Definitely a class worth taking but could use a discussion section.

Embassy visits are very cool. I had never been to one before and I thought it was an excellent way to supplement the lectures.

Croatti is able to take a very, very long book and extract only what's interesting and truly useful. Students will try to steer him into parts of the book they don't understand but Croatti stays on message: oppression, intolerance, poverty, injustice, etc. Almost as if to say, "Read the book on your own time." Extra credit is a godsend.

Croatti is a great professor, and contrary to what other people say, he is very fair. Attendance is mandatory but that isn't a problem because he makes the class interesting. The extra credit assignments are plentiful and if you are able to attend them all you could deffinately bump your grade up two letter grades from what it would have been.

Excllent teacher. Some might call it indoctrination, and at times it borders on such. But that's a narrow interpretation of Croatti's method. He simply wants his students to see the world and themselves through a more inclusive prism.

No matter the topic, Professor Croatti always kept the class interesting. His lectures were by far the best out of any I've had this semester. Plus, the embassy visits are an experience you can't really get in many classes, especially an intro class.

Professor Croatti made a girl cry once. It was kinda funny but he can be too intense sometimes. Textbook is unnecessary. Closely follow the lectures and you will do well. Do ALL the extra credits starting day 1. Very interesting lecturer.

As far as getting freshman involved in all that DC has to offer, Prof. Croatti definitely excelled way beyond any of my other teachers. His class opens you up to a lot of contemporary issues, such as the situation in Pakistan. If you have strong opnions or are a naturally driven person, he is by far your best resource to help you excel at GW

Very passionate professor.

I like that he's balanced--who wants just one side? I don't think it's so much "clever packaging" as simply being thorough. I could do without the multiple choice exams, though. That's for high school!

Croatti refuses to simply summarize the book. He gives weekly assignments that relate current issues to the vocabulary terms in the text, which you need to know for the exams. The term paper is an analysis of the textbook's perspective with our own observations. It forces you to know what's really going on, behind the headlines.

Lectures are very engrossing, lots of speakers/ex credit field trips; exams are essays. He grades term paper harshly; work on it ahead of time& be esp. careful writing citations and biblio.

Prof has a very impressive command of the course material and encourages opposing views. Arrogant, but approachable. The Hatchet lists his class as a must-take because he'll criticize the administration and then take his classes to foreign embassies for their views on US foreign policy--often enough very similar to Croatti's. That makes you think.

Professor Croatti was a great lecturer and he allowed his class to receive a lot of bonus points by attending embassies and other events in the city.

The best psc001 class at GW. Tons of fun extra credit like embassy visits. He makes the subjects interesting and you will want to learn more. His tests are easy if you study. EXCELLENT professor.

He also teaches at St. Mary's and this man is amazing. He is so knowledgable and very intriguing. He keeps everyone interested and embassy visits are extraordinary. Take his class if you can!!!!

Really interesting, AMAZING out of classroom opportunities, such as embassy visits and really cool events (all for extra credit!) Option of term paper or 20 hour internship + summary. Three tests, which get progressively harder. Pay attention, take notes when you read, know the bolded terms, and GO TO THE EXTRA CREDIT EVENTS!

Croatti is great - very knowledgeable and it shows in the class. Classes and book do not go together, but he makes it interesting. Need to study for the tests (mainly based off the book), but if you struggle you have ways to make it up - he offers so much extra credit (embassy visits, lectures, etc.)! Bottom line: take his class.

Lectures were awesome and worth getting up at 8:30 for, but barely references the text. Tests are extremely hard; pulls questions from random sections of the book. If you do extra credit (embassy visits) and do the internship option for the project you will do fine- I got C's on his exams and got an A in the course because of extra credit

Three tests plus an internship/20 page term paper. Take the internship option it is much better. The tests aren't hard, but they pretty much test random stuff from the textbook. Read the whole textbook and you'll be fine. Lectures have nothing to do with book. So much extra credit that a 70 on the final left me with a 115 in class. Very easy A

Croatti is great. One of the better professors I've ever had. It's worth the early morning trip to the vern. His lectures are captivating, and the book is even sometimes interesting. YOU NEED TO READ THE BOOK. Do that, and extra credit, and it's an easy A.

LOVED this class. His lectures have nothing to do with the textbook, but are fascinating nonetheless. I left every class feeling enlightened. The first test is misleadingly easy, but none of them (there are three) are impossible. Do a little of the extra credit and you'll be fine. Also, embassy visits and an internship. This class is great.

I would definitely recommend this class to anyone who doesn't have an initial interest in politics. He teaches the class with a lot of passion and you can just tell how passionate he is about the material. Granted, he relates the ENTIRE class to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict so be prepared to hear all about it! Also, lots of extra credit!

Count me in the minority that hated Croatti. He's incredibly biased, and even though I share his beliefs, I don't want to be lectured to on only one side of an issue. Offers lots of extra credit, but the class is tough to do well in without the extra events, so if you sign up, be prepared to spend a couple hours each week trekking around the city.

Incredible professor. You can't miss a word this man says because not only is his booming voice filling the entire classroom, his animated lectures are just so damn interesting! Brilliant man. I can't believe people are saying negative things about him. He showed me that intelligence IS sexy :)

Croatti: "Violence is the biggest obstacle to development" so the course goes from conflict resolution to self-determination, esp. in Kurdistan, Palestine & the Arab world, and anywhere the U.S. still has or once had troops such as Iraq, Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia (if the US had closed the base there, it would have prevented 9/11, he says).

Absolutely incredible class. He makes you think about things that you have never thought about before. He filled in huge gaps in my knowledge about 20th century history. Hard tests, but almost impossible not to get an A because he brings you on embassy visits for extra credit. Everyone who does not take his class is really missing out.

FANTASTIC. Literally the best professor I have had here so far. So knowledgable its almost unbelievable. His tests are multiple choice (so its not that terrible) & you grade them immediately after. He assigns readings but doesn't really discuss them in class, but both the textbook & lecture notes are on the tests. Tons of EC so its not that hard!

Lectures are incredibly interesting, I looked forward to classes. Tests are all multiple choice and come mostly from the book. Internship option research project is both easy and helpful! (I was offered to stay at mine) Definitely recommend taking him. Make sure you keep up with the readings!

Professor Croatti is by far the most energetic and enthusiastic professor I have had at GW. He is extremely passionate about the subject&loves lecturing. Tests are mix of lecture&textbook. Gives TONS of extra credit opportunities. Gives you a choice of doing an internship or writing a paper. HES AMAZING! Get close to him for recommendation letters!

MUST TAKE IF YOU WANT AN EASY A. Very energetic professor, all tests and exams are multiple choice and you grade them right after the test. Tons of extra credit opportunities like embassy visits or movie nights so don't miss out. Tests and exams might be hard if you don't read the textbook. You just can't NOT-GET AN A.

Doc Croatti is the man. You will learn 2 things: There are presidents before G Washington, and everything about The Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Use the book only for tests, do the internship, go to class and you will get an A. Also he gives ungodly extra credit. I got over 100% in his class, and I enjoyed it.

He is the best professor I have taken at GW thus far. His lectures don't really have much connections with the book. Tests cover both books and lectures. Attendance is mandatory, he will hunt you down if you have more than two unexcused absences. His sense of humor is peculiar and is very enthusiastic and enigmatic

TAKE PROFESSOR CROATTI!!!! He is awesome. This class was one of the best I have taken at GW. His lectures are super interesting and the extra credit is so cool (getting credit to go see embassies and listen to guest speakers?!). If you don't take Comparative Politics with anyone else, you are really missing out. It is super easy to do well!

Take Professor Croatti. Fantastic professor, exams right from the text, plenty of opportunities for additional credit. Embassy visits, and fantastic speakers as well. If his section is filled I also suggest professor Morgan.

Croatti really knows his stuff. His lectures are powerful and they always manage to stay with you even after class. He goes on a lot of tangents and does not usually relate to the reading, but you need to read for the exams, which are not difficult. He offers lots of extra credit, but have your schedule open on Tues/Thur nights.

This guy is real energetic when giving his lectures. I normally prefer discussion to lecture in class, which is basically what this class is, but he's so engaging and so knowledgeable that the classes were a real treat. However, if the Israel and Palestine conflict is a sensitive issue for you then I'd advise caution. He brings them up a lot.

2 Midterms and one final (in-class essay). He talks a lot about Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. He is funny. His lecture is usually different from the textbook (it is preferred to read textbook). Midterms are not difficult, just study political and economic systems. Make study group. It's possible to get approx 300 extra credits. Take his class

This class was the reason I switched my major to Political Science. Mark is amazing. Super interesting lectures where you don't really have to participate much, which I liked, straight forward multiple choice exams and a mandatory internship component which gets you out in the city doing something interesting. I learned a lot and would recommend.

Ok. Guys, take this class, ONLY IF YOU HAVE TUESDAY AFTERNOONS AVAILABLE. TRUST ME. If you don't, it will be SO HARD to get an A. Preferably also have Thursday midday available as well. You can get 30% extra credit SO EASILY, but ONLY IF you have Tuesday afternoons available for extra credit. GREAT professor, lectures, ect, as other reviewers said.

This was hands down my favorite class. I didn't skip a single lecture not only because he takes attendance but because his lectures make you want to show up. Are his exams hard? Yes, but you will get a million extra credit opportunities and in all honesty as long as you read the textbook and outline, the exams are doable.

Professor Croatti was by far my favourite professor here. His lectures are really energetic and he makes sure to engage his students. He will randomly call on you and put you on the spot, but just say what you think and he'll respect it. The readings are long, but skimming them is definitely sufficient. There is a TON of extra credit.

DON'T BE INTIMIDATED BY HIS SYLLABUS. His syllabus make his class seem hard because there are so few grades, but don't worry! The fact is: Professor Croatti offers so much extra credit that you can make up for any poor grades. He has inspirational lectures that feel more like discussions. I will never regret taking this class.

Prof. Croatti is amazing; if you want the eye-opening, thought-provoking,& intriguing lectures you always hoped college would consist of I would highly recommend taking him. He fully scrutinizes every issue he discusses, which may lead some people to disagree with him but college is supposed to be about challenging the way you think. Fantastic man.

Croatti is the best professor I've had at GW so far. His lectures are very engaging and interesting. He does put people on the spot, but if you say "oh god" or "i don't know" he'll call on someone else. There are 3 tests, and if you study well enough you'll be prepared. Even if you bomb them, the extra credit will make up for it.

Croatti is a passionate, brilliant, and inspiring professor. Best lectures I've ever experienced. He focusses on facts rather than opinions. Challenges you to think. Textbook readings are long, but if you actually read then the multiple-choice tests will be easy. Gives loads of extra credit. Embassy visits are fun - reminds me why I came to DC.

Lectures are so interesting. You should do the readings but you can skim readings if you take good notes in class. He offers so many extra credit opportunities (embassy visits, interesting speakers/evening lectures), and internship opportunities (100 points) - ended up with 120% in the class. Attendance is mandatory but totally worth it.

So. Much. Extra. Credit.

One of the best professors I've had this year. I loved having a class that wasn't straight from a textbook as he really made me really think critically about issues, ultimately changing my opinion in various policy related matters. He definitely knows his stuff. Tests were hard, but there's lots of extra credit.

He is a fantastic professor. I would highly recommend taking his class. Heck, change your whole schedule around just to ensure you get him. He is the best professor I have had at GW.

Professor Croatti gives A LOT of extra credit, as in a ridiculous amount. It can make a huge difference in your grade, and I am talking about a whole letter grade. Aside from that, he also gives deep and amazing lectures. Not a boring guy in my opinion. In regards to your grade, it is made up of two tests, midterm and final.

He is a great lecture, though a bit biased. I really enjoyed this class and his insight on the material at hand. However, he loves to talk about the Palestinian conflict. He gives a ton of extra credit, so getting an A is easy. The only reason I didn't is because I had work and I was volunteering for my UW class, so I didn't have the time for it.

His George H.W. Bush impression is killer. Be prepared for crazy tangents that are very entertaining. There's tons of extra credit, and the tests are solely from lectures. Skim readings so you understand what's going on, but don't feel like you have to memorize anything from the book, just take great notes during lectures.

i pray to YWH that you take this class bc HO THEOS would love it. In all reality, this class is great and his mini internships connect you with so many cool opportunities that you literally cannot get anywhere else. His embassy visits are amazing too and something you also cant do without being in his class. also ps--you dont actually have to read.

Professor Croatti is hands down one of the best professors I have ever had at GW. His lectures are mind-blowing and engaging, and the extra credit opportunities alone really take advantage of being in the DC area. His tests are difficult, but grading is very clear and the available extra credit easily makes up for it. Take this class!

amazing lectures. pay attention in lecture, take notes and skim readings to ace quizzes/midterm. layout for psc 1001 (gwu) - quiz, midterm, quiz, final. all MC except final - so easy if you make the outline he allows. again, his lectures are amazing and he's an incredible source of knowledge. take this class!!!!

A very interesting man with very interesting lectures. There is a lot of extra credit, so getting an A is quite achievable. Will spend more time focusing on the Arab-Israeli conflict than on class material. Take to visit many embassies in DC. Do take this class.

Croatti's Intro to Comparative class is the class you want to take! The class is based off 3 quizzes and the final, but he offers a lot of extra credit where you get to go to embassies and other events. His lectures are very intriguing and he's passionate about the class. You can only miss 3 classes but you'll want to go to class!

This class has mandatory attendance and a lot of reading, but everything else is amazing. Super interesting lectures, he helps you get mini-internships for class credit, and he takes you to all these amazing embassies for extra credit. Super nice guy, really interesting topic, and you literally get extra credit to go on field trips.

Best professor I've had. Lectures are interesting, and there is lots of extra credit available. You could boost your grade by 2 letters if you wanted to. That being said, there is a lot of textbook reading. You don't have to thoroughly read and take notes, but a general idea of what is being written about is important. Tests are MC, and aren't hard

This is hands-down the best Comparative Politics class. I had 320 points of extra credit at the end of the semester from the embassy visits and a mini-internship. Croatti is also super interesting. He uses real-world examples and I've learned a ton in his class. Test questions are super specific, but study CIA Factbook and chapter conclusions.

Great lectures and extra credit opportunities. Test material comes from lectures, online readings, and texts, but having sufficient knowledge of the material is capable of replacing lengthy textbook reading. Great opportunity to have an internship freshman year and visit embassies in class. Wonderful teacher, wonderful class. Would highly recommend

His lectures are very interesting and he gives a lot of extra credit opportunities!! I would've literally had a C if it wasn't for the extra credit! Make sure you don't have most of your classes on Tues and Thurs (for the embassy visits). Only thing is that he doesn't like talking to students or hearing their their opinions/concerns.

Croatti's lectures are always fascinating and you can get substantial extra credit from the embassy visits he organizes. Stay caught up on readings to facilitate studying (I never knew whether to study class notes or the textbook more), tests are all multiple choice except for the final, a series of short answers. Worth making the trek to the Vern.

I had him for Comparative Politics. Attendance was important to him, but participation not a hard requirement. He opens doors for freshmen entry internships, and piles on extra credit for embassy visits. I would have gotten a solid A but my work sharply limited my ability to visit embassies and I was only able to attend one embassy event.

TAKE THIS CLASS. Its worth the vern trip. It's life changing, I'm not kidding. I left everyday feeling enlightened & empowered to make changes in the world, I'll never forget what I learned. Go to the embassy visits! They're fun & count for extra credit. For the tests, pay attention in lecture & fill out his chapter outlines on Bb for the readings.

He is brilliant as well as a gifted lecturer and a talented educator. He provides information that is both insightful and interesting and knows how to grab attention. For me, I went to nearly every extra-credit opportunity and, because of that, I was able to earn an A although my test grades were not too high.

Take him. Even if it's on the Vern. Do it. The class is very easy, just take notes and look at the first few pages of the reading. HE TAKES YOU TO EMBASSIES, and gives you EXTRA CREDIT for it. Try not taking classes close in time so you can visit the embassies. Also, his lectures are WILD, the man's a nut but he's super intelligent. So worth it.

AMAZING LECTURES! SO INSPIRING! EXTRA CREDIT! MULTIPLE CHOICE TESTS! NO PAPERS! NO HOMEWORK OTHER THAN READINGS! ALL ABOUT LEARNING AND NOT GRADES! That's literally all you need in a professor!

Croatti is an amazing theatrical lecturer. Extra credit embassy visits are a must. Tests are heavily based on lectures and CIA factbook info. Reading is heavy but you will learn to skim it. Material is very interesting overall. One complaint about him however is that he is unapproachable outside of class. Inconvenient office hours and curt emails.

He gives the opportunity to get 100 points of extra credit just by going on cool embassy trips (can raise final grade by a full 10%). Does not make an effort to learn ANY students names despite only having 30 per class. The test are very easy as long as you read the textbook. His lectures often go off on random tangents but are super interesting.

I could listen to him talk about politics all day. Croatti knows how to keep you entertained, while teaching extremely valuable information at the same time. Despite him not knowing anyone's name, the material he covers and the way he teaches is a reason to take his class. Extra Credit abound, multiple choice tests... hard not to get an A!

You can get so much extra credit in this class that you can get 70's on all the tests and still get an A. The embassy visits are actually interesting and worth it. His lectures are engaging and his impressions of presidents are spot on!

Worth getting up for! Love the class, even the wild stories! Attendance required but if you come to class, how the lectures relate to the readings becomes clear. After the history he wants you to know is covered (presidents BEFORE Washington, etc.), the pace picks up. He puts a great deal of reading material on Blackboard. (maybe too much?)

Croatti gives incredible, insightful and engaging lectures, I could listen to him talk all day. He organizes embassy briefings for students which are amazing opportunities to see class content applied in real life. However, outside of class Croatti is distant, hard to contact and is oddly stingy about missing class or tests.

One of the most interesting professors Ive ever had. Lectures are actually worth getting up early for and even though his tests are difficult you have the opportunity to make it up with all the extra credit he offers, which are really cool and sometimes instead of class anyway. Would take this class again if I could.

I had Professor Croatti for PSC 1001. At first I believed that Professor Croatti was a tough professor, but I soon realized that his class was challenging only because I had not done the readings. As I did them, the class became easier and I enjoyed the class, and the professor more!

Croatti is intimidating and smart. He knows what he's talking about and every class is super interesting. Reading is crucial and there is a lot of it, but it isn't unmanageable. There are 2 quizzes, 2 midterms, and a final-- all multiple choice. 2 embassy visits for extra credit which is such an amazing experience. I learned a lot.

Prof. Croatti is one of the most engaging lecturers I have had the privilege of taking. He is incredibly knowledge and opinionated (be ready for controversial questions and topics!). The class is littered with embassy visits and guest speakers which make all of the reading take on a practical lens. All in all an absolute must take!

He changed his extra credit policy so the extra credit you receive from attending embassy briefings doesn't do much anymore. Before it could make the world of a difference, now it doesn't. LOTS OF READING LIKE LOTS. I'll probably barely pass the class but the knowledge I received from this course is worthwhile. Just do the readings and you'll be ok

Croatti is an amazing lecturer. Him being "a registered independent" gives you an open perspective when choosing an effective and efficient government system. Also, passing is pretty simple: read EVERYTHING and take rigorous notes. From the book, he doesn't focus much on the history of countries so don't waste your time. Focus on political regime.

An engaging lecturer. Don't listen to the people who say the class is hard. Sure EC was on the lighter side last semester BUT you can get partial credit on the exams. Also if you focus on the political structure, electoral system, and GDP per capita of each country on the exam it's easy to get a good grade.

Croatti is an engaging lecturer with tons of interesting ideas. He does present all of his opinions as fact, so there's a certain amount of bias in everything he says. He offers great opportunities like internships and embassy trips. All tests/quizzes are multiple choice except for part of the final. READ EVERYTHING IF YOU WANT TO PASS THE TESTS.

I enjoyed his class. His lectures were untraditional, w/o powerpoint, which I appreciated; spoke about relevant things around the world; inspirational, especially when we visited embassies around the city. In terms of grades, his tests were unusually difficult for all MC tests. Obsessed w the Israeli-Palestinian conflict which is annoying

He is an amazing lecturer even though they get repetitive as the year goes on. Strict attendance policy. Make sure you memorize the textbook info to pass tests-- they can get very difficult. Extra credit is only around 10 pts for embassy visits and 25 pts from bonus questions on tests, so it does not greatly impact your grade.

He has 3 exam content sources: 1) book 2) online homework readings 3) lectures, which I loved but the exams have a heavy BOOK relevance. Most of the questions are not specific to the homework readings and lectures; instead, that material shows up in the answer choices so it's relevant as a reinforcement of the book's concepts. MEMORIZE THE BOOK!

Wonderful instructor. Obviously cares about the material. Uses intro texts that cover a small # of countries but the lectures are very interesting so class goes by quick. Lots of statistics and formulas--"if current trends continue!" Tells students to get involved if they don't like where things are headed. MC exams are not hard if u come to class.

He took us to Israeli & Pakistani embassies to discuss extremism there. To prepare, he covered the Palestinian and Kashmiri conflicts in detail. I don't think he talked about one any more than the other. I went to both briefings and was glad I knew what was going on. We also had guest speakers from Nigeria & Congo who spoke about extremism.

Pros: Prof. Croatti is an extremely knowledgeable, insightful, and lively lecturer. I had a lot of fun in this class. Cons: He can be repetitive and obsessed with conspiracy theories. Memorize the readings--tests are full of trivia and trick questions. Don't bother going to office hours; he prefers typing emails to making eye contact.

I went to every class and I didn't hear conspiracy theories. I did hear arguments for and against universal health care, climate change, free trade and globalization. He dislikes both parties but I loved all of his stories. At office hours he got me an internship and a letter of recommendation. Tough tests but they didn't scare me, I was prepared.

Absolutely a ton of information. Great lectures (he admires the E.U. but worries that China is rising). Five multiple choice exams (including the final) from 2 books & dozens of Blackboard articles. I learned a lot, especially how to write a paper. Take good notes, a lot of material isn't in the books or articles but it will be on the tests.

Loved this class despite its challenge. Croatti is incredible, informed, and passionate -- lecture was enjoyable every day. If you're looking for an easy A, don't take his class; but if you're looking to really learn and hear from an interesting guy, I highly recommend him. Lots of reading (2 books) & purely MC tests. Optional embassy visits too

Croatti is one of of the finest human beings I've known and my favorite professor at GWU. He has hilarious one-man-show lectures, which give a glimpse into his humanity and passion for addressing global conflicts. Very fair grader, No big papers, Really cool embassy tours (at least 10). TAKE HIS CLASS!

Instead of trying to teach boring, traditional theories and principles of Political Science (which he leaves to the textbook readings), Croatti's lectures are designed to expose you to new information and viewpoints, teach you to analyze politics and history skeptically and critically, and inspire you to go out and change the world for the better!

Far and away the most engaging professor I've had at GW. Both brilliant and hilarious, Professor Croatti really encourages nuanced thinking and teaches students to appreciate the grey area. Tests are a significant portion of the class, and you need to read to do well. It's absolutely worth the effort. Don't pass up on this class!

Professor Croatti is a very charismatic and hilarious individual. His lectures are very entertaining, but also informational. He is very good at making the content interesting. I will say taking his online class was a bummer only because our entire grade was 3 difficult papers. He is very nitpicky when he grades, but only because he wants the best.

Croatti is one of the best professors I've had at GW, and I learned so much in his class. While he didn't transition well to online, his in person class was fascinating, and he has so many great stories. If you do the reading and engage in class, you will do great and have a much better understanding of polysci.

He is incredibly passionate about his work, and works hard to engage students. Although he does come off as harsh, he has all good intentions and truly just wants to see his students succeed. Lot's of outside class opportunities and guest speakers.

Hes one of the most intelligent profs Ive ever met. If you put in the work and are genuinely excited to engage with the material, you will do well. He always makes time for students, from office hours to post-class discussions. He also brings in really cool guest speakers (even virtually!). I learned so much from this class.

Croatti's class was overall GREAT. I was very nervous taking his class based on the reviews I saw on here but I disagree with anything negative about him. The course was graded on 3 short papers and he gives so much feedback. He cares about his students and does not ask much of them other than those papers. Take his class if you're a freshman!

Professor Croatti has very interesting lectures and really takes time out with group term paper sessions and individual sessions. There were two books which are very helpful when writing papers as well as the virtual meeting with embassies and institutes. This class also offers many internship opportunities who proiritize his students! Great class!

I took Professor Croatti's PSC 1001 class in the middle of the pandemic. He was a great lecturer and made online school a more enjoyable experience. His three papers that determined our final grade were difficult, however he was always willing to help! Overall, he was a great professor and I genuinely learned a lot from his class.

Lectures were interesting but the professor tended to get off-topic pretty easily and it didn't always seem like we were covering what we were supposed to for the day. Our grade was also entirely based on two term papers and a written final. He gave no feedback on content and was very strict with citations and sources.

I liked Professor Croatti, he's very passionate about the materials that he teaches. His lectures are very interesting to hear. He invited guest speakers throughout the semester, which was very interesting to hear. However, the fact that our final grade was based on three grades (two papers and one final exam) was very stressful.

Prof. Croatti is very passionate about presenting politics in an unbiased and clear way. He works to make his lectures fun and understandable. He graded online class through 3 papers, each of which were about 6-7 pages. He gives you lots of material and time to write the papers, but they are stressful. He wasn't harsh with grading either. Loved him

He's nice in class & emails and lectures are interesting but term paper comments are phrases that seem condescending or rude: "format violation" / "source not scholarly" / "incomplete citation" etc. No complete sentences just tons of phrases from top to bottom. He posts many detailed format rules that you must follow or you'll lose a lot of points.

Loved the class now that I've survived his term papers. Classes are thought provoking with many guest lectures and he will help you with your resume and internship applications but before you take him, memorize APSA or Chicago-style.

I actually found an online course where the professor lectures instead of just posting Power Points fun, although I was fortunate to have learned most of his term paper rules in other classes and high school. Tests were tough but if you listen in class and read the textbooks then it's much easier to adapt to his style. Would definitely take again.

I thought the paper comments were condescending and rude until I fixed the errors and the comments went away. I started writing "his" way on papers in other classes and those professors stopped docking me, too. Tends to ramble if asked questions but won't wait until he finishes to take them. Ended up really liking the class but it had to grow on me

Professor Croatti's class was wonderful. The tests were what I expected. I didn't choose the term paper option so I can't speak to how he grades individual papers but he also assigns a group paper where an entire team gets one grade but he provides several guidance documents that explain the rules although they each focus on something different.

The excellent embassy briefings made this an online class similar to what college should be, very close to what I would've experienced in person. Not an easy A--he says only about 20% have gotten an A or A- over the years, on average--but gave bonus points for on-time assignments so I was happy with my grade (after my early papers were torn apart).

Professor Croatti is an amazing teacher he is so knowledgeable about politics and an engaging lecturer. I did one term paper and one test, the paper is graded very harshly but instructions are given and examples are shown. The test was also difficult but with enough studying from the textbook, it was doable. He cares so much about his students.

Professor Croatti is clearly passionate about what he teaches. He emphasizes unbiased and critical thought. While this is a tough class with quite a bit of reading that will be tested, it's manageable. I would recommend that you take good notes, find a study partner and divide up the reading. As long as you work hard you will succeed!

Prof Croatti is a good lecturer, he genuinely cares about the material he teaches and loves to try and make his things interesting and not boring. He is big into tests, but if you take good notes and read the textbook you'll be fine. His embassy visits are a super unique experience you should take advantage of as well.

You read two chapters a week and have case studies on different countries in which you have to know about the history and political structure. There are two quizzes( 125 pts each), two midterms( 200pts each, and a final(350pts). MUST READ THE BOOK TO PASS! He is a great professor, but this class takes a lot of time and effort. Totally worth it!

Prof Croatti's class is very interesting if you like politics, and you'll learn a lot in it, but his tests can get very specific and challenging. There's a lot of reading you have to do, and you have to go to his lectures or you will not do well in the class. Despite this, he cares about his students and gives lots of extra credit opportunities

Croatti's class is hard, and he's not the nicest guy ever. That being said, he gives amazing lectures and I learned so much in this class. There is SO much reading and it's necessary to do well on the exams. I do think the only reason I got an A is because I did the reading, made study groups, and took advantage of the extra credit. Not an easy A.

Amazing, often inspiring lecturer with incredible topics, insights, etc. for class. Textbook use is huge and some tests are difficult, but we had over 150 extra credit points (class was 1000 points). Independent learners and readers will do fine. Don't expect him to be very helpful or connect with him; he can be distant at best and rude at worst.

Professor Croatti is a great professor who is very knowledgeable in his field. I took this class and was worried at first because the tests are hard, but I have learnt a ton. If youre looking for an easy A this is not the class for you, but if you want to learn and enjoy lectures then this is a great choice. The tests were all multiple choice.

Croatti was a really good professor in my opinion. His lectures were very interesting and I feel like I got a lot from the class. His tests are very hard though but as long as you read you'll be fine. I also formed a study group which helped a lot. I would definitely take a class with him again, everything he taught was super interesting.

The lectures in this class were absolutely amazing, but they have nothing to do with the book. I learned so much but this class was hard. The tests are MC but they are about random information in the book and readings. There are questions about lectures, but those are fine if you were in class. Despite everything, this was my favorite class.

your only grades are multiple choice tests, but don't let that fool you because they are difficult! his lectures are very interesting and he's a pretty funny guy. he offers a lot of really cool opportunities to visit embassies and talk to the ambassadors. go to his office hours, he's interesting to chat with!

Prof. Croatti is the nicest instructor! He helps with resumes and internships and has office hours at Panera Bread! I've NEVER seen him talk down to a student. No "assignments", his exams have a "term paper" section. Tests are hard but they get easier. We went to several embassy briefings and they both provided food! Definitely would take again!!!

Croatti makes getting up for an early class worth it. I never get bored listening to him. Some of what he says isn't on the test but that's true with the book, too, there is a ton of material to learn in this class, but I have really enjoyed it. I too have never heard him be rude, and I've taken him before.

Great professor! Doesn't cover everything in each chapter but lectures are informative and entertaining. I thought the embassy visits were great but some of them were not close to campus, and I wished there were more opportunities for extra credit esp. since some of the briefings he promised didn't end up happening, even if that wasn't his fault.

I love the lectures! Croatti always finds a way to work current events into class discussion no matter what the scheduled topic is, which I really like. Holding office hours at Panera Bread is a great idea but they're not during a time that fits my schedule and he's not on campus any other day.

I actually really enjoyed this class. Though he can come off as kind of intense/strict, he's very knowledgable and passionate about the subject and is there to help. Your grade is based on all MC exams, which are also graded in class by fellow students. He offers plenty of opportunities for extra credit, such as embassy visits which were cool

This guys knows more then you will when you get your Phd, he spent his life doing this and is the best resource you can have if your goal is to genuinely learn about polotics

Croattis Comparative Politics class was so good! You do case studies of different countries in the world and then you go to the embassy's for a briefing which was such a good and unique experience. The tests are hard, both content and layout, but it's all multiple choice. His lectures are captivating

Croatti is AMAZING. He is so passionate about his work and I learned so much just from listening to his perspectives during lecture. Material is relevant and candid. Attendance is super important and he will not bump your grade up even if you're close, but there are tons of extra credit opportunities. Read the book & take thorough lecture notes.

The best GW professor I've ever had. Extremely knowledgable, very clear about grading (5 quizzes. That's it.) Will teach the material on the quizzes. You grade your quizzes in class and he gives partial credit sometimes. Best professor ever ever ever.

his tests are weird, be sure to read everything on his blackboard page.

Great guy. Learned a lot from him - get ready to only take notes in a notebook because he hates technology. His quizzes are straight forward. As long as you do the textbook readings, you will be fine. There are also field trips to embassies around DC which is super cool.

Professor Croatti is a great first-semester teacher. His syllabus perfectly outlines the course curriculum, and his tests are all multiple-choice. There are only four exams throughout the semester so be ready when they come, but they are fairly intuitive and textbook based. He is a hilarious lecturer, and he invites his students to embassy visits.

Loved Professor Croatti this semester! He is a great resource for internships and incredibly knowledgable. Attendance is MANDATORY and you should do all of the reading bc it'll be on the quiz. Overall, he is the reason I decided to minor in Comp Pol. He is generous and kind, probably one of the best professors I've had so far. Also embassy trips!

I liked the embassy visits for some of the countries we studied like Mexico, Germany and the European Union, and a DRC diplomat came to class. His tests only ask a few questions from some very long chapters but if you read the book you'll be ok. Lots of extra credit and he helps with internships and resume writing if you go to his office hours.

I liked his lecture and that he taught us how to format a college paper before requiring one to be written. And the embassy visits! But I don't think students should get fewer bonus points for attendance while covid is still going on.

I came to DC to get involved in political science so I was excited that Prof. Croatti's classes attend diplomatic briefings. He also helped me build my resume and apply for internships. His exams are not easy but no more difficult than I expected and he puts bonus questions on them. My only complaint is that he doesn't teach other courses.

I loved this class! I would definitely recommend Professor Croatti. He made the lectures interesting and he gives A LOT of extra credit!

The only prof I've had who can do multiple president impressions and they're actually pretty good. A ton of reading.

Always found his lectures really interesting. A TON of reading and your entire grade is only based upon exams. He does offer a lot of extra credit including embassy visits that were very enjoyable so I'd highly recommend them. A hard class but not impossible to do well in

Fantastic lectures! Professor Croatti is a captivating speaker and talks passionately about the issues in the curriculum. His Blackboard page is also thoroughly manicured and contains everything from a detailed and accurate syllabus to career/resume building resources to further reading students may want to do. Take his class!!!

Prof Croati was an amazing lecturer & I learned a lot, but his tests are hard. You have to know random specific things for the country case studies & there's not usually a pattern with the type of information that's on the tests. 2 quizzes, 2 tests, and a final. 1k points, and there's 50 points of extra credit you can get. Hard but interesting.

Loved the lectures; he'll go off into details beyond the book and articles. Uses tests rather than papers but he'll ask random things about the legislatures of the book's country case studies--how many people in parliament, how prime ministers are elected, etc. Not sure how long I'll remember any of that but I was prepared for the embassy visits!

Other than the class discussions, which I found very interesting, one thing I really liked was the Blackboard site with all of the internship and recruitment links. The exams are really hard. It was tough just to get a B and I might not have without the extra credit for embassy visits and the exam bonuses, so get into a study group right away.

So many tests! But he only uses one book and some online readings. Embassy visits could cause you to miss other classes but they're worth it for the extra credit. His whole course is based on POINTS with each test counting for a certain amount. His exams are a mix of readings and lecture. The final is about one third of the total grade.

Dr Croatti is and forever will be my favorite professor I have ever had. He puts so much effort into his lectures and often times connects them to something personal. In order to do well in this class, stay on top of your readings! Dr. Croatti does go over the chapter readings in the lecture, but there are some things you need to read on your own!

Prof. Croatti is awesome! I always looked forward to his class. His lectures are very helpful and supplement the book well. Definitely read the book before class and take good notes. 2 quizzes & 2 midterms all mc. Very specific info, be familiar with legislature, elections, etc in each country. He wants his students to succeed and offers lots of ec

Very lecture heavy but he kept it interesting. Reading the textbook is a must for the tests. Really good connections and their will be opportunities for extra credit at the end of the semester. 4 tests are the only graded assignments. No term paper.

Highly recommend Croatti's class. Incredibly passionate about course topics and will motivate you to care about the subject. Take notes on readings and lectures to study for tests (2 short, 2 long, + final exam). Offers super interesting briefings at embassies for extra credit. Not quite an easy A but he wants students to learn and get good grades.

no laptops allowed in class, must handwrite notes on paper or ipad. does not post slides or lectures online so must go to class for the material. tons of assigned reading, but the tests are fairly easy if you showed up and did said reading. lots of points given in extra credit

super passionate about comparative politics but not an easy class. four exams and a final (plus a lot of extra credit), all multiple choice (no worksheets or projects). a good portion of the exam questions are covered in lecture. know the details of the case study countries, but the format of the exams is pretty straightforward. do the readings!

Wonderful professor who is VERY knowledgeable. The lectures were intriguing and engaging. He has very high standards for his students, but is genuinely one of the most kind and caring professors I've had. He is committed to the work he is doing and loves taking his students to embassies for extra credit! Tons of extra credit throughout the course.

His exams aren't easy since a lot of the lecture material is beyond what's in the book, but with all of the bonus questions and extra credit embassy briefings, just do the readings and attend class for an A or a B. He won't use the microphone so it's hard to always hear him but his classes are very interesting and I loved the diplomatic events.

This class is exactly why I came to Washington DC. Prof. Croatti will help you build your resume, he suggests ways to get involved like "mini" internships (which I can't find anywhere else) and he arranges talks at local embassies (for extra credit!). Each day I learned something new. Definitely take him!

His assignments are just four small exams and a bigger final that has a "term paper" portion where he basically asks you a bunch of stuff related to Chicago-style formatting. He plans interesting embassy briefings related to some of the countries in the book but they're scheduled only partially during class time, depending on when your class meets.

Take this class - I mean it! Professor Croatti is perhaps the most knowledgeable and engaging professor I have ever had. My class was 2.5 hours and yet it did not feel long. He is humorous and a great lecturer. Tests and quizzes are not difficult if you read. There are numerous extra credit opportunities. Great professor, great class, take it!!!

The lectures don't focus too much on what you would actually be tested on, but they are very captivating and interesting, and he touches on current topics. There is a textbook, but it's very easy to "find". There are four exams, and the final which are pretty easy. Make sure to use the CIA Factbook. He gives extra credit aswell.

Croatti was one of the smartest professors I've had at GWU. He definitely knows his stuff and it shows in his lectures. Lectures were entertaining, however a lot of content was to be learned in this class. Class was graded on exams, which were easy as long as you read and pay attention. Also numerous ways to earn extra credit.

Best comp pol professor hands down! Croatti is work the vex ride, every lecture with him is truly incredible. Plenty of extra credit, cool opportunities, and a space where students feel valued for their input. 2 quizzes, 2 midterms, and a final, all multiple choice. Can't recommend this class enough please please please take him.

Prof. Croatti is the man. Super knowledgeable, inspiring, earnest, and makes every lecture incredibly interesting/engaging. Be warned that his tests are not as simple as other PSC1001 classes and test more obscure facts but 100% WORTH IT. You'll also visit embassies/govt buildings which is so cool. Definitely recommend if interested in polisci

I thought he was funny. He also genuinely cared about his work. I had to do it on the Vern but it was worth it being leagues easier than the other professors.

Super interesting lectures but tests can be difficult since he makes a point not to repeat textbook information in lecture. Make sure to read, pay attention in lectures, read additional articles, and memorize CIA factbook for each country. He provides opportunities such as internships and takes the class on embassy visits.

Amazing professor, 10/10 would take again. Hard tests and content-heavy lectures supplemented by a few extra credit embassy briefings. If you study, you will do well. Clear class structure and very engaging lecturer. One of the best professors in the Political Science department! My favorite class.

Professor Croatti is the best. He takes you on embassy trips for extra credit and tries hard to give you as many points possible on tests. It is a LOT of reading and handwritten notes have to be taken during lecture. Super worth it though. He knows so much and is passionate.

Prof. Croatti is extremely knowledgeable and teaches you real world, applicable concepts. He shows you comparative politics in action. You will learn more in this class than other PSC 1001 courses. HOWEVER: The exams for Croatti's course are MUCH more difficult than other intro classes. There is no guidance on exam prep & tests are unpredictable.

Other profs prob had easier PSC1001 classes than Croatti but I learned sm. You can tell he is passionate + knows a lot abt the subject. You're graded on 5 multi choice exams and the topics are bit unpredictable but there are extra credit embassy trips. I had the 1x a week 2.5 hr class and it was a bit much but still worth it. Would 100% take again

Croatti is an amazing lecturer! Make sure you always come to class, read the textbook, take notes, study the CIA Factbook (specifically government structures) and attend the embassy briefings for extra credit. The 5 multiple choice tests he gives are difficult, but the class was so rewarding and you will be fine if you utilize the above tips.

Croatti is a great lecturer - passionate, engaging, knowledgeable, funny. You will never be bored and will learn so much. I had my first class on my first day of college with him and I won't forget it. Embassy visits are also a highlight - very DC experience. Exams are tough-ish but predictable questions and lots of extra credit pull you through.

Professor Croatti is so incredibly knowledgeable and truly truly cared about his students! If you stay on task with readings and know what he expects you to know in tests, you will do good. Love him!

Croatti is the GOAT of GW!!!! I cant emphasize enough he is literally the best professor ever and even though I am a freshman, I don't think I will ever have someone as good and unique as this guy. His lectures are so interesting and funny, he makes you motivated everytime to go to his class and listen to what he says. You will learn and grow a lot

I loved this class, Croatti is truly passionate about his field and it shows in his lectures. He posts mini-internships every semester, and I did one and it has been the best thing that has ever happened to me. His tests can be difficult if you don't study enough for the test, but you learn so much in this class. COME TO CLASS, it matters.

Professor Croatti is truly a fascinating character. He speaks with a lot of passion and the class includes embassy visits and internship opportunities. All tests are multiple choice and they're pretty easy to be honest. Just pay attention during lecture and try and do the readings and you'll do great.

BEST PROFESSOR I'VE HAD! I learned so much and his lectures were super engaging. There are 5 hard multiple-choice quizzes, but if you study (especially the CIA Factbook) and pay attention, you'll do well. Only ~20% get in the A range. He teaches a similar course each semester, so there are tons of resources, especially on Quizlet.

He's a great lecturer but there are easier professors to take this class with. Fun extra credit opportunities but none of the quizzes/tests really aligned with his lectures. Huge focus on the textbook so get ready to ready multiple chapters/extra readings.

Best professor I've taken. Such fun and interesting lectures, a really great guy. Never looked forward to a class so much. It is located on the Vern

Professor Croatti is an exceptional professor. While course material can be moderately heavy, his lectures are extremely beneficial and supportive to course material. Tests are not easy, so study and pay attention to specific facts in the readings. While it can be difficult, the course is extremely rewarding for students with genuine interest.

Lectures rarely coincide with test material. Full of himself. Extremely strict with attendance. Difficult tests. BUT I learned so much in this class and definitely helped me decide that this is what I wanted to study. Take good notes, pay attention to small details in readings and you will do fine. A lot of EC, embassy visits are very fun.

Professor Croatti is an incredible lecturer who gives you all the information and resources needed to succeed. His quiz are only difficult if you do not take any notes in class or do not read any of the articles. His class feels more like an upper level course rather than an intro level course due to the level of depth Croatti teaches at.

Great professor, best lectures I had out of them all and I would take class again. Only graded assignments are like 5 tests and a final and as long as you study a bit before them all you will be good. Must go to class tho

Professor Croatti is the most engaging lecturer i've ever had. He is very passionate about what he teaches, and he has the best impressions of every politician. Your grade depends on all of your test scores added together, which are sometimes difficult to study for because they're very content-heavy.

Overall great professor. He is extraordinarily knowledgeable and is not afraid to answer questions, even if they don't directly relate to the course material. The quizzes are mostly based off the textbook, online readings, and CIA world fact book. There is a lot of reading. However, he gives a lot of extra credit opportunities.

Grade only depends on quizzes, and there are 6 total, including the final. You have to do all the reading, and he is strict on attending the lecture. It was lots of work, but totally worth it as I actually learned a lot. He sometimes can go on random tangents in class, but overall clearly knows what he is teaching and has lots of experience.

Just wanted to come on here and say that his lectures are truly soooo interesting and engaging, does impressions in class and is always moving around and making us laugh, truly a great professor. Also really cool field trips. Easier than other PSC 1001 bc of multiple choice quizzes, just memorize CIA facebook, dates and you'll be good. Enjoy!!

Engaging lectures, but pretty fast-paced class with lots of reading. Tests can be difficult as they draw from the textbook, articles, AND things he says in lecture SO ATTENDANCE MATTERS. But there are lots of extra credit opportunities both on tests & through field trips. So, as long as you show up to class & read on schedule, you'll do just fine.

Loved him for the way he made material engaging through his impressions, but if you are gonna take him be sure to memorize the textbook, anything ambiguous in his lectures, and pay attention to sometimes the smallest detail in the articles he assigns. But even if the tests sometimes so specific there plenty of extra credit opportunities .

Lectures are amazing and made the 2.5 hours go by in a flash. Pretty easy if you actually read everything and attend every class. At times he has a MASSIVE ego and thinks he is somewhat superior to everyone especially when asking for help 1 on 1. During class he is more likable. Do all the extra credit will make a difference between +/- or A/B.