Teaches well and keeps the class pretty entertaining.

Class is somewhat hard but a 4.0 is easily obtained if you regularly attend class and section meetings. Prof. Black is super chill and funny. He's relatively young so he can still relate to his students.

He's a nice guy and keeps the class fun. Knows the material well and makes everything clear in class. Chose an interesting textbook to teach with too and the textbook is good as well. Not too hard of a class considering you can bring notes to the tests. You need to do the work but if you do it's an easy 3.0 at least

amazing!

super funny and easy!

Personally, I felt that lectures were boring. If you took AP Gov in high school, this class is going to be more than a breeze. There are clicker questions every day for points, but he drops your 4 lowest participation scores. Assignments every Sunday. Midterm and Final are easy--you can make a cheat sheet with whatever you want on it. He's funny.

His lectures are super long and boring. He thinks hes funny be he rarely is. The class overall is easy and would be nice if his lectures didn't kill the material. He also says "normative" all to often.

Professor Black was awesome. Super clear in class, plus he puts his lectures online, so you can review. While the tests (2 of them) are not open book, he does allow a 1 page (8.5 x 11) cheat sheet, which can have anything you want on them. The exams are easy, as long as you go to class and review. Definitely recommend him.

Easy A and non bias

Awesome political science teacher, and very fair grader. Reading and extra work is necessary to receive a 4.0.

Ryan is my favorite member of the Political Science department, by far! Although his lectures can be dry sometimes, he adds in personal anecdotes that usually make up for it. We had a weekly 1.5 page paper due up until after the midterm, where you had to find a newspaper article and relate it to the class. The grading for those were extremely tough

Professor Black was a great professor who always made an attempt to make lecture funny and/or interesting. The exams were SUPER easy and very straightforward. If you go to section and come to class to get attendance points, you'll 4.0 easily. You also get to use a full page cheat sheet (front and back) on all exams. Highly recommended.

Great professor! The material was easy to learn and his lectures taught pretty much everything you need to know.

Professor Black was a great professor. Lectures were clear and also very funny. NAPS assignments (50% of the grade) were challenging at first, but became easier as time went on. Would take another class from him.

Professor Black is a great professor! He doesn't intend to make the class difficult because he wants his students to learn. We had no midterm but did have weekly writing assignments (only 1.5 pages). He is very kind and loves to teach! Attendance is mandatory through iClicker. I would recommend him for an easy A!

Great professor, available and accessible, humor and easy grading system.

By far the best professor I've ever had. He recognizes that college and life can be hard, so he is more than willing to work with you if something comes up. He's also super clear about what he wants from you- you just have to write the NAPS assignments, show up, and do well on the final. The final literally the review he gives you.

Best professor that I have had. Lectures were very intriguing and I like how he weighs the homework way more heavily than the final (which is the only exam). If you write down the True/False questions and answers that he does at the start of the class, 100% on the final should be no problem. Would definitely take another of his classes.

I loved this class. Most of your grade is a weekly current events type paper (only about 1-2 pages). He was funny. He also uses iclickers every class that counts for points.

We had to do many papers, but the exams were extremely easy and he's an overall chill guy. The lectures could get boring half the time, but half the time they were pretty engaging. He offers a good amount of extra credit. But in general, I wasn't too fond of the class though I liked him.

I took one of his classes online over the summer and overall it was an easy A. Basically we read a handful of chapters for each module and then toke a quiz and then answered a few short response questions. He even worked with me on the due dates while I was out of the country. If you do the readings you'll be fine.

Dr. Black was the first professor I ever had for an online course. His video lectures are easy to follow and he has a really good sense a humor. He also offers a bit of extra credit. I recommend taking a class with him.

easy homework and quizzes, light workload, fair grader, easy 4.0

Professor Black makes a dry topic interesting. He gives a 5 minute break in the middle which really helps me get through. If you dont do the readings, you wont get an A. He makes a lot of jokes during lecture which keeps you on your toes.

I cannot sing enough praises for RCB. He's a great prof and his classes are enjoyable. Even his ISS 325 War & Revolution. These classes he bases off of video games and you simply write journals and take quizzes but you also learn a lot about the effect of videogames and society. Would recommend 10/10.

Professor Black was an amazing professor. He really cares about students success. I have taken ISS305 with him as well, and his classes are very well organized. A few papers about that relate to you life, and then a few quizzes that are mostly unlimited attempts. He is caring, and his grading criteria is very easy going. Amazing teaching style!

Lots of reading and his lectures are long but hes probably one of the most caring professors at state. Hes very willing to accommodate his students and is passionate abt what he teaches, great guy.

If you put the work in listening to the lectures and reading the books, it is easy to succeed in the class. Prof. Black is extremely passionate about these topics and it shows! Also loved how he didn't include any personal opinions since the course (predictably) gets into social/political issues. Overall- amazing!

For the online class, to 4.0 you HAVE to get the books and you have to watch the lecture videos. Take good notes, he tests on what he says, not what is on the slides.

This class made me want to drop out. Exams are extremely writing heavy and has no partial credit. Reading is absolutely mandatory if you want to answer the essay questions and even then good luck. The format of the online exams is awful and I hated the content.

Professor Black is one of the best professor. He really cares about students success. The class are well organized and provides a detailed understanding. The papers are relatable to your life, and then a few quizzes that are mostly unlimited attempts. His grading criteria is very doable.

While I will say he is great at explaining things and his lectures are enjoyable to watch online. The exams are very book/readings heavy with much of the grading coming from the essays and short answers of exams. Usually 30-50 questions, 6 short answer, and 2 essays. TAs do all grading and not great at explanation of whats wrong, has to be perfect

One thing that sets this professor different than the rest is his ability to teach. His lectures are very engaging and clearly thought through, making his exams and quizzes easy to take - as long as you do the lectures. He was a very fair grader and made sure everyone understood the assignments every step of the way. 10/10 would recommend

I took ISS210 online. I personally enjoy having the expectations/Due dates set at the beginning, *no-budge* deadlines, and playing some of my favorite games as an assignment. But, if youre looking for a more engaging session, take it in-person. Pretty sure the professor is more funny. Expect quizzes on reading and games. Outside of that, 10/10.

This course is extremely lecture and reading heavy. However, the content isn't very difficult. The weekly quizzes are a great grade boost and the questions are reused for exams. Professor Black is passionate about judicial politics and it really shows in his lectures. Overall, a good course and not a GPA risk.

Dr. Black's online PLS 320 class was very enjoyable. He has a bubbly personality which made listening to his lectures fun, although they were a bit long in some cases. His grading criteria for exams was very straightforward and I am happy that if you didn't get full credit there would be a reason why so you could appeal it.

I loved prof. Black, he's happy to teach, but this class is insanely hard to succeed in for me personally. I would definitely stray away if you're neurodivergent, the workload may take you 5x longer than others. Never got higher than a 76 on exams even after studying harshly. Great dude but a really tough class. Uses I-clicker and records lecture

The first half of this class was rough, but after complaints came in about the class, the professor sent out a survey and made huge changes in how the course was being conducted. My grade went from being a 2.0 to a 4.0. Very few professors would be willing to make a 180 change like that mid-semester.

Professor Black was great, but the hour and 50 minute minute lectures were a bit long I would've liked more discussion rather than lecture. The tests may be a bit tough but they are open note, so I managed to 4.0. Take good notes and use ctrl-F on the readings to find test answers. Great professor though, and he clearly knows his stuff.

Professor Black is a cool guy, easy to get along with, and accessible if you need any help. The only problem I have is with grading- all done by TA's and all super late. He accommodated the course well, and was overall chill. Would recommend if you need the class for credit.

Professor Black was an amazing professor with an obvious passion for what he teaches. This is a super easy class for credit and can be interesting too! You don't absolutely have to buy the books but they are helpful. Attendance is iclicker every lecture. If you need ISS credits then I totally recommend this for a GPA boost!

Lengthy lectures but still interesting, also the tests are lengthy as well.

Its uncommon to have a prof that's both passionate and good at transmitting information. You have both here, if you watch the video lectures and take time to formulate your own ideas of the subject matter - you will find just what a blessing it is to have him as a prof. - funny, intelligent, passionate, & caring - that's what you find with him.

ISS 325- Video Games and Revolution: I took this course over the summer.. it's interesting and fun (easier if you're a gamer), but it is SO MUCH WORK! There are only ten days per module and you must play through anywhere from 7-20 hours of a game, read the millions of articles assigned, quizzes, and papers.. all in 10 days.

Ryan was a really good professor. He has you read a book over the course of the semester which I cannot say I loved but his mandatory lectures made up for it. His lectures are incredibly entertaining and he makes everyone laugh throughout. Overall, the class was decently easy and he is an amazing guy.

His lectures were fantastic!! I took this online and loved it. Yes, there is work. If you actually watch the videos and read the writing will be insanely easy. The quizzes for each lecture are unlimited tries, and the midterm was multiple choice. This has been the best online class I have ever taken.

i am in his online PLS 320 class right now, and can already say Professor Black is one of the best professors I have had in my 3 years at MSU. His lectures are very informational and he always gives some "fun facts" which I find interesting. He has one of the best set-ups of an online class that I have seen, and it is clear what is expected of you!

He is a hard professor- but if you are planning on working in Policy, his lectures and coursework are completely fair. Takes up a good chunk of your time but he is so willing to help and lend a hand when needed!!!!!

Dr. Black is SO kind, funny, and such a great teacher. I am a journalism student with no interest in political science, and I was able to make it through this class. His lectures are great, and he is just an overall very likable guy.

Legit my favorite class this semester, all you really have to do is pay attention to the lectures and do the exams. Exams can be hard, but he makes it easy to get half credit on questions, and you can pretty easily do decent as long as you know what's going on. Overall great prof!

I LOVED him. One of my favorite professors I've had at MSU. Exams 1-4 are online, and the final was in person. He was able to keep my ADHD brain focused even during an 8:30 am lecture.

Despite the horror stories I read when signing up for my PLS course, I enjoyed Dr. Blacks course. If you don't do the readings and look at lectures, this class will probably be impossible. Attending and taking notes, doing the readings, and basic review should be enough for almost anyone to 3.0 the course with average effort.

Don't look at any of these low reviews. You have 4 exams the entire semester and they are 2 essays and a hybrid true and false section, that are both done online at home. uses iClicker but not for accuracy just for attendance purposes. Honestly, i loved the class, and professor black is a great instructor.