Amazing professor! His lectures are thoroughly entertaining and informative and he is extremely encouraging of all students' comments and questions. He even offers extra credit opportunities for those less prone to talking in class. Every day we start with current events and then talk theory, and he makes sure we make connections between the two.

Truly one of the most amazing professors I've had. He's absolutely hilarious, and an A is practicially guaranteed if you are just mentally engaged and keep up with the readings. If you need to take this class for a GER or IR major prereq i would definitely take it with him, you won't regret it.

Best professor I ever had.

Intro to International Politics with Holmes was one of the best decisions I ever made. For those of you stalking for an easy and fun class without a ton of work, it's this one. That said you'll want to do every assignment and stay engaged because Holmes makes IP amazing. He's hilarious, open, and the least pretentious professor I've met here.

Professor Holmes is a GREAT research advisor. Working in his Political Psychology of International Relations Lab in the Social Science Research Methods Science is a great way to get involved in undergraduate research and work with a professor who genuinely cares about your ability to research independently while collaborating in a group setting.

I loved being in Holmes class! He made IP really interesting and funny. There is a lot of readings and they help you with the class discussions (class participation is encouraged), but if you're having a tough week you can skip a few of the readings. I recommend taking one of his classes if you can! Totally worth it!!

Holmes is an excellent professor, particularly for 204. I would absolutely recommend him for either major and non-major students

Professor Holmes is an awesome professor. He's a very energetic lecturer and does a great job of stimulating class participation. He's flexible with deadlines and most interested in getting students to contribute ideas and think about the material. The course does a good job of surveying a young field of study. All readings are on Blackboard.

Best class I have taken at W&M. The research lab is great as well. Take him!

Holmes is a really fun lecturer- really into International Relations, ready to discuss in and out of class. Not a lot of tests, but note-taking is a wash- you're better off just listening to what he has to say. I you like to participate and are genuinely interested in IR, he's a fantastic professor.

Amazingly energetic lectures and really nice guy. Also is high up in a social sciences research lab on campus, so he's a nice in for that. Most enjoyable class this semester. Reading is good to do so that you can participate in class (which is part of your grade), but he gives you the run-down of each reading during his lecture.

Really great professor and class. Do the reading, participate, and enjoy!

Holmes is an extremely nice, smart, and energetic teacher. He has a very transparent and clear style, and you can tell he's extremely invested in the students. Not too overbearing of a class, he makes it easy and interesting. Would definitely recommend him for any class.

If you have the opportunity, take a class from Professor Holmes! By far the best professor I've had at the College. He seems to take a real interest in his students, and is one of the big reasons why I declared an IR major.

Extraordinary professor. Very energetic during classes. Tests and assignments are not too difficult. Definitely visit during office hours; he loves talking about IR, but also wants to get to know you as a person.

One of the funniest and best professors I've had in the government department. About 97% of the class is devoted to his extremely high-energy discussion about IR and the other 3% to his voice cracking. Take a class with him!

Marcus is awesome. Take this class.

Posts powerpoints of lectures online!

So fun and enthusiastic! Participation is a good chunk of the grade (25%) so make sure to show up to class and speak. While you can get by with skimming readings generally, reading them helps with details on quizzes and tests. My main problem with this class was that Holmes allowed too much student participation, leading us to always be off track.

Professor Holmes is one of the best profs I have had at W&M. He has such an amazing energy when he lectures and passion for what he teaches. He is super accessible and truly seeks to help students. If you have the chance, you have to take a class with him!!!

Professor Holmes is great. He is very charismatic, and he always posts powerpoints of his lectures in case you have to miss class. Little to no homework, but essays occasionally. Tests and quizzes are almost entirely free answer. Offers extra credit from time to time. Really passionate about the subject matter.

He is the man. Take a class with Holmes if you get the chance, you will not regret it. Not only is he hilarious, but he is extremely knowledgable and accessible. Holmes is my favorite professor at WM.

Professor Holmes is SO adorkable. He makes class interesting and is so so understanding when it comes to assignments and will help to cater the assignment to you if you need help. Great guy and quality professor!

I was skeptical at first. He seemed like the type who tried too hard to be funny & was so energetic, it came off ingenuine. But, it became clear that he's genuinely passionate & excited about teaching. Wants students to succeed & finds opportunities for them to get involved in IR. You don't have to really read/take notes, just listen to lectures.

He's energetic & fun. Overall easy--we discussed all of the readings in class in detail, the quizzes were straightforward, and he was very available to ask questions if you had issues with the final and the one essay. Participation matters, but he had alternatives if you have a hard time talking in class (i.e. go to lectures & write responses)

Holmes is the best. Class is dominated by group discussion and is really laid back. Exams are not too hard and he tells you what exactly will be on it beforehand.

Professor Holmes was my favorite professor of my first semester at W&M. I have never seen anyone put as much energy as he did into teaching a course - he obviously cares about the subject matter and explains it to you in a hilarious way. He makes it quite clear to you what the tests will involve - he obviously wants you to succeed.

Professor Holmes is amazing. He manages to make IR theory interesting and his lectures are engaging. His enthusiasm is unmatched and he's very caring towards his students. He is very accessible outside of class and will answer emails within 5-10 minutes. I learned a lot in this class and it was not difficult.

take this class with holmes! he is amazing and makes the class so fun and interesting. not difficult at all, he really wants everyone to do well. two quizzes, a midterm, a take home final, short paper, and participation. low work load and you'll learn so much. one of the best professors ive had at w&m so far!

Marcus Holmes is AMAZING! Easily the best govt. professor I've had at w&m. Granted- he does get off topic fairly easily, and though he claims that knowledge of current events isn't necessary for his class, it totally is. HOWEVER, Holmes is hilarious and makes international politics fun and relatable for all students. Quizzes and exams are easy!!

He is the best professor i have ever met in this college. He is very patient and polite. Have broad professional knowledge in IR. The Govt 204 class consists few quizzes and one memo. Some quizzes are take-home tests. Taking his class makes you feel like you are talking to an expert senior friend. His attitude really motivates me to study hard.

My favorite professor this semester! His lectures are very interesting and Holmes is so engaging and energetic. Low workload, final is take home. Holmes is very approachable and great to talk to. Such a fun class, definitely take Holmes for IP if you can.

I love Professor Holmes! He is hysterical, entertaining, and engaging. He made our 100 person class feel much smaller and made an effort to get to know everyone. Taking IP with him was the best decision I made this semester. Even if you're not a gov/IR major, you will love this class!

Professor Holmes is definitely one of my favorite professors at W&M. After his last lecture, he received a round of applause from the entire 100 person class, and I think that sums up how much the class liked him. Based on how the class went, however, I was a bit surprised at how harshly the memo and final exam were graded.

Holmes is a great professor and for a 100 person class, he makes it work. Honestly I didn't get much out of this class as it's just a lot of discussion on current news with a little theory thrown in. Participation matters is important which sucks so attend as many outside events as possible! It's imperative that you do well (A)on the first quiz imo

Professor Holmes was absolutely amazing. He makes me want to major in gov even after taking two not-so-great gov classes. His lectures are always interesting and up to date and he offers outside of class participation for those who don't want to talk in class. 10/10 amazing professor.

Fantastic class, really smart prof. Only 4-5 graded portions and participation matters (although there are opportunities to boost it outside of class). I would definitely recommend him for any IR/GOVT majors.

Rumor is Holmes was sent down by God to teach International Relations, this man is the best. Very into his work and makes it interesting for students. Doesn't overload you with homework but you still learn a lot. Also seems to be the only teacher that can handle online classes well. Take him as much as you can.

Great professor who knows a lot about what he is teaching! You will learn a lot in this class without feeling overwhelmed.

Pretty easy class. Professor Holmes is really engaging. His grading can be a little unclear but you'll probably do fine.

Prof. Holmes is an amazing professor who seems like he cares about all of his students. Classes are very discussion-oriented and he encourages participation of everyone. He allows participation in many different forms- emails, tiktoks, board posts, etc. so if you're uncomfortable in class you have other ways. Not a harsh grader at all. Hilarious

Prof. Holmes did an amazing job engaging us, even in an asynchronous class during the pandemic. Can tell he is not only passionate about IR, but truly cares about the success of his students. Two quizzes, a midterm, a short paper, and a final that allowed room for us to explore our interests, while still contributing to the mastery of the material.

Prof. Holmes shows his passion for International Politics every week, even in online format. He takes time to help all students and get to know them as well. Very accessible via email/scheduled zooms. Weekly readings may take time, but videos summarize them well. 2 quizzes, 1 midterm, 1 memo, 1 final - easy if you keep up with material. Best Prof!!

Everyone has said almost everything. He is great but online it is really hard to get good feedback. I guess that mostly my fault for not reaching out, but office hours are hard to get to especially when you wake up at 5pm every day. Holmes lectures were fun but he didn't give any feedback on my memo which I put 20+ hours into :( wish I was inperson

Intro to International Politics was the best class I took this semester. The class consisted of two quizzes, a midterm, memo, and final. For the memo, I would highly recommend sending a draft to Holmes for feedback as his comments are very specific and helpful. Attend his discussions, it will help you learn more about the material/current events.

I took Professor Holmes's Intro to International Politics class in Fall 2020, and he did a great job of adapting to online learning. My class was asynchronous, but Professor Holmes was able to keep his lectures engaging, and posted short daily videos showcasing his thoughts on current events. He was overall an excellent professor!

Whoever said that Holmes was "sent down by God to teach IR" is spot on. I had him in Spring 2020 and he was easily the only prof that actually managed switching to asynchronous well without making his students' lives more difficult. Cares about his students in and out of the classroom too!

My class with Professor Holmes was my favorite this semester. He makes IR accessible and easy to understand, even when the content becomes somewhat difficult. The readings get more interesting as the class goes on. I recommend paying attention in class when he covers the readings, so you know what he wanted you to take away from it.

Professor Holmes always gives amazing lectures. He is super hilarious and he makes international politics easy to understand. If you pay attention in class and do the readings, it should be an easy A. More importantly, you will enjoy this class a lot if you are interested in IR.

Holmes is no doubt one of the best professors at wam. He is super passionate about everything he teaches and will get you excited about IR. With that being said, his lectures are very fast-paced and sometimes a bit confusing. You will definitely need to be focused in his class to understand what's going on. 2 quizzes, 2 exams, and a paper.

Professor Holmes is without a doubt one of the best (if not the best) professors at William & Mary. His lectures are engaging and he is hilarious. You will never be bored and it is perfect for anyone remotely interested in IR or psychology (he incorporates a lot of political psych stuff because that's his research focus). Best class I've taken.

So good. Take IP with Holmes if you can. I learned so much and despite the class entirely consisting of lectures, he is so engaging. He gave feedback on most assignments. The memo definitely pushes you outside of your comfort zone, but if you reach out for feedback while writing you will get it. Cant say enough good things.

I loved coming to class just to hear Holmes' lectures. He's so funny and is fantastic at explaining the concepts. The reading are long so feel free to skip them cuz Holmes will explain the exact same concepts in class and it'll make 10x more sense than the readings ever will.

Professor Holmes is definitely my favorite professor so far. He is so funny and knowledgeable; his lectures were the best part of my day. The exams were very easy if you were familiar with the content. He is always available outside of class to talk (I remember just walking and talking with him a few times just about current events). Def recommend

Prof Holmes is amazing! He is super entertaining and hilarious in every lecture. The class is very chill and attendance is not mandatory. He is a fairly lenient grader and gives you assignments that will challenge you but are doable. I would recommend this class to anyone who wants to learn the basics of IR!

The lectures were so interesting- but you can't miss one as they make up so much of the core content of the class.

The lectures were very interesting but you can't miss one as they make up so much of the core content of the class. My class only has 4 quizzes and tests but they are quite doable. He is a great teacher who truly loves teaching and is a skilled oral communicator.

Professor Holmes is awesome! I can't say enough good things about him or his lectures. He's one of the best professors at W&M.

He is awesome and makes the topic relate to current events as well as history, so it's super interesting.

love him

Great professor, the lectures are really engaging and there really is not very much work

Professor Holmes is a very funny guy and always try to engage us in a lecture of nearly 300 people. There were not that many graded assignments, however do pay attention in lectures because some of his critiques discussed in class will appear on the quizzes and midterms. He also provided I think 5 or 6 extra credit opportunities which is very nice.

Professor Holmes is truly a gem. The class was about 250 people, so it wasn't graded on many things. Holmes was still very effective at teaching, I just wish there was more structure and feedback. I very much recommend a class with him.

Holmes was a wonderful lecturer - he reviewed most of the readings, so reading the assigned readings in detail wasn't totally necessary (though he usually fell behind the reading schedule). Additionally, his exams and quizzes were all based on what was covered in lectures, so attending class and taking good notes was important.

I loved taking GOVT 204 with professor Holmes! His lectures were very engaging and fun! He is super passionate about what he teaches. He offers lots of extra credit opportunities which is helpful since his class consisted of three open book quizzes and two exams. I would 100% recommend taking a class with him.

I adore Holmes and was always excited for class. He's really great at preparing you for material for the class and sets good expectations. All the quizzes and final was online and he posts all his slides a day or so after the class for review. Definitely go to the TA reviews or listen to the recordings as material on the quizzes is very similar.

Holmes is a great professor. He is loved by students due to his quirky and energetic lectures. I highly recommend going to his office hours as he likes chatting with students, even if you aren't asking a question directly about the course. There are many readings but the lectures cover the essence of them. Tests were online, open note, and doable.

Marcus Holmes is an icon. We stan. Even though IP was my largest class, Holmes does a great job engaging his students. He runs up and down the aisles and calls on people, and is very loud and animated. He moves very fast though, so type QUICKLY. The only grades are exams and quizzes, which are difficult, but open note! He also gives extra credit.

Professor Holmes is energetic and fun to listen to. He also goes over all of the readings in class, and has fun PowerPoints. The exams were all online and they consisted of multiple choice and short answer. They weren't hard, but they weren't incredibly easy either.

Professor Holmes is so funny and his lectures are really interesting. I would definitely take another class with him. He also offers EC! Two quizzes, a midterm, and a final. I would just recommend keeping track of terms discussed in class because these are important for testing.

Professor Holmes's lectures are always amazing, and I genuinely looked forward to every class. He runs up and down the aisles screaming because he's that enthusiastic. Tests can be tricky, but he does offer minimal extra credit. I recommend paying attention to what he says more than what's on the slides. While tests are open note, they go by fast.

Marcus Holmes is the most fabulous and iconic professor! He'll legitimately run up and down the aisles in excitement. He's extremely passionate about his work and is always curious about student's opinions about the topic. Few tests/quizzes are hard but he lets you use notes and lecture slides. Also gives you ample extra credit opportunity as well.

holmes is an amazing prof! he has so much energy and is so passionate about the topic. the class is based entirely off of quizzes and exams but they are all online and open note. reading is not usually necessary for the exams but make sure you understand the major ideas. highly highly recommend taking govt 204 with holmes!

Just like every other review says, Holmes is a great professor. He is so enthusiastic about the content that he'll run around the lecture hall. It's a fun and engaging class. He gives loads of extra credit, but the exams are pretty easy as long as you attend the lectures. Great class. Take it with Holmes!

One of my favorite professors I've had by far. Lectures are engaging but pretty fast-paced. Make sure to keep up with the podcast because exams have questions on those. Make sure to take away key ideas from the readings in lectures and also note real-life examples of those key ideas/theories is important.

Holmes usually gives interesting lectures. Assigns a lot of readings, but not really necessary to read them. Handful of extra credit opportunities. Test structure consistent, and there are few assessments.

Holmes is easily the best lecturer I've ever had. However, the only grades are the final, midterm, and a quiz. They're pretty difficult and incorporate a lot from his podcast, which are necessary for the tests and not nearly as engaging as lecture. However, there are many extra credit opportunities and the readings are not essential for lecture

Amazing professor. Loved his lectures, he is very enthusiastic about the subject. Tests and quizzes were not hard at all and they are open note, just make sure to review the lectures and readings and podcasts very well and in-depth. If you do that, you will end with a very high A and have nothing to worry about.

Super interesting lectures, explains all the assigned reading in class. Grade is only based on 3 tests plus extra credit. The tests are fair though and not that hard as long as you do the reading and go to lectures.

MUST split the readings between at yourself & 2 (but recommended 4-5) friends to survive. Some readings were 100+ pages long and hard to understand. Readings r important for exams. Prof reviews readings in class. Go to class & take notes. Go to TA review sessions. MC & short answer quizzes. MAKE SURE to know difference between 3 IR theories! Fun.

Prof Holmes is a really good lecturer, funny and knows his stuff. Midterm + 2 quizzes, second quiz optional. LOTS of reading, it took hours to do the reading and take notes sometimes. Definitely take notes during lectures, a lot of the stuff he says gets tested, along with the readings and a podcast he does with another prof (put it on x1.5).

I always looked forward to this class. He literally run up and down the rows because he gets so excited about the material. Lots of reading but I didn't do most of the readings as he goes over them in class and there are TA reviews before each quiz/test. Overall a super fun guy but often got behind in the schedule that was in the syllabus.

Most other reviews are correct, Holmes is easily accessible out of class, a great speaker, and an extremely intelligent guy. However, your grade is made up by a few tests that are strangely difficult and graded erratically. I suspect this is from a lack of communication between Holmes and all the TAs (who write and grade all the test questions)

Readings were not necessary and he goes over them in class. Definitely listen to the podcast tho. The TAs do the actual grading which can lead to kind of erratic expectations but not bad. 2 open note take home quizzes and the midterm and exam are open note too. He records all the lectures which is super helpful. Very enthusiastic and fun prof.

Excellent lecturer. Keeps boring topics interesting. Grading is a little harsh but I think all assessments were graded by TAs. That can be slightly frustrating. Getting an A is hard in this class, but an A-/B+ is fairly attainable.

I miss holmes already. Best most enthusiastic teacher. ATTEND LECTURES AND LISTEN TO PODCAST. You need to put effort into this class, you can't just wing it. Many statements in the lectures and podcasts he assins are in the test/quizzes. He is such a great teacher. He is passionaite which is my favorite part and screams randomly alot.

Love him! Especially his integration of psychology and current events into international politics!

Professor Holmes is very energetic and will keep you engaged. The readings are often long and difficult but you don't need to do them because he summarizes them in class. His short answer/essay questions often have super strict criteria and it's very easy to get nickel and dimed with points. Take advantage of the extra credit he offers!

Professor Holmes has been one of the best professors I have had. He brings amazing energy and keeps you engaged throughout his lectures. In addition, his lectures cover all of the reading and expand on it in a useful way and his review sessions are extremely helpful.

I loved this class so much, it was super interesting! I also really loved Professor Holmes and enjoyed his podcast 5/5

I would take his class even if it wasn't a prerequisite. He's probably the best guy in the Government department, and you're lucky to take GOVT 204 with him (he only teaches this course in the fall). The 4.8 average rating with ~100 ratings should vouch enough for what a truly awe-inspiring professor he is (I know i'm glazing, but he deserves it).

Prof. Holmes is a hilarious professor that clearly cares for his students and wants them to succeed and provides lectures that are engaging and funny. There is quite a bit of reading, but they are all covered in class later, so read them at your own pace. There is some extra credit, but almost all of your grade will be calculated by 4 exams.

Definitely take GOVT204 with him if you have the chance; lectures are engaging and he's clearly super passionate about the subject. Completely take-home tests and quizzes, but I will say grading is a little all over place thanks to weird, unclear criteria from TAs. Lots of extra credit opportunities though!

Dr. Holmes is an amazing lecturer, and I loved this class! There is quite a bit of reading, but 60% of people don't do it. I would recommend trying to keep up with them; it will make reviewing for the take-home exams A LOT easier. The class is very test-heavy, which can be nerve-wracking, but they were very doable. GO TO REVIEW SESSIONS!!

Prof. Holmes as a lecturer is a great professor and I enjoyed the class overall. The only negative portion of his class is that it is test heavy and your grade depends only on 4 tests. The TAs also have a tendency to nickle and dime on essay questions and short answers which can really hurt your grade.

Holmes is very passionate and lectures are usually interesting. Has a podcast that he says may be on the exam but I never listened to it and was fine. Assigns lots of readings but covers them in class so you don't really have to read them. Only downside is TAs do a lot of grading and can be picky for free response questions.

I looked forward to his lectures and I learned quite a bit. He's compassionate and cares about his students. You get nickels and dimes taken off the exams. But as long as you study in advance, get the jist of the readings, take notes on his lectures, do the extra credit, you will get an A. You have to put in the work, but getting an A is managble.

I had a terrific experience taking a D.C. class with Professor Holmes. He's a clear lecturer and crafted excellent experiences for the class---multiple embassies, museums, and expert speakers. Assignments were straightforward and I did not feel he graded harshly. Above all, though, he's just a nice guy who tried to get to know all of us. Recommend.

very interesting lectures and all quizzes/midterm/final were online, easy and interesting and def dont have the do the readings

Professor Holmes is one of my favorite professors! He is awesome at lecturing, he will shout and run across the lecture hall while trying to engage the entire class. Grades are based on two quizzes (one is optional), a midterm, and a final. These are a bit difficult and you must study, but there are numerous extra credit opportunities offered.

Holmes's passion for the content is admirable. That being said, the assessments will seem challenging given the influx of information. There are podcasts to listen to, readings to complete, and class examples to cite. You might drown if you attempt to absorb every little detail. But still, every single lecture is worth attending; he is engaging.

Loved him. Definitely attend all lectures and try to keep up with reading makes midterm and final prep so much easier. He uses a lot of the same sayings in lectures on the test. LISTEN TO PODCAST, always 4 or 3 questions on the podcast. Worth taking, he was super engaging and i miss him already.

holmes is super funny and energetic and lectures are interesting. you dont rly need to do the readings If you go to class and take notes. listen to podcasts though. and exams are high stress because they are your only grade. be prepared for them and you'll be ok. he does focus a lot on his research though

do the readings. go to lectures. take good notes on the podcasts. they will save you on exams. Holmes is a weird man. He clearly cares and likes IR, but is maybe too enthusiastic- will run around and scream during lectures, was shipping reagan and gorbachev (?) and talking about balls. Graded ONLY by exams

Professor Holmes is an amazing lecturer and professor. You can tell he cares very deeply about IR. He will be excited about the subject. But be warned that this class is entirely exam-based and can be very hard if you don't study and keep up with the podcast. This class is hard if you don't keep up, but if you do you will be fine.

Professor Holmes is amazing! He's an engaging lecturer with a gift for explaining complex theories.

Prof. Holmes was an amazing prof! He was very engaging during class, offered a lot of extra credit, and I have geniunely learned a lot from him. He has a podcast with another professor that is important and you will be asked questions about on exams; I recommend jotting down a few sentences post-listen. Open note/reading exams, including the final!

Holmes is an AMAZING lecturer. His classes are super engaging and while attendance is not mandatory, I almost never wanted to skip. He offers many opportunities for extra credit, tests are online and open note, and has TA review sessions before each quiz/midterm. Take him for GOV 204

SUPER passionate about what he does, and a very entertaining class. I highly recommend anyone to take this class, it was great.

overall, above average, just a personal gripe but he is too energetic in lectures and it is annoying

I love Holmes. The whole course was just him running around the room screaming about politics. While he posts slides and audio recordings of the lectures, the room was always filled because he's so entertaining. And while he may not know you by name, if you talk to him after class he is a hundred percent on you and wanting to solve your issue.

Holmes is the BEST! He posts the audio recordings and slides for each lecture, but GO TO CLASS. Open note quizzes, midterm, and final. Super passionate about what he does and an expert in his field. If you go to his office hours, he will get to know you. Please do the readings -- you'll learn a lot. I definitely recommend everyone take this class.

Holmes is a truly excellent lecturer and there's never a boring moment in class. He's incredibly skilled in finding engaging first-hand material for class (recent films, interesting articles, commercials, social media trends). You will gain a strong understanding of IR theories/concepts, a good intro course. Exams are fair game. Take 204 w/ Holmes!