She's so nice and willing to help you in any way she can. She's new to JMU but fits in well, a great teacher for a hard class.

Easy Class! 295 sucks no matter who you take it with but if you take her class you are guaranteed a good grade. She emails outlines every week- i barely knew the material and got an A on the midterm!

No Comments

she is awesome! She is more than willing to help in every way possible, and is not a very hard grader. She has a tendency to speak quickly, but due to the fact that she sends an outline every week it is an overall easy class!

Pretty good teacher, outlines are a huge help, assigns a lot of reading, but not entirely necessary to read, she goes over most of what is read in class anyways, attendance is taken, tests are ok, class average is normally low 70s but the curve has been 7 or 8 points each time, EC oppurtunities.

Dr F is one of THE nicest people ever. Her class is tough if you dont go to lecture, but if you do and stay on top the material isnt that difficult. Very good teacher. Very clear, very understanding, very fair. Nothing but good about her!

Dr. F goes out of her way to make things easy for you. Weekly outlines of everything you need to know for exams. Wants you to do very well. Just ask for help. 2 exams + 1 research paper (typical). Too bad only at JMU for 1 year, take her if you can. Attend class & you will do fine.

She knows her subject is fairly borring so she really tries to make it fun. She has a good sence of humor, and genuinely wants you to do well in her class. If you want an A just ask her, and she will gladly walk you through it.

Strongly encourages class attendence in order to do well but it isn't really necessary. If you take notes from all of the readings and do the supplements from the online book, you should do well.don't listen to her when she says that she focuses on the lecture because that is complete BS. read book!

she has definately changed. SO hard now, read the notes and went to class and the tests were so hard. If had the book in front of me, still couldnt get an A. She says she makes it hard on purpose. SO boring.

without her, the class would be unbearable

very difficult class, she talks fast as hell and is all over the place. do not buy all 4 books she requires for the class, they are a waste of money. she will try to help you if you're struggling but this is the longest 50 minutes of the day. try to take someone easier, much too difficult for a gen ed. Nice Woman though

At first the class is hard. but once you get used to her it gets better. she talks slow enouch and repeats herself so that you can write down all the important stuff she says. she gives pop quizzes, but tells you what week they'll be. i studied for hours and read everything, and took the online quizzes and i got a B- on the first exam.

Prof. Ferraiolo is a GREAT teacher & i highly recommend this class; tests are straight from the notes and she's very helpful.

If you have to take this class, def take it with her. She's very helpful and the tests aren't bad if you study. She gives a lot of small assignments, but they're easy and help boost your grade. She knows this class is boring but she tries to make it as interesting as possible!

Great professor to take for research methods. Assignments are easy, tests aren't terrible but there is alot of material, she could be a little more clear about what she wants on the paper assignments but at least she leaves alot up to you.

shes alright, lectures sometimes dont get across fully what she expects you to know for tests. reading the book is a real pain but necessary to do well. 2 exams MC & essay, 1 final. She doesnt give all easy questions on tests, but nothing extraordinarily hard. your standard US govt class.

Two Words: GREAT TEACHER--enough said...

Good teacher.. talks very fast! If she says read you should read it helps! Easy B.. and an A if you work!

Take her if you can! She makes you want to get involved in the gov't and she is there to help you. I highly suggest her!

If you have to take gov't, you might as well take her. Lots of notes, but she gives out outlines and studeyguides. Announced 5 pop quizzes? 3 exams. Really sweet, but boring class

Decent Teacher, too reliant upon the text. Shows a broad knowledge of the topic, but lectures are bleedin' boring. At times just seems to drift a bit in lecture and wastes time. Had to refine the syllabus about 3x. Worth taking if you must for GEN ED, but wouldnt go out of my way.

She's a really intelligent professor and talks really fast, but makes sure you get the more important information. She gives out outlines for each chapter which are really helpful. She gives out "popquizzes", but tells you a week before. there's 2 exams which are fair as long as you study.

Dr. Ferraiolo is a super cute lady with an awesome personality. She's a fast talker, but she repeats the important points. Her tests are semi-hard but very fair. She loves football. She's an amazing teacher, I learned so much in her class. She's very willing to help also and very sensitive to everyone's feelings.

if you must take gov't, definitely take her! she is extremely helpful, and she tries to make it interesting!! =), 5 "pop" quizzes and i think it was 3 tests, that arent hard if you look over your notes the night before ha.

This class was sooo boring! I hated this class the tests were difficult and there was entirely to much reading. I would not reccomend taking this class.

Dr. Ferraiolo is a very good professor, the content is pretty hard. Most tested material is from lecture and articles. Some test questions are from the book. Pay attention and go to class, lecture is extremely important to questions. she loves gov't and hearing student's opinions, participate, it will make a difference if you have a border line

I always found government to be boring and Prof. F really tried to make it interesting. It isn't her fault I didn't enjoy the class, but she was always eager to help you if you had trouble and tried to get people to be more passionate about it. Great lady, crummy subject. Take History as your Gened

Very good professor overall, but talks way too fast and class is way too content heavy. I am a senior taking this class and I've NEVER had to do so much work for a gened. Each test covers 4-5 chapters, 3 or 4 articles, 2-3 readings in the debate book, BS Monday night sessions, and anything covered in class. Give me a break.

Great Teacher. I enjoy this class every time I go to it. I could probably get a B without going but I like going so much that I go. She is clear about what she goes over. Outlines for all chapters. Participation helps. Talks rather fast though so be ready to write fast.

overally nice lady =]...i didnt do too hot in her class because I didnt study ..but here are a few tips that can guarantee a A/B...1. READ THE BOOK..not only for he tests but also for the pop quizzes she gives out. 2. take very good careful notes becaus she WILL include her lectures on teh tests.

Very helpful and if you pay attention you will do well. Also dresses really nice!

Posc 295 is a difficult class that, in my opinion, tries to cram too much into a single semester. That being said, Prof. Ferriaolo does her best to present the material in a comprehensible way. The key to doing well in the class is to keep well ahead of the major assignments and spend plenty of time reading the primary text. The final is difficult.

Dr.Ferriaolo is very intelligent and keeps the class interesting. Tests aren't too bad, and you don't really have to read the book. Make sure you come to class- that's where you get all the info for tests/quizzes. And make sure you love the Patriots.. cause she talks about them every week.

She is a really nice lady and trys to make it really interesting. Her tests are all notes from class, just make sure you don't miss anything because for one question you have to know tons of information. Participation boosts the grade and go to every class because that is where her tests come from. Have to write fast to keep up with her though.

A great teacher for Public Policymaking. Very interested in student opinion, thus much of the class is made up of discussion and group work. I recommend her for 358! A very understanding professor and going to her office hours helps a great deal. Book use is relatively low, tests predominantly from notes... Worth taking is PUAD/PPA for sure!

Good, fairly easy, (and pretty hot) teacher. Two exams (all essay), one presentation with a paper (5pgs), a research paper (10-15pgs), and a simulation with paper (5pgs). Lots of writing but if that isn't a problem, it should be an easy B. I recommend her class, I'd take her again. I helped that she was the hottest chick in the class.

very nice! go to class, and take plenty of notes. all test material comes directly from her lectures. barely read the book. she gives you study guides before each test. test consists of mult choice and essay. huge patriots fan so be prepared....

great teacher, gives study guides for tests, which are all Multiple choice.She is extremely nice/helpful especailly in office hrs. a few "pop" quizzes.Class is mostly lecture, and she talks fast, but she is good at showing videos/telling jokes. If you have to take this class sheis the prof to take. Highly recommend her.(movie nights arent that bad)

awesome professor...breaks up the class very good so shes not lecturing for an hour and fifteen minutes. no homework other than 3 of 6 discussion boards. tests are very fair if you study.

I absolutely love Prof. Ferraiolo. She teaches in an organized way which makes the material easy to learn and understand. If you go to class and pay attention to lectures you will do really well. I recommend typing notes on a laptop since she talks pretty fast. She is passionate about what she teaches. You won't regret taking her.

She may talk fast but her lectures cover everythin in the test, not much need of the book.She does do pop quizes and gives many grades.The extra movie night is a pain and you have to write a paper in the end on the movies you watch. The tests arent bad just payattention in class and take notes

Ferraiolo is amazing! She teaches the class wondeful and she is very helpful. always has office hours. 5 pop quizes but the lowest one is dropped. three exams but they are very simply if you study for them and take notes from class. all pop quizzes come from notes, not the book. she trys her best to make class as interesting as possible. take her!!

This is one teacher that is very nice. She is always looking out for the best of her students and is always willing to help you if you need it. Her tests are semi-hard...but its about applying what she teaches in class to situations. If you can do that then you are okay.

Take her for this gened. If you took AP Government in high school this will be so easy. Studied maybe an hour tops for each exam and got A's on all. The best GPOSC 225 teacher, TAKE HER!

I normally hate government but this was my favorite class. Maybe because I took it during the election it was especially interesting but she is so smart and does a good job at keeping class interesting. She is one the best professors I've had yet. Definitely take her if you can.

GREAT PROFESSOR!!! She is very knowledgeable and experienced in her field. Her lectures are very clear and she is ALWAYS willing to help if you ask for it. Ver friendly and honestly made this one of my favorite classes last semester. TAKE HER!!!

Ferraiolo was my favorite professor at JMU. TAKE HER!! She is amazing and I wish I could take more classes with her. She is very fair with grading, attendance is not mandatory (although it's recomended because of the class notes) and you might have a pop quiz. She is amazing!!

Good teacher, very clear and helpful.Spends alot of time lectureing but does a decent job of keeping your interest. Despite a huge class still has class discussions which help break up the lecture. 2 Midterms (50%), 3 Disscussion post (6%), Final. Tests are difficult, not impossible if you study hard. Don't expect an easy A, but a B/C class atleast

I switched to her because the reviews looked better, but ehhh. The first test is a lot harder than you would think, you do actually have to study because she uses a lot of the I,II, III or I and II type M/C questions. 5 movie nights for the extra credit hour, not bad.

She is so nice! No mandatory attendance but her lectures have a lot of information so I would go. She tries to make the class interesting by having class discussions. She has 3 tests (including cumulative final), quizzes (lowest dropped), discussion board, and movies. I highly recommend her!

Awesome! class was well structured, does all notes on powerpoint that set you up to do well on all test if you just pay attention. Would highly recommend!

For me, this class was incredibly difficult, especially the tests. The tests definitely do challenge you to see if you are able to interpret what is being taught. Also, the only way to see what you got wrong on the tests is to go to her office hours, which i find annoying. However, The professor is really nice, and teaches vey well.

Good Prof. Her tests are tricky, you have to study. Her lectures are VERY important to pay attention to, not so much the book. What she says in class is on the test so make sure your notes are very detailed! I brought my lap top and typed word for word what she said in class and it really helped because her test questions used the same wording.

She is really nice and her lectures are clear. Tests are pretty hard so don't think this is an easy gened class where you don't have to study. If you study you will do fine! I would recommend her. Go to class even though attendance is not mandatory. If you took AP gov in high school it will help.

Great professor! Attendance is not mandatory but the lectures are very important to attend as she does not post lectures online. The textbook isn't used much but the Rourke debate book is necessary for discussion board. Her tests are hard so you'll need to study. She has two exams and a cumulative final plus movie nights. I'd recommend taking her.

great teacher and she tries to relate the class to what is going on in the world today. it was really interesting and she was very helpful and encourages questions and comments during discussion (she remembers those who comment ;) ).

I honestly cannot say enough good things about her. Her class isn't super easy, but she is a great teacher. She is always available and always lets you know about her office hours. The tests are tough, but if you take good notes in lecture and attend the movies, you will do well. Love her!!

She is a sweetheart! I took AP Gov in high school, so I was knowledgable on the subject but I think she does a great job of teaching. Her tests are med/hard but if you take good notes, go to the movies, & read the debates you'll do fine

The class isn't very easy but it's very easy to learn to material. Her test do not ask questions that are beating around the bush, they're directly from class or the book. She's very helpful and the class is basically on current politics, so if you took government in high school, you'll do fine.

She's a good teacher, but her tests are really hard and they're a majority of your grade. There's movie nights too that are a small portion of you're grade.

Tests are HARD and do not go along with study guide. She is very nice and understanding though. If you did not take a government class in high school you are at a disadvantage. Tests make you discouraged about the class but if you do debates, notes, and film sessions it's not bad. Lectures BORING.

I am in her class now and I LOVE IT!!

My absolute FAVORITE professor at JMU so far!! Tests cover a lot of material but are not cumulative so they aren't bad. I did the study guides the night before and got all A's. Her lectures are interesting because she divides time between current events and lecture. She uses funny videos too! TAKE THIS CLASS!!!!

This is an awesome class. She is amazing. She is just so nice you can't not like her. She's pregnant now and its adorable. She gives you really good test reviews to study with and then you get test grades back like the same day! She makes government interesting and she is awesome at finding the perfect balance between discussion, lecture, examples.

This course is not easy but it is manageable. Lectures are not mandatory but I would go because a lot of the test questions are based of off lecture concepts. The test are challenging but quizzes and discussion post average it all out. You only need 5 evening sessions which are not terrible. Take her!

She is an amazing teacher! Breaks up class between lecture with current events. She will always try her best to help you. The tests are very detailed oriented and you HAVE to study. She uses powerpoint slides and they coincide with the book. She gives you a study guide before each test! TAKE HER!!!

She keeps your attention and includes video clips to make information fun. Her powerpoints are clear and come right from the book. No pop quizzes. Tests are based on powerpoints and clips in class. TAKE HER she is one of the best professors I've had!

Great Gov Professor! She's super nice, helpful, explains everything clearly & answers questions. Take good notes & read the articles. She always breaks up lecture with funny video clips & shows how the content applies in real life. TAKE HER!

She is the absolute best, im not really into this topic but she made it very interesting, great discussions in class! Not a difficult class, a couple online quizzes, discussions, and the test. I'll probably end up with a B+ with minimal effort. Also, she is hot and I would marry her

Awesome prof, terrible class. Dr. F does her very best at making an incredibly dry subject interesting. Lectures are very bland but she knows this and uses lots of real world examples to compensate. The class goes from very easy to very challenging towards the end of the semester. DONT procrastinate on the final paper, you'll regret it!

I have never been a fan of government classes, but I did enjoy this one. She really tries to make it interesting and get the class involved in open discussions to break up the lectures. The tests/quizzes aren't difficult if you put a little effort in. I didn't really like the debates we had to read and write about. Most of them were long and boring

Professor is very nice and helpful. The class is inherently hard but she makes it interesting and tries to engage all of her students. I would fully suggest taking her course. Do not think that it will be easy but it is definitely worth it if you take the time to get all the reading done in a timely manner.

love, love, love Dr. Ferriaolo. She keeps her students engaged, and class discussion is always great. She is super nice, knowledgeable, and approachable. I would highly suggest any of her classes

Dr. Ferraiolo is a very nice women with very interesting lectures. She always has interesting videos and links to show. She gives study guides for tests. She gives video quizzes and if you do the video guide you will get a 100%. Quizzes and tests are reasonable if you read, study her lectures, and pay attention to the links she shows in class.

She is without a doubt my favorite teacher here and has made this class my favorite class. She loves what she does. She frequently opens the floor for class input, but it's not expected. The 75 minute lecture flies by, and she loves to incorporate funny clips or interesting articles anyway. It's 4 credits, but it doesn't feel like it. Take her!!

Ferraiolo is amazing!! I love her and the lectures do not seem that long because she makes class fly by! She's very personable and if you show up and copy her slides down its super easy! A total of 3 tests, noncumulative, a few 10 question online quizzes, and 3 debates (250 words online, super easy) and movie quizzes which is the 4 credit part

She was so great. Definitely my favorite teacher at JMU. She is super organized and if you take good notes in class it's really easy to do well on the tests and in the class.

Dr. Ferraiolo was one of my favorite professors. Her lectures a packed with information, and if you take good notes during class, you'll do fine on the test. There are 4 exams, 3 discussion posts, 4 film quizzes, and some random quizzes throughout the semester. The work isn't too much though. Take Ferraiolo at all costs!!!

Professor Ferraiolo is great, she is a super sweet lady who loves what she does. The class itself is not difficult and neither are any of the assignments. There are weekly assignments and quizzes and for big tests (only 3 including final) she makes study guides. She doesn't cancel class often. Definitely recommend her.

She is very clear in giving lectures. Her tests are very straight forward and as long as you study you will get an A or B. There are movies that you have to watch outside of class and take quizzes on but those are easy A's and help your grade. She drops lowest quiz grade and the final is not cumulative.

It is a 4 credit history class, so if you have to take it, i would take Dr. Ferraiolo. Her tests are all multiple choice. she doesnt put lectures online so you have to go to class. There are more assignments beyond just tests. Answers all questions and is super friendly. She wants you to pass. Text book is too expensive for the minimal use

I love her! She's a really nice professor who loves the subject. Sometimes she stays on a certain topic for too long though, and that can make class boring. Also, some of the readings she assigns are actually really hard to read. Overall she's a good professor :)

Dr. Ferraiolo is one of the best in the POSC Department. She gives study guides for both exams which clearly lay out what is expected and she is always willing to talk through research papers in office hours. She is extremely helpful and I will certainly be taking classes with her in the future

Dr. Ferraiolo is a great professor! Lectures are fun and entertaining. I really learned a lot. I didn't read the textbook but i suggest you do! It is imparetive to take good notes and prepare for exams. Be ready for a speech and a paper. overall good teacher.

TAKE! She's straight forward, you get four credits for doing barely anything extra, and everything is all multiple choice. Go to lecture, take some sort of notes and you'll do fine on exams (50 MC questions). Watch 4 films during the semester. Take some canvas quizzes (lowest is dropped). Interesting material especially with election coming up

I LOVED this class! Ferraiolo explains everything so well, I had practically no interest in politics and this class inspired me to register to vote. Tests are multiple choice, and as long as you take good notes and study them, you will do fine! Quizzes can be tricky, take them with friends. You really only need the textbook for quizzes. TAKE HER!!!

She is a very clear lecturer and makes them interesting with youtube clips and other stories. You need to go to class because she will test on stuff specifically talked about during lectures. She gives a weekly quiz or assignment but they are not time consuming and tests are not super hard.

Dr. Farraiolo is a great professor. She made my love for politics even stronger. Her lectures are very interesting and she makes sure to explain everything fully if you don't understand. Film quizzes are easy 100s and all quizzes are online. I would definitely take another one of her classes!

Dr. Ferraiolo is one of the best professors I've ever had at JMU. Her lectures are interesting and packed with stories and clear examples. She teaches the information that is going to be on her tests. While not an easy A, if you work hard and pay attention in class you can definitely do well. TAKE HER!

Dr. Ferraiolo is a great professor. Her lectures are clear and she's sure to break it up with examples and video clips. Quizzes are online and open note and I found tests easy if you pay attention and take decent notes. Even in a large class she manages to facilitate good discussions, and she's a lovely and competent professor overall.

One of the best lecture teachers I've had. She keeps your interest in class and doesn't ramble often. She tends to break up lecture with discussions and videos, which are always very interesting. She also shows pictures of her adorable kids and you can tell how much she actually cares.

Dr. Ferraiolo has been an incredible teacher, and even though I still can't really pronounce her name, she is super nice and very sweet, and genuinely loves teaching. Her class is great because you learn tons, and the class discussions are very informative and respectful. However, this is a 4 cr. class and you must ATTEND CLASS to do well on tests.

Dr. Ferraiolo is really passionate about the material she is teaching. She is very helpful when answering questions and encourages students to voice their opinions on several topics you cover. Tests aren't too difficult as long as you know the material on the study guide she gives you. I learned so much in this class and I would 100% recommend it!

Dr. F is great! Attendance is not mandatory but the online quizzes and exams come from the lectures so you really need to be there. She makes her lectures very interesting by adding relevant news stories and funny clips. I loved this course because we had tons of debates and discussions during class which made the class interesting.

Ferraiolo incorporates videos and current events into her lectures and really cares about how well her students are doing. That being said, her tests are very in depth and you will not pass them unless you read the textbook and study the stats and data shared in class. The test also includes questions from the movies she assigns.

If you're looking for an easy gen-ed take this with another teacher. Her tests are very specific and hard, and that is the majority of your final grade. Quizzes aren't worth much but they are online which is nice. Find a teacher who weigh's quizzes heavier or has easier tests. One of the harder gen-ed's i've taken

Dr. Farraiolo is so sweet and supportive. She has great notes and is straightforward on tests. The weekly debates take up a good chunk of class time but the topics are very interesting! Don't be too nervous for that - she grades fairly. The final paper is super long and intense but doable. Pick a topic you really like!

The tests were very specific and difficult, but not crazy hard. If you aren't interested in politics it's a hard gened, but others in the class got super involved and the lectures were interesting. She also remains neutral on topics. Great professor, just not interested in the topic.

One of my favorite teachers here at JMU. Very respectful of students and their differing opinions. I have taken her for 3 classes and still have no idea where she stands on the issues she only presents facts. On essays she gives alot of feedback saying what you did well and what you need to work on. Overall it was a great experience

Dr. Ferraiolo is easily one of the best professors I've had at JMU so far! She is so knowledgable about public policy and truly wants her students to get as much out of the class as possible. Two exams, both pretty difficult but doable if you go to class and study, an in-class debate, a long final paper, and some little grade-boosters. Take her!!!!

One of the best Professors I have had so far at JMU! She is so sweet and really cares about her students. She is very helpful and always available to help (wish I did so more). Her class is not too difficult to get a B in especially if you do the readings. Very fair grader and don't worry about the debate or term paper they aren't too bad!

Dr. Ferraiolo is a great professor. Definitely my favorite of the spring semester. She made her class engaging and interesting for students. Be prepared for a short debate and a long paper, do not procrastinate on both and you should be fine. Would take her again for a class.

Dr. Ferraiolo is a great professor but much of her class is discussion based so sometimes all the information does not get covered in class, requiring her to record lectures you must watch on your own time to pass. The tests are mildly difficult but if you study you should be successful!

Her lectures are very interesting. You have to show up and take notes because she doesn't post any of her notes in canvas. The book is really helpful too.

Dr. Ferraiolo is a wonderful professor! She really cares about her students and makes sure that they understand the material from class; she keeps class interesting and is very open-minded. you don't really need the textbook to do well; Easy A if you just come to lecture and take notes!

She is super passionate about this subject and she ensures that every student feels comfortable in participating and sharing their opinion. She is a tough grader and her tests aren't exactly straight forward, she puts questions that arent on the notes, simply things that she acutely mentions in discussions.

amazing lady... cared about all of her students. VERY interesting class and she loves her job so that makes it better. 3 exams. lecture heavy, but its very interesting. favorite class. TAKE HER

Love Kathleen! three tests that are straightforward and some quizzes from textbook & online movies - lectures are a little heavy but very interesting and she cares about all her students! TAKE HER IF YOU CAN

I really like Dr. F, she's a very sweet woman and a good lecturer. The topics are pretty interesting and she encourages class discussion. 1 midterm, a final, a policy debate (not too hard), and a 10-page paper due at the end of the semester. Overall I'd recommend.

MUST TAKE HER! She's so nice and amazing. Class is one paper, a debate, and midterm/final. She is a little picky when it comes to tests/essays. Her lectures are great and never boring. I'm absolutely going to take her again and so should you!

I was so glad I took Dr. Ferraiolo's class this semester. Her lectures are very clear and to the point. She regularly shows engaging video clips related to the material, which keeps the lectures from getting too dry. She respects everyone's opinions during class discussions and always remains neutral on different political issues. Super nice lady!!

Gives good lectures and explains things very well.

Dr. Ferralio is a wonderful POSC professor. She makes everyones opinions welcome in her class and is respectful. The quizes are strictly on the book and the exams are strictly on her lectures, so DO NOT SKIP CLASS!! You will not pass. Take the two writing assignments seriously, as they matter A LOT! Definitely take her class, she is awesome!

this class is based around online quizzes, tests, and 2 essays. The essays are easy but she can be a tough grader on them. Tests are based on the study guide she gives you--study and you'll pass. The quizzes are based on podcasts and they're easy as well. She has interactive lectures and makes politics interesting to learn and debate.

Ferraiolo is a great professor. Her tests are lecture heavy so if you don't go to class you'll have a little trouble on the tests. The textbook isn't mandatory but is helpful if you want to excel on exams. Majority of the class is made up of really easy online quizzes and a few short article reviews. Take her if you can, she's really sweet.

Best possible senior seminar I could have taken. I had no interest in the topic before, but quickly became incredibly passionate about it because of the way Dr. Ferraiolo teaches the course. Very heavy reading but supplemented well by good in-class discussions. Gives great feedback. Final paper is long but Dr. Ferraiolo helps you through everything

As long as you read the textbook and go to class you will be fine! She is always willing to help you in her office hours and is very considerate toward students Take her if you can!!!!!!!

she is awesome. she made what would have been a super dull class (not a poli sci lover, sorry) into something very doable. she's lecture heavy, but the lectures basically are the tests, so I recommend going to all lectures and taking good notes. online text is needed for quizzes, which there are a lot but doable (they're online in ashby). love her

Dr. Ferraiolo is amazing!!! Super easy to understand, makes grading clear from the beginning, and lectures are interesting. Definitely go to class because she does not post much materials on Canvas. Easy A if you try

Sweet professor that made the class bearable even though I have zero interest in poli sci. She doesn't post lectures online so you have to go to class. Read the textbook and take the discussions seriously. Exams were SUPER hard. I studied a lot for them and never even got close to an A. This was my hardest class of the semester and my lowest grade.

POSC 225 will be a good amount of work but nothing is too difficult as long as you have a general interest in the topic. Ferraiolo makes it as painless as possible and will break up lecture with videos and class discussion. She is a very fair professor and is always willing to meet with students. A solid choice for POSC 225!

The course itself was not too difficult but you must come to class because she incorporates the majority of the info she covers in lecture into the tests. Professor Ferraiolo is very informed and has interesting lectures. You can tell she cares very much about her students. I enjoyed her class very much. She made me interested in politics

Kathleen is a kind, wonderful woman who really wants her students to be engaged citizens & absolutely loves what she teaches. The tests are tough & if you skip class they get a lot tougher because they're 70% based on lecture. If you do the readings (a reasonable amount) & go to class it's not hard, but it's definitely not an easy A gen ed.

The lectures are really important when it comes to tests. Anything said in class is fair game for an exam. She gives study guides, which help. But going to class is important. Her lectures are amazing and interesting.

The queen of policy, she really makes you work for your grade. I got 88's on everything but really learned a lot of information. I plan on taking her again, and she is always available outside of class. Throws a lot of information at you, but discussion/debates really let the information sink in. tests are hard :/

Kathleen is one of my favorite professors ever. Shes super passionate about what she teaches and lectures are never boring. Her classes are tough though and do require work but its definitely worth it

Gives great feedback and super helpful outside of class. Very easy to email and contact she gave great feedback on both research and reflective essays. She is a tough grader and expects a lot on both exams and it can be difficult. Muccaroni is the God in this class, you will discuss his morality frameworks alot. Make sure to read and attend class.

By far my favorite professor I've had at JMU. She is so knowledgeable and passionate about policy in a way that inspires her students to feel the same. She tells you exactly what she expects on tests and assignments and is always available outside of class. You definitely have to put in the work but an A is doable. Take her!

Dr. Ferraiolo will do everything to help you pass, as long as you are willing to meet her halfway. Have had her for two different classes, she always gives the best feedback and respects everyone's view. Even when you manage to say something really wrong/stupid as an answer to a question, she will not make you feel dumb.

BEST political science teacher by far. Lectures are interesting and she really wants to help you. 2 easy discussion posts and the tests aren't bad because you are given a study guide. Definitely take her!

Dr. Ferraiolo is a great and very sweet professor and I would highly recommend her. The class is fairly easy, but most of the grade is based on three exams, which made some of the other assignments seem pointless as they did not make up much of the final grade. Other than that, I definitely recommend her if you need to take the class.

Dr. Ferraiolo is a great professor. US Gov can be boring and sometimes even confusing, but she taught it in a way where it made sense and was interesting. The textbook takes a long time to read, and you're going to want to take good notes in class. She is also very neutral on current events. If you take notes and study, you'll pass just fine.

Dr. Ferraiolo was a great senior seminar professor and she was extremely respectful and engaging during discussions in class. The whole class is based on the readings and discussion of the readings in class, so definitely do them. They aren't too difficult or long most weeks, overall good experience for senior sem

This class will be easy for those with a strong basic understanding of American Gov. Exam material is directly from the lecture and textbook; do your reading and pay attention in class and you'll be golden. Also, she includes unlabeled graphs on exams and you have to identify them so study the graphs provided in lecture. Overall a good gened.

She is a good professor. The only thing I did not like was the weighting of quizzes because she would have these 10 question quizzes that you would only get either and 80 or 90 on. She promotes political discourse, which makes the class much more entertaining. She also puts in current political situations too and puts that as part of the class.

BEST PROFESSOR!!!! Take her you will not regret it.

If you have the chance, please take her!!! She is very caring and accessible outside of class. Make sure to pay attention to the lectures because the things she writes down and the graphs are going to be on the test. Overall, there are 3 tests, and 2 papers. Her tests are not hard if you pay attention and take good notes. Highly recommend !!!!!!!.

She is the best, take her if you have the chance! There are 3 open book online tests, 2 500 word essays, and around 8 quizzes. Her quizzes/tests are straight from the lectures/textbook, so if you take notes and read you'll seriously do fine. She plays fun videos in class, is very lenient with deadlines, and is super easy to work with. Take her!!!!

The course consisted of 3 exams, a few lecture quizzes, a few podcast quizzes and you get to pick 2 essays of the 4 offered. The lectures were very engaging and she does not allow any electronics in class but she will show videos and other fun/relevant info. If you read the textbook you don't really need to go to class and vice versa

All of the tests and assignments are super easy if you actually go to class. All of the assessments are online and open notes and there is no homework. You don't have to read the textbook us long as you go to class. She's a really easy going teacher and will give extensions if you ask ahead of time. She also shows a lot of funny videos in class.

Professor Ferraiolo is so sweet! Her lectures made it easy to better understand US government. She gives online quizzes that are super easy and there are only four online exams. She gives you the option to pick 2 of the 4 essay prompts given to write throughout the semester, and she gives good feedback/uploads examples of excellent essays.

My favorite professor. I've had her twice and hope to have her again. Classes are so interesting and she's funny. Very lenient on turning in assignments late and is open to feedback. Exams can be a little tough, but are open note. Workload isn't too heavy either, but there's alot of reading. If you have the opportunity to take her, TAKE HER!

I've had her twice and she's probably my favorite professor at JMU. Super interesting lectures, very down to Earth, and a fair grader. She is very passionate about her work and is great about sharing this with her students. Definitely take her if you have the chance!!!

Love Dr. F! Originally I had no interest in direct democracy, but she made it so interesting and relevant. Senior sem is always a lot of reading & writing, but Dr. F kept the class super manageable. Midterm, final, research paper, & 8 reading response papers. Cool person & so easy to talk to, & great at facilitating classroom discussion, take her!!

Great professor! Not an easy A GenEd but learned so much. Graded on 2 essays, 4 exams, and about 10 mini quizzes. She is super passionate and loves questions. Sit in the front and she will really try to get to know you even in a big lecture.

Dr Ferraiolo is SO nice and loves a good class discussion. She is the best option for POSC 225! Exams and quizzes are online/take home but were kind of difficult, I recommend looking over the textbook before. Attendance isn't mandatory which is nice. However, she requires taking notes by hand and no electronic devices which is kind of annoying.

One of my absolute favorite professors, she's easy to talk to, and her classes and discussions are very interesting. This was the second class that I had with her (I had her for 225) and I'm so grateful I chose to take this class. You won't regret taking this class from Dr. Ferraiolo!

She is a good professor and encourages class discussion and participation. If you take detailed notes in class a lot of the quiz and test questions come straight from her lectures. You can tell she cares about the class learning and the material she is teaching

This class was so great. Definitely, average difficulty you have to go to class to get the notes as she does not post everything. But the lectures are interesting and she is so lovely so I always wanted to go. Tests are very mid. Like not super hard but not super easy if you go to class and listen you will do fine. Easy grader on the essays.

Professor Ferrailo was an amazing teacher. I would definitely recommend taking her class. For a gen-ed, she made it very interesting and she's hilarious. All that is required to get a good grade in the class is to take notes on the key things she brings up and you're good. It might be hard to get an A but a B or higher is definitely possible.

Great woman. Clearly very passionate about her field and super engaging, even in a class of 150+ students. Tests are kind of a brick, but quizzes and the short essays aren't too bad. Interesting material and easy readings. Overall a solid choice for 225

Dr. Ferraiolo was very kind and understanding while I was in her class. She worked hard to make sure that I understood the material. Her class was challenging, but not unbearable. The assignments were lengthy and involved a lot of effort, but in the end, I learned a lot about this topic. I recommend taking her class if you have the chance.

Dr. Ferraiolo is one of the best POSC professors in the department. She's so sweet and she's very enthusiastic about what she teaches. She's very knowledgeable on the topics and we read a couple of her articles in class. She facilitates great discussion. There's one discussion post per topic, one big paper, and two exams. Make sure you read!

Senior Sem is daunting, but she made the seminar so fun. Her lectures were great and she made sure to add flare to it with polls in every class to spark discussion on random topics. So sweet in office hours and is willing to be there! Take her for not only Senior Seminar, but ANY course!

This is a 4 credit course, so the 4th credit is 2 out of 4 400 word essay and 4 film/podcast quizzes with questions from viewing guides. She makes class interesting and is not bias which was nice. NO ELECTRONICS POLICY IN CLASS. 3 tests, closed notes on scantron not cumulative! She was great

Such a nice woman. The 4th credit hour is based on 3/4 podcast quizzes, there are 4 essays but you only have to pick 2 to write. Pay attention in class, take good notes, and do all of your work on time and you'll be just fine. I never went to office hours but she always offered to give kids extra help if they wanted it.

Prof. Ferraiolo's class is challenging but engaging. Attend lectures and use the textbook to stay on top of the material. Quizzes and essays require effort, but the insights gained make it worthwhile. I found unstuck study helpful for preparing.

I LOVED Dr. Ferraiolo! Even having a large lecture class she keeps it super engaging and encourages conversation. Exams are easy if you study but you need to put in the work in. There are a few short essays and other assignments but they aren't hard. If you are struggling she is always willing to help and is very understanding. 10/10 recommend.

She is amazing. Lectures are so thorough and she provides many outside resources. Honestly if youre a good note taker and just go to class, you will pass. She is also great with office hours, and genuinely wants you to succeed. Tests questions are straight from the lectures and textbook. I hope to take more classes with her, she is great

Prof Ferraiolo was a very awesome professor. Her lectures are very informative and she makes them enjoyable. She does fun surveys in the middle of classes to keep everyone engaged, tho she makes everything enjoyable. The subject isn't too hard and if you read and take good notes,the exams aren't bad. Quizzes and podcast quizzes are easy and online

LOTS of reading and writing but it's very interesting and worth it just for the discussion. You're probably already really into politics if you're planning on taking this class so it shouldn't be a problem. Senior seminar is going to be hard no matter who you take but she made it fun and interesting despite the difficulty.

All notes in her class must be taken on paper which is annoying. 3 exams that are all on scantron so you need to make sure you know the content. There are five podcast quizzes, but all of the answers are on the viewing guide you fill out, so its easy. Theres a couple of quizzes too which are online and are somewhat easy.

She is the only professor I have had where I actually enjoyed the lectures. She made them engaging and entertaining. There are comprehension quizzes and podcast quizzes that count as the 4th credit. Attendance is not mandatory but does tend to reference stuff talked about in class on tests. So kind and would definitely take her again.

Such a good professor. The tests were difficult but she was a great person and was very passionate about she taught about. Made history interesting for me. Love her.

Such a sweet lady. 100% recommend Prof. Ferraiolo. Her tests were challenging, but as long as you study, you'll be fine. Lectures are super interesting and engaging.

Mrs. Ferraiolo was very caring whenever it came to just having a conversation with her. However, she locks ur grade, so you do not know if u r passing or not. Her tests are super difficult if you do not memorize EVERYTHING in the textbook, and maybe 5-10% of the lectures. Quizzes r taken online, tests r in person and proctored, but not cumulative.

Good professor. Readings assigned weekly and lectures cover like 80% of it. You are tested on the readings and exam questions are based on what was discussed in class, so show up. Online take home quizzes and the final is not cumulative. Take good notes, pay attention, and you'll do well in the class. Grades arent immediately posted to Canvas.

she makes it rlly engaging by asking her class to chime in if they have any thoughts. The tests can be a little difficult but most of the time it's word for word what's on her slides and the textbook. i suggest going to class so you don't miss anything because she uses in class examples on the test. I would definitely recommend her!

I have absolutely LOVED Dr. Ferraiolo! The class is extremely lecture heavy and it is a "no electronics" class, but it is very doable because she keeps you engaged the whole time. There are 3 exams, 50 questions each, and very easy if you took AP GOV before this class. I'd recommend!

She is so awesome I really recommend taking her class! She is very understanding and really cares about her students. Ferraiolo is very passionate and enforces a "no electronic policy." Her class is very lecture heavy but as long as you pay attention and write down some of the things she says, you should be ok. tests are scantron and quizzes online

I wouldn't recommend her if you're not a history person. Everyone in the reviews all mentioned they took AP gov, I didn't. I went to her office hours regularly and still did poorly on each exam. She is very helpful but this class is a lot sometimes.

my favorite professor this semester - she is so kind and very funny and cares about her students and the subject matter. i loved her class and despite attendance not being mandatory i went almost every time. exams may be most difficult part but quizzes and essays are not very hard nor long. 100% recommend. no technology policy didnt bother me.

She is a great professor and is very passionate about the material that she teaches. There are 3 exams, online quizzes, and 2 essays. I wouldn't say that the class is easy, especially if you're not too interested in this subject, but if you attend class and do readings and reviews from her study guides, slides and textbook, you should do well.

One of the nicer prof I had, but the content is what brings this course down. No technology in class and everything is by paper/hand-written. Attendance not mandatory but I recommend going as most of the exam questions talk about questions asked during lecture. This class is very easy to get a C/B and if you put a lot of effort, maybe A/B

Probably the most useful gened I've taken. Dr. Ferraiolo is very kind and knowledgeable about the field. She is always open to discussion, allowing everyone to share their opinions on topics surrounding the political world. Reading the chapters is recommended, but I ended with a 90 with minimal reading.