't the best. He gives out a study guide before the test which is great. Make sure you do the study guide. Best way to study.
most of what goes on during lecture are just political conversations. if its in the textbook, you're going to be tested on it. if you want an A, read the book. just read the freaking book.
I hate history so much, but it seems easier with his lectures. He tells it in order of how stuff happens. Which kind of makes it like a story, especially since he tells some things in detail and brings it more to life. So far I feel better about the class since it's taught like that and not "here's a term, here's another term".
Dr. Kennedy talks about himself, his interests, and his experience during class. He often strays from the course outline. He doesn't provide much information during class, then you have to go home and read the textbook to learn everything he didn't teach you during class.
The only directions he gave for the debate were to talk about your position on the issue and have it be 5 minutes long. I know I didn't speak for 5 minutes, but I spoke longer than some people on my debate day. With all these factors I got a mediocre grade , yet he only gave 2 loose requirements for it. ridiculous
Show up, do the work and you'll do great.
Dr. Kennedy is a funny guy who tries to make the content interesting. He accepts that most students only take the course to fill Gen Ed requirements. Class is not mandatory, that being said if you show up and listen you will get an A on the exams. Only 4 tests and one project, super easy.
The tests for this class are a lot more difficult than they should be. Some of the questions are very specific about things that you may have just skimmed by in the textbook. I enjoyed participating in the weekly discussions; the criteria for this class was interesting to debate about. There is also an extra credit opportunity at some point.
I laugh my butt off when I go to Dr. Kennedys class. His class is the only one I consistently show up to and never email him bullcrap like Im sick because I actually want to go to his class and have a good time. We are always learning something new and engaging everyone in the class. His classes feel like small family tables I really like them.
He tells you to buy the books but if you just go to lecture and don't read, he tells you all of the information you need to know for tests. Lectures can feel long, but taking notes will help to save you $150 on textbooks. Class has no homework and tests are multiple choice. Good professor who wants his students to do well if you show up to class.
Kennedy has been my professor and advisor the past 4 years and honestly, he is one of my favorites in the department. He's old school and likes discussion but he's super relaxed, lienant with deadlines and overall a caring guy. He's very passionate about what he teaches and really has his student's backs. I'll miss him dearly after I graduate
Professor Kennedy is a really passionate lecturer. I have taken him twice now and am signed up for a third class of his next semester. You need to be in class to do well on exams. Often things he says are verbatim on the exam. I would say attending the lecture is more important than reading the book. He is very smart and loves what he teaches!
I am taking Professor Kennedy's class right now and it's fully online. You would think that it wouldn't be enjoyable watching lectures online, but he is so passionate and almost teaches as if he was telling a story. I look forward to the weekly video lectures. He also gives an outline for his lectures which is really nice. Highly recommend!!!
Kennedy is the pinnacle of "safe option" teachers. He's not bad, and he does not wow me. He has a medium level of grading and assignment difficulty, and there are just a few things you're graded on (like most PSC classes). This class is really about just showing up and chatting, then doing assignment based off of readings. Fun, if you love politics
Professor Kennedy was great! I agree with the review saying he is a safe professor. The bulk of the grades come from exams. He just lectures. The textbook isnt necessary but it helps. This is a solid professor who knows his stuff. I enjoyed the class and would recommend him to anybody for it. Very solid and safe option.
Exams do not reflect study guide material AT ALL.
I took Professor Kennedy's class online over the winter semester. I was worried when I read the syllabus and saw the grades were mostly from tests and discussion posts (which were only about 4 points). However, if you listen to the lectures and skim over the textbook, the exams are not difficult at all, and I am not typically a good test taker.
Took online- he is very knowledgeable in politics, keeps the content interesting, and is always accessible if you have a question/problem. There are 4 exams, listen to the lectures and you will be fine. I believe he curves his exams a bit. One discussion post a week. Good, safe class to take for behavioral/social science elective.
he is definitely secure in his classes and very organized. it really is a lecture, but he is a great safe teacher for a gen ed. his tests are easy, and so are discussion posts. it is definitely hard to fail.
Took it in an online accelerated format and your grade is made up of majority tests. Tests were also proctored, but if you watch his videos you will be fine. He is clear about expectations and easy to keep up with. Would take again is needed.
Great teacher, has connections within state government and experience working in Harrisburg so can connect the course to actual events going on and what he's seen. Loves engagement from students and is clearly passionate. Tests are virtual but you have to record yourself and the proctoring software is janky. Need to take notes and read to do well.
Weekly discussion board, two 14-page essays (one for midterm, one for final), and finish class with a fun simulation of Congress. The essays were not hard, and plenty of extra credit. He was a very forgiving and funny professor; do yourself a favor and take his class. Also do yourself a favor and read his early reviews on this site, they are funny.
Dr. Kennedy is a nice person truly. However his class was not good, it was incredibly difficult and boring. For the midterm and final you have to write 15+ page papers on things you are not properly taught in class so you need to rely fully on the textbook. Take someone else if you can.
I took PSC 324, 325, 335, and 355 with him. He's among the best professors I've had, remaining intellectually neutral. PSC 355 was the most challenging; genuine interest in the material is essential to succeed.
I had to take his PSC100 class as a gen ed requirement. Overall, he is a nice and respectful guy but his class was not for me. He has four exams and they total to 80% of the final grade. The review guides he posts for the exams are very unorganized and never clear or correct considering what actually ends up on the exam.
You are pretty much only graded on tests and discussion board prompts, but the tests themselves are 57 questions and graded out of 50. The discussions are really easy points, too. Overall an easy class, even if the professor will never remember your name.
Dr. Kennedy has allowed me to further my passion for politics. His political parties class was very interesting and I thoroughly enjoyed the election simulation. I was a speechwriter for this project and it was so interesting to explore political speech-writing in this form. Dr. Kennedy shows a lot of care for his students and helps them succeed.
Class is just a lecture, with conversations. Definitely not a death-by-lecture type of class. His exams are just papers that he gives plenty of time to complete. His group project simulations are a blast. There is never any homework. As long as you show up and do well on his exams, it's a pretty easy good grade.
This was a fully online course and it was super easy and straightforward. A discussion post every week needing a response and then a comment to a peer. About every 2 weeks there was an online proctored exam. As long as you watch his lecture videos, they are not hard.
Dr. Kennedy is a great professor. All exams are online, and attendance is not mandatory. Very caring and understanding. Discussion post for first 10 weeks, and then an exam every few weeks. He knows what he is talking about and loves it. Lectures can get long and boring, but truly a great guy and would definitely take another class.
Class Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
28%
Textbook Required
20%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
A-
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Stable
+0.06 avg changeRatings by Course
PSC
5.0
(2)PSC355324
5.0
(1)SOCIALRES
5.0
(1)SEVERAL
5.0
(1)AMERGOVT
5.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
PSC3
5.0
PSC230
5.0
1THANKGOD
5.0
GVT
4.5
PSC101
4.3